TDU afraid of Teamsters Mobilize

[OT+]

[NYNick]

Paff is afraid of anyone challenging his ambitions.

[WTF891]

What ambitions? To be head of a rudderless co-opted clown show. That's the legacy of the non-Teamster sellout 5 dollar whore.

[AlJackson1962!]

Great article Brother Allen. I worked out of the Local 707 hiring hall in Woodside, Queens back in 82-84 while on seasonal layoff from my Local 553 job at Central Petroleum in the Bronx. One morning, after being dispatched to a freight carrier, also in Queens (I worked at so many different barns as a hiring hall casual then, I can’t recall which barn I was at that particular day), as I was loading my deliveries for a P&D run, I noticed a guy motioning workers on the dock to gather around him. I asked an old timer, who is that guy? He said: “That’s Nicky Black.” My fellow NYC TDU member and Local 707 member Eddie Hernandez had turned me on to the 707 hiring hall. Work was pretty consistent for awhile. But after I was the last guy waiting to get dispatched one morning, Buster Stroiano, who ran the hiring hall, called me to the front where he sat at a table. “Robbins, the Local doesn’t pay to heat this place in the Winter, so everyone makes a donation for the fuel oil, before the season starts. Nothing doing today, but see you next week.” So I showed up the next Monday morning and walked up to Buster and gave him an envelope with a personal check for like $25 made out to “Teamsters Local 707 Hiring Hall Heating Fund.” Buster took the envelope and put it in his pocket. About a half hour later with about 15-20 guy’s still waiting for work, Buster yells: “Robbins, we don’t take checks!” A member sitting next to me asked me if I tried to “Buy a book?”” I explained and he just nodded. He did eventually dispatch me that day, and pretty much whenever I showed up thereafter. I talked to other TDU members including Eddie Hernandez for starters, and Teddy Katsaros, who I worked with at Central Petroleum. Later, at a TDU fundraiser in lower Manhattan, Paul Poulos jabbed his finger into my chest complaining that I should have filed a charge. My wife was pregnant with our first child and I told Poulos that I already had a charge at the NLRB against Ferrara Brothers (where I also worked as casual) a Local 282 job in College Point, Queens. Ferrara Brothers wasn’t paying time and one half after 8 hours pursuant to the CBA. Two other Ferrara casuals also said they weren’t getting time and a half. Ronnie, the Union steward told the three of us: “It’s better you don’t say anything if you want to keep working here.” I filed a grievance and two months later while punching out at Central Petroleum (I’d been recalled by that time for the heating season), the lady in the office told me that Ferrara Brothers had called looking for me because they had a check for me to pick up at their plant in College Point. So driving home to Sunset Park in Brooklyn from Central in the South Bronx, stopped at Ferrara Brothers and Vinnie Ferrara told me”Here’s your overtime pay, sign this release.” I said I’m not signing a release. I just want my overtime pay. So he gives me the check and gets in my face and said: If you ever set foot on this property again, I’ll crack your head open!” Going out the door Ronnie, the corrupt steward says: “Why didn’t you go through me?” I told him he said to keep my mouth shut if I wanted to keep working. He then tries to pick a fight. We used to empty any leftover concrete into forms used to make Jersey barriers, and I imagined my body being encased in one, my wife was almost 8 months pregnant and I had no interest in letting Ronnie goat me into a fight. I drove home with my check. So, yeah, building TDU wasn’t a cakewalk. We paid our dues and a lot more. But we didn’t fight for 50 years to support a pro-fascist Teamster General President!
Fight the Power Brothers and Sisters! Together we will win!

[WTF891]

What he said!! Right on Brother!

[X-TDUer]

Their afraid but it's more about the O'Brien endorsement. Endorse a pro-fascist Teamster General President now, and in Chicago? I don't think so.

[Gimliboston9]

As in most things in this world , follow the money. Paff and levin have been able to move out of the rat holes they have used as offices into the most expensive area in New York. How did that happen? Did the members all of a sudden realize TDU is the answer? More likely the endorsement quid pro quo opened the coffers of locals all over the “ Oz World” to sponsor trips to the TDU conventions . TDU has become an another TNBC, Hispanic Caucus, Women’s conference, it’s an organization that is an excuse for weekend getaways. Think about this, why would women teamsters go to events with a general president who posts a photo of a man with a pistol pointed at a woman’s head? Why? Why would non white teamsters attend events with a general president who had to settle a racial discrimination suit with millions of members dollars for firings based on race? Think about it. Free airfare, free hotel rooms , free banquets and more photo ops!
Now those photo ops take place at the TDU convention. Come to Chicago and have a beer with the very people who used to be exposed by TDU for being corrupt old guard thugs.
Follow the money!
Cant wait until the convention is moved to Boston.

[Knucklehead]

Maybe SOB can invite Dana White, Josh Hawley or Mark Wayne be a quest speaker at TDU '25? Or some of the other OZ campaign events (Womens, Hispanic, Scholarship, etc)Trumps freakin govt isn't doing a thing right now! Plenty of FOS ready and available to preach the good word at Teamster events!

[AlJackson1962!]

Knucklehead commented
10-22-2025, 02:50 PM
Maybe SOB can invite Dana White, Josh Hawley or Mark Wayne be a quest speaker at TDU '25? Or some of the other OZ campaign events (Womens, Hispanic, Scholarship, etc)Trumps freakin govt isn't doing a thing right now! Plenty of FOS ready and available to preach the good word at Teamster events!

Knucklehead: Maybe they should invite Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez Deremer, the RTW for less appointee highly recommended by GP O'Brien. At the 1996 IBT Convention, chaired by GP Ron Carey, the featured speaker was Labor Secretary Robert Reich. He may have been the most pro-labor US Secretary of Labor since FDR's appointee, Francis Perkins.

[WTF891]

Correct if you are not a student of history you should be. The history of labors struggles and victories are important. FDR got it and appointed a union preson. Trump is a scab and appoints union busters. By proxy SOB is a scab sleeping with scabs. A sellout whore just like Paff and Levin.

[Knucklehead]

I agree. Sec'y Dereemher has to be a featured speaker. If not, why did he go to her confirmation hearing, among other DOL events, and hold her hand and have a reception? Sec'y Reich has proven to be the best we ever had in modern era. Made Clinton admin tolerable in my opinion. Maybe have another virtual reality Convention so no one can see behind the Wizard of OZ curtain?

[The Direct Line]

Man, an organization with "Democratic" one would believe that they wouldn't have a problem with dissenting voices let alone passing out literature but that was the 2025 TDU convention. Resorting to have hotel security and management tell you that you cannot pass out literature is undemocratic.

[Thisischange?]

This from 952 Teamsters United
In 2009 TDU which was the watchdog that kept Teamsters members informed on the corruption scandals that have plagued the union since their inception in 1976 reported on the disgraceful fall of JC 42 head - Jim Santagelo. He was brought down following a sexual harassment scandal against a staff member that cost $500,000. https://www.tdu.org/news_members-drive-santangelo-out...
Two years later (2011) another JC 42 local in Los Angeles was hit with another corruption scandal. TDU then reported: "Paul Kenny, the Local 630 principal officer, improperly spent $154,929 of union funds for 598 meals and liquor in less than four years. Nearly $1,000 a week embezzled to spend at local restaurants, one of them “known for its wine list.” There was “no union purpose” for any of the spending." https://www.tdu.org/irb-reports-embezzlement-local-630
This week it was learned that Vice President-at-Large - Chris Griswold had announced his sudden resignation from the Teamsters. However, it was quickly revealed that he was dirty and had been hit with charges by the IIO/IDO/IRO and that Teamster GP - Sean O'Brien had forced him to step down from all Teamster position: VP, JC 42 and Local 986.
This news is taken by many JC 42 locals as the heaviest blow since the disgraceful fall of Santangelo in 2009.
However, since Griswold was one of O'Brien's top lieutenants and being groomed to take over as GST after Fred Zuckerman's retirement, TDU has yet to report on this scandal.
TDU's 50th annual convention begins today where protests against O'Brien's endorsement are expected.