Paul "Red" Dorfman was affiliated with the Waste Materials Handlers Union in Chicago in the late 1930s and 1940s. During his career he was closely tied to Teamsters Union President James Riddle "Jimmy" Hoffa and Jack Ruby. Ruby's expulsion as head of the Waste Materials Handlers Union effectively paved the way for Dorfman's rise in the union. It is likely that Dorfman served as a liaison between Al Capone's Chicago Outfit and key Chicago politicians and administrators. Dorfman's son, Allen, was an insurance company executive. He insured Teamsters' pensioners and bilked numerous workers out of insurance benefits.