March 26, 2012: Hoffa has appointed Becky Strzechowski as a Central Region International Vice President for the next five years. She will fill the vacancy created when Steve Pocztowski of Local 705 was elected in November, although he had passed away last July in Las Vegas, just days after he was nominated.

Strzechowski got her start in Chicago Local 727, headed by John Coli and run largely as a Coli family business. She was appointed to several positions, most recently as Assistant Trustee of Local 700, which was created by Coli by merging Local 726 and most of Local 714 together in 2010. She now serves as the local’s first secretary treasurer, the number-two post in the local. She is an attorney.

Strzechowski is closely allied with Coli, so her appointment strengthens his political power within the Teamster International. Her salary in 2010 was $210,290 and total compensation was $274,032. Her new post will add another $75,000 as well as an additional lucrative pension.

Ken Hall, who hopes to succeed Hoffa to the top spot, better watch his back. Coli has his own ambitions.

Two more positions for Rome Aloise

Hoffa has named International Vice President Rome Aloise the Director of the Dairy Conference, and also the Food Processing Division of the IBT. He replaced Fred Gegare, who retired at the end of 2011, after running for General President.

Aloise, who heads Local 853 and Joint Council 7 in Northern California, had a salary of $213,390 in 2010, with total compensation of $254,939. It remains to be seen how much these new titles will add on.