The UAW scandal just keeps getting thicker. The FBI is investigating whether the fire at UAW’s Solidarity House headquarters, which started in the IT department, was arson, and if so, would be considered obstruction of justice. As late as this month, the U.S. Attorney leading the UAW investigation says that the union leadership is still not fully cooperating, and it is mostly tips from individuals that are fueling the ongoing efforts to get to the truth. A government takeover of the union is still listed as a possibility as the probe seeks to uncover the depth of the corruption. To further complicate matters, the UAW moved to disband Region 5 (the Region at the heart of the scandal). According to UAW president Rory Gamble, the move is designed to break up the region responsible for the mess. The St. Louis-based leadership organized events over a two-year period that spent more than $1 million in union dues on “poolside villas, booze, cigars, golf and steak dinners,” much of it fraudulently expensed to the UAW accounting department. Overshadowed by the UAW scandal, the SEIU faces a reckoning of its own after it was confirmed that SEIU leadership, including President Mary Kay Henry, failed to take action against sexual predators in the union and actually promoted some of them after their being accused of misconduct. In fact, the union is alleged to have retaliated against whistle-blowers. No action was ever taken against two high-profile SEIU leaders, Dave Regan and Martin Manteca, after multiple allegations of sexual misconduct, including a petition signed by 60 staffers against Manteca. To read the long, sordid in-depth report (if you can stomach it), click here.
