The international filed more than 20 charges against the local in August and held its hearing from Oct. 3 to Nov. 3. At a certain point, enough is enough. It is time for the international to take over Local 234. Kaufman said Local 234 has corrected many of its problems but suffers from dissension common to all unions. There was a very divisive strike in 1998.
Nobody denies there is political in-fighting.
Bodner has said the takeover, which could last 18 months, is an attempt at revenge by the international for a union feud between Brookens and Lombardo. Lombardo, president of Local 234 from 1989 to 1996, negotiated two contracts in that time. He was replaced by Brookens, once his lieutenant, who last year won a second three-year term. Lombardo yesterday said the international was forced to start the trusteeship because Local 234 refused to submit required financial reports and dues. He said the local also fell behind in dues to the international while he was president but always kept the New York-based union up to date on its finances.