TEAMSTERS (IBT)
Minnesota Must Pay Overnite $30,000
Anoka County (Minn.) Dist. Judge James A. Morrow ordered Int'l
Bhd. of Teamsters Local 120 to pay $29,873 in damages to Overnite
Transp. Co. in connection with violence and misconduct that has occurred
in the Minneapolis area during IBT's ongoing strike against Overnite. Local
120 boss C. Thomas Keegel also serves as IBT's secretary-treasurer, the
number two post to IBT boss James P. Hoffa.
Since in Nov. 1999, Morrow has issued a series of orders to stop to violence, intimidation and other violations of the law at Overnite's facility in Blaine, Minn. Because of violence and property damage, Overnite brought a motion for contempt. Morrow found "overwhelming" evidence that IBT repeatedly violated the orders. Morrow's findings included:
1) Two separate instances where IBT picketers jumped onto Overnite vehicles. In one case, Morrow found a picketer opened a driver's door and attempted to grab an Overnite employee to pull him out of the truck.2) Forcing an Overnite employee off the road while the employee was driving home in his personal vehicle and threatening to kill the employee.
3) Dozens of incidents of property damage to Overnite vehicles, including numerous instances of flattened tires, shattered windows and windshields, including many incidents where Overnite vehicles have been traveling on a roadway and had a window or windshield shot out.
4) Several instances of threatening behavior directed toward Overnite employees while operating vehicles on the highway, including swerving in front of trucks and slamming on brakes.
5) Many instances of property damage to Overnite employees' personal vehicles while at work and at home.
6) Repeated threats of violence and intimidation directed toward employees and their families, as well as items being thrown at vehicles, including marbles, eggs, and human waste. [Overnite Transp. Co., Media Release 6/30/00]
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