Head of Teamsters Local to Appeal Suspension

Ed J. Mireles, head of Teamsters Local 952 in Orange, said Tuesday that he plans to appeal a decision this week by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters to strip him of his leadership post and suspend him from the union for three years.

Mireles, elected to lead the 11,000-member local as secretary-treasurer last December, was accused of illegally rising to power by threatening to fire possible competitors who did not agree to miss paying their dues at least once every two years, making them ineligible to run for office.

In an interview Tuesday, Mireles denied any wrongdoing. He said the allegations and his punishment were “politically motivated,” calling them payback for his refusal to support Teamsters President James P. Hoffa’s successful run for office last year.

“I’m a very aggressive, progressive labor leader and I stepped on a lot of toes,” Mireles said. “The majority of the membership supports me because they know that I’m doing a good job on their behalf. When you’re doing a good job, sometimes you get into a jurisdiction dispute. The other local union supported Hoffa; I did not. This is retaliation.”

In a statement released Tuesday, the local said it was “disappointed” in the decision by Hoffa to remove Mireles from office. But the local said it is complying with the directive. Its executive board unanimously appointed Patrick D. Kelly to succeed Mireles.

Kelly has been a Teamster since 1966 and most recently held the post of organizer/business representative with the local.

“The Executive Board and Local 952 are determined to unify the membership and to continue to provide the best representation,” the statement read. “Teamster Local 952’s leadership is united and will not tolerate attempts to interfere with the local union’s autonomy.”

Local 952 includes supermarket truck drivers and warehouse workers, as well as bus drivers and mechanics of the Orange County Transportation Authority.

Mireles, a member of the Teamsters for 38 years, said he has no plans to go quietly.

“They knew they couldn’t unseat me in a general election so they took this approach,” he said. “I want my day in court.”