September 10th Protest About Rules on Election
September 10, 2007
Thomas P. Clair, Secretary Treasurer
State and Municipal Teamsters, Chauffeurs and Helpers Union
1645 W. Jackson Blvd., Suite 603
Chicago, IL 60612
Dear Sir and Brother:
I was at your office on September 10, 2007, at 4:15 p.m., to pick up the “RULES FOR THE 2007 IBT LOCAL 726 Officer Election” as stated in the letter sent to me named, “LOCAL 726, IBT NOMINATION AND ELECTION NOTICE”. It clearly states to pick up “(copies of which are available at the Union office)”. I was told by Cari Lumberg that the Rules were not available. I am requesting that you fax me a copy at 773-779-4197, by the end of the business day September 11, 2007 or I will have no other alternative but to file a pre-election protest. Thank you for your assistance in this matter.
Sincerely,
________________________
Vince Tenuto
10940 S. Kedzie
Chicago, IL 60655
Cc: Thomas L. Custer
Joint Council 25
Gary Witlen
International Brotherhood of Teamsters
John J. Cronin Jr.
International Review Board
Pete Landon
Teamsters for a Democratic Union
Robert S. Fritzshall
Chief Counsel / FFTF Slate Local 726
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September 10th Mailings Protest
Thomas Clair, Secretary-Treasurer
Teamsters Local 726
1645 W. Jackson Blvd., Suite 603
Chicago, IL 60612
Dear Sir and Brother,
This is a pre-election protest regarding the conduct of Local 726 election mailing requirements.
We assert all slates or candidates for office in Local 726 should be held to consistent standards when it comes to the conduct of the election.
On September 7, 2007 the Fighting for the Future Slate conducted a mailing at Local 726 as required by the election rules of the Local. We were subjected to the following:
1. Members were told to park in the parking lot next to the building at a personal expense of $13.00. All totaled this parking cost came to $299.00 because representatives of the Local refused to stamp and authorize parking vouchers. We assert the Local should have provided this expense since the Local insisted the mailing be conducted under supervision at the hall. The parking costs of these members should be reimbursed by Local 726.
2. Previously, we were informed that Cari Lumberg would represent Local 726 in matters dealing with election mailings. Upon arrival on September 7, 2007, we were informed that Business Agent Kevin Kaiser would monitor the mailing process. Our understanding is you have designated James Green as the Lawyer for the election. We assert assigning Business Agent Kevin Kaiser as a “monitor” was in violation of the Local 726 election rules. We further assert that since Kevin Kaiser was allowed to observe the Fighting for the Future mailing, our slate should be afforded similar monitor status for any mailings by other slates or candidates.
3. The mailing labels were not properly prepared or reviewed. The print out was not aligned correctly and many labels had to be cut and pasted o r rewritten to be of any use. Also, the count was incorrect based on information Cari Lumberg provided in an August 31, 2007 letter. The active member labels provided were short by 547. Many labels received included the word “retiree” and still others included addresses in Michigan, Texas and Florida. We assert that James Green, is not properly overseeing the election procedures. The membership list should be reviewed and updated prior to the mailing of ballots. No other slate or candidates should be provided with any labels or mailing lists until corrections have been made. The Fighting for the Future Slate should be reimbursed for the expense of this inadequate and inferior mailing.
The consistent conduct of Local 726 election procedures is of the utmost importance to a fair election process. We trust that you and Mr. Green will address these matters accordingly.
Fraternally,
Vince Tenuto
10940 S. Kedzie
Chicago, IL 60655
773-936-6013
Cc: Thomas L. Custer
Joint Council 25
Gary Witlen
International Brotherhood of Teamsters
John J. Cronin Jr.
International Review Board
Pete Landon
Teamsters for a Democratic Union
Teamsters Local 726 Executive Board
Robert S. Fritzshall
Chief Counsel / FFTF Slate Local 726
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September 10th Mailings Protest
*2nd Letter*
September 10, 2007
Thomas Clair, Secretary-Treasurer
Teamsters Local 726
1645 W. Jackson Blvd., Suite 603
Chicago, IL 60612
Dear Sir and Brother,
This is a pre-election protest regarding access to the Local 726 membership list for mailing purposes.
On September 7, 2007 the Fighting for the Future Slate was denied access to labels for the entire Local 726 membership. In a letter dated August 31, 2007, Cari Lumberg wrote the member counts as of August 31, 2007 were: Active members: 4,983 and Members on Withdrawal: 1,274. On September 7, 2007 when the Fighting for the Future Slate arrived at Local 726 to conduct the mailing, Ms. Lumberg informed us we would only have access to labels for the active members.
As you know, many of our members on withdrawal cards in August will return to work in October and be eligible to vote in the upcoming Local 726 election. Is this not the case? If so, their names and addresses should be made available for campaign mailings. That was our understanding with Cari Lumberg prior to arrival on September 7, 2007. You had designated her as the representative of Local 726 for dealing with mailing matters. She informed us of at total member count of 6,257 on August 31, 2007.
To remedy this violation, we assert Local 726 should provide the Fighting for the Future Slate the labels for the membership currently designated as on withdrawal and that Local 726 pay for this delayed mailing.
Fraternally,
Vince Tenuto
10940 S. Kedzie
Chicago, IL 60655
773-936-6013
Cc; Thomas L. Custer
Joint Council 25
Gary Witlen
International Brotherhood of Teamsters
John J. Cronin Jr.
International Review Board
Pete Landon
Teamsters for a Democratic Union
Robert S. Fritzshall
Chief Counsel / FFTF Slate Local 726
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OUR PRE - ELECTION PROTEST
AGAINST LOCAL 726
Thomas Clair, Secretary Treasurer
Teamsters Local 726
1645 W. Jackson Blvd. Suite 603
Chicago IL 60612
Dear Sir and Brother:
This is a pre-election protest filed in accord with the Teamster Constitution and Local 726 Bylaws.
Local 726, and you as Secretary Treasurer, have violated our right to do campaign mailings and harmed our campaign unlawfully and in violation of the International Union Election Guidelines that have been created by General President Hoffa.
We requested a mailing to go out by August 10, 2007, to all members of Local 726, at our expense. We did so in good time to make all arrangements, by faxing you and mailing you the request on July 18. We resent it to you on August 4.
We seek remedies that 1) we immediately be afforded the right to do mailings, and 2) that Thomas Clair pay the mailing and printing costs of our first mailing, as penalty for the self-serving violation of our rights, and 3) Local 726 mail a notice to all members informing them of the violation of our rights.
Thank you.
Fraternally,
____________________ _____________________
Vince Tenuto Joe Vercillo
10940 S. Kedzie 10934 S. Kedzie
Chicago, IL 60655 Chicago, IL 60655
773-936-6013 312-671-3235
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LETTER TO HOFFA
FOR VIOLATION OF OUR RIGHTS
James Hoffa, General President
Teamsters Union
25 Louisiana Ave N.W.
Washington DC 20001
Dear Sir and Brother:
I write to you on a serious violation of our rights, the Teamster Constitution and your own letter to Local Unions of August 2006 regarding the Conduct of Local Union elections.
Consider this an appeal of a denial of our rights by Local 726 to do a campaign mailing, at our expense, to the members of Local 726.
We are candidates for office in Local 726 in the upcoming 2007 election, and part of the Fighting for the Future slate. On July 18, 2007, we wrote to Local 726 informing them of our candidacy and our desire to do a mailing by August 10, 2007, to the entire membership. (A copy of that letter is attached.) We directed our letter to Secretary Treasurer Clair.
On August 4, 2007, we re-sent brother Clair the same letter, again by fax and certified mail. (Copy attached.)
Local 726 has denied our right to do a mailing by simply refusing to respond. They have already harmed our campaign irreparably as we could not do our August 10 mailing.
We seek immediate relief from you, brother Hoffa. We ask that you direct Local 726 to follow the constitution, your election guidelines and the law. It is already late.
Thank you for your consideration.
Fraternally,
_______________________ _________________________
Vince Tenuto Joe Vercillo
10940 S. Kedzie 10934 S. Kedzie
Chicago, IL 60655 Chicago, IL 60655
773-936-6013 312-671-3235
Cc: Thomas Clair, Local 726 Secretary Treasurer
Election Protest
