The Independent Review Board—an entity established to investigate alleged wrong doing within the Teamsters Union—has recommended charges be enforced against International Vice-President and Local 25 President Sean O'Brien for violations of the IBT Constitution. The Charges stem from threats made by O'Brien against the political opposition of his ally Secretary-Treasurer Joseph Bairos of Local 251 in Rhode Island. O' Brien's remarks were caught on video and posted on YouTube on September 9th leaving no question as to his guilt. As the IRB findings state, O'Brien made threats that those who support Bairos' opposition "need to be punished", that they "will have major problems", and "need to be held accountable". As not only an IBT vice-president, but also the president of Joint Council 10 (which includes Local 251), O'Brien has the ability to carry out these anti-democratic threats against the members. However, this is a gross violation of Article II, Sec. 2(a) and Article XIX, Sec. 7(b)(2) and 10 of the IBT Constitution as well as labor law. The IRB is recommending O'Brien be charged for bringing reproach on the union for these despicable acts against the membership of Local 251. O'Brien is no stranger to putting his own narrow political objectives above the rights and needs of the membership. As many of you recall, O'Brien and Ken Hall attempted to force a substandard and concessionary Louisville Air Supplement on the membership of Teamsters Local 89. Despite protests by President Fred Zuckerman on behalf of the thousands of members in the WorldPort Operation, O'Brien and Hall pushed the National Negotiating Committee to allow the Supplement to be sent out for a vote. O'Brien and Hall put the demands of UPS ahead of the membership they were elected to serve. However, Local 89 members united against the "sell out and move on" approach of O'Brien/Hall and rejected the agreement by 89%. Retaliation of any form cannot and should not be allowed within the Teamsters Union. To blatantly trample on the rights of the members in such a heinous manner is absolutely intolerable. For these despicable acts, O'Brien should be removed from all union offices. No member should live in fear for exercising his or her rights guaranteed under the IBT Constitution. We applaud the recommendation of the IRB and hope General President Hoffa moves quickly to bring justice in this matter. O'Brien's arrogance and disrespect for the membership brings great blight and shame to the entire Teamsters Union. Sadly, we do not find this despicable behavior and lack of respect surprising coming from a Ken Hall's greatest prodigy.

• published: 26 Oct 2013
• views: 430