The Members First Slate is composed of Local 722 Teamsters from the various crafts who are
dedicated to bringing positive change to our local. We are intelligent, honest, and dedicated Teamsters that will serve the
membership much better than the present officers.
When we say Members First we really mean it. This election is all about moral and fiscal issues facing the membership of
Local 722. We have the long term plan to get this local back to the democratic principles that put the members’ interests
above all else. We have the long term plan that will get the local out of debt and back on the path of being able to represent
the membership as a great local union should. We will do away with the “good old boys” method of hiring business
agents and will have only the highest trained business agents serving the members.
This fall’s officer election is one of the most important elections facing our membership. Under Mr. Mongan and the
present executive board our local has lost members at a record pace and our treasury is broke. The local is morally and financially
busted. If this is not changed soon we will not have a local anymore. Mr. Mongan is on the verge of losing Local 722 to receivership
as his mentor, Larry Sullivan, lost Local 455 back in 1989. The membership of Local 722 have a proud history and we do not
want to be merged as part of the Peoria or Rock Island locals.
Compare:
In the year 2000 we had 2400 members.
Under Mr. Mongan in 2007 we now have 1300 members.
In the year 2000 the mortgage was paid off on the Union Hall.
Under Mr. Mongan in 2007 the Union Hall is under two liens by two law firms exceeding the value of the property and we
no longer own it out right.
In the year 2000 the local had $600,000 in total assets.
Under Mr. Mongan in 2007 we are broke and bleeding red ink.
This cause, to bring positive change to Local 722 should be a priority with all the members of the local. The
contracts negotiated by Steve Mongan and his business agents have been sub-standard at best. With the few break even contracts
negotiated, Mr. Mongan has claimed a great victory as if breaking even is better than getting actual raises, insurance and
pension increases. Under the present group of officers we have had our dues raised by and additional ½ hour pay to a total
of 2 ½ hours of pay due each month. What have we gained as members with the dues increase? Nothing at all.
Over the last six years we have seen most of our construction work given to other crafts. Local 722's business
agents do not bother attending important pre-jobs to lock in Teamster work. They are nowhere to be found during the entire
construction season. The referral list is down to less than a third of what it was just six years ago. Most of the construction
Teamsters we had as members have given up and moved to other locals or other jobs. We are now the joke of the building trades.
There have been public sector decertification elections because those people were not represented at all. We have
lost 722 public sector members because our present officers would not visit these work sites and solve the problems.
No non-union people to speak of have been organized over the last six years and our local membership numbers are
the lowest they have ever been. The local cannot seem to get a contract for the few that were organized. Low membership numbers
mean there is not enough money or power for arbitrations, strike fund, contract negotiations with backbone, member services
or anything else that goes with a strong local union.
The business agents spend little time at the locals' offices. Many weeks they do not show up at all because they
are playing golf at union expense in Springfield, Vegas, San Diego, Scottsdale, or Rosemont to name a few. Just read
the meeting minutes approved by the e-board and you have to wonder how they get any union business done at all. Our dues buy
the agents fancy new pick-ups and cars that sit in their driveways.
When members try to address these issues at the monthly union meetings they are ruled out of order by Mr. Mongan
as the gavel is slammed down. The Summer General Meetings have been suspended because the construction membership scream
demanding representing that the present business agents will not or can not do. Accountability to the membership would cut
into the agents’ golf game so Mr. Mongan decided to suspend the Summer General Meetings.
Our local is almost broke due to legal fees caused by Mr. Mongan and his agents.
This is just the tip of the iceberg. If you believe that our cause for positive change is a good one then please
join our efforts and let the membership know that there is still hope for this local. Positive change can happen with your
help. You have a voice. Use it to tell your fellow Teamsters about us and especially use that voice at ballot time this fall
by voting.
