Calling all officers

[Gimliboston9]

How long will the officers of this union sit back and say nothing? O’Brien is supporting the Trump administration as it attacks the NLRB and OSHA the hypocrisy is incredible. O’Brien applauds the appointment of the ex head of Amazon safety to lead OSHA . LET THAT SINK IN! We tell the workers at Amazon to join the teamsters while we support the very person who allowed the numerous safety violations that injured those same workers! Why would they believe anything we say to them !?

Someone please stand up and lead this union! It takes more than photo ops and podcasts to lead.

[NYNick]

Good post!
I can’t believe there are no officers questioning the support for these anti union choices .

[Jose Francisco Negrete]

I agree but we all know that almost all officers are scared of the retaliation that will come if they stand up for what is right.

[CalTeamster]

SOB's been clear about that, but still in a union you'd expect a little leadership even if its risky.

[Bob Randall]

Once you are in the "200 Club" you leave your principles outside. Been watching it for 40 years. Wtf?

[AlJackson1962!]

When TDU was started in 1976, building on the success of TDC (Teamsters For A Decent Contract - the 1976 NMFA) and ever since, standing up to sellout IBT leadership and corruption, went with the territory of being a Teamster activist, fighting for the TDU Rank and File Bill of Rights. Countless Teamsters were fired and/or blacklisted for doing so; some were physically beaten, and at least one, Freidman's Express mechanic and Local 707 member Bruno Bauer* was murdered. If not for those willing to tell it like it is, notwithstanding their personal risks, democracy in the Teamsters would never exist. It was won by rank and filers challenging misleadership at monthly local union meetings, writing, publishing, and distributing TDU local chapter newspapers, and by those way too few officers of locals willing to stand up with rank and filers, knowing they would be ostracized for doing so. The Teamsters is a microcosm of the US at large. The failure of the TDU Steering Committee to tell it like it is, mirrors the elected politicians in Congress that know what's happening is unlawful, corrupt, but sit on their hands and remain silent. I joined TDU in 1977 after 4 years as a Teamster. The 180 degree turn by TDU, from a rank and file organization fighting against corruption, fighting for decent contracts, democracy, and proper representation, to today's blind loyalty to O'Brien, is really shocking. I was very active in the TDU Boston Metro chapter and later in the early 80's with the NYC TDU chapter. Seeing all of the decades of hard work result in TDU's accommodation to O'Brien is sickening.

* Bruno Bauer was not a TDU member, but he had been insisting that his grievance(s) be properly represented and addressed by the Local 707 BA "Nicky Black" Grancio. I used to drop trailers across the street from Freidman's Express, driving nights as a yardman for a Local 27 job at Manufacturers Corrugated in Maspeth, Queens. Being a TDU activist then was intense. Ask guys like Teddy Katsaros, Eddie Hernandez, Paul Poulos, Larry and Walter Kudla, the Curd brothers, Don Cavallini, Roberto Sanchez, Hal Leyshon; Some are still here, the ones that are not, must be rolling in their graves. I don't know how Ken Paff and his non-union sidekick David Levin can look themselves in the mirror (correction: David Levin told me in a heated telephone conversation concerning his barring Local 251 organizer, Mike Simone, from a New England TDU meeting, that he (Levin) is now a member of Local 25 - O'Brien's home local! - how did that happen?).

[Gimliboston9]

Wow! Now that Levin is a member he can run for union office! He can be a delegate at the next convention! Paff can’t do that ! Move over Paff levin is now “ the man” but we still have a seat for you at the table , maybe O’Brien can get you a seat in the kitchen in Mar-A-Lago .

[Bob Randall]

Brothers/Sisters: This is the second or third time that I have read that Dave Levin is a 25 member. That's not factual, right?

[Watcher745]

I’ve been told by several members that he is in fact a member of local 25 he was active and present at the transition process after Oz won. I’m assuming that’s non member would have been allowed in that meeting , he was in photos as attending.

[Thisischange?]

Don't you have to work in a craft? What kind of craft is he in running TDU?

[Bob Randall]

GEB members wearing multiple hats would have to return to solely being their Locals' Principle Officers thereby only earning $150,000.00 annually. Have some balls and take a chance by doing the right thing. Cripes!

[Yard Dog]

GEB members should be more worried about running the Union and gearing up for the opposition that is being put together.

[Gimliboston9]

Get real! Between the mergers of locals and the intimidating nature of Oz there will not be enough delegates to nominate a candidate. We are 17 months away from the convention , less then 10 months away from delegate elections. Also guess who is in charge of the election process? That’s right it’s O’Brien. This is why O’Brien acts like there will be no election.

[AlJackson1962!]

RE: DAVID LEVIN's TEAMSTER MEMBERSHIP, AS I UNDERSTAND IT

David Levin told me he was a member of Local 25 in a telephone conversation on or about March 28, 2024. This was in the course of a quite heated telephone conversation. I had protested about TDU barring long-time Teamster Local 251 Organizer, Mike Simone from attendance at a New England regional meeting held in April 2024 in Woonsocket, RI. I was advised by TDU staff that the meeting was open to all Teamsters, active and retired. When Mike Simone sent in his registration payment, TDU unilaterally returned his payment and barred him from attending. Needless to say, I was bullshit over that happening..

I can't say there is anything unique about Levin's being a member of a Teamster local, notwithstanding his not working in a bargaining unit represented by the Teamsters. Hoffa, Jr. claimed he worked the Alaskan Pipeline and was a member of Jesse Carr's local there, as I recall. But, aside from that claim, when he ran for GP, he was a lawyer for the Detroit area Joint Council, as I understand it, and not part of any bargaining unit, as I further understand it.

I worked from 2005 - 2013 as a member of Toledo Local 20, while on the seniority list at Hospira in Franklin, Massachusetts. The warehouse workers that picked our orders to load, were in Local 25 (even though Franklin is generally Local 170 jurisdiction). However, we four Hospira drivers (we delivered to all six New England states and unless we ran out of hours, we were home every night; we were not road drivers). We petitioned Hoffa to transfer us into Local 25, but never received any response.

I ran into Local 25 S/T Mark Harrington at the Stop and Shop, Freetown, MA warehouse, while I was passing out campaign leaflets for Sandy Pope in 2011 (Harrington was campaigning for Hoffa, Jr.). I told Harrington about our predicament at Hospira. We were unable to participate in our local union (Local 20 in Toledo - we all lived in either Mass. or RI), our contract meetings were held by speaker phone - no secret ballots for contract ratification votes, etc.). I was the elected steward at the time. Harrington said he'd talk to Sean O'Brien, then President of Local 25. O'Brien invited the four of us drivers to meet with him in his Charlestown office. We did, We all expressed that we wanted our unit transferred from Local 20 to Local 25 so we could be fully involved in our local union. O'Brien asked if we had contacted Hoffa, Jr. We said yes and I emailed O'Brien a copy of the certified return receipt letter we sent Hoffa, Jr. with our petition. O'Brien never responded to us after that.

So, Levin being in Local 25 does not surprise me. Is it in line with our Teamster Constitution? Certainly not in line with the intent and spirit of it. I believe Levin told me that he was a dues paying Teamster, because in our telephone conversation (see above), I raised the fact that he had never, to my knowledge worked under a Teamster CBA, but felt entitled to bar long-time Teamster Mike Simone from the TDU meeting referenced above.

So that's the story Brother Randall.

Dave Robbins, Local 251, retired

[Nickjamesups]

Dave , you apparently know brother Randall , why not suggest he simply call Levin at TDU and ask him? Actually if brother Randall reads this I am suggesting he call 313-842-2600 or 718-287-3283

[Yard Dog]

Don't bet on that GlimiBoston. Ask the guy from Philly that works in Drive.

[Gimliboston9]

Good luck to any who try, it takes a campaign that is out in the open , no such things as a secret surprise campaign. It takes money , lots of money . It takes leaders who are known and it takes a support group of activists willing to work the campaign. There are many components that need to be put in place AND it takes time and what I am saying is time is running out.
Do you know when O’Brien started his campaign for this next election? THE DAY HE WON THE LAST ONE.

[Watcher745]

That’s 100% true ! O’Brien hired Berlin Rosen day one and they have been spinning everything since and coordinated the nonstop photo ops .

[Bob Randall]

Gimliboston9 is spot on. No such thing as an (effective) surprise campaign. Three things necessary: Name recognition, resources and TIME. If anyone out there might be planning...you are certainly, nearly out of time. Suprise campaigns are always wrongly planned.

[Barry455]

Maybe but this might be different, right now it might only require another name on the ballot.

[WTF891]

The Ozholes are beatable, but they better get this slate together now.

[Gimliboston9]

Barry , are you saying they don’t need 5% of the delegates anymore?

[Yard Dog]

That guy's Sandals from drive must have been bull shitting me then.