Judge Barbara Jones has slapped the Hoffa administration, Joint Council 7 and Local 853 for defying her December 22 order suspending Rome Aloise on corruption charges. The judge issued a new order today, directing each of them to take corrective action.

The judge’s order requires the Hoffa administration, Joint Council 7 and Local 853 to inform members via their websites that Aloise is suspended for two years for bringing reproach on the union. All three bodies had a blackout on the news, and continued to list Aloise as an official.

Joint Council 7 also blatantly violated the Teamster constitution by claiming Aloise is still its President and refusing to fill the vacancy for the remainder of the term.

After Teamsters for a Democratic Union blew the whistle on this violation, Judge Jones directed Joint Council 7 to announce a vacancy and move to fill the position by January 17.

Aloise is not “on leave.” He has been thrown out of the union for two years on corruption charges. 

The failure of the Hoffa administration to deal with officials who betray the members trust only makes future corruption more likely.

The solution is a change in our union’s leadership and direction. Members can make it happen if we’re organized.