The UAW is part of the investigation by the federal government into union corruption in the United States. Union officials enriching themselves by dealing with industry representatives isn’t unknown; neither is misuse of funds from union dues.
Many of you who are old enough will remember corruption and mob involvement at the Teamsters’ Union, and the famous disappearance of that union’s boss, James Hoffa from a restaurant in a Detroit suburb. In Detroit every couple of years they dig up another location in search of his body. So far, no body has been found.
Some are more interesting in the “timing” of the raids, claiming that they are meant only to weaken the UAW’s position in the upcoming negotiations with the auto companies.
Of course it isn’t proof of wrongdoing, but how many of us keep ‘wads of cash’ in our homes?
FBI investigators leave the home of UAW President Gary Jones after a search on Wednesday, August 28, 2019 in Canton, Michigan.
Detroit — Federal agents investigating corruption within the U.S. auto industry Wednesday executed a series of raids in at least four states, including at the suburban Detroit home of United Auto Workers President Gary Jones and the California home of former President Dennis Williams, sources told The Detroit News.
The searches are the latest expansion of a years-long investigation into bribes, kickbacks and attempts by auto executives to influence labor negotiations with the UAW. The investigation has led to charges against nine people and prison sentences for eight people linked to the UAW and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV.
The daylight raids intensified a four-year investigation that has exposed self-dealing among lower-level UAW officials and a conspiracy involving Fiat Chrysler executives to wring concessions from the union by lavishing labor leaders with cash, trips, steak dinners and $1,000 pairs of Christian Louboutin shoes.
The searches also coincided with contract negotiations between the UAW and Detroit automakers, negotiations that could be severely impacted, labor and business experts said.
“This weakens the union’s position at the negotiating table,” said Erik Gordon, a University of Michigan business professor. “The team could be in handcuffs in a week.”
Federal agents fanned out to execute search warrants at multiple locations, including Jones’ home in Canton Township and at the UAW Black Lake Conference Center, a 1,000-acre retreat in northern Michigan financed with interest from the union’s $721 million strike fund, which is bankrolled by worker dues. …
Canton resident Kevin Felepo saw FBI agents searching the garage of UAW President Gary Jones and noticed agents unroll a UAW banner, move golf clubs and count money. Max Ortiz, The Detroit News
About 9 a.m., neighbor Kevin Telepo said he saw people working in the garage of the house.
“They were on the floor counting cash, going through the wads,” said Telepo, 47, who lives five houses down. “They pulled out a five-foot tube that was a UAW banner. They were really examining the golf clubs.”
They also took bags and boxes and opened a safe, Telepo said.
He said he watched the scene for about 45 minutes.
“They’re quiet people,” Telepo added.
Stella's Place 
Wellllllll, Louisiana governor Edwin Edwards kept suitcases full of cash around the house but I’m sure there was a logical explanation for that.
I can remember back in the late 70s when the Teamsters ordered a trucker strike over fuel prices and it was ‘unofficially’ put out that any truckers breaking the strike would likely be shot at. They refused to exclude government, even military, truckers so when we had to drive through the canyon to the Wyoming refineries to load up on diesel for facility use we had an armed shotgun driver and some drivers carried too.
Then there’s the issue of how the Teamsters handled the member’s retirement fund. And how they’ve extended well beyond truckers – nurses? They keep on atruckin’ and Congress just ignores them or hits them with pinprick regulation. Honor among thieves.
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Czar-The Kent State “shooting,” 4 May 1970, was originally begun with the Teamsters in Independence (OH). The Teamsters’ violence was so bad the Guv called out the Nat’l Guard, who was moved down to Kent went the students burned down the ROTC building on campus, then began rioting. Many here believe the Teamsters moved down to Kent and participated.
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And the iconic Kent State pic that originally ID’d the kneeling, distraught woman as an aggrieved student was more fake news.
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Yes, she was from Pittsburgh, The Ohio guardsmen field because some people came running through their line formation shouting they(rioters) have guns, then shots were fired by someone, at the line of guardsmen.
Hey I was in Cambodia, all I can say is don’t mess with armed troops. Now how many college riots after Kent State?
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I’d just gotten out and was registering for college. My college was a conservative one so our take on it was more like: “Since when did the Guard get to shoot so well?”.
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Had the UAW bargaining unit not been corrupt, no one would be worried about the UAW bargaining unit being hauled away in handcuffs.
Many many union guys talked to me during the 2016 primary and campaign (ppl talk to me…no idea why…).
They told me of all the corruption in their respective unions and how their strike and retirement funds had been hijacked for the top guy’s benefit, especially the purchasing of fancy high-end properties.
I promised not to reveal any of the stories, so will go no further.
As for the UAW raid – what took so long?
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I presume that the cash will be forfeit to the govt unless the UAW can show that the funds are honestly held and acquired. That will likely be difficult, but it depends on the total $ amount. I haven’t read of any estimates yet, but I would expect will over $10K needs to be found to assume criminal activity.
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