In October, the TWU Local 100 transportation union voted 38-1 to remove treasurer Israel Rivera. Following his removal, union president John Samuelsen ordered an audit of the union's financial records for the first ten months of 2010, and the results aren't pretty. Not only is there insufficient documentation for $263,000 of the $437,000 worth of credit card purchases, but Rivera reportedly wasted $17,307 of Local's funds on a 2011 Jeep. In a letter to union members, president Samuelsen writes [pdf], "These inadequate practices and procedures were carried over from the prior administration...I promise you that along with our new Secretary-Treasurer Earl Phillips, and the other officers, I will see to it that the reforms outlined above are implemented immediately and that we are never again confronted with similar circumstances."
Samuelsen also says that rumors that he was pocketing money meant for Haiti relief were made up by Rivera: "Contrary to Mr. Rivera's allegation that I diverted funds from Local 100’s Haiti Relief Fund, every penny was accounted for and the money was spent for Haitian relief purposes." However, Rivera claims he didn't do anything wrong, and that he was removed because he made a complaint about Samuelsen. Probably because Samuelsen wouldn't let him buy a new car! Jeez, some people are so stingy.
