A former top aide at the United Auto Workers union pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges
By Nora Naughton Updated Sept. 4, 2019 7:55 pm ET A former top aide at the United Auto Workers union pleaded guilty Wednesday to conspiracy charges, as part of a federal investigation into corruption within UAW leadership ranks that recently expanded to the union’s president and his predecessor.
Mr. Grimes is the first senior official from the UAW’s GM department to be charged in the continuing criminal probe, which first became public in 2017 and has largely focused on financial misconduct involving executives at Fiat Chrysler Automobiles FCAU 2.80% NV and their union counterparts. Mr. Grimes told the court in Ann Arbor, Mich., that he was experiencing financial hardship when he accepted the kickbacks. His attorney, Michael Manley, told reporters after the plea hearing that Mr. Grimes was devastated by his actions.
The UAW has said its leadership is cooperating with federal investigators and the search warrants weren’t necessary. As the investigation accelerates, the UAW is working to negotiate new four-year labor contracts with the Detroit auto makers. The current contracts, representing nearly 150,000 U.S. factory workers at GM, Ford Motor Co. and Fiat Chrysler, expire on Sept. 14.
The charges specifically indicate Mr. Jewell made purchases on a credit card funded by Fiat Chrysler through its UAW-Chrysler National Training Center.
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