"Ron Carey; worked to rid Teamsters of mob ties" by Sam Hananel, Associated Press | December 13, 2008
WASHINGTON - Former Teamsters president Ron Carey, who pledged to rid the union of mob corruption but was later forced from leadership in a financial scandal, died Thursday at the age of 72.
Mr. Carey died at New York Hospital Medical Center of Queens of complications from lung cancer, his son Daniel said yesterday by phone. After a stint in the Marines, Mr. Carey first joined the Teamsters in 1956 while working as a driver for
Of course he had to be taken down: he was ONE of US!!!!!!
In 1989, federal officials began overseeing much of the Teamsters' operations after the union settled a civil racketeering lawsuit alleging it was controlled by organized crime. The settlement required top officials to be chosen by union members, a decision that led to Mr. Carey becoming the first Teamster president elected by membership.
When he took the helm of the union in 1992, Mr. Carey cut his own salary, eliminated perks such as limousines and private jets, and removed dozens of local leaders tainted by mob influence. In 1997, Mr. Carey led 185,000 workers in a two-week strike against UPS that cost the company $750 million and ultimately won the union 10,000 new full-time jobs. The 1997 walkout is considered one of the most successful victories in the modern labor movement.
And ULTIMATELY cost Carey his job!! You DON'T DO THAT to the corporate power structure and get away with it!!!
"I worked closely with Ron on the UPS strike, which was so pivotal and successful in holding the line on standards for workers," AFL-CIO president John Sweeney said yesterday. "He played an important role in leading and changing the labor movement."
Mr. Carey won reelection in 1996 over James P. Hoffa, son of the former Teamsters president Jimmy Hoffa, but the result was later overturned after charges that Mr. Carey's campaign illegally used about $885,000 in union funds. Unions are prohibited from using their own money to fund election campaigns.
Mr. Carey was forced out of office in 1997 and banned from the union. Hoffa won a new election in 1998 and remains president of the 1.4 million-member union. Federal prosecutors later indicted Mr. Carey on charges of perjury and making false statements for telling investigators he was not aware of the scheme.
Translation: As with Blago, the FEDS were called in to get him!
A federal jury acquitted him of all charges in 2001. In addition to his son, Mr. Carey leaves his wife, Barbara, and four other children.
Oh, ACQUITTED, was he?
Just sign right here, Lord!
