Teamsters local # 541
Lets take a look at some indisputable facts about Jed Cope:
1. He has not organized a single company since he came into the local 12 years ago.
2. Since he has taken office we have actually lost around 300 members and continue to lose more.
3. His implementation of an apprenticeship program is 10 years behind all other construction unions and is strickly set up to benefit companies by allowing them to pay our members less.
4. He has made no effort to set up a training program for members. Laborers, Operators, Carpentors etc etc all have had training centers for their members for many years. This is one of the many reasons we are losing work to these other unions.
5. He draws a salary and benefit package from the local and the joint council to the tune of $110,000. This is unheard of for someone that presides over a local of this size.
6. Unlike most local union presidents Jed does not serve the members as a business agent. This means the local must incur the cost of hiring another business agent to do the job Jed should be doing.
7. When Jed sat in on the negotiations for the heavy agreement he did not demand equal pay with Operators for his members.
8. In January of 2007 he forced the members of this local to buy him a new ford truck from a non union dealership.
9. Jed routinely sides with companies over his members many of us have seen the secret meetings between him and management.
10. Jed has been allowing our union companies to contract out work to non union outfits. The 541 has not had a picket up in over a year.
11. Jed has already raised dues at certain companies and plans on raising them on everyone within the next three years. He is doing this without calling for a vote of the membership which is a direct violation of the union's by laws. I guess he has to do something to keep his high salary while losing members.
12. Jed gave ex 541 president Robert Gillihan over $100,000 in severance pay at the end of his term. Mr. Gillihan retired with two very sizable pensions, so why did Jed feel compelled to give him such a large chunk of the members dues money? Many of us know that Jed likes to blame Robert Gillihan for every problem the local has, he has also openly stated that Bob took money under the table to allow companies like Geiger out of their union contracts. Why then would he reward this man the way he has? Not only did Jed give Bob an unheard of severance check but also handed his son Sean Gillihan a business agent position paying nearly $70,000 per year? Could it be that Jed was a little more involved in the criminal activities of Robert Gillihan then he would like to let on? You be the judge.
If you would like to contact Jed and visit with him about why he is running your union into the ground, feel free to either send him a letter or give him a call anytime:
Jed Cope
6413 e 12th terrace
KCMO 64114
phone: 816-483-5130
