June 8, 2007: In 2006, International Vice President Carroll Haynes was paid $54,500 as a “consultant” by the Health Insurance Plans (HIP) of Greater New York. HIP provides health benefits to the members of Local 237, where Haynes was the principal officer in 2006.

Should a Teamster officer and benefit fund trustee be taking $54,500 from an HMO that that makes millions through its contract with our union’s largest local?

In the old days, vendors made payoffs to officials under the table. Today, they pay “consultant fees.” Does that make it right?

HIP’s “fees” to Haynes were properly reported on an LM-30 form—a report that union officials must file to document conflicts of interest.

The Teamster Rank & File Education and Legal Defense Foundation (TRF) discovered Haynes' consultant fees while doing research on the 2006 salaries and perks of Teamster officials.