Parks takes it to Ridley-Thomas regarding Freeman/SEIU 6434 Controversy
Bernard Parks can take advise.After last weekends attempt to curtail First Amendment expression by the Shaw Family, we advise you to go "pro-active" in response to the Leimert Park Incident and the Tyrone Freeman/SEIU 6434 Controversy.
.......and you have.
Controversy surrounding a powerful Los Angeles labor leader threatened Thursday to alter the landscape beneath the county's hottest political race, which has been fueled by record amounts of union spending.
Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors candidate Bernard C. Parks, who trailed in the June primary, challenged opponent Mark Ridley-Thomas to return more than $4.5 million raised on his behalf by a labor alliance that included beleaguered union leader Tyrone Freeman.
Parks, a Los Angeles city councilman, also noted that county officials have accused Freeman's local of raising more than $5 million in illegitimate union dues from low-wage home healthcare workers, a charge that union attorneys have flatly denied.
"Mr. Ridley-Thomas, how do you feel about benefiting from the money of people who are hovering just above the poverty line?" Parks said. "Give the money back to the people who need it most."
"Thousands of working poor are having their meager pay checks "taxed" to fill the coffers of your challenger Mark Ridley-Thomas and family members bank accounts, according to dissidents within the local and SEIU. And it doesn't help the cause of Freeman when the "Old Gray Hag On Spring Street" resorts to the concept of "investigated reporting" (remember their Rampart reporting??) to fill column inches".
Now how about bashing Ridley-Thomas supporter Chief Bratton regarding that incident in Leimert Park??
Remember, "this is your time".................
Labels: bernard parks, Mark Ridley-Thomas, SEIU 6434, Tyrone Freeman
Posted by Red Spot in CD 14 @ 8/22/2008 08:49:00 AM
26 Comments:
Don't pat yourself on the back Red Idiot - MRT ain't giving back jack, you big jack-off.
Unions will use this to tell their members "look working people are being attacked again" they will redouble their organizing efforts.
You should learn more about how unions operate before coming up with your moves that can be seen at least two steps before you make them.
What happened is terrible and deserves the bad press given, but it won't change how the unions operate.
Hmmm.
I do remember a certain Supreme Court called the "Beck Decision" which set standards on the usage of union dues for political activities.
I truly doubt that these health care workers knew to question whether their massive dues increases were being use for political activities in violation of the Beck Decision.
After all, SEIU has something call COPE where members can choose to donate money for political activities.
I knew this was a Red Spot posting from the first paragraph. The word is "advice".
I knew this was a Red Snot posting when nothing preceding the LA Times quote made any sense.
I knew this was a red spot post when the Heckle and Jeckle of spin posted here.
I knew this was a Red Snot posting because I don't care about the subject.
Is it just me, or does anyone else think of a woman's period every time they hear the name Red Spot?
Don't be distracted by the MRT sideshow.
The BIG corruption is not in the money Tyrone's local (and many other unions) gave to MRT.
The BIG corruption is in how labor fakers like Tyrone Freeman and Andy Stern extract and extort political money from these low wage workers but actually fail to put the union's considerable political muscle behind winning actual wage and benefit improvements. Look it up: The LA County homecare workers (Tyrone's base) are actually among the lowest paid in California even though they were among the first to be "organized" in SEIU. All unionized homecare workers in the Bay Area are $2/hr. better paid than LA County. Even recently unionized homecare workers in remote rural counties make more than LA County homecare workers.
These jokers don't give a good goddamn about the workers' actual conditions. With few exceptions, the role of members (dues-units) in the SEIU is to be a diverse crowd in purple t-shirts at the rallies, and blindly sing the praises of their Stern-appointed leaders. Too bad they can't get their dues and political contributions refunded for lack of results.
Workers need real unions with honest leaders, but Stern is not interested in that; look for Stern to engineer a cover-up of the whole matter.
Can the SEIU reform itself? Not likely under the current dictatorship.
Don't worry about Red Spot.
Over at Westside White Guy's non-blog the big stories include former LA Times suing jilted ex-girlfriends, whether someone in Glendale said that Armenians there would be against a smoking ban and some person who apparently has enough time on his hands to make a list of every comic strip that's ever appeared in the LA Times.
Does that list include the reports from City Council meetings?
Maybe the ones that should be worry are Arnelle Grajeda, Julie Butcher and Maria Elena Durazo.
Purple Sleaze (A contemporary rock song)
(Sung to the tune of Purple Haze)
Purple Sleaze, all on my brain;
Lately things don’t seem the same!
It ain’t funny; it’s a doggone shame;
Scuuuse me while I change my name!
(guitar lead here)
Purple Sleaze, it’s in the news;
Jokers stole the workers’ dues;
The Union boss is no stand-up guy;
Join me now, and say “bye, Ty!”
(more guitar here)
(Apologies to Jimi Hendrix)
Is it just me, or does anyone else think of a woman's period every time they hear the name Red Spot?
Just you, DQ. Just you.
PLLLLEEEEAAASSSSEEEE BITTER BERNIE SAYING SOMEONE DID SOMETHING WRONG? HE'S THE BIGGEST DAMN CROOK IN CITY HALL. WE ALL KNOW HIS BAGGAGE OF PROMOTING CORRUPT FRIENDS AND WE DON'T DARE TOUCH THE RUMORS ABOUT HIS WIFE ON THOSE BOARDS AND GETTING $$$$$$. IF HE WASN'T GOOD ENOUGH TO BE CHIEF FOR A SECOND TERM HE'S CERTAINLY THE WORST CHOICE TO BE A COUNTY SUPERVISOR ALTHOUGH MANY MANY MANY PEOPLE WOULD LOVE HIM OUT OF CITY HALL.
GIVE IT UP PEOPLE...LAPD WASN'T INVOLVED IN LEIMERT PARK. DONT' BE DUMB AND CAN'T FIGURE OUT THE PATCHES OF OFFICE OF PUBLIC SAFETY THAT IS PHOTO AND THE FACT LAPD DOESN'T WEAR PATCHES.
SEIU = Martin Ludlow = Local 99 = Jeanette Humphries = President Freeman = Local 660 = Gilbert Cedillo = Antonio Villaraigosa = High Level Appointments = corruption
Get the picture?
It's clear that there is a massive conspiracy targeting both Tyrone Freeman and the Shaws, as part of the well-known city-wide effort to target and frame "people of color," including uppity Asians like Leland Wong. Clearly it can't be masterminded by Antonio or the Latino Machine, since Alatorre, Hernandez and other hard-working stalwarts of the community have also been framed.
This leaves only that segment of the community which is sick and tired of being pushed out of the city and government by PC fears of "looking racist," cries for "more diversity," and redistricting, as well as secret funding from Mexico.
I'm talking about the whites moving back into Echo Park, Pacoima and Van Nuys, gentrifying those areas as they're priced out of tonier ones. They are working with those westside and west valley NIMBYs who oppose all multi-cultural, trans- social development with the excuse that it will overburden transit.
Some of those people are legit, but some have a hidden agenda to target and undermine all people of color. Some are using the Shaws and Wacky Walter to get rid of all Mexicans, one issue at a time, but others want none of them in power and have framed Freeman. Too bad Bitter Bernie can't see through this.
There you go again with your delusional mantra that Tyrone Freeman was framed by some racist conspiracy.
Is that all you got?
Put down the decaf and get some real coffee!
Tyrone is not the victim here; he is the perp.
Tyrone's corruption is documented in Union ducuments filed with the United States Department of Labor which Tyrone himself probably signed!
He basically turned himself in!
The only white dude you can blame for this is Andy Stern, Tyrone's mentor, boss and capo di tutti capi. Stern set up Tyrone with his own franchise in the Stern Gang, and gave hime carte blanche to do whatever he wanted. Stern was warned about Tyrone's shenanigans years ago and chose to do nothing. Stern approved the change in the union bylaws which allowed Tyrone's so-called 'board' to raise union dues without a membership vote. The dude thought he was untouchable but he crossed too many lines.
As for you, fool, I guess you'll be the last worshipper to leave the temple, you'll be the sucker bringing Tyrone his purple cupcakes at the federal penitentiary on visiting day.
Do you have any clue how pathetic you sound?
Is Tyrone paying you to defend him?
WOW !!!!!!
This racial conspiracy is only clear to you.
One can only conclude that you are under the influence of a powerful hallucinogenic, paranoia-inducing chemical agent.
Please discontinue use of that substance immediately. If the hallucinations persist, I strongly suggest you seek immediate medical attention. I hope you are not under Tyrone's 'donut' health insurance scam because you will need prior approval from some tele-doc quack.
Good luck to you.
Unbelievable they all call out the race card when its a Black Man. I'm sure the Nation of Islam is saying dumb idiot Naji Ali was framed.
Let's try and connect the dots did felony convicted Martin Ludlow have anything to do with this? Its going to get real ugly soon.
I heard Parks mentioned Ludlow at his news conference. It's a pretty easy connection to make. For SEIU to do this just a couple of years after getting Ludlow and Humphries indicted, shows how bold and arrogant they've become. Looks like Bernie has dusted off his Chief of Police hat and is getting ready to take these folks to jail.
Where have you guys been?
Tyrone is outsville!!!!
The SEIU Local is in trusteeship and the full bore investigations are going strong.
Power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely.
Bye Bye Tyrone. Hope you and Martin can hook up soon in a nice minimum security setting.
This ends MRT's best shot at being elected Supervisor; Bernie can walk in now.
And, the beat, er, cheat goes on...
SEIU removes all officers of local chapter amid financial inquiry
SEIU takes action after The Times reports payments to firms owned by local leader's relatives.
By Paul Pringle
Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
August 23, 2008
The Service Employees International Union on Friday removed all elected officers of its biggest California local amid an inquiry into the financial practices of the labor group and a related charity, including payments of hundreds of thousands of dollars to firms owned by its president's relatives.
Friday's action follows an announcement earlier this week that the president of the Los Angeles local, Tyrone Freeman, would step aside while the union's national office investigated expenditures disclosed by The Times.
In placing the 160,000-worker local in trusteeship, the union formally relieved Freeman, the local's secretary-treasurer, Amanda Figueroa, and its 55 board members of their posts.
The trustee appointed to take over the local's operations is John Ronches, who has been based in the union's Washington, D.C., headquarters. Ronches, who could not be reached Friday, is an assistant to SEIU Secretary-Treasurer Anna Burger and is a 30-year veteran of the union.
The union also has appointed an outside monitor to review future financial transactions before they are executed.
"We are committed to leading a reform movement within labor, and we will not tolerate any act that puts the interests of our members at risk," SEIU President Andy Stern said in an e-mail.
"As our history shows, when serious factual allegations are brought to our attention, we act swiftly and decisively to ensure that our leadership is being held accountable to our members, who work some of the toughest jobs in America," Stern's statement said.
Freeman could not be reached for comment Friday. He has denied any wrongdoing.
His local, United Long-Term Care Workers, is made up mostly of people who make about $9 an hour tending to patients in their residences and in nursing homes.
SEIU spokeswoman Michelle Ringuette said the union "is going to be looking very closely" into allegations this week that the local leadership retaliated against some staff members when they refused to sign a letter in support of Freeman.
A small number of staffers were transferred to positions far from their homes, and about 10 had their union cellphone service terminated after balking at signing the letter, according to three workers who spoke on condition of anonymity because they feared reprisal.
Ringuette also said the union is examining Times disclosures that the local reported paying $82,000 last year to a Florida video firm that says it never received such a payment. In addition, she said it is reviewing Times revelations that a home owned by Freeman's former chief of staff was used as the address of a housing nonprofit associated with the local, as shown by Labor Department records, interviews and the nonprofit's website.
Freeman and officials of the housing group, which did not receive the tax-exempt status it sought and had lost its right to do business in California, have declined to answer questions about whether the former chief of staff, Rickman Jackson, was paid for the use of his residence.
Jackson, who heads a Michigan local, has not returned several phone calls seeking comment. Last year, the Los Angeles local reported paying him about $133,000 in salary and roughly $45,000 in other, unspecific disbursements, Labor Department filings show.
Two weeks ago, The Times disclosed that the local paid nearly $178,000 to a video firm operated by Freeman's wife at the couple's home, and that his mother-in-law's day-care service had received $96,000 annually for several years from a union-affiliated charity that runs a worker training center.
The local also has paid $16,000 to a now-defunct minor league basketball team coached by Freeman's brother-in-law, and $219,000 to a small video firm run by a former union staffer, Brian Cheatham, records and interviews show.
Three former union employees said in interviews this week that Cheatham has a close relationship with Freeman and his wife.
They identified Cheatham as one of the members of Freeman's wedding party pictured on the website of a Hawaiian nuptials service, www.pacificaisles.com.
Last year, the local spent nearly $300,000 on a Four Seasons Resort golf tournament, restaurants, such as a Morton's steakhouse, a Beverly Hills cigar club and the William Morris Agency, the Hollywood talent firm, The Times reported.
paul.pringle@latimes.com
Are Tyrone Freeman and Amanda Figueroa still getting paid?
Count on it!
Are the rest of their lackeys still on the payroll?
You can depend on it!
Will the trustee try to get the stolen funds back from Freeman's pals and relatives?
No way!
This ain't a real trusteeship. This is trusteeship 'lite'. This is the begining of a cover-up by Andy Stern and Anna Butger; they can't let their Southern California flagship franchise go down. They need this crooked local union to stay crooked so they can force all of the homecare and nursing home workers in California into this employer-friendly RICO. (look it up!)
The nursing home bosses are counting on you Andy; you had a deal; you can't let them down; remember, secret backroom deals with the boss is the only way you know how to "organize" (aside from mergers and affiliations, that is.)
Notwithstanding Stern's recent grand pronouncements (after weeks of silence), anyone expecting this bogus trusteeship to clean up the corrupt mess is fooling themselves.
Don't believe?
Just watch!
And, hey, let's not forget about Rickman Jackson! (Jackson is the guy whose house address was used for one of Freeman's dummy companies.)
For years, Rickman Jackson was one of Tyrone's top henchmen.
For loyal service to the Stern Gang he was rewarded with his own union racket in Michigan as head of the statewide SEIU healthcare local.
Incidentally, he was not elected by the members; he was (you guessed it!) appointed by Stern.
This plague is not just in LA; it's a nationwide infestation!
INVESTIGATE STERN!!!!!!
Tyrone is not alone!
Andy Stern is not above a little crookedness himself.
For example, a couple of years ago he published a book, a lightweight effort titled "A Country That Works."
He first tried to get the union to pay for promoting the book.
Then SEIU locals bought thousands of copies (yes, with dues dollars), and handed them out to whoever would take them.
What happens to the royalty checks?
The book is not really worth reading except as an insight into Stern's megalomania and shallow intellect.
But, anyone who wants to read it should borrow it at the local library or get a free copy from your nearest SEIU local; don't waste money on it.
Yes, Tyrone is still getting paid. He is on voluntary leave. I don't know about Annelle, but I'd bet it's the same deal.
Re a country that works - Stern gets the royalties (if there are any). He also kept the $100,000+ advance for himself, yet all the expense of promoting the book fell on dues payers. And no one in the union had any input or vote on what's in the book (nouveau boss-unionism), but he put it out as if it was SEIU's program.
He thinks he's so smart he deserves it all, shame the book is a pile of crap and has sunk without trace (except when someone needs to refer back to his summers helping out at the country club or his new friendships with right-wing republicans).
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