SPECIAL REPORT: RI Teamsters Battle Spills Into Court - Claims of Extortion & Sexual Harassment
Thursday, March 30, 2023
In 2016, a team of young reformer Teamsters was elected to lead Local 251 — the Rhode Island chapter of the national Teamsters organization.
They were the new breed. They went on to battle James Hoffa.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTThey worked to organize a range of businesses — New England Pest Control (the "Big Blue Bug"), Daniele Foods, and others.
But along the way, a split emerged, leading to charges and counter-charges and now a federal lawsuit.
The Teamsters Local 251 is alleging a now-former business agent has tried to extort the union.
That former member of the leadership team, Nick Williams, claims that a range of violations has not been addressed by leadership, including sexual harassment and other activities.
Beyond claiming extortion, the 12-page federal lawsuit filed on Tuesday by the Teamsters Local 251 also claims Williams launched what the union claims is an illegal website that appears to represent the union — with what they say is disparaging and defamatory information.
Now, the Teamsters are seeking a motion in U.S. District federal court for the website to be taken down.
Williams Fired
The lawsuit was filed in federal court in Rhode Island by Teamsters Local 251 President Paul Santos and Secretary and General Treasurer Matthew Taibi against Williams, whose employment with the union was terminated in January 2023.
The day after Williams was fired, the lawsuit asserts Williams obtained the website domain teamsterslocal251.com — and that Williams began posting allegations against members of the Teamsters Local 251, including allegations of sexual harassment.
“Well, It's pretty obvious that sh-t like this doesn't happen when [employers] treat their employees like human beings. A lesson I cannot believe I have to teach to a Labor Union that claims to stand and fight for respect in the workplace and worker's rights. Bunch of hypocrites,” Williams currently has posted to the site.
“If they did it to one of their own, imagine what they are capable of doing to the membership? Whole story coming soon,” Williams continued.
When reached for comment, Williams’ defended the website — and its content.
“Teamsters Local 251 is trying to stifle my first amendment right to freedom of speech. Nothing more. They do not want the membership to know the truth about the horrible job that Matthew Taibi and Paul Santos are doing as Union Leadership, and will spend as much of the dues payers money as they can on lawyers to try and stop me from telling the truth about Teamsters Local 251," Williams said in a statement.
Teamsters Local 251 attorney Marc Gurksy did not respond to request for comment at the time of publication.
Former Teamster's Online Battle
According to the lawsuit, Williams’ employment as a business agent for the Teamsters Local 251 had been terminated after “complaints to Local 251 from members regarding Williams’ work performance started increasing” in 2018.
“Generally, these complaints involved Williams failing to attend scheduled meetings, failing to process grievances in a timely manner and failing to answer member phone calls and emails. Taibi and Santos had discussions with Williams on several occasions about these issues,” according to the lawsuit.
Once Williams was terminated on January 23, 2023 — and launched his website the following day — he let the Teamsters know he obtained the domain name.
The lawsuit says that according to a text message to Santos on January 24, Williams wrote the following:
In one entry on his website, Williams attacks Teamster Aaron Wazlavek, including what he said was Wazlavek’s role in a fight with scabs during a strike — and then says Wazlavek then sued the Local on a workers comp claim.
Williams also goes on to state that Wazlavek was the subject of allegations of sexual assault.
Teamsters Lawyer Up
On February 6, 2023, Teamsters’ attorney Marc Gursky said William’s website — teamsterslocal251.com would cause “substantial confusion” with the Teamsters’ official website, teamsterslocal251.org — and contained content that was “disparaging and defamatory."
Moreover, Gursky asserted such a website is illegal.
A video posted to Williams' website show a fight at a Teamster action in 2022 at the Johnston Brothers picket
The lawsuit asserts that the Teamsters went back and forth with Williams, at which time he took down the content he posted, with a post on the site on February 13, 2023, stating, “Good faith is the ONLY thing keeping this website redirected.”
According to the lawsuit, Williams then reportedly met with the Teamsters — demanding three years severance pay and benefits totaling “roughly $500,000" -- which they rejected.
The lawsuit is seeking three claims for relief — regarding the “Anticybersquatting Consumer Protection Act,” copyright infringement an unfair competition, and extortion.
The lawsuit is asking the court to “enjoin defendant and all persons acting in concert with him from using, imitating or copying the trade name Teamsters Local 251 as a domain name, social media handle, metatag or trademark.”
Currently, Williams has the following posted on the website.
“This website is not affiliated with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, nor is it affiliated with Teamsters Local 251 It is also NOT FOR SALE.”
This story was first published Wednesday, March 29, 2023 at 3:03 PM
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