Though IBT Backs Obama
City Teamsters Not Leaving Clinton Yet

By RICHARD STEIER

The two large Teamster locals representing city employees are not ready to follow their international union in endorsing U.S. Sen. Barack Obama for President, with past ties to Sen. Hillary Clinton the key reason.

GREG FLOYD: Still on the fence.

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters Feb. 20 gave its endorsement to the Illinois Senator, whose success in a string of primaries following Super Tuesday has made him the clear front-runner for the Democratic nomination. But Teamsters Local 237 - which represents employees including Housing Authority staff, school and hospital police and agency attorneys - and the Uniformed Sanitationmen's Association have deferred making an endorsement for now.

'We'll Support Nominee'

Alluding to the likelihood that Mr. Obama will emerge with the nomination unless Ms. Clinton wins both the Texas and Ohio primaries on March 4, Local 237 President Greg Floyd said Feb. 22, "Our position is at this time the International made the best decision available, and we will support whoever the Democratic nominee turns out to be."

He added, "Hillary Clinton is our Senator and she's done good work for us, and if she doesn't get the nomination she will still continue to do good work for us."

HARRY NESPOLI: Grateful for past Clinton help.

Uniformed Sanitationmen's Association President Harry Nespoli, who delivered an early endorsement for Ms. Clinton's 2006 re-election to the Senate when she came to the union's headquarters for an enthusiastic meeting with shop stewards, said, "I'm holding off right now. I'm going to take a closer look right after March 4."

He said a final decision by the USA, which is Local 831 of the IBT, would be reached in conjunction with the regional Joint Council of Teamsters.

Cites Past Help

Referring to legislation governing health benefits, Mr. Nespoli said, "Senator Hillary Clinton was very good for my members. I have a tendency to remember that."

There have been occasions in the past when a city Teamster local broke with the International on a presidential endorsement. In 1984, after polling his rank and file, then-Local 237 President Barry Feinstein endorsed Democratic nominee Walter Mondale at a time when the IBT was backing President Reagan's re-election in hope of heading off a takeover of the union by the U.S. Justice Department. According to one former Local 237 official, as penance for bucking the International, Mr. Feinstein was required to covertly coordinate the union's efforts on behalf of Mr. Reagan among its Florida retirees.