• Abstract and Figures
• Public Full-text

In 1993 former Teamsters President (TDU) leader Dan Campbell, a union Ron Carey put Local 705 in a trustee- representative at Local 705. ship, which cleaned up massive The rivalry between Zero and Ground Zero financial mismanagement and began McCormick may have its origins in Two reform-minded building a democratic, progressive and Carey's decision to slate Zero for the militant local. When the trusteeship top spot in the local's 1995 election. Teamsters battle for control ended in 1995, the members narrowly Although Zero gave McCormick of an important local elected as their new leaders the two responsibility for the UPS members, trustees, both of whom had both been who make up more than half the local, By David Moberg longtime advocates of reform—Jerry Zero—who had worked for a small Zero, who held the principal officer trucking company—clearly was the CHICAGO—On a recent sunny Sunday position of secretary-treasurer, and primary leader. Zero emphasized more afternoon, a crowd of Teamsters from John McCormick, the local's president rank-and-file involvement in bargain- Local 705 took a brief break from their (and No. 2 position). ing, organizing and other union beer and tamales to cheer as Tom Now Zero and McCormick are at activities, and greatly expanded the Leedham, the leading challenger to each other's throats in a hotly contested system of stewards to inform and mobi- Teamsters President James Hoffa in next local election that could have national lize the members for action. He also year's election, praised their union as repercussions. McCormick had been the committed the union to local coali- "the best damn Teamsters local in the No. 2 candidate on Leedham's slate tions (like Jobs With Justice), country." Indeed, with about 19,500 when he ran a surprisingly strong race solidarity actions for other unions members working at UPS, freight com- against Hoffa in 1998, and Leedham (from California farmworkers to panies and a wide range of other clearly needs support from Local 705's Salvadoran garment workers), broad trucking-related firms, Local 705 has leaders next year. Such an internecine educational programs for rank-and-file been one of the stalwarts of the struggle certainly doesn't help the leaders, and progressive politics (sup- Teamsters reform movement in a city reformers, but it might force them to porting both labor-friendly Democrats that has otherwise remained define more clearly what they're for, not and the Labor Party). a stronghold of just what they're against, argues Tension between the two escalated the old guard. Teamsters for a Democratic Union early last year, when Zero was suspend- British family planning charity called Marie Appall-o-Meter Slopes International is starting what it .calls a "vasectomy tourism service" in an By David Futrelle attempt to icall attention to an archaic French law prohibiting vasectomies as a The Raffleman [8.2] form of "self-mutilation." Though the law, Whatever happened to zero tolerance? will have them. But we don't have to go which dates back to Napoleonic times, is Parents in most parts of the country seem that far. In fact, a new bill signed into law ;io longer enforced, it remains on the pretty eager to see guns banished from by Texas Gov. George W. Bush has made books. "In th'e spirit of European together- schools. But in Bastrop, Louisiana parents it possible for hundreds of convicted crim- ness, [we are] offering vasectomy to our have decided to raise money by getting inals to get licenses to carry concealed iFrench neighbors," a spokeswoman for their kids to sell tickets to a shotgun raffle. weapons. Bush and other supporters of the charity told the press. "We also hope Sure, it has been only a few weeks since the new law, which ends Texas' longtime to raise awareness about the archaic two middle school students in nearby ban on concealed weapons, would require penal codes which limit reproductive New Orleans shot and wounded each potential license holders to undergo a rig- other on school grounds. But the Parent orous background check. But a recent Teacher Organization of Beekman School investigation by the Los Angeles 77mes is going ahead with plans to raffle, off a revealed that hundreds of violent criminals new shotgun to one lucky winner, despite had somehow slipped through the cracks. opposition from some parents. This isn't Still, one Bush policy adviser told the the first gun raffle to be held at the Times that he considered the law a Beekman school. And if some parents '"smashing success." "There will always; be have their way, it won't be the last. "The : nightmare cases" said Johnny Sutton, men go nuts for this stuff," one raffle- Bush's criminal justice advisor. "Somebody supporting parent told The Associated will always get through that we wish Press. "If we could have bought a bass wouldn't, but not that many slip by." boat and raffled that off, we would, but we could not afford that." Holiday Shears [4.6| It's fair to say that most Frenchmen trav- :choice in France." So far, though, the char- Packing Heat \B.7\ eling to England, don't do it for the food. ity has had: only one taker-and both Le If we outlaw guns, as that famous But now, The Associated Press reports, .Monde and '.Le Figaro have refused to run bumper sticker slogan goes, only outlaws; they can do it for the vasectomies. A :ads promoting the service. IN THESE TIMES 6 NOVEMBER 27. 2000 LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED ed from union office for a year on a charge that he had shoved a local union opponent (although the union's independent review board, which imposed the penalty, also blamed the opponent, now a top aide to Hoffa, for "deliberate provocation" by engaging in illegal campaigning). Then in late 1998 local union staff decided to organize their own union affiliated with the Mineworkers. McCormick strongly opposed the move, blaming Zero for bringing in another union. During his tenure as principal officer in Zero's absence, McCormick suggest- ed that Zero would not return and that he had discovered evidence of wrong- doing that would lead to internal union charges against Zero. As the jockeying for power intensified, local reformers invited Leedham to inter- Jerry Zero and John McCormick vene. After a two-day meeting in a hotel room near O'Hare airport last The election battle is already intense securing the traditional insurance January, Leedham and the two men and rancorous. Zero and his supporters before a strike that is now running up signed a truce that would keep them insist that the central issue of the elec- large legal bills. together as a unified slate. tion is continuation of reform based on "He's a johnny-come-lately reformer," Zero maintains that McCormick, mobilization of members to win and McCormick says, "and now he's one of under pressure from supporters with lit- enforce better contracts and to orga- the first to go south on us. I didn't lose tle commitment to reform, never nize new workers. They criticize faith in original reform principles. intended to abide by the agreement. McCormick for opposing the creation He did." McCormick says that Zero violated the of a local strike fund and a stewards' "The whole fight is just about their truce by firing two staffers soon after he council. Zero wanted these in order to wanting the power," Zero responds. returned last February. (The agreement develop a system for electing shop "We were always colleagues, as far as said that no staff would be fired without stewards, who are now appointed. They getting reform going. I always tried to cause, but Zero maintained the two peo- also maintain that McCormick made share in the glory. John was always ple fired were not doing their job.) concessions and failed to fight aggres- behind me, but usually two blocks Shortly afterward McCormick filed sively on various issues, including behind me, and if it got rough, three internal union charges against Zero for improving pensions. blocks behind me." negotiating with the staff union, criticiz- For his part, McCormick criticizes While most of the staff and local ing and working against other officers, Zero for his performance in represent- TDU activists support Zero, the major- and improperly approving some staff ing workers at UPS, as well as his ity of the old executive board backs leaves and pay raises. As the conflict esca- financial management and attempts to McCormick. Neither candidate is lated, Zero fired McCormick and three seize power by illegally dismissing him endorsing Hoffa or Leedham. But there other officers from their non-elected and the other officials. McCormick are clear signs that Hoffa, who will positions as business agents. The four charges that Zero will run a deficit of have the final voice in most of the went to court to get their pay restored. $300,000 this year as a result of hiring charges filed against Zero, has been While that case is being appealed, inter- extra staff to work for his re-election. courting his support. Zero has appeared nal union charges against Zero have also He argues that Zero is resorting to old- at events with Leedham but says, "I'm been filed over the dismissals. guard-style efforts to maintain his not disappointed with some things Now Zero and McCormick are head- power through misuse of union Hoffa has done." ing opposing slates in the local election finances, after McCormick operated While the bitter fight is a setback for that concludes in early December, with with a surplus last year.

Load more

  4

Copy Link