CWA expels Katz, alleging misuse of union funds (more than $138,000 to the CWA for funds she spent )

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/jersey/index.ssf?/base/news-13/1238127395172300.xml&coll=1

Ex-leader promises to appeal the 'guilty as charged' ruling
Friday, March 27, 2009
BY JOSH MARGOLIN
STATEHOUSE BUREAU

Former state worker union president Carla Katz has been expelled from the Communications Workers of America after an internal union tribunal unanimously found her guilty of mismanaging the union's biggest local.

Already suspended from the union and under federal criminal investigation, Katz was also ordered by the tribunal to reimburse more than $138,000 to the CWA for funds she spent on personal and political expenses in violation of union regulations. The action was taken Wednesday.

"This trial court finds Katz guilty as charged," the three-member CWA panel wrote in a confidential letter obtained by The Star-Ledger. "The trial court ... orders the permanent expulsion of Carla Katz from the Communications Workers of America."

Katz said she would "absolutely appeal" her expulsion at the annual CWA convention, scheduled for late June in Washington.

"CWA is using this phony court in a desperate attempt to divert attention from how utterly ineffective they are in defending the rights of members who are facing pay cuts, furloughs and layoffs," she said. "It's no surprise that there is a growing call amongst union members to get rid of CWA. (New Jersey CWA leaders) are consumed with attacking me rather than devoting themselves to fighting for the members who are under attack."

The ruling marks a stunning conclusion to Katz's career as an influential union leader in New Jersey, where she led the largest state-worker union, CWA Local 1034. Her former romance with Gov. Jon Corzine has also been a political problem for the Democrat since he took office. The governor's office declined to comment yesterday.

FULL 2 page story at link.

[JDPriestly]

1. The nice thing about unions is that when one of their officers

or leaders commits fraud, the bad guy gets the hook. The bad guy gets removed from office.

I wish the banks would conduct themselves in a similar manner. They should get rid of all those who contributed to the fraud that has caused the downfall of the country.