HOW LOW CAN A UNION BOSS (or anyone human) GET?

UNION BOSS EVEN RIPPED OFF LITTLE LEAGUE TEAM!

What else is there to say? SIGH!

The N.Y. Times

May 20th, 2009

Amalgamated Transit Union Local 192 - Oakland, CA

Dangerous and Inhumane Conditions on Oakland Buses

I sincerely hope that conditions have improved since last year - shame on AC Transit for buying buses without A/C to save a few bucks and shame on Local 192 for allowing it! 102F? You can't safely drive a bus when the inside temp is that high.

Did ATU Local 192 hold the December 20th, 2008 election as scheduled? If so, who are the newly elected officers? Be proud - post the results on  the ATU Local 192 website. Perhaps it's in the members only area. Just a reminder, 2008 LM-2's were due April 1st, 2009. The information I have is for 2007.

I'm on my soapbox again. Why is it that many LU's think they have to spend every penny (and often more) of members dues? I'll say it again - the officers and employees of the union are the hired help! Demand accountability.

Typical of locals, ATU Local 192 had officer and employee disbursements of $801,050, 36% of the 2007 receipts of $2,252,023. With the economy the way it already was and the very high unemployment in California, did the officers (whoever they are) make any sacrifices in 2008? How about 2009?

I'm not privy to the usual union practices but $626,000 in 2007 legal fees seems excessive. Another 27% of the receipts into the black hole. Just out of curiosity,  when a local receives a Wage and Hour litigation settlement of $74, 156, what happens to the money?

How many members of ATU Local 192 drive cars built before 1994? Do you think the officers could have squeezed out one more year and saved a little money? Only $7200 for the 3 Saturns you (the members) owned? One would hope that the members (who already owned the cars) got to drive them home but alas, that doesn't seem to be the case since they were listed as trade-ins. I'd have given $201 for a 2003 Saturn L200, book value $4,585 and the union would have made an extra dollar. It seems odd that the union would let all 3 cars go to the Saturn dealer at 47% of the listed book value. Perhaps someone out in Oakland needs to learn a little about "horse trading".

But happily, all 3 clunkers were replaced with brand spankin' new 2007 Saturn Aura's for only $80,129. Who gets to drive the XE and not have to settle for one of the crummy XR's? I do have a couple of questions about the whole process of buying and selling cars at the local, mostly with  the way the transaction was listed on the LM-2.

I haven't bought a brand new car since my 40th birthday present to me in 1986 (I'm cheap) but I suppose that local bosses, like all politicians have a certain image they have to maintain. Not being an "expert" on buying and selling cars, the transaction confuses me.

The LM-2 shows the cars were traded-in for $7200 and the new cars were bought for $80,129 - a difference of $72,929. I look at the Fixed Asset and Loans Payable schedules of the LM-2 and get totally lost.

It's obvious that the local (members) own at least one other car/vehicle and I don't know what it is (all vehicles lumped together as an asset) so that's part on my confusion. The Loans Payable is where I'm really stymied:

SCHEDULE 9 - LOANS PAYABLE

FILE NUMBER: 540-907

Source of Loans Payable at Any  Time During the Reporting Period  (A)	Loans Owed at  Start of Period  (B)	Loans Obtained  During Period  (C)	Repayment  During Period  Cash  (D)(1)	Repayment  During Period  Other Than Cash  (D)(1)	Loans Owed at  End of Period  (E)
Total Loans Payable	$34,103	$80,129	$29,464	$3,487	$81,281
Totals will be automatically entered in...	Item 31 Column (C)	Item 44	Item 62	Item 69 with Explanation	Item 31 Column (D)
Saturn of Oakland - Autos	$32,957	$80,129	$28,318	$3,487	$81,281
GE Captial Copier Lease	$1,146	$0	$1,146	$0	$0

It looks like the $7200 trade-in (47% of book) actually became $3,487 when the deal was closed. Very, very confusing! Click here and take a crack at figuring it out for yourself.

Image courtesy of Cowboy Clip Art

I Must Have Offended Someone!

"Draw ya dirty rattlesnake"

Well, someone must have their drawers all bunched up. Visits to the blog by lawyers and PR types from the East and Left Coast, the latest a couple of visits from Jackson Lewis out in New York.

I don't image that there is a lot of personal interest in what I have to say so I suspect someone is paying the bill. Money just to visit little ole me? I'm FLATTERED! You know that there are a couple of ways to get the blog without having to waste time visiting: sign up for RSS feed or use Google Reader. There is a recession going on and we all need to economize

Well, the good Lord willin' and the creek don't rise, ya'll come back now, ya hear.

Images courtesy of Cowboy Clip Art

HansonBridgett -Was it something I said?

HOWDY!

Boy, do I feel special! Two PR firms and now the lawyers at HansonBridgett out in the Bay Area. Coast-to coast coverage. How's the weather? Supposed to rain here. It's OK, we need the moisture.

Animation courtesy of Cowboy Clip Art

Podesta Group

HOWDY!

Two visits from Washington DC PR firms in the same morning! Howdy to them hard workers at the Podesta Group. I still have no need for any "public relating" but thanks for visiting  and please come back whenever you like.

“Sometimes paranoia's just having all the facts.”

William S. Burroughs

Animation courtesy of Cowboy Clip Art

American Rights At Work

"The Trib's "Obama's union sop" editorial (May 10 and TribLIVE.com) on union transparency, the Employee Free Choice Act and President Obama's commitment to both replaced fact with fiction.

First and foremost, the Obama administration is in no way pushing union transparency under the rug. We can now be confident that the Labor Department's Office of Labor-Management Standards is more balanced and will go after anyone who violates the law, no longer using political ideology to harass workers and their unions.

The Employee Free Choice Act would not eliminate the secret ballot election, but rather would allow workers, not their bosses, the choice in how to form a union. It would, however, tear down the roadblocks that workers face when trying to join unions, so they can bargain for fair wages, benefits and job security. Once that happens, we can truly get on the path toward recovery and create an economy that works for everyone again.

Whether the Trib editorial board likes it or not, the American public overwhelmingly voted for change in November and supports worker-friendly policies like the Employee Free Choice Act.

Kimberly Freeman

Washington, D.C.

The writer is acting executive director of American Rights at Work, a nonprofit advocacy organization."

Published May 20th, 2009 Pittsburg TribLive

Google Reader found Ms. Freeman's interesting article this morning. I knew little about American Rights at Work (ARW), "Advancing Democracy in the American Workplace", so I paid them a visit. A peek at the Board of Directors and About US will tell you everything you need to know about American Rights at Work "fair and balanced" editorial policy.

It's not so much that I fault Ms. Freeman's views as without truth; it's that I'd like some of whatever she's smoking and she didn't tell us where to get it.

My old hillbilly farmer friend, Jeb, told me "Have pitchfork, will travel". He said he'd be happy to collect the large piles of smelly stuff to take home and spread on the fields. "Makes the maeders and corn (Jeb don't speak good english) grow".

On a more serious note, I'm offended that Ms. Freeman thinks the American public is stupid enough to buy "Advancing Democracy in the American Workplace" from a union shill group. I have no problem with Ms. Freeman's right to her views but get a clue! 

It's 2009 and we have the Internet. You can no longer write something, publish it in a newspaper and have folks believe it as gospel; the print newspapers are about to go the way of the dinosaurs and facts are too easy to check.

Visit the ShopFloor and read the February 6th post on Labor Secretary Solis's (then Representative Solis, D-CA, and the treasurer of ARW) confirmation. You can also read the Feburary 5th Washington Examiner Editorial Opinion.

If I were were a conspiracy nut, I could have a field day. Let's see: "President Obama appointed Secretary Solis who was a member of the house from California and treasurer/board member of ARW. Obama and Solis have "promised" less union oversight by OLMS and Obama has proposed cutting their budget by 9%. The SEIU has had a lot of trouble with corruption in California. The union contributed heavily to Obama and other liberal candidates with ARW taking the point in some campaign contributions.

Ah ha! Little green men are carrying bags of money from the Daddy Warbucks International Bank of Members Money directly into the Oval Office, Jimmy Hoffa is still alive and running the Teamsters from his snowshoe rental stand in Siberia and the news of Elvis's death was greatly exaggerated; he was just spotted in a rural Georgia Winn-Dixie buying an RC Cola and a Moon Pie.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it! - it's as believable as the yarns being spun by Ms. Freeman.

 

Image courtesy of Bigoo.WS

A Big Howdy to Edelman

HOWDY!

Just wanted to welcome the folks at Edelman PR out in Washington DC. The weather's beautiful here in Colorado but we did have a tornado alert last night. Ya'll have a good day now and come back real soon, ya hear!

P.S. I don't need to be publically related but I think some of them thar unions could use some help!

Animation courtesy of Cowboy Clip Art

The SEIU Daddy Warbucks International Bank Of Members Money

SEIU - It Boggles My Simple Mind - Part 1

According to the Department of Labor, the Service Employees International Union "represented" 1,807,635 members at the end of 2008, employees working at some of the hardest and poorest paying jobs in the U.S. It would seem that many of these members are relative newcomers to the country and perhaps not well versed in "union ways.

Looking at their 2008 LM-2, SEIU International reports that the governing body had receipts of $334,683,821, including $224,328,224 in "tribute" (the per capita tax each member pays their local) and disbursed $325,112,205. WOW - I seem to recall from the days of my misspent youth, someone saying "a million here, a million there  (later changed to billion) - pretty soon you're talking real money." I'd opine that 1/3 of a billion dollars is REAL MONEY to the 18+ million union members paying the bills.

SEIU seems to be doing O.K.,  lots of cash coming in and a surplus of over 9 million dollars in 2008. Why then, did the International borrow $25 million bringing their total loan balance with Bank of America and Amalgamated Bank to $102,717,660 at the end of 2008?

I don't soar in the lofty skies of high finance and I admit that the paltry sums pale in comparison with a trillion (give or take a few billion) in bailout money, but make no mistake, the janitor who cleans your office at night and the aide changing bedpans in a nursing home are footing the bill!

I am appalled and disgusted when I read the headlines that SEIU is riddled with corrupt LU's and that so-and-so, another SEIU labor boss, is being investigated or indicted.  The questions that must be asked: "How long will SEIU allow business as usual" and "does anyone actually care?" Perhaps the lack of fiduciary responsibility actually starts at the top. What can we find out by looking at the 2008 SEIU International LM-2?

Click on the pie chart to enlarge it. 2008 SEIU International Receipts and Disbursements.Complete 2008 SEIU International LM-2.

Click on the pie chart to enlarge it. 2008 SEIU International Receipts and Disbursements.Complete 2008 SEIU International LM-2.

Some of the numbers seems a little odd to me but I leave it to the members and other interested parties to look at the LM-2 in detail. One still must ask why SEIU International, with the cash flow they seem to have, would have to borrow another $25 million to get through 2008. Perhaps part of the explanation lies in the 23 outstanding unsecured "financial assistance" loans made to various SEIU LU's, state councils and other affiliated organizations. $23,094,303 in outstanding loans at the end of 2008 and some of the terms (no or minimal payments for the entire year?) are cause for wonder. Is SEIU running the Daddy Warbucks International Bank of Members Money?

The 2008 SEIU International Loans Receivable is very confusing! I always thought 1 + 1 = 2 and applied that simple formula to accounting. I don't understand:

List below loans to officers, employees, or members which at any time during the reporting period exceeded $250 and list all loans to business enterprises regarless of amount.  (A)	Loans  Outstanding at  Start of Period  (B)	Loans Made  During Period  (C)	Cash  (D)(1)	Other Than Cash  (D)(2)	Loans  Outstanding at  End of Period  (E)

Total of all lines	$12,719,134	$3,075,000	$2,462,280	$0	$23,094,303

Many of the other entries in Loans Receivable are just as confusing. A few million here, a few million there - who cares? It's only member money and just not important.

A plea to the Obama Administration: Please Do Not Cut The Office of Labor-Management Standards Budget!

NEXT: SEIU - It Boggles My Simple Mind - Part 2

A look at the SEIU Accounts Receiving Aging Schedule ($1,025,729 over 180 days past due), who owes the money (the members of course) and who receives the Daddy Warbucks Bank "financial assistance" loans.

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Boston Mailers Face Deep Cuts

I just read about the cuts facing the Boston Mailers (Teamster Local 1) at the Boston Globe and I sympathize. At the same time I can understand that New York Times, Co. is having a rough time and looking to save money. Rock and a hard spot!

I'm curious though, is it really necessary to pay the president, of a local with less than 300 members, over 90K as you did in 2008? I know Boston is an expensive place to live but have you ever considered someone part-time?

If I were looking at a 5% wage cut, pensions freeze, loss of overtime, etc., I think I'd ask the president to also make a sacrifice.

Grip of the Mob Is Gone in This Race, a Union Says

Enlarge The Image   Graph The Image

Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1181 website

This post, of course, is a look at the infamous Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 1181 located in Ozone Park, N.Y. Federal prosecutors claimed that the LU was controlled by the Genovese crime family for at least 30 years before the "clean-up" and  ATU International finally putting trustees in charge on November 11th, 2006.

The International trustees ran Local 1181 from then until the trusteeship officially ended Friday, April 3rd, 2009, after the election of new local bosses in March.

Newly Elected ATU Local 1181 Representatives

Local 1181 of the Amalgamated Transit Union: "first election free of mob influence in at least 30 years"

Ballots are in the mail in high-stakes LI bus union vote

Needless to say, elections have winners and losers and someone is going to be unhappy:

Old Guard Tops Reformers In School Bus Union Vote

I was able to collect disclosure information going back to 2000 so you can look at Local 1181 LM-2's for the last years of mob control and the LM-2's through June 30th, 2008 when ATU International had control.

I'm not sure what disclosure is required now that the trusteeship has ended. I belonged to a ATU LU in trusteeship, Local 1755, but we voted to join Local 1001 when the Trusteeship ended on June 30th, 2008. Local 1755 had to file a terminal LM-2 and Local 1001 had to start filing LM-2's as of July 1st, 2008 because it now had both public and private employee members. I suspect that Local 1181 will be required (assuming that the Obama administration doesn't gut LMRDA) to file it's normal 2009 LM-2 after the local's fiscal year ends June 30th, 2009; perhaps showing the change from International to Local control as a comment. Corrections to my assumption welcome!

I am curious as to why it appears that ATU International took so long to act:

Amalgamated Transit international refuses to oust Local 1181 officers accused of mob domination

I have my own ongoing disclosure battle with ATU Local 1001 and I've written to President George several time asking for help. When I began, I naively thought that ATU International actually monitored the LU's and was concerned with corruption and the individual members money. I've now come to realize that my lone voice has about as much effect as a fart in a hurricane.

For those that have the time and interest, here are the Local 1181 LM-2's from 2000 through 2008:

2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000

Here is some more background information for anyone interested: 

FORMER PRESIDENT OF TRANSIT UNION LOCAL 1181 SENTENCED
TO 57 MONTHS IN PRISON FOR RACKETEERING

Showdown for the BusFellas' Union - ATU 1181

Busfellas Take '1181' For Ride 

Can the AFL-CIO avoid a RICO suit in ATU L. 1181?

Malice's Restaurant

George Announces Departure of School Bus Local 1181 Pension and Welfare Funds Administrator

School bus drivers’ union members want a change

I'll reserve any farther thought and comment until a later date and perhaps share my own experience in attempting to force LU disclosure.