Hoffa places LV Teamsters local under trusteeship

David Strow

Wednesday, April 5, 2000 | 5:11 a.m.

Teamsters President James P. Hoffa placed Las Vegas' largest Teamsters local under emergency trusteeship today following an internal investigation.

Teamsters Local 631, which represents nearly 5,000 workers in Las Vegas, was placed under the trusteeship of Jim Wilkerson Wednesday morning. Wilkerson is the former president of Las Vegas-based Teamsters Local 14. He retired in 1995.

"An investigation of the local union has uncovered severe mismanagement that has negatively impacted members of our union," Hoffa said in a statement. "We have taken the necessary action to ensure that this local union protects and serves the members."

Wilkerson said Hoffa asked him to take over 631 early Wednesday. All of the union's local officers have been fired, he said. However, Wilkerson emphasized that no former employees have been accused of illegal activities.

"The complaints came from the membership locally, and they go to the general president (Hoffa)," Wilkerson said. "I would assume he had read, heard and seen enough to believe that the local was in jeopardy, losing membership and dying on the vine because of lack of representation. (Hoffa) asked me if I'd be willing to come out of retirement and get the union back on its feet."

The union was under the control of Secretary-Treasurer Tim Murphy, who had been with the local for one year. Murphy could not be immediately reached for comment.

Wilkerson said his trusteeship will last until the union can be reorganized and new officials elected. That process could take as long as 18 months, he said.

The Teamsters said an investigation discovered evidence that the local's former management failed to file grievances on behalf of its members, negotiated "substandard" agreements with employers, and failed to enforce collective bargaining agreements.

The national office also claimed "officers and representatives of the local union are inexperienced and unable to provide adequate representation to the members," and that "employment decisions by the Principal Officer have been motivated by political reasons."

Local 631 primarily represents freight drivers, mechanics and janitors. Its workers are employed at the Nevada Test Site, Silver State Disposal, the Las Vegas Convention Center and United Parcel Service.