Local 391's first president, JD Whitlock, mans a picket line.

Twenty-six truck drivers for Southern Oil Transport in High Point started Teamsters Local 391 in 1938. And, since those seeds were planted, the local union has grown to become the largest private sector union in North Carolina.

Teamsters Local 391 celebrated its first 75 years at the local union’s recent membership meeting in Greensboro.

Two of Local 391’s most revered leaders – R.V. Durham and Jack Cipriani – addressed the members.

Durham was first elected secretary-treasurer of Local 391 in 1960, and became president in 1969. He served as the local union’s chief officer until 1995. Durham recalled many of the local’s elected leaders that he served with, and who helped build the union. He also served as a vice president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and as director of the union’s giant Freight Division. In that role, he negotiated a National Master Freight contract that doubled the members’ Central States pension from $1,000 to $2,000 per month.

Jack Cipriani exhorted the members to remain strong supporters of Local 391 and to continue to help grow the local union’s power. He served as president from 1995 to 2009. During this time, he launched Local 391’s expansion into the public sector by representing public school workers and police officers. This move reversed years of membership decline caused by deregulation of the freight industry. Cipriani was elected a vice president of the International union on the Jim Hoffa slate. He also served as director of the union’s 47,000 member Brewery and Soft Drink Workers Conference. In this role, Cipriani led union negotiations with large companies including MillerCoors, Anheuser-Busch, Pepsi and Coke.

President Mike McGaha praised Durham and Cipriani for their service to the local union and dedication to the members. He then presented Cipriani with a plaque that will be placed at the entrance way to Local 391’s Greensboro union hall. It will stand along one honoring Durham.

McGaha then welcomed NC Attorney General Roy Cooper, who spoke of the recent legislation that has undermined the interests of the middle-class and working families. Cooper presented the members with his vision for how more progressive legislation could help overcome these recent setbacks.

Local 391 also distributed souvenir booklets at the meeting commemorating the local union’s first 75 years. Members can view this booklet in the “Member Resources” section in the left column of this website. Any member who would like to receive a copy should contact the local union to obtain one.