Bevacqua also testified as follows about John Todaro, Business
Agent of Teamsters Local 97. He said that a contract was signed
by Todaro and Sol Adoff, the president of Middlesex, which stated
that Todaro had the duty of negotiating any labor agreement
between the company and the union. As Bevacqua told it at the
hearings:
It wasn't a negotiation ... as we know the word.
Q. All right. What do you. mean by that, sir?
A. He knew beforehand what was going to go into
the contract, and he didn't make any real effort to
arbitrate it.
* * * * *
Q. And from whom did he know what was to go into
the contract?
A. Sol Adoff.
Q. So, in other words, Adoff pretty well dictated the
terms o f the contract.
A. Yes.
Q. It there a term for that type o f contract in the
trade?
A. Yes.
Q. What do they call it?
A. Sweetheart [contract].
Bevacqua stated that once he actually saw Adoff give money to
Todaro. This occurred in 1968 at the Treat Restaurant in Newark,
with Sol Adoff, Todaro, and himself present. However, he was not able to say exactly how much money was passed. Bevacqua also
spoke of a time when Todaro called him on the phone:
He had made a telephone call to me and, if I
remember, his words were: "The other outfits take
care of me pretty well, but you got a pretty cheap
outfit."
Q. This is what Todaro told you?
A. Yes.
Q. What did you say to him?
A. I says: "Well, if it's money you're asking for,
you're talking to the wrong man."
Q. Did you tell Adoff about this?
A. Yes, I did.
Q. All right. What did Adoff say; what was his
reaction?
A. Well, he lost his temper somewhat and called
Mr. Todaro, in my presence, and told him in no uncertain
terms that if he ever wants to discuss anything
like that he'd have to make sure he talks to him and
not anyone else.
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