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March 19, 2008

Details emerge over union takeover

More details have emerged regarding an investigation into financial mismanagement at Bath Iron Work's largest union.

According to a letter sent to members of Local S6, which has 3,500 members at BIW, from the president of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, and acquired by Mainebiz, the union is being investigated for the following:

ˆ• "Serious lapses in lodge financial controls," which include thousands of dollars of unaccounted-for merchandise, "unlawful" BIW payments made to lodge officers, and outstanding debt of more than $11,000;

ˆ• Protests over the election of officers last fall, which did not follow IAM procedures. A resulting re-run election cost the union $10,000.

ˆ• Complaints of "vast amounts of pornography," including photos of "young children in suggestive poses," being viewed by union members while at work or at the union's lodge. IAM officials confirmed these allegations were accurate.

The letter also states that IAM is "deeply concerned" with certain union members' refusal to negotiate with BIW in the union organization's "tried and tested procedures." That concern, plus the above allegations, prompted IAM to take over day-to-day operations of the local union on Monday and suspended the eight officers of Local S6.

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