Teamsters Draw Fire From Senators

Three Republican senators have written a letter to Teamsters chief James P. Hoffa asking him to explain "recent acts of violence during organizing and economic actions at Overnite Transportation Company."

Sens. Michael B. Enzi of Wyoming, Tim Hutchinson of Arkansas and Chuck Hagel of Nebraska, all members of the Senate Subcommittee on Employment, Safety and Training, expressed concern over alleged instances of Teamster violence, including actions that led to the arrest of the union’s freight director, Phil Young, on charges of trespassing and battery, during a June 15 demonstration at Overnite’s Bedford Park, Ill., facility.

The lawmakers posed questions in their Sept. 10 letter on four subjects related to the Overnite organizing campaign, and told Hoffa "the subcommittee is eager to learn of your union’s efforts to purge itself from criminal acts."

The Teamsters expressed indignation and anger at the contents of the letter.

"For them to take allegations that Overnite is making and come to us with this kind of letter is outrageous," said Teamsters organizer David Cameron. "Where were they when Donna Stapp, a 50-year-old grandmother [and Overnite driver], was beaten up in an Overnite bathroom? Where were these senators when these workers’ rights were being denied? They were AWOL, that’s where."

The union said a nationwide unfair labor practices strike against Overnite could begin any day.