In a June 2 letter, the Developmental Disabilities Council, a New Jersey watchdog group on state policy, accused the Communications Workers of America of threatening to expose the names of group home residents who have criminal records or a history of behavior problems in order to halt the closing of state institutions for the disabled. The group’s director Ethan Ellis said, “This degrades the public images of people with developmental disabilities irreparably. It is going to take years to repair that damage.” [Bergen Co. Record 06/03/98]
Tainted Ex-President Reinstated
On June 3 in St. Louis, a U.S. District Judge had Service Employees Int’l. Union Local 50 to reinstated its ex-president William Stodghill. He was ousted from office and the union in 1996 amid allegations of wrongly spending the union’s funds for his personal expenses. Current local president Don Rudd said, “Stodghill was found guilty of improperly using members’ money at four separate hearings held by the union. Nothing in the Judge’s ruling disputes that fact.” Stodghill intends to regain the presidency in the local’s election this summer. [St. Louis Post-Dispatch 06/04 & 06/05/98]
Union Lies About Its Strength to Raid Workers
In an effort to lure members away from the United Industry Workers Local 424, SEIU Local 1212 based in Queens, NY made false claims about its size and strength according to Jun. 10 Newsday article. It claimed to be the largest transportation union in N.Y. state and its fliers stated: “Local 1212 knows your industry and has negotiated many outstanding contracts for employees just like you…We have a staff of over 30 business agents in the New York area, with 14 residing in Suffolk County.”
However, Newsday’s examination of the union’s financial reports filed with the Labor Department destroy the claims. The report shows the union has only 5 officers and employees. Far from being N.Y.’s largest transportation union, the local, which was founded 3 years ago, has only 94 members. And, it is unclear whether any members are in the transportation industry according to Newsday .