Federal Agents Raid UAW Officials Homes Offices. Labor Strike and Federal Racketeering Case Next?

Mike Norris Co-Editor The American Dossier Agents from the FBI the IRS and the Department of Labor raided the home of United Auto Workers (UAW) President Gary Jones as part of an ongoing probe into the union and at least one of the nations auto manufacturers. Warrants were also executed at five other locations including the UAWs 1000-acre Black Lake Retreat in Onaway Michigan and at the Corona California home of former UAW President Dennis Williams. The years long federal investigation has led to charges against nine high-ranking officials on both sides of the union-management divide. The latest raids could mean that the federal government is now targeting Jones increasing the likelihood that the federal government could assume oversight of the union under anti-racketeering statutes. Eight people including three former Fiat Chrysler (FCA) executives have pled guilty and have been sentenced. Charges are pending against the ninth. Last month UAW Vice President Norwood Jewell was sentenced to 15 months in prison after pleading guilty in a scheme in which money earmarked for the UAW-Chrysler National Training Center was used inappropriately for travel lodging and meals. In 2018 Alphons Iacobelli FCAs former head of labor relations was sentenced to five and a half years in prison. He was found to have used the training centers funds to pay for elaborate home renovations and luxuries including a $350000 Ferrari. Iacobelli also authorized $1.2 million in payments of training center funds to a union official and the officials wife. Another defendant Michael Grimes faces federal conspiracy charges. The charges against Grimes filed this month were the first with a General Motors (GM) connection. Prosecutors say Grimes conspired with two unnamed union officials to enrich themselves through bribes and kickbacks from vendors. A plea hearing for Grimes who is free on bond is scheduled next week. The raids come as the union is negotiating new labor contracts with GM Ford and FCA. The contracts with all three automakers are due to expire Sept. 15 although the contracts could be extended. Four years ago UAW members narrowly approved new contracts despite the deals containing the first wage increases in a decade. Since the last negotiations American automakers have suffered from declining sales and need to invest heavily in the next generation of electric and self-driving cars. In November GM unallocated four of its 30 U.S. plants as part of a $4.5 billion cost-cutting effort. Ford recently cut 7000 white collar jobs and says it will spend $11 billion reshaping the company. But the union is not interested in granting cost-saving concessions to the companies which in 2018 had combined net profits of nearly $16 billion. The UAWs strike authorization vote will be completed this week at the locals. It is used by the unions during negotiations to show the automakers that the membership is unified and ready to strike if necessary. A long-lasting auto industry strike hasnt happened since the 1970s. A nationwide GM strike lasted 67 days in 1970. The last national strike at Ford took place in 1978 and lasted 28 days. Before yesterdays raids there already was a sense in Detroit that the likelihood of a strike was much higher than it had been in years. The widening investigation into the UAW could cause the rank-and-file members to lose confidence with leadership making them suspicious of any deal made in the upcoming contract talks. The latest news rocking the union just made negotiations even more difficult. After serving as an Airborne Infantryman in the 82nd Airborne Division Mike attended Florida State University where he received his Bachelors Degree in Political Science and George Washington University where he received his Masters in Political Management. Mike is currently attending the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law where he is pursuing his Juris Doctorate. Since 2004 Mike has worked in the Florida Senate where he was one of only two Chiefs of Staff under 30 and in the Michigan Senate where he served as the Legislative Aide to the Assistant Minority Floor Leader. The 2018 election cycle was Mikes eighth as a Political Consultant. Mike previously served as the Secretary and Vice President of the Tampa Bay Young Republicans Regional Vice Chair for the Florida Federated Young Republicans and attended the 2012 Republican National Convention as an Alternate Delegate. He currently lives in Grosse Pointe Woods Michigan with his rescue Pit Bull Ike. http://www.whitefalconconsult.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/norrismichaelj/