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Ron CareyAmerican labor leader, president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters
Date of Birth: 22.03.1936
Country:  USA |
Content:
- Early Life and Family
- Education and Military Service
- Early Union Career
- Local 804 Presidency
- International Teamsters President
- Presidency and Reform
- Re-Election and Financial Scandal
- Legal Battle and Later Life
- Ronald Carey died of lung cancer in 2008.
Early Life and Family
Ronald Robert Carey was born into a working-class family in Long Island City, New York. His father, Joseph, was a driver for United Parcel Service (UPS), who often worked on Sundays and Christmas without extra pay. This instilled a strong sense of labor injustice in young Ronald.
Education and Military Service
After graduating from high school, Carey attended St. John's University on an athletic scholarship for swimming. However, he left in 1953 to join the Marine Corps, where he served until 1955. At age 18, he married Barbara Murphy, his upstairs neighbor. They had five children, and their marriage lasted until Carey's death.
Early Union Career
Carey joined the Teamsters Union in 1956 and worked as a UPS driver. He rose through the union ranks, eventually becoming Local 804's president in November 1967. Known for his tough negotiating style, he secured a wage increase in 1977 that doubled the salary of union members since 1968. He also maintained a clean record of integrity and refused to associate with organized crime.
Local 804 Presidency
Under Carey's leadership, Local 804 became one of the first Teamsters locals to provide pensions after 25 years of service regardless of age. He led successful strikes in 1968, 1971, 1974, and 1982. He was re-elected eight times, each time by a landslide margin.
During his time as Local 804 president, Carey pursued further education, completing correspondence courses, attending Xavier Institute of Industrial Relations, and studying labor relations at Cornell University.
International Teamsters President
In 1989, Carey ran for President of the Teamsters Union and won, receiving 48.2% of the vote. His impact on American labor unions, and the Teamsters in particular, was profound.
Presidency and Reform
Upon taking office, Carey immediately replaced much of the union's executive board and sold two union-owned airplanes. He cut his own salary twice, earning $225,000 in 1991 and $175,000 in 1994. Under his leadership, the union signed several major contracts and took an active role in politics.
Carey was the first Teamsters president to testify openly before Congress on the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which he vehemently opposed. Despite his anti-corruption efforts, some critics argued that his reforms were half-hearted, as he retained Board members with alleged organized crime ties.
Re-Election and Financial Scandal
Carey successfully ran for re-election in 1996, but his term was cut short by a federal investigation into an illegal campaign contribution scheme that had raised $700,000 more than allowed. His re-election was overturned, he was banned from running for office again, and he was expelled from the union for life.
Legal Battle and Later Life
Carey challenged the union's lawsuit against him, which accused him of embezzlement and demanded a large sum of money in return. He also sought reinstatement into the union.
