As the FBI probe into the UAW continues, union president Gary Jones has elected to take a paid, voluntary leave of absence.
Jones stepped down just days after The Detroit News published a report identifying Jones as the unnamed “Union Official A” that the prosecution referred to in court filings in the corruption case.
The Detroit News says Jones is accused of working with UAW aide Edward Robinson to embezzle millions in union member dues and splitting the money with him. Court records seen by the newspaper also indicate that Jones and his cohorts attempted to cover-up their alleged wrongdoings and obstruct the federal investigation.
Gary Jones
Robinson, 72, was formally charged last week with conspiring with Jones and another individual, referred to the court filings as “UAW Official B,” to embezzle the member dues. The group allegedly spent the embezzled money on various luxury items such as private villas, rounds of golf, high-end golf gear, cigars and alcohol. The person referred to as “UAW Official B” is said to be former union President Dennis Williams, whose California home was raided by the FBI in August. It is believed that Robinson will plead guilty to the charges against him, The Detroit News says.
The Detroit News also reports that UAW Official A and Robinson once expressed concern about whether or not investigators had obtained potentially incriminating documents related to the alleged embezzlement scheme, with UAW Official A saying at the time that they wish they “burned” said records. Four months later, a fire broke out in UAW headquarters in Detroit. That fire allegedly started in the IT department of the union office.
The FBI raided the Michigan home of Jones earlier this year as part of the ongoing corruption probe. Jones has not yet been formally charged with anything in the investigation. He will have to reimburse the union for money received during his paid leave if he ends up being charged with any wrongdoing in the case.
During Jones’ leave, UAW vice president Rory Gamble, who is the head of the union’s Ford department, will step up to serve as interim president of the union. Gamble recently led the three-day negotiations between the UAW and Ford Motor Company. It is not yet clear if Jones will return to his position with the UAW in the future.
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Source: The Detroit News 1, 2
Comments
Pathetic bunch of losers. Jones and Barra orchestrated the month long strike which cost, what $1 billion in lost profits? At least Barra is not a crook and with Gamble negotiating at Ford there was no strike.
UAW members need to push for Donald Trump because if a Democrat gets elected, the UAW healthcare benefit program which they have fought and died for will disappear with Medicare for all; UAW members will pay even higher taxes as much as 60-percent of their paycheck will go to help pay for the expected $52 Trillion cost.
Health care will then be one less thing the unions can squeeze GM on.
who does this crook think he is? the president of the united states?
People sure do strange things when money is involved….
So yer true…like receiving (or manipulating) $20,000,000 aka
Twenty Million Dollar Bonuses,
while the employees families
do without, when plants are closed,
models are dropped, strikes are
called (Co-ordinated)…
Yes, greed sets in when money,
and power take control…
Another reason to get rid of unions.
When you get rid of the unions everybody in the country will be working for minimum wage. As soon as there is no union pay scale for employers to have to compete against the pay every body gets will be mandated by minimum wage law.
Wrong. Its supply and demand. If you are good at your job you will be paid what you are worth.
Dream on dream on teenage queen
Unions are getting weaker every year. Gm workers did not get the Mexico plant moved to Ohio.
Suspected of fraud.
Probably will plead guilty.
Takes a PAID leave of absence.
Not sure if he’ll return to his position.
ONLY IN AMERICA!!!
Kick em.out and take their pensions if found guilty. It looks like the union needs to clean house and get their act together. Too many chiefs and not enough Indians.
Biden has been in politics for 50 years running the same con job. And here he is again, shows up for the UAW “endorsement” to run another con job promising something he and his fellow dimwits should’ve done before, but how can they when they are lining their pockets after you vote for them? Try something different for a change. Vote for American FIRST instead of career politicians who line their and their children’s pockets with foreign money while they sell American’s out while courting your vote under false pretenses. Don’t get fooled again. And again. And again. American first.