The Weekly Fix: UAW Takes Union Corruption to a New Level

The fix is in. A senior ranking official at the United Auto Workers (UAW) union, Nancy A. Johnson, has been charged with accepting bribes worth tens of thousands of dollars during a 2015 collective bargaining negotiation with Fiat Chrysler.

Johnson was caught red-handed participating in a larger corruption scheme that involved at least 5 other UAW senior officials.

According to reports, the bribery scheme included first-class air travel, golf resort fees, limousine services, expensive meals, designer clothes, and spa services. Her personal expenditures were reported to total more than $75,000 from 2014 to 2016.

A statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office described some of the extravagant gifts in more detail:

"In one instance, Ms. Johnson spent $1,160 for a single pair of designer shoes, which were paid for with funds provided by FCA. On other occasions, Ms. Johnson spent $1,217 for salon and spa services, and $1,518 for a set of women’s graphite golf clubs and a diva cart bag, all using funds provided by FCA."

Perhaps the most egregious was a $6,912 dinner at the London Chop House.

The United Auto Workers union denounced the corruption as “appalling,” but insisted “there is no evidence that compromised individuals involved in this investigation, including Ms. Johnson, in any way corrupted the negotiations of the terms of the collective bargaining agreement.”

Yeah, right.

Given the overwhelming evidence, there is no doubt the collective bargaining platform of the UAW is for sale to the highest bidder.

Union leadership has a long history of lining their pockets at the expense of their dues-paying members. The judicial system must send a strong message to union bigwigs everywhere that the spending spree is over.

Johnson faces a maximum penalty of up to five years in prison on five different counts. She should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

It’s time to take a stand. The American people aren’t being heard by their representatives because the game is rigged. Government isn’t broken. It’s “fixed.”