IDOT Lawsuit Update
An investigation by the state’s
executive inspector general determined
that about 255 people
were hired at IDOT over a period
of 10 years in violation of
anti-patronage rules. In late
August, acting IDOT Secretary
Erica Borggren announced that
58 people hired as staff assistants,
including 55 Teamsters,
would be laid off effective at the
end of September. Since then,
five have resigned.
No allegations of wrongdoing,
no one claiming that these employees
weren’t doing a good job. The firings were
political cover for Governor Quinn in a tough
election, pure and simple. And it won’t be
allowed to stand.
The 50 Local 916 members at IDOT who
were unfairly terminated by our soon-to-beex-governor
are still working and are expected
to stay on the job until our lawsuit on their
behalf is settled or won.
“No allegations of wrongdoing,
no one claiming that these employees
weren’t doing a good job. The [IDOT] firings were
political cover for Governor Quinn in a tough
election, pure and simple. And it won’t be
allowed to stand.” –Tony Barr, President of Teamsters Local 916
On November 12, the presiding judge
ordered the state to turn over the documents
the union requested last August, documents
needed to determine whether the firings were
illegal, as we suspect.
Now our attorneys will finish preparing the
case and we’ll see some progress on this after
the first of the year.
Fed Ex Organizing
It hasn’t stretched this far west yet, but it’s
coming and eventually will benefit over-the
road drivers and local cartage drivers at the
largest non-union freight operation in the
nation – Fed Ex Freight.
Teamsters Locals out east have been signing
up Fed Ex drivers at a rapid pace this fall,
drivers fed up with inconsistent policies and
rules and, more recently, vicious anti-union
campaigns to stop the organizing. The workers’
own campaigns to join the union are succeeding
and also spreading to Con-Way
Freight, another company down south.
We look forward to the opportunity to
speak with these Fed Ex employees as to the
benefits of belonging to a union.
When the movement gets this far west, and
we believe it will, we will respond to a request
for organizing and Local 916 will welcome the
approximately 100 Fed Ex drivers headquartered
in Lincoln and Riverton.
Gary Bertolino
Sincere condolences go
out to the family of Gary
Bertolino, division representative,
Pro-Tech Div. 3,
IDOT, and longtime Teamster,
who passed away following
a short but brave
battle with cancer on October
23. Gary was only 49
years old. He leaves his wife and three children,
all in college, as well as countless friends
and Teamster brothers and sisters.
Scholarships
This never gets old. Congratulations to all
the children, step-children, grandchildren,
step-grandchildren, and spouses of Local 916
members who are this year’s recipients of
Local 916 college scholarships. These young
people represent some ambitious dreams and
a better future, and all of us should be exceedingly
proud to do our part to help them.
Happy Holidays!
I wish all of you and your families a joyous
and peaceful holiday season. On behalf of the
Local 916 Executive Board, agents and staff,
here’s to a happy and prosperous New Year!
Until next time,