Union Boss "Fight Poverty" at a Cigar Club, Golf Tournament, Hotels ...

It's all in the name of "fighting poverty" or so said Tyrone Freeman, the boss of the Service International Employees Union in Los Angeles. That's all fine and dandy, except the problem is he's fighting poverty by spending $300,000 tab on golf tournament, cigar club, and steakhouses!

Paul Pringle of the Los Angeles Times broke the story with this investigation:

The Los Angeles-based union, which represents low-wage caregivers, also spent nearly $300,000 last year on a Four Seasons Resorts golf tournament, a Beverly Hills cigar club, restaurants such as Morton's steakhouse and a consulting contract with the William Morris Agency,
the Hollywood talent shop, records show. [...]

Based on documents filed with the Labor Department and Internal Revenue Service, the Guidestar nonprofit database, business records submitted to several state and local agencies and numerous interviews, a Times investigation has also found that:

* Payments to the company owned by Freeman's wife were among the local's largest single expenses last year. Payments by the charity, the Homecare Workers Training Center, to his mother-in-law's firm represented more than 10% of the nonprofit's total annual expenditures. [...]

* The local's nearly $10,000 tab at the Grand Havana Room, a cigar lounge known for its celebrity clientele and invitation-only memberships, was for "lodging," according to the union's annual financial report. A Grand Havana spokeswoman said the club does not provide accommodations. Freeman declined to characterize the expenditure, and after The Times inquired about it, he said he had refunded it.

Link | Continuing coverage at the LA Times

(Photo: Lawrence K. Ho / LA Times)


Newest 5
Newest 5 Comments

Ok moon, I will clearify.

This union listed is corrupted. Just like ever union I have ever heard off. If I run across an honest union, I'll let you know.
Abusive comment hidden. (Show it anyway.)
All corporations must be corrupt, too, using your analysis. Dennis Koslowski was corrupt, so ALL corporations are corrupt. Right? Isn't that your theory?
Abusive comment hidden. (Show it anyway.)
No, this story is about ONE union. And from that, you extrapolated to "unions are all corrupt" with the aid of your right wing, corporate, anti-union web site.
Abusive comment hidden. (Show it anyway.)
Yeah that's the idea, if you can't attack the message, attack the messenger!

Corporate CEO do need to suffer in hell a lot longer, but this is about Union and many years of being corrupt.
Abusive comment hidden. (Show it anyway.)
Login to comment.




Email This Post to a Friend
"Union Boss "Fight Poverty" at a Cigar Club, Golf Tournament, Hotels ..."

Separate multiple emails with a comma. Limit 5.

 

Success! Your email has been sent!

close window
X

This website uses cookies.

This website uses cookies to improve user experience. By using this website you consent to all cookies in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

I agree
 
Learn More