The Dep’t of Labor filed suit Aug. 30 in the U.S. Dist. Court for the W. Dist. of Pa. against United Ass’n of Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 354 in Youngwood, Pa. DOL’s investigation into the local’s Apr. 7 election found that, during the 2-week period prior to the election, the incumbent business manager, along with business agents, campaigned to members at several work sites while on time paid for by the local. DOL’s complaint seeks a new election for 4 positions under DOL supervision. [DOL 8/30/01]
DOL Seeks New Election at California Local
The Dep’t of Labor filed a complaint May 4 in the U.S. Dist. Court for the E. Dist. of Cal. against the United Ass’n of Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 442 in Stockton, Cal.. DOL’s investigation into the local’s Dec. 16, 2000 election uncovered that a candidate violated the local’s bylaws when he campaigned for office by “meeting and greeting” voters on election day within a prohibited area. The complaint seeks a new election under DOL supervision for one local union officer position. [DOL 5/4/01]
DOL Wins Subpoena Dispute over Honolulu Local
On Aug. 15, the U.S. Dist. Court for the Dist.t of Haw. ruled in favor of Dep’t of Labor in a subpoena enforcement action involving Int’l Bhd. of Teamsters Local 996 and an DOL officer election investigation under the Labor-Mgmt. Reporting & Disclosure Act of 1959. The court reversed a magistrate’s order to quash DOL’s subpoena of local election ballots. The court ruled that nothing in LMRDA limits the scope of DOL’s investigatory reach (citing 29 U.S.C. §§ 482, 521). The court also ruled that DOL’s demand to review the ballots was not irrelevant or immaterial to the investigation. [DOL 8/15/01]
DOL Fights for Two Disenfranchised Dissident Candidates
The Dep’t of Labor brought suit July 23 against the Int’l Ass’n of Machinists District Lodge 141 in U.S. Dist. Court for the N. Dist. of Ill. DOL’s investigation determined that at least two insurgent candidates for the office of assistant general chairperson were improperly deprived of their opportunity for candidacy. District Lodge 141 is based in Burlingame, Cal., and has members nationwide who are airline baggage handlers. DOL’s probe, conducted by the the Office of Labor-Mgmt. Standards Pittsburgh Dist. Office, determined that the insurgents secured the nominations/endorsements from the required minimum of four local lodges, but the int’l president ordered that two of these nominations/endorsements be reconducted, contrary to the recommendation of his own investigator. DOL’s suit seeks to require the union to validate the original endorsement results.
California Local Accused of Permitting Ineligible Candidate to Run for Union President
The Dep’t of Labor filed a complaint May 11 in the U.S. Dist. Court for the N. Dist. of Cal. against the Int’l Ass’n of Machinists Local Lodge 2228 in Sunnyvale, Cal. DOL’s investigation into the lodge’s Dec. 2, 2000 election disclosed the that lodge permitted an ineligible candidate to run for president. The complaint seeks a new election under DOL supervision. [DOL 5/11/01]