Late Union President’s Astonishing $800K Theft

HotAir ^ | April 24, 2013 | Mike Antonucci

[rightwingintelligentsia]

When former Auburn Teachers Association (ATA) president Sally Jo Widmer passed away last November after more than 35 years at the helm of the small New York teachers’ union, former Auburn mayor Guy Cosentino eulogized her as “a true union leader who put her union first and personal niceties second.”

That’s because Cosentino didn’t have access to her checkbook.

Members were informed this week that Widmer misappropriated at least $800,000 in union dues during the period 2006-2012. “It appears that money earmarked for the Association was instead used for meals, gasoline, trips, gambling, clothing, grocery shopping – and for cash advances,” wrote new ATA president Cheryl Miskell. ”Because some old financial records are unavailable, we may never know the full extent of the misappropriations.”

This prodigious feat of embezzlement was accomplished in a union of 390 members, whose share of dues income ranged from $89,000 to $132,000 per year. It is highly likely that Widmer stole money earmarked for transfer to the New York State United Teachers and the American Federation of Teachers (similar to a case in Maryland). NYSUT records indicate that ATA was consistently behind on its dues payments by approximately $55,000 each year.

[stephenjohnbanker]

It’s gettin pretty bad when you can’t even trust your Local union thug anymore....

[GeronL]

bump

[kevkrom]

“Astonishing” only in that the amount was so small. Shows a total lack of ambition.

[oh8eleven]

Widmer was a fixture in the community who also served as secretary of the area’s NAACP branch.
Holder's people!?

[blueunicorn6]

You know it’s really bad when the thieves are stealing from other thieves.

[Bullish]

This can’t be true because everyone knows that union leaders are selfless and devoted to the poor working class striving to protect them from greedy capitalists and always putting the workers first.

Do I really need to put a /s?

[E. Pluribus Unum]

This is actually the rule, not the exception.

[moovova]

She outsmarted all of them by passing away.

[Opinionated Blowhard]

Regulation of unions is so lax it isn’t funny. A company or charity of similar size would be required to have audits and financial statements. This union had nothing to stop this woman from using union dues as her personal piggy bank for years. Its outrageous but nothing will ever come of it. It will be treated as a local, isolated incident and since she’s dead, nothing more will happen.

[ridesthemiles]

“Astonishing” only in that the amount was so small. Shows a total lack of ambition.”””

Union only had 390 members!!!

That’s alot of embzzlement for 390 members!!!

[nascarnation]

Is my interpretation that the union members make 89 to 132 thousand dollars each per year correct?

[Wuli]

let me see, are we talking about mobsters or unions, I can never seem to get the two straight, they always “look” so much alike

[tang-soo]

I forget some of the details, but there was an episode of “American Greed” with Stacy Keach a couple of weeks ago about a woman who did they same thing, but about 50 times as worse. I think she stole more than 30 million.

[liberalh8ter]

It appears there is vastly more than ‘a’ sucker born every minute.

[JoeFromSidney]

My father had quit the Barbers Union back in the 1940s over some kind of dispute that he never explained to me. In the 1960s he rejoined because the union had set up what looked like a good retirement program. By the time he was ready to retire, it turned out the pension fund had been looted by the union leadership. Dad never got a dime from the union. It's an old story.