Roger Hare oral history interview, July 27, 2014

Item — othertype: Oral History

Identifier: HareR_L2014-23

Staff Only

Roger Hare oral history interview

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Scope and Contents

Interviewed by Traci Drummond. Roger Hare was born in Houlton, Maine on August 27th, 1927. He discusses his struggle with tuberculosis as a teenager, necessitating bed rest for a year and his mother's death from cancer that same year. Hare recalls his first job working for the Maine Turnpike Authority as a toll collector, which had a high number of applicants for a small number of positions. Hare discusses his boss attempting to buy him out because he joined the Teamsters. He details his second job at Portland Copper Tank Works, which was a closed shop, organized by the IAMAW. He discusses his eventually election to the local lodge 1574 president, crediting his willingness to speak out. Hare also worked as the Special Representative. Hare remembers different arbitration cases he worked on during this time. He recalls working as a Grand Lodge Representative for twenty years and being appointed to the National Labor Relations Board when he retired. Hare then talks about his family, including the death of his wife to cancer, and his children’s occupations. He concludes by discussing the state of health care, especially for senior citizens.

Dates

Creation: July 27, 2014

Creator

Hare, Roger, 1927- (Interviewee, Person)

Restrictions on Access

Oral history available for research.

Biographical Note

Roger Hare was born in Houlton, Maine on August 27th, 1927. He moved around Maine for much of his childhood and contracted tuberculosis as a teenager. Hare worked as a tollbooth operator for the Maine Turnpike Authority around the time it opened, joining the Teamsters during that time. Next, he went to work for the Portland Copper Tank works, where he joined the machinists. Hare remembers how he became the local lodge 1574 president after four years as a member. He also was appointed special representative. He was Grand Lodge Representative for twenty years and upon retirement, he was appointed to the National Labor Relations Board as a representative in Washington D.C. Later, Hare joined the Maine Senior Movement.