January 16, 2008: James Hoffa sent a memo to all local unions offering their officers the opportunity to get hotel rooms for the Presidential Inauguration, at local union expense. The cost to the local union: $3,201 per room.

Hoffa’s letter states that the union will not be able to provide tickets to the Inaugural or any other events, but they still anticipate a “large demand” from locals for the rooms.

President Obama’s inauguration is an historic occasion in America, and many Teamsters would love to be there. Some are going, at their own expense. But we hope that struggling local unions are not sending many officers on the union tab at this price.