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Ousted SEIU official claims racial discrimination

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Illinois

* You may recall that SEIU Local 73’s two top officers, President Christine Boardman and Secretary-Treasurer Matthew Brandon, were removed from office this week by the international union and the local was put into trusteeship. Brandon told Fran Spielman that the move was a “hostile takeover” and intends to file a federal discrimination lawsuit…

“I don’t view this as a trusteeship. I view it as a hostile takeover. What the international failed to address was the fact there was a vote by the membership based on a motion by Christine Boardman that she would retire in June and, per the constitution and bylaws, I would then assume that office with an election of the executive board to follow within 30 days,” he said.

“To rescind a motion requires a two-thirds vote. Christine refused to do that. Said she didn’t have to do that. She said she simply changed her mind. When I went in to chair the July executive board meeting, I informed her that, based upon the vote of the membership and the executive board, she was retired. She adjourned the meeting, stormed out and cancelled the general membership meeting scheduled for the next day. The rules be damned.”

* He claims a high-level official asked him “to deal with a personal issue that was affecting Boardman’s job performance.” But Boardman viewed his follow-up as an attack.

Brandon, who is black, is not taking this sitting down…

“…These people don’t know what can of worms they’ve opened here. The members are absolutely furious.”

Brandon, who is black, charged that SEIU “discriminates against African-American males” and that he would “be able to prove that.”

Wow.

Go read the whole thing.

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Aug 5, 16 @ 9:52 am

Comments

Dissension in the union ranks ? I thought that was a GOP problem.

Comment by Remington Rick Friday, Aug 5, 16 @ 10:21 am
I covered organized labor for roughly 20 years in Chicago and I find it difficult, but not inconceivable, to accuse union leaderships of racial discrimination. Playing the race card within Local 73 and/or the Service Employees International Union is a stretch based on its history.

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Aug 5, 16 @ 10:31 am
Well, let’s see what his proof is…if he can verify it, then it’s not the race card. If he can’t, it probably is

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Aug 5, 16 @ 11:02 am
Lol, all those part-time college faculty members who voted to join Local 73 just spit out their coffee this morning.

Ruh-roh. Is it too late to change their minds?

Comment by 47th Ward Friday, Aug 5, 16 @ 11:14 am
**Ruh-roh. Is it too late to change their minds?**

Nah… the reality is that they will be MUCH better off under the trusteeship (and likely whatever comes after that) than under Boardman or Brandon’s leadership.

Comment by JoeMaddon Friday, Aug 5, 16 @ 11:31 am
Seems as though Mr. Brandon has seen his “fair share” of abuse over this matter.

Comment by City Zen Friday, Aug 5, 16 @ 11:47 am
Time for Brandon to put on his big boy pants and get another job. With all he’s done to help the Mayor, he should have no trouble landing on his feet

Comment by Truthteller Friday, Aug 5, 16 @ 4:20 pm