How long do these trusteeships last and what is to be expected any help or advice greatly appreciated

You're a Steward, that means you represent and lead some Teamsters in your workplace, right? Lead them by example, Brother. Do some research. First, I would reccomend that you read the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act of 1959, As Amended, (LMRDA). You will find the relevant Federal Labor Laws that deals with Trusteeships in Title III of the Act.

You can read the LMRDA here: http://www.dol.gov/esa/regs/statutes/olms/lmrda.htm

You should also read the IBT Constitution. If you look in the back Index you will find numerous Articles in the IBT Constitution that deal with Trusteeships.

You can find the IBT Constitution here: http://www.teamster.org/about/const/consti...on_June2006.pdf

After about 10 minutes of research, you'll not only be able to answer your own questions, but you'll have obtained some knowledge too. Which you can share with your Brothers and Sisters.

I would also reccommend you read the Consent Decree as well. There is a little known section in there that entitles you as a Member to go to the IBT Building in DC and review any written report issued by the IRB ("Upon completion of an investigation, the Independent Review Board shall issue a written report detailing its findings, charges, and recommendations concerning the discipline of union officers, members, employees, and representatives and concerning the placing in trusteeship of any IBT subordinate body. Such written reports shall be available during business hours for public inspection at the IBT office in Washington, D.C.") That section as well as the Consent Decree in it's entirety can be viewed at: http://www.teamster.org/about/keegel/consentdecree.htm

Lastly, I sincerely apologize on behalf of some of the sorry peices of shit that hold positions in our Union today as Leaders. Those who are too important, too busy, don't care enough, or are otherwise too occupied to answer the basic and simple questions of one of the Members who pay their salaries. Some of these guys forget where they came from sometimes, Brother. Think they are about something, try to fool people into thinking they are, but guys like you and I recognize them for the sorry ass punks and cowards they truly are. Jump in one of them's face with some HARD questions and they'll shit their pants, stutter, run or all three!!!! Some of these so-called Leaders, Brother don't want you to know and/or read the things I am telling you about. They'd rather treat us like mushrooms, by keeping us in the dark and feeding us horsehit. Once you educate yourself and find the answers, please educate another Teamster in return and take the time to point out to him the things I've just pointed out to you.


Hope this helps you, Brother!

Have a great day!

I was looking for members of other locals who were involved in trusteeships and have experiences with them. I am well aware of the IBT constitution and how a trusteeship works. I was looking more for real life experiences. Sorry my post confused you [size="4"][/size]REALTEAM.
But thanks for your words of wisdom as I know you are all about the knowledge.

You're very welcome Brother!

My experience with Trusteeships are they are imposed for a variety of reasons-- generally primarily upon the opposition by The Powers That Be. However, that's not always the case. As you shall see in the not too distant future...

I do know that when Ron Carey was the General President he imposed Trusteeships at will-- only upon his opponents. If you remember the Trusteeships King Ronald the First imposed-- it was only upon those who dared to speak out against him. At the same time, Carey allies like Lucio Reyes were being arrested on Union time, driving Union cars, for soliciting prostitutes and NOTHING was done. Reyes even illegally sent some Members of his Local to a TDU Convention and Carey covered it up. Guys like Bobby Simpson, Ben Leal, and Robert DeRusha (the three IBT GEB Trustees) were pursued because they wanted to do the jobs they were elected too (review the "books" or IBT finance records). TC Stone, Bill Hogan, Frank Wsol, Ernie Tusino, Ralph Taurone and many others were persecuted. Then there's Sam Theodus and Gene Giancumbo, who Carey turned on when they questioned him. Carey allies like Leroy Ellis purchased big screen tv's, Kilmury went nutso with trips to Santa Fe and shopping sprees at Ann Taylor-- all on IBT credit cards. Skelton threatened little guys like Chuck Mosqueda out of Witchita, KS and shipped items like trucks and hats from the IBT archives to his parents home in St. Louis, Gerry Zero pushed Members who campaigned against Carey down the stairs hospitalizing them-- all kinds of stuff was going on. The IBT was out of control.

Interesting enough, the first Trusteeship General President Hoffa imposed was on a Member of his own slate, JD Potter of Grapevine, TX. I don't know whether this speaks ill of Potter, or of the lack of someone doing their homework when he joined the slate. Having said that, it clearly showed that General President Hoffa wasn't going to tolerate the same kinda IBT run amuck that El Ronald Canary perpetuated, enabled, and condoned.

I would tend to believe that Ripoff Ron, the disgraced former GP who is now banned for life, imposed MANY MANY more Trusteeships than General President Hoffa has. Certainly the trusteeship of senile and crazed John "Pee Wee" Morris' Local was WAY overdue, for example.

Trusteeships are imposed for a variety of reasons. Some justified, and some PURELY political. The reasons vary from case to case, from Local to Local. So when you ask for experiences, you may recieve a wide array of answers, and those answers may or may not be applicable in the specific case involving your Local. If you are looking for in general, that's a different thing. I would expect at least one year-- probably a couple until Local Union Elections are held. That's IF (and this is a big if) your Local is not merged with another in JC 41. I'm not saying that because I have reason to believe that may happen. I'm saying that because that seems to be the reality of a trend geared toward mergers and bigger Locals. Kinda like the Stern SEIU model. More of the "top down" democracy, than the "invert the triangle, bottom up democracy" that General President Hoffa spoke of when he was introduced by Frank Wsol and spoke at Teamsters Local 710 in 1995. I have a copy of the tape of that speech. Interesting speech. In it General President Hoffa states "Mineworkers, all Mineworkers-- let's get the Mineworkers out of those jobs and put TEAMSTERS in those jobs" among many other things. Like I said, interesting speech...

What I would suggest yto you if you're looking to use others experinces to gauge what you should expect in your Local, since the dynamics and situations in your Local are unique and varied, you might not effectively obtain what you seek. I'm more of the "Let's cut to the chase, and right to the friggin' point here" school of thought. Go up to the Trustee and ask him, point blank, and see what he says. You'll KNOW, Brother, if this guy is telling you the truth or trying to piss in your ear and tell you it's raining.

Anyone might tell you ANY FRIGGIN' THING here on T net. None of it can actually surpass what you are able to see, hear, and judge for YOURSELF.

Sounds like kind of a f--ked up position your Local Leadership and the opposition left you in. I'm sorry for the Members of your Local, our Brothers and Sisters, who deserve more than that for the money they pay! Good luck and best wishes!

Steward, the Department of Labor has a rule which in essence says that there is a limited 18 month presumption of valididty for trusteeships. The presumption of validity however can be challenged in court. I am not an attorney and that is not a legal opinion, just brother to brother information. Your question was very general in nature so one has to assume they know what you are looking for. After the 18 months, elections are usually held and especially so if the DOL is involved. If there are concerns however regarding the preservation of the integrity of the Local Union such as liquidation of its property or jurisdiction a legal challenge to either the trusteeship or its purpose may be necessary. In such an instance you will need an attorney that is skilled in such matter. If the IRB is involved its a different ball game as they often circumvent DOL rules and process although they most often do abide by the post 18 month, 'election' rule. Also, Real Team gave you good advice and links to very useful websites.

The DOL also states .........

From the DOL - Supervision of a Local: “A parent union's appointment of a supervisor over a local union may constitute a trusteeship; depending on the kinds of duties the supervisor performs. If the supervisor merely attends meetings, listens to discussions, and offers advice, no suspension of autonomy normally occurs. If the supervisor exercises a degree of control over the local, however, by taking such action as directing that the local cancel a scheduled meeting or discharge one of its employees, then the autonomy of the local is suspended and a trusteeship exists.”

From the DOL site “A trusteeship is unlawful if it is not established in accordance with the constitution and bylaws of the parent union or if it is not imposed for one of the specified purposes listed in section 302 of the LMRDA”.

I point that out, because international Unions often commit error when they appoint supervisor or overseers that act beyond the realm of their authority and start issuing threats, restricting membership contact, or restricting the proper and required use of the assets of a Local Union or otherwise taking positions that are the realm of a trustee, thereby creating defacto trusteeship in of itself. There is a lot of precedent and case law information as to both members and Local Union's rights in the DOL website. Trusteeships are at times warranted but they can also represent an abuse of discretion and authority as well.

Two very good posts exactly what I was looking for our local is mess right now. Promises of a new election however as Realteam pointed I see a merger coming along here. The trustee has stated too much politics to have a new election I do not really understand that. We had somewhat of a tainted election with newly elected officers being suspended and not allowed to hold office. Trusteeship came into play disbanded the newly elected Eboard but hired back all the officers as business agents problem was they all ran on the same slate as the two that got suspended so some members feel that if two were bad the whole group is bad. My thoughts were set aside the election which was joint council 41's ruling on the original charges and have a new election and let the cards fall where they may. Put this shit behind us and get our locals people running the hall. The political shit should stop if there is an election that isn't tainted in any way and if the group that won with the two that got suspended retain their spots then so be it. Am I missing something?

One thing which you do have in your favor is that any proposed merger has to be put to a vote in most cases. If you see a potential merger looming on the horizon that you feel would not be in your bests interests, and more importantly, in the best interests of our rank and file Brothers and Sisters in your Local then you have plenty of time to start talking to people, educating people with factual information, obtaining information on the Local you might be merged with far in advance, passing out handbills against it, etc. Forewarned is forearmed. If I felt that was going to happen, it's something I would start working on RIGHT NOW so that if a vote comes you are insured that when our Brothers and Sisters vote, they can cast their votes fully informed and aware of the facts as they can possibly be.

We have a Union today, where politics plays a major role before rank and file Members sometimes, unfortunately. It's sickening sometimes, and very disturbing.

Many of our Officials (I guess to be fair in light of having to run for re-election every three years) become less Teamster and more politicians as time progresses. They support the GP right now. If Tom Leedham were the GP tomorrow, 90 % of them would find an "excuse" to support Tom Leedham (if they kept their jobs). If Tom Leedham had convened the Unity Conference last week, you'd be SHOCKED by the sheer numbers of trained seals who would turn out to bark and clap at each and every word he spoke---so long as it helped them keep their jobs! It's laughable, and disgusting-- both at the same time!

How do you distinguish between a Teamster and a Teamster politician? Very simple. Ask him a basic question YOU ALREADY KNOW the answer too. A hard question, but a basic one. If he looks you in the eye and tells you the friggin' truth-- he's a Teamster! If he looks you in the eye, tells you everything but the truth and takes you around the bushes four times, he's a Teamster politician-- just one rung above a scab (but not by much!) on the ladder!

Too many Teamster politicians keeping too many good Teamsters down these days, in my book!

Well realteam i think i got a politician here he tells you exactly what you want to hear and them some. I am very discouraged thus far at the progress being made with our local. Our construction division is still a wreck and they seem to be devoting all their energy at it and we have do not have a big membership there. Sevral barns have filed for decertification and I believe it is a result of lack of representation they feel they are getting with the trusteship. I am not real sure what they are trying to accomplish. Ready to throw my arms up in the airand wash my hands of it. I feel they do not listen to the members and our hands are tied. I had a construction member explain to them about the prejobs in construction and nothing was done and members are not working these jobs or as many that should be. I have a few more complaints but I will give them the benefeit of the doubt on, but thus far no actions on the trustees and business agents seem to be gettining anything done. I have unheard grievances piling up since February and the companys seem to be doing as they please.

Steward, trusteeships rarely work, even though they are times necessary, The process model that is used is antiquated and not suitable for todays way of doing things and fast moving times. Representation invariably deteriorates and decertifications quickly follow because employers are like sharks following the blood scent. In most instances the cure is worse than the malady. Whenever someone suggests a trusteeship I always tell to be wary of what they wish for.

Just hoping they get us an election so we can get our people back to running our own local

This could not be a more accurate statement with the events that are occuring at local 377 here in Youngstown Ohio.

Ultimately, it's the blame of those two guys doing ill advised, hare brained shit that left your Local in this position-- on which we all agree. But let's take it a step further than that. Many times (and I'm not saying that's the case here) decisions are based upon "What will the IRB do?" or "What will TDU say/do". TDU has special status conferred to it under terms agreed to by the signers of the Consent Decree. I might get some argument about this next statement, but each and everyone of those mfers who signed the Consent Decree not only sold us out, they were basically rats too. The sold us all out to avoid heavy prison time. Nobody likes to do time. But we are all big boys. Do something, you know the consequences, get caught-- handle your business! Do your time. Don't beef on an