[This is also available on the Teamsters for a Democratic Union (TDU) web site, at www.igc.org/tdu ]
For immediate release January 26, 2001
For information, contact: Ken Paff, (313) 842-2600
What About Current Teamster Leaders? Statement on the Ron Carey Indictment
Former Teamster president Ron Carey was indicted on January 25, accused of giving false statements during the inquiry into illegal fund raising activities of his campaign consultants in 1996.
The timing of the indictment, coming nearly five years after the illegal fund raising and with Carey three years into retirement, raises questions about the motivation. Those close to the case speculate that the real target could be AFL-CIO secretary-treasurer Rich Trumka.
Just days ago a Wall Street Journal editorial called on the Bush administration to press for Trumka's indictment. Some Republicans in Congress, including Rep. Peter Hoekstra of Michigan, along with conservatives and business groups, have been campaigning for some time for an indictment against the AFL-CIO's number two leader.
Carey was expelled from the Teamsters Union in 1998 by the Independent Review Board, which ruled that Carey was responsible for the fund raising scandal because it happened on his watch and he was in a position to stop it and failed to do so.
Carey has steadfastly maintained he was a victim of the plot by his campaign consultants and that he had no involvement. Now he will have his day in court to defend himself.
Hoffa's Own Lies to Court-Appointed Officers
Teamster president James Hoffa issued a statement welcoming the indictment of his former rival, saying: "the members of the Teamsters Union have paid a terrible price for the misdeeds of Mr. Carey."
But interestingly, in 1998 Hoffa himself was found by court-appointed Election Officer Michael Cherkasky to have personally decided to file a false report with the Election Officer and the court, and that Hoffa then testified falsely under oath about that report. Hoffa was covering up a $1,000 contribution he received from former Teamster president Billy McCarthy. He was fined $1,000 for this act of deception, and his campaign was fined some $200,000 in all for other illegal acts.
Not only Hoffa, but two of his key supporters have also recently been accused of lying to investigators or the IRB. Larry Brennan has been charged by the IRB with embezzling $30,000 in union funds, and then covering it up, to use in his campaign. Mike Bane has been charged by the IRB with perjuring himself regarding his mob associations. Brennan and Bane are life-long associates of Hoffa, and key Detroit-area Teamster leaders who helped put Hoffa into power.
Brennan's hearing before the IRB is scheduled for February 5-6 in Detroit. It will be interesting to see if Hoffa issues a similar statement about misuse of Teamster members' money regarding Brennan, who served as Hoffa's mentor and sponsor to put him in the Teamster presidency.
The 2001 Teamster Election
The coming Teamster election pits Hoffa against Oregon Teamster leader Tom Leedham, who has never been implicated in any wrongdoing in his long career in the union. His Rank & File Power slate consists other Teamster leaders who maintain a reputation for integrity and accountability.
Hoffa has had numerous problems with his own slate. Indeed, a number of Hoffa's 1996 running mates and key supporters have already been removed from the union on charges of extortion, embezzlement, corruption or perjury.
Leo Casey United Federation of Teachers 260 Park Avenue South New York, New York 10010-7272 (212-598-6869)
Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never has, and it never will. If there is no struggle, there is no progress. Those who profess to favor freedom, and yet deprecate agitation are men who want crops without plowing the ground. They want rain without thunder and lightning. They want the ocean without the awful roar of its waters. -- Frederick Douglass --
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