Investigation of Chuck Mack and Marty Frates, Teamster Election Officer

THE STEWARD Hoffa V.P. Candidate Chuck Mack Under Investigation!

Oakland, Ca. - 1/12/98 - Mr. James P. Hoffa's running mate Chuck Mack, President, Joint Council 7 and Secretary Treasure of Teamster Local 70 is under investigation by Interim Teamster Election Officer Beneta M. Mansfield Case No. PR-038. Union Stewards at United Parcel Service Oakland Hub allege Business Agent Marty Frates is systematically removing Pro-Democracy, Pro Ron Carry Stewards and replacing them with Pro-Hoffa Stewards in violation of Local 70 by-laws. Letters were sent to Local 70's Principal Officer, Secretary Treasure Chuck Mack requesting that he take action and no action was forth coming.

Section 8 (D & E) of the Local 70 bylaws indicates the duties of the Principal Executive Officer. Section 8 (D) states; "The principal officer shall have the authority to interpret these bylaws and decide all questions of law thereunder, between meetings of the Local Union Executive Board". Section 8 (E) states; "The principal officer shall enforce the International Constitution and these bylaws adopted by this Union and shall ensure that all officers perform their respective duties".

"This was Brother Mack's responsibility and He let us down" said Craig Gonsalves expelled Local 70 Shop Steward at UPS. The I.B.T. Election Officer has forwarded this case for action to Christine M. Mrak, Esq. of Webster, Mrak & Blumberg at 600 Puget Sound Plaza, 1325 Fourth Avenue, Seattle, Wa. 98101.

If you have experienced a similar situation contact The I.B.T. Election Officer at 800-565-VOTE or 202-624-3500. Let us know at The Steward what you think at Steward2@aol.com.

Hoffa V.P. Candidate Chuck Mack Agrees To Steward Elections

Oakland, Ca. - 2/2/98 - Hoffa V.P. Candidate Chuck Mack, President, Joint Council 7 and Secretary Treasure of Teamster Local 70 has come to an agreement with the Teamster Election Officer's Attorney Christine M. Mrak. Mr. Mack has agreed to hold Steward elections at the UPS Oakland Hub sometime in the next 2 weeks. "This is very good but will the elections take place in a democratic Manner and by secret ballot? These elections must be monitored by a third party to insure fairness," said Craig Gonsalves expelled Local 70 Shop Steward at UPS. "There still are many issues that we need to address. I was illegally removed as shop steward and so were other Pro-Democracy, Pro-Carey shop stewards and Pro-Hoffa stewards were illegally appointed. Now and in the future we will address all violations of the Federal Labor Code, Union constitution and by-law violations.

I have not yet received a response from Mr. Hoffa to my letter detailing the illegal behavior of his Vice Presidential running mate Mr. Mack and Teamster Local 70 Business agent Marty Frates.

Click here to view the letter to Mr. Hoffa and all attached documentation sent to Election Officer.

Whining C. Gonsalves irrational babbling Date: Sat, 7 Feb 1998 By Ronold Horner Shop Steward at Yellow Freight E-mail: T70ronh@aol.com

I'm a freight steward in Local 70 and would like to offer a more accurate point of view. The following is a response to a posting on your web page by Craig Gonsalves on February 2nd. I'd appreciate it if you'd post the following response. Thank you:

It's time to set the record straight. Over the last several months, you've been "treated" to the irrational babblings of Craig Gonsalves, a member of Local 70. Gonsalves has been attempting to sell a story that Local 70 representatives, Chuck Mack and Marty Frates are sacking UPS stewards who are pro-Carey and replacing them with those who are pro-Hoffa. (continued click here)

Is This Irrational Babble? Reply to E-mail of 2-7-98 from Ronald Horner, Shop Steward at Yellow Freight

February 21, 1998

Dear Brother Horner:

Thank you for offering a dissenting opinion to the readers of the Steward Web Page. I don’t think I know you and you don’t appear to know me. I appreciate this opportunity to respond to your point of view. However, I’m having some difficulty in determining if you are speaking for yourself or someone else. Did Marty Frates and Chuck Mack ask you to present their position to the Steward Web Page? You are obviously aware of the details of the conversation that the investigative attorney for the election officer, Ms. Mrak, had with Chuck Mack. Did Chuck Mack discuss this topic at a membership meeting or was it a private conversation? Your remarks appear to be politically motivated.

I believe that our readers would prefer facts to rhetoric. The situation that democratic reform stewards have had to deal with, at United Parcel Service, is well documented on this web page. No one is arguing that Local 70 elects some stewards. A major problem exists when some stewards are appointed and others removed from office illegally, in violation of the Shop Steward Rules and Regulations and bylaws for Local 70. To quote the Rules: "These rules are to be posted on the Employee’s Bulletin Board. Any member marring or defacing these Rules and Regulations shall be subject to citation. It is the duty of all members to read these rules as they will be strictly enforced." Brother Horner, have you ever seen The Shop Steward Rules and Regulations posted on your bulletin board? I’ve never seen them posted at UPS. (continued click here)

Response to Craig "Can't-Get-It-Straight" February 26, 1998

Response to Craig "Can't-Get-It-Straight"Gonsalves This is a follow-up to the "Craig Gonsalves Irrational" posting sent on February 7, 1998. Old "Can't-Get-It-Straight" Gonsalves has posted on the web some 40 letters with the intent of attacking or discrediting Chuck Mack, Marty Frates and, eventually, Jimmy Hoffa. This is all about Marty Frates allegedly removing pro-Carey Shop Stewards at UPS and replacing them with pro-Hoffa Stewards. Guess what? Gonsalves loses again! The Election Officer emphatically rejected all of his charges. Will he now print an apology? Or better yet, the decision of the Election Officer? The next set-back for Gonsalves will probably be when he runs for Shop Steward. That's if he has the guts to run! The rumor around UPS from those drivers who've been around is that Craig has yet to win a grievance. In fact, he almost lost his own discharge case. He's lucky Marty Frates bailed him out! Old "Can't-Get-It-Straight" Gonsalves should be explaining to his co-workers what his buddy Ron Carey did with our dues money and why Ron can't run for office instead of attacking those who have covered his buns. Maybe one day he'll get a mind of his own.

Ron Horner

Mr. Horner our readers would be interested in some answers to the questions posed by Mr. Gonsalves.
Thank You, The Steward

Craig Gonsalves Response to Election Officer Denial March 26, 1998

Dear Readers:

I have posted the findings of the election officer, regarding my complaint, on the Steward Web Page. The investigation was thorough and fair. A number of facts were uncovered that shed further light on the source of difficulties we are having with representation.

The protest was basically found invalid. This was the result of two primary findings. 1. The protest was untimely. 2. The actions protested were found not to be directly the result of campaigning for Ron Carey.

The actions I protested were not found to be legal or rightful. They were simply not under the jurisdiction of the election officer. Lies were uncovered yet not addressed for this reason. However, I believe that the process of filing a complaint was worthwhile. I am learning my rights and how to exercise them in the workplace.

I have learned that if there is something wrong it should be brought to the attention of the appropriate officials immediately. I have learned that I must study the bylaws, the contract and the National Labor Relations Act. I can't exercise my rights if I don't know them. If other involved parties and I had known that we had six months to file a complaint with the NLRB, additional evidence would have been available and my protest may not have been denied.

The steward election was held at United Parcel Service. I lost by five votes. The election appeared to be fair in regards to myself. Unfortunately UPS chose to obstruct the steward election process and denied Steward Randy Olson, a pro-reform, pro Carey Steward, his right to enter the property for campaign purposes.

I'll keep you posted as events unfold.

Fraternally,

Craig Gonsalves

Protest Denied "In the instant matter, the Election Officer finds that there have been serious animosities between pro-Hoffa Business Agent Frates and a number of Local Union 70 pro-Carey stewards, including Mr. Gonsalves. Despite the pronounced partisan enmity between the parties, there is evidence of the existence of a reasonable independent basis for the discharge of the stewards from their appointed office which defeats the allegation of improper motivation. Consequently, the investigation does not support the protester's contention that all of the stewards were dismissed due to their support for Mr. Carey. The Election Officer finds that the dismissals were not related to the election or a violation of the Rules. The Election Officer is not free to address all conduct which occurs in the general context of the election and during the election period, unless the conduct is actionable under the Rules."

Accordingly, the protest is DENIED
Clich here to View findings of Election Office

Related WebPages:
James P. Hoffa, Jim Hoffa's Election News Update Page, Time BUSINESS: A HOFFA RISES AGAIN, BY Ron Stodghill II, 10-20-97 VOL. 150 NO. 16 and FOX News Network - Unions: Who's Who, James P. Hoffa.

Chuck Mack, President, Joint Council 7 and Secretary Treasure of Teamster Local 70: A Personal Profile of Chuck Mack. California Teamsters Public Affairs Council: Chuck Mack, Chairman. UPS, Teamster Local 70 Oakland, Cailf. (AP): Workers Complain Of Discrimination. Hoffa-Mack -- Campaign '98

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