GUILD OF TAXI DRIVERS AND ASSOCIATED WORKERS:

The Guild of Taxi Drivers and Associated Workers was organized in 1975 by dissident members of Teamsters Local 792 (Minneapolis, Minn.), who later (1976) joined the Brotherhood of Railway Clerks (BRAC). During that period the guild struggled to gain recognition from the cab companies. They also struggled for drivers' rights in other matters, mainly the leasing of cabs, a plan devised by the cab companies. The guild conducted a strike, which lasted from December 1975 to February 1976. Following the strike the guild's membership declined, which led to the amalgamation with BRAC. However, the guild was able to prevent the city council's move to abolish the anti-cab-leasing ordinances.

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Correspondence and miscellaneous records (1973-1978), affidavits and a deposition (1976-1977), strike meeting notes (undated), strike flyers and public information (1975-1976), newsletters (1975-1978), newspaper clippings (1975-1977), and a B.A. thesis (1989), all giving information on the formation of the guild and the 1975-1976 Minneapolis cab drivers' strike.

There is a fairly complete set of newsletters published by the guild; a newsletter published by a dissident group within the guild, Hack news; and a publication by the Rank and File Coalition, the New York City taxi union, The hot seat. There is also a booklet about the New York City union (undated). Newspaper clippings describe the Minneapolis strike (1975-1977) and a controversy over illegal practices in the Chicago cab system (1975-1976).

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Availability:

The collection is open for research use.

Preferred Citation:

[Indicate the cited item and/or series here]. Guild of Taxi Drivers and Associated Workers Union Records. Minnesota Historical Society.

See the Chicago Manual of Style for additional examples.

Accession Information:

Accession number: 14,753; 14,908; 15,799; 17,364

Processing Information:

Processed by: Kathryn A. Johnson, July 1992; Lynn Leitte, August 2002.

Additions by: David B. Peterson, January 2020.

Catalog ID number: 990017287190104294

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This collection is indexed under the following headings in the catalog of the Minnesota Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons or places should search the catalog using these headings.

Topics:

Strikes and lockouts -- Minnesota -- Minneapolis.

Strikes and lockouts -- New York -- New York.

Taxicabs -- Legal status, laws, etc. -- Minnesota -- Minneapolis.

Trade unions -- Minnesota -- Minneapolis -- Taxicab drivers.

Places:

Minneapolis (Minn.).

Persons:

Hawley, Ellen, author.

Stokke, Terrence Lee, author.

Willkie, Philip H., author.

Organizations:

Brotherhood of Railway, Airline, and Steamship Clerks, Freight Handlers, Express, and Station Employees.

Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party.

International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Chauffeurs, Warehousemen, and Helpers of America -- Local 792 (Minneapolis, Minn.).

Minneapolis (Minn.) -- City Council.

Types of Documents:

Newsletters.

Occupations:

Taxi cab drivers -- Minnesota -- Minneapolis.

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