SERVICE EMPLOYEES (SEIU)
New York Local Probed for Election Law Violations
Service Employees Int'l Union Local 32B-32J
in N.Y.C. is being investigated for possible violations of a city campaign
finance law in its political action efforts. A subpoena was served
Nov. 13 on Local 32B-32J by the office of Manhattan Dist. Atty. Robert
M. Morgenthau. Local president Michael Fishman said officials were asked
to provide information related to the local's "broad-based political action
program" to support candidates in recently concluded city elections.
The investigation was apparently prompted by dissident Paul Pamias's Oct. 12 letter to Morgenthau's office. As previously reported in the UCU, Pamias told Morgenthau that the local was violating city law by "turning the union hall into a campaign headquarters" and compelling staff members to donate personal and vacation days to work on the losing mayoral campaign of city Public Advocate Mark Green (D), whose candidacy the local had endorsed.
"All the unions do this," Pamias said, suggesting that the case could have broader implications for other unions. "But that doesn't mean it's legal." The alleged practices constitute violations of the city's strict campaign finance law, as well as falsification of business records, he contended. [BNA 11/15/01]
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