Union pay raises and alleged personal shortcomings could doom labor officials in the greater New York area.
Beverage and brewery workers in Long Island are attempting to oust leadership of Teamsters Local 812. The challengers in the election are distributing a flyer accusing union leaders of being "parasites" and "fat cats," who live lavish lifestyles replete with union-paid cars while members struggle to get by.
"Just one year after their election they went ahead and gave themselves what should be considered huge salary increases ! Ed Weber, current president went from a salary of $150,000 to $169,500 per year The three officers, Joe Vitta, John Ulrich, and Warren Marsh each receive salary increases bringing their respective salaries $130,190 per year," the flyer says (sic throughout).
The flyer goes on to blast union officials for their $2,000 monthly car allowances and frequent tire replacement.
"Get the union’s funds out of this clown’s slimy hands," the flyer urges.
The flyers are being circulated by a group called 812 Members for Change, a group of insurgent members hoping to unseat union leadership, which is based in Great Neck, N.Y.
"We are running to bring real change to our Local. With your support we can institute real reforms to make the management of our Local more transparent and inclusive, fight to cut operating costs and expenditures and promote issues that put the worker first, not power grabs or special interests," the 812 Members for Change website says.
On top of complaints about salaries and benefits, the challengers have dug into the private lives of union leadership. The flyers allege that one union leader has claimed that his father has suffered half a dozen heart attacks to get out of work. Another official, according to the flyer, "disappointed his sons by cheating on his wife, thus creating a broken home."
The flyers also claim that officials have fibbed about their credentials to win the trust of voters. One official is accused of faking a "miracle recovery" from mental and physical illness. Others are accused of dodging their shady pasts. The flyer insinuates that one union rep rigged a little league fundraising raffle.
"Ask him who won and check it out," the flyer asks.
Neither union officials, nor the authors of the flyer, responded to request for comment.
The flyers were first reported on by the Labor Union Report on Redstate. You can read them in full here.