Back in the saddle

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters has reached an agreement with the U.S. government eliminating the Independent Financial Auditor (IFA) that has overseen the union's finances since 1996. The agreement returns financial control to the union.

The Teamsters agreed to government oversight of its finances following a 1996 dues-swap scheme that allegedly funneled union money to then-president Ron Carey's re-election effort.

“We are very pleased with the progress we have made in cleaning up the union's finances,” said general secretary-treasurer Tom Keegel. “The government understands that we have established a strong financial program to protect members' dues. Never again will union leaders be allowed to loot the union's treasury.”

With control of finances back in its own hands, the Teamsters wasted no time in drawing a bead on Mexican trucking. The Teamsters point to a new report from the U.S. General Accounting Office (GAO) that finds Mexican trucks do not meet U.S. truck safety standards. “The Teamsters have consistently said that the problem with Mexican cross-border trucking is two-fold,” said union president James P. Hoffa. “First, that the U.S. lacked the sufficient inspection resources at the border to ensure the safety of the American traveling public. Second, that Mexico lacks adequate standards and enforcement to ensure the safety of their own trucking system.”