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Detroit News reports, http://www.detroitnews.com/story/business/autos/2018/01/22/iacobelli-fca-guilty-plea/109718250/
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV officials paid more than $1.5 million to United Auto Workers officers and employees to sway union contract negotiations, federal prosecutors said, part of a $4.5 million corruption scandal involving Detroit's No. 3 automaker.
The accusations made Monday in a plea agreement with former FCA labor negotiator Alphons Iacobelli say for the first time in the investigation that executives' actions were intended to corrupt UAW contract negotiations to favor Fiat Chrysler.
The plea deal suggests the corruption was more widespread than previously disclosed. It lasted for years as Fiat Chrysler officials lavished UAW labor leaders with cash payments and luxury items, including airfare, jewelry and secret $50,000 payments.
After a laundry list of other bribes and (of course) a denial by the CEO of FCA, the story continues
Iacobelli sanctioned the use of training center credit cards by UAW leaders for personal expenses in a bid to keep senior labor leaders "fat, dumb and happy," according to a court filing.
Iacobelli is also accused of spending more than $1 million of union funds on luxury items, including his house, pool, outdoor spa and kitchen, a Ferrari and the two limited-edition, gold Montblanc fountain pens.
Has anyone else (besides the Feds) noticed how easy the UAW contract negotiations have been going since the great recession?
(Score: 5, Insightful) by KilroySmith on Saturday January 27 2018, @05:03PM (4 children)
That's a bit extreme. I have no problems with workers negotiating with management, with leaders chosen from those working in the company. Corruption like this is far less likely when you're rubbing shoulders on the assembly line with the union head.
(Score: 0, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday January 27 2018, @05:15PM (1 child)
If you think your union represents you, you're sadly mistaken. They're nothing but mobsters shaking down workers for false protection that wouldn't be needed if they disappeared... like Hoffa.
(Score: 5, Touché) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday January 27 2018, @06:08PM
Ah, yes, the golden times before the unions, when worker rights were so much better than today! When our benevolent Companies were working hard to increase workplace safety and worker's quality of life! Oh, won't those days of capitalist paradise ever return!
You are an idiot.
(Score: 3, Informative) by frojack on Saturday January 27 2018, @08:50PM (1 child)
Union bosses never touch anything from the assembly line. Strictly suits.
Shop stewards are there to keep the workers in line - make sure they never turn out one unit over their "standard", and report those who do.
Workers themselves haven't negotiated as union representatives in decades.
No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday January 30 2018, @05:41AM
The maintenance engineer's union for instance had all their chapter heads working the offices for testing and training when I took their test a few years back. Going from working the line to education and administration is fine if you've put in the grunt work first. Same with automotive professors at junior colleges (not sure if any university level programs have come into being yet.)
Having said that, yes there are many other unions that have suits that never worked a day in their career field, fueled in some cases by nepotism. But there is always the opportunity for the workers to revolt and either force a management change or start a replacement union if they really wanted to. People get the leadership they deserve. I think the trends in American presidents prove that.