Most of the stories we report on under union corruption have more to do with greedy leadership than anything else. But at the root of all union corruption stories is a failure of the union to fairly represent its members. This is just as true in embezzlement cases as it is in cases like the recent decision against the Teamsters, where the Board ruled that the Teamsters union violated labor law when it attempted to keep its member from participating in a workplace investigation.
The investigation was inquiring into allegations that a union leader verbally harassed a coworker, who was also represented by the union. It was more important to the Teamsters to protect the local president than it was to represent the member. No big surprise.
Recent embezzlement news includes two former union business managers. One worked for the Laborers and was sentenced last month for stealing over $50,000. The other was with the Electrical Workers, and he got away with $10,000 from his local, until he didn’t.
And for a quick update on the UAW/GM/FCA scandal, Joe Ashton, former Vice President of the UAW, was sentenced this month to two and a half years in prison for taking $250,000 in bribes. Also, the training center at the center of the scandal has sold for a whopping $34 million. More details here.
