Craig Gonsalves
Castro Valley, California 94546

December 15, 1997

Mr. James P. Hoffa
c/o Joint Council 43
2801 Trumbull Avenue
Detroit, Michigan 48216
Certified # P 195 619 848

Re: The Illegal Removal and Illegal Appointment of Shop Stewards at the UPS Oakland Hub

Dear Mr. Hoffa:

Teamster Local 70, headed by Chuck Mack, your running mate for West Coast Vice President, is currently under investigation by the Election Officer, Benetta M. Mansfield (Case No. PR-038).

Teamster Local 70 Business Agent, Marty Frates has been systematically, illegally removing pro-democracy shop stewards from office and illegally replacing them with pro-status quo shop stewards. As you know, pro-democracy stewards are those stewards that represent the membership. Pro-status quo stewards are those stewards that represent the political aspirations or preferences of their Business Agents.

Marty is a staunch supporter of yours. He faithfully wore a Hoffa cap and tee shirt during the UPS strike. Marty Frates has indicated that you would be interested in this problem that we are having at the UPS Oakland Hub.

Please review the attached documentation that spans the past 28 months. My letters of 08-14-95 and 12-01-96 (Corrected from 10-01-96) define the problem. I have included correspondence from other stewards that were illegally removed from office. Kim Marchant was notified of her illegal removal from office in a letter from Marty Frates, dated July 29, 1997, that was written in violation of the Shop Steward Rules and Regulations for Local 70. I have included letters from Daniel Dugar and Maran Wilson. Additional stewards have been victimized and documentation can be made available on request.

All of our attempts to deal with this matter have been in vain. The attached letters from Local 70 Secretary Treasurer, Chuck Mack, fail to address this travesty of representation. Do you approve of union officials that openly and arrogantly violate the by-laws of their local? Do you condone the inaction of Chuck Mack, your choice for West Coast Vice President of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters? We brought this situation to the attention of Chuck Mack and he failed to act on it.

Marty Frates apparently wanted this situation brought to your attention. A prompt reply will be greatly appreciated. We'll keep you informed of all the latest developments.

Fraternally,
 
 

Craig Gonsalves

CG:ce

cc:
Mike Lewis, Chairman, I.B.T. Ethical Practice Committee
Bob Blanchet, I.B.T. Representative
Beneta Mansfield, I.B.T. Election Officer
http://wwwthesteward.hypenet.com
 

Hyperlinked List of enclosures accompanying letter of 12-15-97 from Craig Gonsalves to James Hoffa.
1. Teamster Local 70 Rules and Regulations for Shop Stewards
2. Section 14 of Teamster Local 70 Bylaws.
(95-08-08 Frates to Gonsalves - Sent under separate cover, see bottom of page.)
3. 95-08-14 Gonsalves to Frates Re: 30 day leave from Steward duties.
(95-08-17 Frates to Gonsalves - Sent under separate cover, see bottom of page.)
4. 96-06-28 Frates to Gonsalves Re: Grievance.
5. 96-12-01 Gonsalves to Mahoney Re: Discrimination against Stewards.
(97-02-20 Frates to Gonsalves - Sent under separate cover, see bottom of page.)
6. 97-03-20 Frates to Gonsalves Re: Filing of grievance.
7. 97-03-28 Kim Marchant Re: Documentation of Steward incident.
8. 97-03-31 Frates to Dugar Re: Unacceptable conduct during grievance meeting.
9. 97-03-31 Gonsalves and Olson to Mack Re: Request for Steward list.
10. 97-04-03 Frates to Gonsalves and Olson Re: Response to request for Steward list.
11. 97-04-22 Gonsalves to Frates Re: Request for names of Stewards
12. 97-04-25 Frates to Gonsalves Re: End of the matter.
13. 97-05-08 Gonsalves to Frates Re: Swearing at members
14. 97-05-22 Gonsalves to Mack Re: Frates failure to inform members.
15. 97-05-27 Frates to Gonsalves Re: "My personality is mine and it will not change".
16. 97-05-28 Mack to Gonsalves Re: Misunderstanding my role as a member of Local 70.
17. 97-06-30 Gonsalves to Silva Re: The duty of the President.
18. 97-07-07 Gonsalves to Mack Re: My illegal removal from office.
19. 97-07-08 Wilson to Mack Re: A shocking announcement that I am no longer Shop Steward.
20. 97-07-16 Marchant to Mack Re: Concern about the inappropriate behavior of Marty Frates.
21. 97-07-21 Mack to Marchant, Gonsalves and Wilson Re: Common concerns.
22. 97-07-28 Frates to Gonsalves Re: I challenge you to provide facts.
23. 97-07-28 Frates to Gonsalves Re: My personality is mine and it will not change.
24. 97-07-29 Frates to Marchant Re: What matters is that we are here for the members.
25. 97-08-27 Dugar to Mack Re: Being subjected to a frightening situation at work.
26. 97-09-02 Frates to Dugar Re: He should be canonized for putting up with your insults.
27. 97-10-29 Concerned members to Mack & Executive Board Re: It is the duty of all members to read these rules as they will be strictly enforced.
28. 97-11-06 Mack to concerned members Re: There isn't yet an agreement in place.
29. 97-11-11 Concerned members to Mack Re: Failure to address primary concern.
30. 97-11-17 Gonsalves to Mansfield Re: Complaint to Election Officer
31. 97-11-19 Gonsalves to Frates Re: Interfering with our right to file grievances
32. 97-11-24 Frates to Gonsalves Re: Filing a grievance is a right not a liberty.
33. 97-11-25 Mansfield to Gonsalves Re: Election Office Case No. PR-038.
34. 97-12-11 Mack to Alexander Re: Steward removal by election or the Executive Board.
35. 97-12-15 Gonsalves to Frates Re: Response to confusing letter of November 24, 1997.

95-08-08 Frates to Gonsalves Re: I want to thank you for your years of service.
95-08-17 Frates to Gonsalves Re: We will discuss your status as a shop steward.
97-02-20 Frates to Gonsalves Re: Quit pretending to be a shop steward.
97-12-18 Frates to Gonsalves Re: Let's get the facts straight again.
97-12-29 Mack to Gonsalves Re: There is no political litmus test.
98-01-12 Gonsalves to Frates Re: You removed me from Office on the pretense that I resigned.
98-01-21 Gonsalves to Mack Re: Let the Members Decide.
98-01-23 Mack to Gonsalves Re: I don't have the time or inclination to further participate.