December 20, 2010: Cincinnati members have voted for a new team to lead their local.

Butch Lewis, a Holland city driver and former candidate for International Vice President on the Tom Leedham slate, led his Teamsters First Slate to victory in Cincinnati Local 100. Lewis has been a steward, business agent and past officer in Local 100.

“The membership voted for change,” said Lewis.

“Our local represents everything from UPS to freight, manufacturing to bus drivers, construction to public sector. It’s our job to bring members together to win strong contracts and then make sure they get enforced.”

Support at UPS gave the ticket a big boost. UPSers Sam Bucalo (secretary-treasurer), Teresa Turner (trustee), and Dave Couch (recording secretary) led the slate’s efforts at UPS.

Ten of the eleven candidates for executive board and elected business rep on the Teamsters First slate won.

“We’re counting on Butch’s experience to help get this local moving in the right direction,” commented Rusty Monahon, a TDU activist and driver out of Holland.

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We Will Bring Members Together

“The membership voted for change.

“Our local represents everything from UPS to freight, manufacturing to bus drivers, construction to public sector.

“It’s our job to bring members together to win strong contracts and then make sure they get enforced.”

Butch Lewis, President-Elect, Local 100, Cincinnati

December 20, 2010: Teamster bus drivers in Vermont are reaching out to the riding public to win a contract that improves conditions for both drivers and passengers.

Teamster bus drivers in Vermont are used to cold weather. But even that didn’t prepare them for the chilly reception they got when they signed up to make public comments at the Board of Directors of their employer, the Chittenden County Transportation Authority (CCTA).

After voting 36 to 1 to reject a weak contract offer, Local 597 members attended the board meeting to state their case and tell the CCTA and the public what it would take to reach a fair agreement.

Members Beat Gag Order

Instead, the CCTA board shut down public comments. Their gag order prevailed—but Teamsters didn’t go quietly. They came back for a special CCTA board meeting. And this time they brought friends.

As the head of the CCTA steamed, drivers and members of the public lined up to speak out in favor of a contract that will improve conditions for both drivers and the public, including:

• Safe and Reliable Schedules. The current schedules at CCTA make drivers work split shifts, leaving them exhausted. Scheduling improvements will mean better safety for both drivers and more reliable and on-time service for passengers.

• Respect for Employees and a Fair Disciplinary Procedure. Local 597 bus drivers have a stressful job made worse by a kangaroo court disciplinary procedure. Drivers want a fair procedure and treatment with respect and dignity.

• Full-Time Drivers for Quality Service. Full-time drivers mean good jobs for Vermont and good service for passengers.

“Our overwhelming No Vote and the support we’re getting from the public sends a clear message to the CCTA that we’re ready to negotiate a reasonable agreement—and we’re not going to roll over,” said driver Jim Fouts.

Reaching Out to the Public

Fouts is a member of the Sunday Breakfast Club, a group of rank-and-file Teamsters who organized a contract action network to inform and unite Local 597 members. They’ve also been reaching out to students, unions and community groups for support.

The CCTA is the largest public transportation agency in Vermont, so public support is critical. Incredibly, Local 597 officials have objected to solidarity efforts from Vermont labor.

The Vermont AFL-CIO Central Labor Council asked local unions to attend the CCTA Board of Directors meeting, but then retracted their call for support at the request of Local 597 principal officer Ron Rabideau, saying the contract dispute was an “internal matter” that “does not involve the Vermont AFL-CIO.”

Fortunately, Vermont union members put union solidarity ahead of politics. Their public show of support for Teamster bus drivers helped bring the CCTA back to the bargaining table.

“The outstanding issues are non-economic and there’s no reason we can’t reach a deal that improves working conditions and service at the CCTA,” said Chuck Norris-Brown. “We’re going to stay united and keep working with the public to make sure that happens.”

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We’re Ready to Negotiate. Not to Roll Over.

“Our overwhelming No Vote and the support we’re getting from the public sends a clear message to the CCTA that we’re ready to negotiate a reasonable agreement—and we’re not going to roll over.”

Jim Fouts, CCTA Local 597, Burlington, Vt.

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We’re Going to Stay United.

“The outstanding issues are non-economic and there’s no reason we can’t reach a deal that improves working conditions and service at the CCTA.

“We’re going to stay united and keep working with the public to make sure that happens.”

Chuck Norris-Brown, CCTA Local 597, Burlington, Vt.

December 13, 2010: A former secretary-treasurer for a local Teamsters Union has pleaded guilty to embezzling union funds over a three-year period, the U.S. Attorney's office said Friday.

Mark Winfield Tracy, 65, faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine when he is sentenced March 7, spokeswoman Natalie Collins said in a statement.

Click here to read more at RGJ.com

December 2, 2010: Bus drivers and mechanics employed by the Chittenden County Transportation Authority or CCTA are working without a new contract that's because the two sides seem to be miles apart.

Wednesday night the employees had a chance to speak out on the proposed contract.

Click here to read more at Fox news 44.

November 12, 2010: Teamster bus drivers in Burlington, Vt. are uniting with the riding public to win a contract that improves the CCTA for drivers and passengers.

Local 597 bus drivers at the Chittenden County Transit Authority (CCTA) are organizing for a fair contract. On Sunday, they voted 36 to 1 to reject a contract offer that left key problems unresolved.

“Our No Vote was nearly unanimous,” said driver Jim Fouts “That sends a clear message to the CCTA that we’re ready to negotiate a reasonable agreement—but we’re not ready to roll over.”

Fouts is a member the rank-and-file contract committee, the Sunday Breakfast Club, that is mobilizing the membership—and reaching out to the riding public—to win a contract that improves conditions for both drivers and passengers.

Drivers and public supporters are urging the CCTA to negotiate a fair contract that includes:

• Safe and reliable schedules. The current schedules at CCTA make drivers work split shifts, leaving them exhausted. Scheduling improvements will mean better safety for both drivers and more reliable and on-time service for passengers.

• Respect for Employees & A Fair Disciplinary Procedure. Local 597 bus drivers have a stressful job made worse by a kangaroo court disciplinary procedure. Drivers want a fair procedure and treatment with respect and dignity.

• Full-Time Drivers for Quality Service. Full-time drivers means good jobs for Vermont and good service for our passengers. A Part-Time CCTA Won't Work!

Drivers and mechanics aren’t just putting forward contract proposals. They’re organizing to build the support they need to win them. They’re circulating a petition and tabling with community supporters to reach out to passengers and tell their side of the story.

Members and passengers are mobilizing to attend the next meeting of the CCTA Board of Directors.

In the past, deadlocked contracts have gone to fact finding—a process that Local 597 members says is waste of tax-payer money.

“Our primarily concerns are non-monetary. We want to improve contract language so working conditions are better for the drivers and the CCTA is providing safer and more reliable service for the public,” said Chuck Norris-Brown, another member of the Sunday breakfast club.

“That’s something all Vermonters would be thankful for this Thanksgiving. Our message to the CCTA is let’s sit down, hammer out an agreement and make it happen so we have something to celebrate this holiday season,” Norris-Brown said.

November 12, 2010: Anti-union employers say the Teamsters are a bunch of thugs and members have no voice in our union. Why is Hoffa VP Randy Cammack helping union-busters make their case?

On November 6, some 60 Teamsters showed up at the nominations meeting of Los Angeles Local 63 to support a candidate for secretary treasurer, Dan Kane.

They were met by an intimidating mob led by the staff of International Vice President Randy Cammack.

Most of Kane’s supporters work at UPS. They’re used to a tough boss, but expect the union to be their ally. They expect solidarity in the face of intimidation. At the Local 63 meeting, they found something much uglier.

Cammack, who is Hoffa’s main man in Southern California, packed the hall at the nominations meeting, including officials from many other locals. They formed a screaming mob.

The meeting hall had no chairs, where members could sit in an orderly fashion. Instead, Cammack ruled over the crowd with police and a squad with “Teamster Security” on their shirts.

A local union nomination meeting should be an exercise in democracy, not intimidation.

No union official likes to be opposed in an election. But Cammack has every possible advantage: incumbency, unlimited money from a dozen six-figure appointees, a giant local, the backing of the International union leadership.

So why is Cammack so afraid of a little democracy? And why is he giving fodder to anti-union employers who highlight thug tactics like his?

This crew has a history of violence and intimidation when it comes to democratic dissent.

At the most recent Teamsters Union Convention in 2006, members of Local 63 knocked a delegate unconscious because he criticized Hoffa. And they were caught at it. This case is detailed here.

Maybe Cammack thinks that mob rule gives him a “tough” image. Hoffa and Cammack should try getting tough on employers instead – and learn some respect for Teamster members.

Do you think this is the way to build our union in the 21st century?

November 8, 2010: Ohio Teamsters are experiencing a classic case of what happens when a company is ready to break the law to keep a union out. Since 125 aluminum foundry workers voted for Akron Teamsters Local 24 in March 2008, management has been barefaced in its refusal to bargain and its discrimination against union supporters, while threatening to sell the plant if workers didn’t decertify the union.

Workers at General Die Casters contacted the Teamsters three years ago when management planned a rotating shift scheme that would have them work 12-hour days, changing shifts weekly and working every other weekend. “They’d run the shop 24 hours a day and nobody would get any overtime or sleep,” said shop steward Kevin Maze.

Click here to read more at Labor Notes.

November 8, 2010: An ousted union boss who used to lord over Teamster workers at Boston’s two convention centers has found himself a plum new job - at one of the Hub’s convention centers.

John Perry, the former longtime head of Teamsters Local 82 in South Boston, has been working as a truck-dock “checker” at recent shows at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, according to sources.

Click here to read more at the Boston Herald.

October 30, 2010: A trusteeship in Boston Local 82 was supposed to clean up corruption in the local run by a top Hoffa appointee. But the massacre of members’ rights continues.

Boston Local 82 was placed in emergency trusteeship by General President Hoffa on Sept. 27 after courageous action by Local 82 members and a lengthy investigation by the Independent Review Board exposed widespread corruption, violence and sweetheart deals in the local.

The IRB has now issued charges to be filed against Local 82 officers John Perry and Patrick Geary and four other Local 82 members including strongman Joseph “Jo Jo” Burhoe. Taylor refused to make these charges available to Local 82 members, saying it’s none of their business. TDU is making information available to all concerned Teamsters. Click here to read the IRB's proposed charges.

Hoffa named Dennis Taylor, of Local 355, to be the emergency trustee of Local 82. But so far, Taylor seems more intent on a cover up than a cleanup.

Consider these facts:

Taylor has repeatedly denounced the IRB report that exposed the dirty dealings in Local 82, saying that 50 pages of it are debatable and the other 100 pages are “garbage.” The IRB’s detailed report on the widespread violations in Local 82 is the basis of the trusteeship. If Taylor publicly say it’s garbage, how can anyone believe he will to take action to correct these violations?

Taylor has allowed Joseph “Jo Jo” Burhoe to continue to coordinate hiring on trade show jobs, including a Comic Book expo in early October. Burhoe is a convicted armed robber, FBI informant and thug who provided ousted Local 82 chief John Perry with muscle and brutally beat Local 82 member Eddie Flaherty a rank-and-file critic of Perry’s.

Burhoe is identified in the original IRB report as being barred by federal law from acting as a union agent. The IRB has recommended to Hoffa that charges be filed against Perry and Burhoe for this violation. (See Pages 6-7, 19-31 of IRB recommendations). Instead, Hoffa’s “clean up man” Taylor has continued to allow to illegally act as a union agent.

The IRB investigation also details how Perry appointed his brother to act as chief speculating shop steward and doled out trade show jobs based on cronyism, not seniority. Members report that Taylor has continued to allow Bobby Perry to perform this same job function with no improvement in the enforcement of members’ seniority rights.

Local 82 members also report that Taylor is refusing to handle grievances and has stated that spares (casuals) will not be allowed to vote on contracts or in shop steward elections. The rigging of contract votes by denying spares their right to vote is one of the violations detailed in the original IRB report.

In fact, the IRB recommends that charges be filed against Local 82 officers John Perry and Patrick Geary as well as members Thomas Flaherty, James Young and James Deamicis because they “violated the Local’s Bylaws and injured members by creating and arbitrarily enforcing unauthorized rules concerning members’ voting eligibility on proposed collective bargaining agreements in 2009.” (See Pages 42-61 of IRB recommendations). Taylor’s solution to this violation is to strip members of their voting rights altogether!

The implications are clear. Hoffa protected John Perry, a top ally and the International Union’s Trade Show Director, until the IRB forced his hand by issuing its report. Instead of taking action to clean up the local and protect the members, Hoffa has named a Baltimore-based lieutenant to continue to roll over members’ rights.

Taylor, like Perry, is in for a surprise. Boston is a tough town and no one is tougher than the brave Local 82 members who have continually stood up against corruption and intimidation. Sticking together, Local 82 members can and will clean up their local and put it to work for the members.

For more TDU coverage on Boston Local 82, see:

Hoffa Appointee’s Boston Goon Squad

Boston Goon Squad Update: Members Contracts Under Attack

Local 82 Members Will Clean Up Their Union

Updated September 30, 2010: The Independent Review Board (IRB) has exposed Hoffa’s Trade Show Director. The IRB's 161-page report on John Perry's web of corruption is available here in three parts: part 1, part 2 and part 3.

Boston Local 82 was placed in emergency trusteeship on September 27 as a result of a lengthy investigation by the Independent Review Board and courageous actions by a number of Local 82 members. The action was long overdue. It opens the door for Local 82 Teamsters to make their Local Union work for the members. The trusteeship action was ordered by General President Hoffa two weeks after he received a 161-page report from the I.R.B. on the web of corruption, violence, and sweetheart deals run in Boston’s trade show industry by Local 82 Secretary-Treasurer John Perry. Incredibly, Perry is Hoffa’s national Trade Show and Convention Director, in charge of the whole division of Teamsters. Hoffa's trusteeship announcement lists eight grounds for the action, including that the local violated members seniority and assigned work to family members and cronies, ignoring experience and qualifications. Click here to download the trusteeship notice. The notice reports that the individuals who “abused their authority to award jobs to their friends and relatives” include an individual who was barred by federal law from acting as a union agent. This is a reference to JoJo Burhoe, who has delivered muscle to suppress members and keep Perry in power, in exchange for control of hiring for lucrative jobs. This situation has been detailed by members and reported by Teamsters for a Democratic Union for the past two years, including Hoffa Appointees Boston Goon Squad and Local 82 Members Will Clean Up Their Union. Hoffa covered for Perry, his political ally, until the IRB forced his hand. Other violations cited in the trusteeship notice include, the ratification of trade show contracts in 2009 that violated members’ voting rights, that “relatives of Local Union officers were appointed as Speculating or Chief Stewards” and received benefits beyond the contract; that Local 82 was not operated according to the bylaws or International Constitution; that the local has no legal accounting system for separating the union from the benefits funds; and that the local failed to enforce provisions of contracts requiring the maintenance of active seniority lists. That’s quite a list of corruption, and, remember, this is all run by Hoffa’s national Trade Show Director, whose multiple salaries for 2009 were $183,627. These violations were long ago detailed by members, reported by TDU, and given to the International Union. One important element conspicuously omitted from Hoffa’s report is the use of violence against members. One member, Eddie Flaherty was beaten so seriously by Perry’s thug Burhoe that he was unconscious and hospitalized. He left the industry for fear of his life. His crime was to be a critic of John Perry. When another Local 82 Teamster, Dave Corbitt, was threatened and wrote to the International for help, he got back a letter from Hoffa which said “the International Union does not have agents in the Boston area to provide protection to you or your family.”

Actually the International union did have an agent in Boston: John Perry, the very man behind the threats.

Credit for this too little, too late action goes to the Local 82 Teamster members who have documented these violations and pursued them with dogged determination and great courage.

Thanks to them, Local 82 members have a chance to restore pride, power and integrity to their Local Union.

The 161-page report is available here in three parts: part 1, part 2 and part 3.