A theft in the four figures might not seem worth a year-long investigation. But UNITE HERE is a union unlikely to leave things to chance – especially given its recent history of federal supervision. On May 1, the union’s ethics board took disciplinary action against two top officials of Local 355, representing 2,700 hotel, restaurant and catering workers in the Miami-Ft. Lauderdale area. Jorge Santiesteban and Andre J. Balash, respectively, the local’s president and secretary-treasurer, were forced out of their positions after a UNITE HERE internal probe concluded the pair had diverted union funds toward personal expenses, among other violations. The New York City-based international union also recommended placing the local under trusteeship.
