U.S. Labor Department adopts tougher financial disclosure rules for unions

Source: LA Times

Feds say the regulations to require most unions to publicly report most compensation for officers will help expose the kind of scandal allegedly found in the SEIU's L.A.-based local.
By Paul Pringle

The federal government has adopted new financial disclosure rules for labor organizations that officials say would help expose the sort of corruption allegedly found in the largest California chapter of the Service Employees International Union.

The U.S. Labor Department, in the final hours of the Bush administration, has toughened standards to require most unions to publicly report nearly all compensation and expenses for officers and employees, the agency announced Friday.

Also broadened were disclosure requirements for the sale and purchase of property, with the aim of revealing whether any union officers or employees profit from the transactions.

In the alleged SEIU scandal, the Los Angeles-based local's former president, Tyrone Freeman, has been accused by the union of enriching himself and his family with more than $1 million in misappropriated dues money. The SEIU ousted him after The Times reported on his spending practices last summer.



Read more: http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/california/la-me-union17-2009jan17,0,4105949.story

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The 2009 Federal buget spends more on watching unions (13% of workers) than it spends on all forms of worker safety combined. I don't really mind the new regulation. But why not worry more about the safety of ALL workers?

What about the fucking BANKS and ponzi schemers?

They have imposed draconian regulations of the way Labor can spend and raise campaign funds while playing loosey goosey with the core constituents of the GOP.

But like everything else in the Bush White House, it was completely political.

bailout went. Paulson just can't tell us.

But we can bind the Unions in straitjackets. Yet we can't allow the uber wealthy bankers to pay a dime for their corruption.

When this country starts to raise the wages of Middle Class workers and tax the uber wealthy, then this economy will turn around.

Until then, thing will only get worse thanks to the putrid, idiotic, corrupt ideology of bushies and the neocons.

This is the Shock Doctrine applied to the United Sates. Attack and trample the workers until they are nothing but dust.

but remember who controlled the house.

no reason to keep daylight away from union management. But, sure, let's apply it to everyone, not only unions.

Right on! How's about Elaine "Ms. $$$$ Manicure" Chao McConnell give us the REAL lowdown on her oh so c-o-z-y relationship with the Numero Uno anti-union shill,Dr. Evil himself,Richard Berman?

Shame on Elaine » All you need to know about Elaine Chao Elaine Chao is the Secretary of Labor and wife of Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell. Under Elaine’s questionable 'leadership,' the Department of ...
shameonelaine.org/ - 55k - Cached - Similar pages -

The Employee Freedom Action Committee is a new anti-union front group from Richard Berman that attacks Congressional candidates who support the Employee Free Choice Act. Behind the scenes, the group is a corporate-funded campaign against workers' rights.

with the same zeal that they target unions.

The double standard is sickening. x(

...be completely transparent and available to anyone who asks.
I am a STRONG Organized LABOR advocate!

I also believe that transparency should apply equally to Corporate Management.

There may be more to the story, but at first glance it looks like this merely raises union disclosure requirements to the level of publicly traded corporations.

And none for the banks. I am SO ready for the end of this ridiculous administration.