Ex-union chief faulted by judge, new elections ordered at Sparrows Point

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.baltimorebrew.com/2011/08/16/ex-union-chief-faulted-by-judge-new-elections-ordered-at-sparrows-point/#comment-24763

U.S. District Court ruling is a victory for the United Steelworkers for Action, a grassroots caucus at the mill.

Mark Reutter August 16, 2011 at 8:57 am Story Link View Comments


Campaign literature was improperly distributed from the career development building at Sparrows Point.

Photo by: Fern Sheen

A U.S. District Court judge has declared all senior union positions at the Sparrows Point steel mill void and ordered a new election of officers under the supervision of the U.S. Department of Labor.

Judge James K. Bredar singled out the behavior John Cirri, former president of Local 9477 of the United Steelworkers, as part of a pattern by Local 9477 officers to use “employer resources” to promote their slate of candidates.

In particular, the judge cited the use of the steel mill’s e-mail system and the mass photocopying of literature by the Cirri-controlled Red, White & Blue caucus. He said the violations may have affected the outcome of the April 2009 election in which the RWB slate defeated an insurgent group of steelworkers.

Bredar’s ruling – made late last month, but not publicly disclosed until now – came just days after Cirri tendered his resignation as president of Local 9477.

Cirri did not allude to the legal case in his resignation announcement to 1,800 union members at the Baltimore County mill. Instead, he said that his resignation for “anything other than for health reasons is simply not true.”

FULL story at link.

[jschurchin]

1. There is nothing worse then having

A questionable election of officers. "Health reasons"? Yeah I'm sure his health would be in question if his members find out he and his slate cheated to win election.