former Teamster "boss" Carey indicted

[John Halle]

>
> Date: Mon, 29 Jan 2001 19:25:53 -0500
> From: Doug Henwood <dhenwood at panix.com>
> Subject: Re: former Teamster "boss" Carey indicted
>
> Justin Schwartz wrote:
>
> >Doug, please. The old Teamsters were run by the mob. So are the
> >Laborers. Carey's Teamsters were not, except in locals where the old
> >guard was entrenchedl. He _did_ break the law, but it wasn't very
> >awful as these things go--it didn't touch what Milken did, for
> >example, whom you have been defending--and therwe is no doubt that
> >if Carey hadn't won the UPS strike, he would not have been a target.
>
> I'm relieved that the lawbreaking of a reformist union leader was not
> as serious as that of a demonized investment banker.
>

This discussion is missing the point which is that, if Fitch is correct,
much of the upper echelons of labor are compromised by their having to
save their asses from the justice department. That they are in the
position by advancing a noble cause is irrelevant.

Their effectiveness depends on their being able to serve the interests of
the rank and file. They can't do this if they are constantly having to cut
whatever deals are necessary for them to stay out of the pokey.

For this reason, a lot of them should probably resign.  That none of them
is doing so does not mean that they are "bad guys" but that they are no
better than you or me.

John