It’s been one week since the Ironworkers Union Local 764 in Mount Pearl was taken over by the New York-based international office, and senior executives were let go.
Sources have told CBC news that someone from the local union alerted the International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers that something was going on.
On Jan. 8, the international union sent a letter informing local members the union was putting them under trusteeship, and dismissing local officials.
A trusteeship is a clause in a union’s constitution that gives them “the ability to take over a local if they deem it necessary,” said York University labour expert Steven Tufts.
According to Tufts, a trusteeship involves suspending or removing elected officers at a local, and placing a trustee to govern affairs while they get things in order.
“In most cases, it’s not invoked without a great deal of thought because it’s very ugly business,” said Tufts.
The international union wouldn’t comment, but according to their communications director Courtney Attig, there is an open investigation.
“We prioritize our members’ interests and are working diligently to resolve the issue,” said Attig in a statement.
Why is this happening?
What Tufts found interesting about the letter is that it didn’t say why the trusteeship was happening.
“The labour movement is very insular when it deals with these issues. It’s not transparent. Even though these are supposedly democratic institutions, a lot of it is done internally,” he said.
Tufts said there are many circumstances that can lead to trusteeship, but often it’s because of financial mismanagement or financial corruption.
“It could be sometimes just incompetence or misspending, and sometimes it could be stealing or corruption,” he said.
Another reason could be political corruption, where local leaders are either hindering democratic processes to stay in power, or are not representing workers, said Tufts.
He also said trusteeships can be used to manage union dissent and control power, or to stop a union raid.
The international union’s 2021 constitution outlines reasons why they may put a local under trusteeship — including corruption or financial malpractice, assuring the collective bargaining process, restoring democratic procedures, or carrying out the “legitimate interests” of the International Association.
Senior officials at Ironworkers’ Local 764 were dismissed and the national office is now handling the day-to-day operations. The union will only say there is an open investigation. The CBC’s Abby Cole speaks to labour expert Steven Tufts about why unions take these actions.
As for when members might get answers, Tufts said it could be a while.
Sources have told CBC there will be a meeting on March 1, when the union will give more details to members.
The international union’s constitution also doesn’t indicate how long a trusteeship will last, saying only that within a reasonable time after the trusteeship has been in place, union executives will “hold a full and fair hearing to determine the propriety of such action.”
“I would hope for, in this case, that the trustee appointed by the ironworkers international union … can actually find out what happened, correct any wrongdoing and get new members into these positions elected as soon as possible,” said Tufts.
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