Union Board Files Charges Against Carey

Embattled Teamsters boss takes temporary leave of absense just hours earlier

NEW YORK (AllPolitics, Nov. 25) -- Hours after the Teamsters announced its embattled president Ron Carey would take a temporary unpaid leave of absence, a federally appointed board filed internal union charges against him.

The move by the Independent Review Board came in a report late today that was not immediately made available to reporters. The union had announced that Carey will be replaced by Tom Sever, the union's general secretary-treasurer.

It all follows tumultuous weeks for Carey and the Teamsters. Carey's 1996 re-election victory was overturned by a federal election monitor in August, and last week he was barred from participating in the election's rerun early next year. He is appealing that decision.

Carey announced his decision to take the leave of absence in a letter to the executive board of the union. In his letter, Carey reiterated his belief that his disqualification from the union was "wrong and unfair," and said, "In spite of this injustice, I believe it is in the best interest of the membership and the reform movement that I remove myself from IBT [International Brotherhood of Teamsters] decisionmaking while I fight my appeal."

Three of Carey's aides have pleaded guilty to participating in a scheme to trade Teamsters donations for gifts to Carey's campaign, a scheme witnesses have said Carey was aware of.

Carey was first elected Teamsters president in 1991, and narrowly beat James P. Hoffa, son of the legendary Teamsters leader Jimmy Hoffa, in 1996.

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Tuesday Nov. 25, 1997

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• The Making Of The Presidential Turkey
• Study: Money Follows Party In Power
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• Doublespeak Awards
• Union Board Files Charges Against Carey
• Albright To Visit African Countries
• Tax Software Offered For Free
• Prudential, Justice Department Settle
• Congress Nears Showdown Over Trade
• GOP To Attack Fed. Programs In 1998
• Starr Accuser Loses At Justice Dept
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