28th National Convention: DAY FIVE

“Twenty-Two Years Is Long Enough”

Coli Joins Delegates for Call to End Teamster Consent Decree

John T. Coli (right), President of Teamsters Joint Council 25, greets
Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa.

The delegates of the 28th International Brotherhood of Teamsters National Convention unanimously adopted a resolution on June 30, 2011, calling for the end of the Consent Decree.

“Twenty-two years is long enough,” said John T. Coli, President of Teamsters Joint Council 25, in an address from the convention floor. “We have proven ourselves to be the most professional, democratic union in the world."

The International Union entered into the decree in 1989 to resolve a civil lawsuit with the United States and ensure the elimination of any elements of corruption within the Teamsters. The agreement resulted in the establishment of the Independent Review Board (IRB), which the International pays millions of dollars each year to maintain as an investigatory body today.

The Independent Oversight resolution adopted on the fourth day of the National Convention solidifies the Teamsters’ collective desire to end the Consent Decree and IRB and restore self-governance within the membership.

“Officers at all levels of the union commit themselves to swiftly and forcefully investigating and redressing instances of corruption in order to ensure that the union is administered with integrity,” the resolution read. “The International Union can adopt more cost-efficient procedures for achieving the goal of the Consent Decree to maintain a union that is free from corrupt influences… thereby making more funds available to provide membership services and assistance.”

“Fair democratic elections are a mainstay in the Teamsters Union,” Coli said. “Rank-and-file members have elected International officers and delegates to the convention since 1991, and our union is determined to continue this proud tradition.”

Comments by Coli and the subsequent adoption of the Independent Oversight resolution were met by sustained cheers and applause by the 1,600 delegates at the convention.

CLICK HERE to read the Independent Oversight resolution.

Teamsters Joint Council 25 represents more than 100,000 hardworking men and women throughout Illinois and Indiana.

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