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A4 U.S. NEWS
Tuesday 15 december 2020

UAW agrees to monitor, voting changes after corruption probe

By TOM KRISHER and large expenses.
AP Auto Writer The union's Region 5 lead-
DETROIT (AP) — An inde- ership, which was based
pendent monitor will watch in Missouri and headed by
the United Auto Workers' Jones, would hold week-
finances and operations, long retreats in Palm Springs
and members will decide and invite Williams along.
how they pick future lead- He said he stayed beyond
ers under a reform agree- "what my union business re-
ment with the U.S. Attor- quired."
ney's office. Williams told a judge that
The deal was announced he wondered if money was
Monday in the wake of being misused but that he
a wide-ranging federal was assured by Jones that
probe into union corruption "everything was above
that reached into the upper board."
ranks of the 400,000-mem- More than $53,000 in
ber union. union money was used to
It holds off a possible fed- rent a villa for Williams for
eral takeover of the UAW monthslong stays in 2015-
due to the probe into brib- 18, according to a court
ery and embezzlement filing.
that has lasted more than In this July 16, 2019, file photo, Gary Jones, United Auto Workers President, speaks during the He faces a likely prison sen-
five years. opening of their contract talks with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles in Auburn Hills, Mich. tence of 18 to 24 months.
The monitor, to be nomi- Associated Press The Detroit-based UAW is
nated by the union and ment, while painful, takes centers set up with General of a government takeover best known for represent-
approved by the Justice the union another step to- Motors, Fiat Chrysler and and has advocated for di- ing 150,000 workers at De-
Department, will stay in ward "restoring the full faith Ford. rect voting by members troit's three automakers.
place for six years under an and confidence of our Under the deal, union to elect union leadership. Williams has repaid $55,000
agreement that still must members." members will decide by Currently the union's mem- in inappropriate travel ex-
be approved by a federal The probe has led to 11 secret ballots whether they bers vote on delegates to a penses, the union said. Sep-
judge. convictions of union mem- will vote directly to pick convention, who then vote arately, the UAW is selling a
Matthew Schneider, the bers, including two former the union's future leaders, on a president. lakefront house built for him
U.S. Attorney in Detroit, said presidents. Schneider said some time before the next Former UAW President Den- at a union conference cen-
Monday that the probe of it uncovered embezzle- election in 2022. nis Williams in September ter in northern Michigan.
the union has ended, but ment of over $1.5 million in Many of the union officials pleaded guilty in the gov- Eleven union officials and a
investigators still are pursu- dues money, kickbacks to were accused of conspir- ernment's investigation, late official's spouse have
ing unspecified individuals. union officials from vendors ing with others to cover and his successor as presi- pleaded guilty since 2017,
But he said that current and $3.5 million in illegal up the use of union cash dent, Gary Jones, pleaded although not all the crimes
UAW President Rory Gam- payments from executives for boozy meals, premium guilty in June. were connected. The first
ble is not a target of the at Fiat Chrysler who want- cigars, golf and lodging in Williams, 67, was president wave of convictions, which
investigation. "I don't have ed to corruptly influence Palm Springs, California. from 2014 until he retired included some Fiat Chrysler
any reason to investigate contract talks. The union, Schneider, whose of- in 2018. He was accused employees, involved taking
Mr. Gamble," Schneider he said, already has re- fice has been investigat- of conspiring with others money from a Fiat Chrys-
said. paid $15 million in improper ing union corruption since to cover up the source of ler-UAW training center in
Gamble said the settle- charges to joint training 2015, had floated the idea cash for lavish meals, cigars Detroit.q
Interest is lively at deadline for 'Obamacare' sign-ups

Trump years. In 36 states The insurance markets offer ticed that the annual en-
that use HealthCare.gov,- taxpayer subsidized private rollment season gets very
Dec. 15 is deadline day for plans to people who don't little promotion. After Trump
coverage that starts Jan. 1, have job-based coverage. failed to repeal former Pres-
while another 14 states and Insurers cannot turn away ident Barack Obama's sig-
Washington, D.C., have lat- customers with pre-existing nature law, not even the
er dates. Analysts and ad- medical conditions. Med- rising need for coverage
vocates who follow the an- icaid expansion, another amid coronavirus layoffs
nual insurance sign-ups say component of the health has persuaded his adminis-
interest has gotten stronger law, covers about 12 million tration to rethink its opposi-
with the coronavirus pan- people. Stephanie Burton, tion. Trump administration
demic gripping the nation. a solo practitioner lawyer officials say what they have
Also, the legal cloud hang- from Kansas City, Missouri, done is to focus on the
ing over the Affordable said she recently renewed smooth operation of the
Care Act seemed to start her coverage for 2021. For HealthCare.gov website for
This file image provided by U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid lifting last month when Su- about $150 a month, af- those who may want the
Service shows the website for HealthCare.gov. preme Court justices gave ter subsidies, Burton is also coverage.
Associated Press a skeptical reception to the able to cover two young "Since I've always had it,
By R. ALONSO-ZALDIVAR open enrollment for Health- latest challenge from the adult children as they ne- I get reminders by email,"
Associated Press Care.gov could help solid- Trump administration and gotiate their transition to said Burton, but "there are
WASHINGTON (AP) — A ify the standing of "Obam- conservative-led states self-sufficiency in a shaky a lot of people who may
crush of sign-ups expected acare" as an improbable seeking to overturn the law economy. not even know how to find
Tuesday on the last day of survivor in the Donald in its entirety. But Burton said she's no- this information."q