The IBT and the Department of Justice filed a joint motion today to amend the Final Order, an agreement that creates an independent system for investigating corruption in the Teamsters Union. 

The consent order was established in 1989 when the IBT settled a lawsuit filed after years of corruption and mob influence. It was replaced in 2015 with the final order which established the current anti-corruption program consisting of the Independent Review Officer and the Independent Investigations Officer. 

As part of the original consent order, Teamsters for a Democratic Union (TDU) fought for and won the right to vote for International Union officers and Convention Delegates under democratic rules with an independent election supervisor. These rights have been written into the Teamsters Constitution.

The current system is made of two officers: the Independent Investigations Officer (IIO) who investigates wrongdoing and recommends charges to the General Executive Board and the  Independent Review Officer (IRO) who makes the final decision.

In a surprise announcement at the Teamsters Convention today, General President Sean O’Brien announced that the IBT and the Justice Department filed a joint motion today to amend the final order and abolish the independent investigations officer. 

If approved, the IBT will be responsible for investigating and acting on internal union charges, including corruption. 

Independent Oversight Will Continue

Under the joint motion filed today, Judge Barbara Jones, the Independent Review Officer, will continue to play an oversight role for another three years with an option to extend if she believes the IBT has not sufficiently maintained its disciplinary and audit systems at the end of that term.  

Judge Jones will also have a role in overseeing both the investigations and audit departments to ensure complaints, investigations and audits are being properly conducted.  

The IBT also agreed to permanently maintain an outside Independent Director to oversee the disciplinary and audits systems even after the IRO’s term ends.  

The motion requires the approval by Judge Loretta Preska.