Government investigating alleged corruption by auto workers union bosses

Daily Mail:
FBI and IRS agents carried out raids in at least four states, including at the homes of United Auto Workers President Gary Jones in Michigan and California home of former President Dennis Williams in California, amid allegations of corruption within the union.

Investigators are probing into bribes, kickbacks and attempts by auto executives to influence labor negotiations with the UAW, a person with knowledge about the raids told DailyMail.com.

Nine people currently face charges because of the investigation and another eight are already serving time in prison linked to a scandal that alleged Fiat Chrysler Automobiles wined and dined labor officials and lavished them with gifts, including $1,000 French shoes, in exchange for concessions in a union labor pact.

In the raids staged on Wednesday, federal agents armed with search warrants showed up at Jones' home in Canton, a suburb of Detroit, and Williams' home in Corona, California, the person said

Williams' home, which is about 50 miles outside of Los Angeles, was purchased in January for $610,000, according to property records, reports the Detroit News.

The investigation implicated Williams last year, after a former labor official came forward alleging that Williams arranged to have funds from Detroit's 'Big 3' automakers -- General Motors, Ford and Fiat Chrysler -- funneled through training centers, to cover union travel, meal and entertainment expenses.

Another target of the raids was the UAW Black Lake Conference Center in Onaway, Michigan.

The union has been building a retirement home for Williams on the 1000-acre retreat facility, which was paid for with interest from a $721 million 'strike fund' mostly made up of workers dues, according to the News.
...
Will the union also have to pay for their lawyers now?  Are the car companies the victim of a shakedown?  It looks like the union bosses were the main winners in this alleged conduct.

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