It may take a while before the till at American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees Local 1522 in Bridgeport, Connecticut is fully replenished. On the bright side, the two people who raided its cookie jar are out of the way. On December 15, Jacqueline Sikorski, formerly the local’s secretary-treasurer, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to embezzling funds. Court records show that Sikorski, 62, during the period February 1999-February 2002 embezzled $26,256 by cashing union checks for fictitious or exaggerated expenses, and then diverting the money for personal use. The local represents various employees of the City of Bridgeport and the privately-owned Bridgeport Health Care Center.
Sikorski’s guilty plea follows that of former Local 1522 President Gary Gourley back in September. During his tenure as local head during January 1999-March 2002, Gourley, 55, ripped off more than $63,000, writing 258 union checks that either had falsified or exaggerated expenses. He was sentenced on December 16 in U.S. District Court to five months in prison, to be followed by five months’ home confinement and 100 hours of community service. Sikorski’s sentencing hearing is set for March 3. The case was investigated by the Department of Labor and prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office. (US Fed News, 12/15).