How Hoffa Tried to Cover-Up Ohio Corruption

A new report by the Independent Investigations Officer charging three officials of the Ohio Conference has exposed once again that, when it comes to corruption, Hoffa would rather cover-up than clean-up.

The report slaps four charges on Bill Lichtenwald (Ohio Conference President and Hoffa’s personal friend), Charles Cimino (Conference Secretary Treasurer) and Kimberly Bales (Conference Administrator) with embezzlement, violation of fiduciary duty, and violation of the bylaws and constitution.

The report notes that the Hoffa administration “abandoned its supervisory powers over the Conference. The Secretary Treasurer (Ken Hall) never caused the Conference to be audited” prior to the IRB charges. The IBT “closed its eyes to how the Conference spent the members money", the Investigations report stated.

Hoffa-Hall spokesman Bret Caldwell admitted that they want to continue the Conference, although the majority of Conference money has gone to benefit the officers and the Conference does almost nothing to benefit members. IBT General Counsel Brad Raymond stated he is “exasperated” at the charges – but apparently not at the embezzlement.

The Hoffa administration tried to sweep it all under a very large rug, by getting Lichtenwald to resign his office. Hoffa-Hall spokesman Caldwell told the Cincinnati Enquirer that the charges are “very disheartening” – instead of welcoming a house-cleaning, Hoffa and Hall want to maintain the Ohio Conference as a cash-cow for favored officials.

Lichtenwald was charged, among other things, with conversion of $62,395 for purchasing a Ford Expedition for his exclusive use, without authorization. In all, the 63-page charge report notes that $1.755 million of union funds were spent without required approval.

Columbus Local 413 President Tony Jones has repeatedly called for the Conference to be abolished. Over a year ago, he sent a letter to Hoffa and Hall addressing the problem. He advocates abolishing it to put the money to work for the members, through the local unions.

The Independent Investigations Officer (Joseph diGenova) and Independent Review Officer (Benjamin Civiletti) have replaced the Independent Review Board (IRB). Previously they were two of the three members of the IRB. Chief investigator Charles Carberry and his staff function in the same way as under the IRB.

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Stephanie McAllister followed this page 2016-10-25 11:23:42 -0400
Wayne Turner commented 2016-06-23 21:44:30 -0400
PUT A FORK IN HOFFA…HIS DAD WAS THROWN IN PRISON…Jr WILL BE THROWN UNDER THE PRISON…THE RALLY APRIL 14 2016 " WHY " DID YOU NOT CALL NYHAN AND
SUZZY Q OUT? IN YOUR ON WORDS WHAT DID YOU THINK OF RALLY PUT TOGETHER BY
TEAMSTERS WITHOUT ANY HELP FROM IBT?
I’m NOT THE ONLY PISSED OFF UPS PACKAGE EMPLOYEE HOFFA YOU ARE A DISGRACE TOO
TEAMSTER BROTHERS AND SISTERS ALSO YOU HAVE NOT DONE SHIT TOO HELP UPS FREIGHT EMPLOYEES. THE CEO OF UPS/IBT
NOW MAKES ONE MILLION PER MONTH NOT
PER YEAR THAT IS ONE MILLION PER MONTH.
JANUARY 2015, OUT OF YOUR OWN MOUTH IT A NEW DAY UPS/IBT AFTER SO CALLED JUDGED GAVE YOU THE GREEN LIGHT AND YOU TURNED AROUND AND SOLD OUT TEAMSTERS STRONGEST UNION IN THE WORLD. LOOK AGAIN HORSE ARE ON YOUR
ASS AND WE’RE NOT GOING TOO STOP UNTIL
TEAMSTER PRIDE IS RESTORED AND LEFT BEHIND HAVE BEEN BROUGHT RETURNED
WITH HONOR, HOFFA YOU COULD HAVE BUT YOU CHOSE NOT TOO. HORSES ARE STRONGER THAN EVER AND CAVS ARE READY
TOO RIDE AND HOFFA YOU CHOSE TOO BE LEFT BEHIND.
Dan Matthews commented 2016-06-20 16:26:31 -0400
At Local 100 in Cincinnati, Sam Bucalo introduced a resolution to withdraw from Joint Council 26 and join JC 41. Once this happened then there would be no need for JC 26 as there are only 3 locas left in it now, the minimum to keep it together. Local 100 president Dave Webster packed the members meeting with his loyal friends to protect his and VP Ron Butts’ extra income, the officers and agents overbloated car allowances and FICA reimbursement at an astronomical cost to the members of local 100. If we and the other two locals joined JC 41 there would be no need for the Ohio conference, as it would be redundant. If we were to leave JC 26 and the Ohio conference, Local 100 would save enough money to hire an organizer for the Tri-state market as would many other locals. Politics as usual must be struck down in this next election at the IBT and Local 100.
rick kepler commented 2016-06-20 15:48:42 -0400
They had no idea how they hurt organizing, as our enemies can now point out that this is what is done with your dues money, enriching a few Teamster officials. Unfortunately it’s true. The conference serves no purpose other to enrich quite a few teamster officials with an extra paycheck, or a do-nothing job that paid quite well, as long as they keep their mouths shut. But they all knew that the conference was doing nothing for the Teamster members in Ohio. They tried to convince themselves that a law firm was assisting locals so therefore the conference was doing the members a service. But this is bullshit, because if a local cannot afford its own legal costs for its members then they should merge in order to help the members in their local. But that means giving up their salaries and benefits of being a Teamster official. As an Ohio Teamster member, I expected to see organizing training, steward training, and other important measures to strengthen our Union. What I saw was golf outings with their corporate friends invited to play with the Teamster officials.
This is expected when the Union operates like a business, instead of a movement that has as its number one priority-build power for workers.