Service union bans former California local president for life

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/front/la-me-union27-2008nov27,0,4517553.story

The Service Employees International Union also orders Tyrone Freeman to repay more than $1 million that it says he misappropriated from the labor organization.

By Paul Pringle
November 27, 2008

The Service Employees International Union has imposed a lifetime ban on the former president of its largest California local and ordered him to repay more than $1 million that it says he misappropriated from the labor organization.

SEIU President Andy Stern announced the actions Wednesday after reviewing the findings of an internal probe of Tyrone Freeman's spending practices as head of the 160,000-member United Long-Term Care Workers and a 30,000-member affiliated chapter that represent low-wage caregivers.



Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times
Tyrone Freeman appears in a photo taken in August.

"It is tragic and unconscionable that a young leader with such great potential would violate not only the constitution of the international union, but the trust of his members," Stern said in a statement.

An attorney for Freeman, 39, issued a statement that said his client was "disappointed by Andy Stern's decision." Freeman had been a protege of Stern, who originally appointed him to the local position.

"Tyrone Freeman's career has been about helping workers and finding innovative ways to lift them out of poverty," said the statement from attorney Kelly Kramer. "His goal has always been to improve their lives."

FULL story at link.

[FreakinDJ]

1. Some times you got to "Clean House"

I know a few more locals that can use this also