IN RE: PETER ROSSOW, Protestor.
Protest Decision 2006 ESD 231
Issued: May 9, 2006
OES Case No. P-06-266-041406-NE
Peter Rossow, a member of BLET GCA 300/Division 421, filed a pre-election protest pursuant to Article XIII, Section 2(b) of the Rules for the 2005-2006 IBT International Union Delegate and Officer Election ("Rules"). The protest alleged that delegate candidate Angelo Chick mailed campaign literature "laced with profanity and filthy talk" to local union members.
Assuming, without deciding, that Chick did as alleged, we do not find a Rules violation. In accordance with precedent established in 1991 and affirmed in each succeeding election cycle, the Election Supervisor does not generally regulate the content of campaign literature. See Braxton, P304 (May 21, 1991); Rogers, P518 (February 21, 1991); Landwehr, P201 (November 15, 1995); Yolland, P660 (April 3, 1996); Gamaza & Rosas, 2001 EAD 278 (March 28, 2001); Sandford, 2006 ESD 142 (April 3, 2006). The content challenged here does not violate any of the Rules.
Therefore, we DENY the protest.
Any interested party not satisfied with this determination may request a hearing before the Election Appeals Master within two (2) working days of receipt of this decision. The parties are reminded that, absent extraordinary circumstances, no party may rely upon evidence that was not presented to the Office of the Election Supervisor in any such appeal. Requests for a hearing shall be made in writing, shall specify the basis for the appeal and shall be served upon:
Kenneth Conboy
Election Appeals Master
Latham & Watkins
885 Third Avenue, Suite 1000
New York, New York 10022
Fax: (212) 751-4864
Copies of the request for hearing must be served upon the parties, as well as upon the Election Supervisor for the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, 1725 K Street, N.W., Suite 1400, Washington, D.C. 20006-1416, all within the time prescribed above. A copy of the protest must accompany the request for hearing.
Richard W. Mark
Election Supervisor
cc: Kenneth Conboy
2006 ESD 231
DISTRIBUTION LIST (BY EMAIL UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED):
Bradley T. Raymond, General Counsel
International Brotherhood of Teamsters
25 Louisiana Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20001-2198
braymond@teamster.org
David J. Hoffa, Esq.
Hoffa 2006
30300 Northwestern Highway, Suite 324
Farmington Hills, MI 48834
David@hoffapllc.com
Barbara Harvey
645 Griswold Street
Suite 3060
Detroit, MI 48226
blmharvey@sbcglobal.net
Ken Paff
Teamsters for a Democratic Union
P.O. Box 10128
Detroit, MI 48210
ken@tdu.org
Daniel E. Clifton
Lewis, Clifton & Nikolaidis, P.C.
275 Seventh Avenue, Suite 2300
New York, NY 10001
dclifton@lcnlaw.com
Stephen Ostrach
1863 Pioneer Parkway East, #217
Springfield, OR 97477-3907
saostrach@gmail.com
Peter Rossow
21 Hill Place
Tonawanda, NY 14150
Angelo J. Chick, Jr.
P.O. Box 908
Redwood, NY 13679
T.E. Roberts
Chair, BLE&T GCA 300
1807 Elmwood Avenue, Suite 124
Buffalo, NY 14207
David F. Reilly, Esq.
22 West Main Street
North Kingston, RI 02852
dreilly@rooltd.com
Jeffrey Ellison
510 Highland Avenue, #325
Milford, MI 48381
EllisonEsq@aol.com