Union bosses across the country ended 2018 on a low note. From embezzling union funds to committing fraud, below are some of the worst labor rackets from the end of last year:

In Rhode Island, Adam Conheeny, former police officer and former Treasurer of Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Lodge 8, was sentenced to three months of imprisonment followed by two years of supervised release. Conheeny previously paid $20,000 in restitution. He admitted to using an FOP debit card, writing checks from a union account payable to himself, and withdrawing cash from an FOP bank account for his own personal use, totaling approximately $31,413.

In Michigan, Nancy Adams Johnson, former senior official in the Chrysler Department of the United Auto Workers (UAW), was sentenced to 12 months and 1 day in prison and 12 months of supervised release.  She was also ordered to pay a $10,000 fine and a $100 special assessment. Johnson plead guilty to one count of conspiracy to violate the Labor Management Relations Act, stemming from her receipt of over $45,000 in prohibited payments and things of value from Alphons Iacobelli, former Vice President of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles US LLC (FCA), and others acting in the interest of FCA.  The payments were made using the bank account and credit card account of the UAW-Chrysler National Training Center (NTC), which was established to provide for the education, training, and retraining of Chrysler workers.

In New Jersey, Lawrence Ackerman, the Chief Operating Officer of “shell” companies including Atlantic Business Associates (ABA) and Atlantic Medical Associates (AMA), plead guilty to a superseding information for Health Care Fraud, as well as Aiding and Abetting. Ackerman executed a scheme to defraud Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) of New Jersey involving enrollment of ineligible participants who were purported employees of ABA and AMA, both sham companies, in the benefit plan of United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 2326 which had an insurance contract with Horizon BCBS.  Ackerman entered into a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with Local 2326; however, neither ABA nor AMA had any full-time employees eligible for participation in the benefit plan as required by the CBA and benefit plan trust agreement. The resulting loss to Horizon BCBS was approximately $481,500.

Today, the Bureau of Labor Statistics released new data on 2018 union membership. According to the most recent statistics, the percent of wage and salary workers who are union members has hit its lowest point since the BLS started tracking the number.

Overall union membership has dropped to 10.5 percent of workers, .2 percent lower than in 2017.  Per state membership numbers show an even steeper decline, with 29 states and the District of Columbia recording less than 10.5 percent of workers as union members. In eight states, that number was less than 5 percent.

While public-sector union membership has only declined by .5 percent, this number will likely continue to decrease as the impact of the Supreme Court’s recent decision in Janus v. AFSCME plays out.

In the eight months since the Court handed down their decision—which ruled unions could no longer deduct “fair share” fees from worker’s paychecks without consent—unions have implemented every tool in their war chest to mitigate membership declines. This includes imposing controversial opt out windows and working with politicians to pass laws that hinder workplace democracy.

But as more current and new employees realize what Janus means for them, this slow decline in public-sector union membership will almost certainly pick up speed.

One thing is for sure, workers who are tired of watching their dues go to support an increasingly left-leaning political agenda have finally been given a way out—and they’re taking it.

Thanks to the Supreme Court’s decision in Janus v. AFSCME, public-sector unions can no longer compel workers to pay so-called “fair share fees.” However, these unions still have the sole power to negotiate on behalf of their workers. Known as “exclusive representation,” federal labor law requires unions to represent every worker in a bargaining unit, regardless of whether or not someone is a dues-paying member.

Fortunately for workers, several court cases have the potential of redefining exclusive representation this year. University professors from Ohio, Minnesota, and Maine are all challenging their faculty unions’ exclusive representation status. One non-union professor brought a suit after she was prevented from serving on faculty committees by a union contract. The other educators cite disagreements with their union’s political advocacy or collective bargaining agenda.

Two more cases involving the Service Employees International Union are making a splash at the federal level. The 9^th circuit court is currently hearing a case in Washington State challenging the SEIU’s exclusive representation over four home caregivers. A similar case brought by caregivers in Minnesota is already being petitioned for the Supreme Court. The petition argues that “for those who do not want that union speaking on their behalf, exclusive representation results in a ‘significant impingement on [their] associational freedoms.’”

Ironically, union leaders have never been thrilled about having to represent workers who opt out of fair share fees. Donald Taylor, president of the hospitality workers union Unite Here, once referred to such workers as “freeloaders” and “welfare queens.” But unions who have benefited from a monopoly on collective bargaining for years aren’t ready to give it up–even if they can no longer charge for it.

Janus was only half the battle in the fight for workplace democracy. If one of these cases makes it to the Supreme Court, it could mean a final victory for public-sector workers who still find themselves beholden to a union they have chosen not to be a part of.

This holiday season instead of presents, the Michigan court system is handing out jail time. The below court sentences are the result of a corruption probe into the United Auto Workers (UAW) and their relationship with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA). The investigation revealed a scandal that went all the way to the top.

Here’s a list of people who can expect to get coal in their stocking this year:

In Michigan, Virdell King, a former senior official in the Chrysler Department of the UAW and former assistant director for the UAW-Chrysler National Training Center (NTC), was sentenced to two months in prison and 12 months of supervised release.  She was also ordered to pay a $5,500 fine and a $100 special assessment. King plead guilty to one count of conspiracy to violate the Labor Management Relations Act stemming from her receipt of over $40,000 in prohibited payments and things of value from Alphons Iacobelli, former Vice President of FCA, and others acting in the interest of FCA.  Additional purchases included luggage, electronics, clothing, and other golf equipment for the personal benefit of King and other UAW officials.  The payments were made using the bank account and credit card account of the UAW-Chrysler National Training Center (NTC), which was established to provide for the education, training, and retraining of Chrysler workers.

In Michigan, Jerome Durden, former financial analyst in the Corporate Accounting Department of FCA and former Controller of the UAW-Chrysler National Training Center (NTC), both located in Detroit, Mich., was sentenced to 15 months in prison and 36 months of supervised release.  He was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $8,811 for the tax charge and a $125 special assessment.  Durden plead guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States by preparing and filing tax returns for the NTC between 2009 and 2015 that falsely concealed millions of dollars in prohibited payments directed to former UAW Vice President General Holiefield (now deceased), former FCA Vice President Alphons Iacobelli, and others.  Durden also plead guilty to one count of failure to file an income tax return for 2013.

In Michigan, Michael Brown, a former management employee at FCA and former Co-Director of the United Auto Workers (UAW) – Chrysler National Training Center (NTC), was sentenced to 12 months in prison and 12 months of supervised release.  He was also ordered to pay a $10,000 fine and a $100 special assessment. Brown plead guilty to one count of misprision of a felony for his knowledge of a conspiracy between FCA executives acting in the interest and on behalf of FCA and UAW officials to provide prohibited payments and things of value to UAW officials and concealing such knowledge by deliberately providing misleading and incomplete testimony in the federal grand jury about the conspiracy.

In Michigan, Keith Mickens, former senior official in the Chrysler Department of the UAW, was sentenced to 12 months in prison and 12 months of supervised release.  He was also ordered to pay a $10,000 fine and a $100 special assessment. Mickens pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to violate the Labor Management Relations Act (LMRA), for receiving over $7,700 in prohibited payments and things of value from Alphons Iacobelli, former Vice President of Fiat Chrysler Automobile , and others acting in the interest of FCA, and in obtaining a check in the amount of $13,500 payable to Monica Morgan Photography and used by the late-UAW Vice President General Holiefield and his spouse, Monica Morgan, to pay the remaining balance due on the installation of a swimming pool at their residence. Additional purchases included luggage, electronics, clothing, and other golf equipment for the personal benefit of Mickens and other UAW officials.  The payments were made using the bank account and credit card account of the UAW-Chrysler National Training Center (NTC), which was established to provide for the education, training, and retraining of Chrysler workers.

New Yorkers wishing for a working subway system this Christmas are going to be sorely disappointed. With Gary “The Grinch” LaBarbera and his unions keeping construction costs high, it looks like chronic delays and lagging repairs are all that’s in store for commuters this holiday season.

Subway Scam recently released a new video that holds Gary LaBarbera and the Building and Construction Trades Council (BCTC) accountable for New York’s out-of-control subway costs. The animated music video parodies the song “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch” while highlighting how the BCTC and LaBarbera have contributed to a dirty, dangerous, and delayed subway system.

In New York City, overall transit construction costs are often seven times the global average, with construction staffed by as many as four times more workers than in other countries. In addition to unions assigning workers to unnecessary or outdated jobs, there’s been at least 200 union jobs where workers who earned a full day’s pay didn’t even show up.

While the cost of improvements keeps rising, LaBarbera and his unions don’t seem to mind letting New Yorkers foot the bill.

The battle to overturn an Obama-era labor rule is still underway. Luckily, it looks like the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) might have overcome their final obstacle.

The Board was initially able to reinstate the definition of joint-employer status through a decision they handed down in 2017. However, the Inspector General determined that their decision couldn’t stand. The reasoning? Board member William Emanuel should have recused himself from the case due to a conflict of interest (he once handled joint-employer cases at his former law firm).

Fortunately, this time around Emanuel has been cleared of any additional conflicts and the rule-making process can continue apace.

As Chairman John Ring explained, “The recusal standard for rule making is very different than for cases.” Since Emanuel is overseeing legislation that would apply broadly to the country and not just a specific case, he is allowed to participate.

The new rule would more specifically define joint-employer status—meaning companies with franchises won’t be forced to collectively bargain with employees they don’t interact with directly. These parent companies also won’t be liable for labor violations committed by their franchisees.

As we’ve said before, the Obama-era rule left a lot of room for interpretation, often confusing the collective bargaining process and resulting in more litigation than cooperation. This was bad news for workers who had no clear pathway to holding their employers accountable.

The 60 day public commentary period for the new rule was extended until December 13^th. Even though it could take well into 2019 for the rule to take effect, the NLRB is one step closer to reinstating 30 years of precedent in labor law. 

This Thanksgiving, some union bosses have more to be thankful for than others. Check out the latest batch of offenders from last month’s rackets:

In Oklahoma, former bookkeeper for Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART) Local 270, was sentenced to three months of incarceration, five months of home confinement, and three years of supervised release.  She was also ordered to pay $44,808 in restitution and a $100 special assessment.  This sentence came after she plead guilty to a one-count information charging her with embezzling union funds.

In Illinois, Anthony Edmunds, former President of United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 2419, plead guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the approximate amount of $19,482.

In Virginia, Benjamin Wisecarver, former President of International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 264, was indicted on three counts of embezzlement, two counts of wire fraud, and one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and embezzle union assets, for participating in an embezzlement of $57,310 from the union.

In California, John Zehm, former business manager for the Tile Setters and Finishers Union of Northern California, plead guilty to one misdemeanor count of Grand Theft.  Zehm was then sentenced to 90 days in jail (suspended) and three years of informal probation, and he was ordered to pay $300 in fines.  As a condition of his plea agreement, Zehm previously paid restitution in the amount of $14,014.

In Ohio, Steven Kristopher Perry, former Financial Secretary-Treasurer of United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America Local 2077, was charged in a one-count information with embezzlement of union funds totaling approximately $20,458.

This week, the Center for Union Facts launched its “Who Even Cares About Janus?” billboard campaign in Atlantic City. The campaign coincides with the New Jersey Education Association’s annual convention (Nov. 8-9) and the convention of the New Jersey League of Municipalities (Nov. 13-15).

Teachers headed into town for the conventions will pass three billboards on the Atlantic City Expressway urging them to learn more about their rights under the Supreme Court’s recent Janus decision. The billboards direct teachers to www.AboutJanus.com where they can access facts on the Janus case and receive guidance on how to stop financially supporting a union that they don’t wish to belong to.

All three billboards address teachers attending the conventions and each board features its own question. 1) “Who even cares about Janus?” 2) “Is Janus good for your school?” 3) “Is Janus bad for your school?”

In addition to the billboards, the campaign will feature digital advertising at the convention site that will connect attendees with www.AboutJanus.com.

In time for the first post-Janus state convention of New Jersey’s teachers unions, this campaign aims to start a conversation about teachers’ workplace rights.