On March 30, Michele Pedersen, formerly treasurer of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 2746, was indicted in U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon for embezzling about $8,500 from the Astoria-based union. During 2002-07, charge federal prosecutors, Pedersen, 41, a resident of Keizer (near Salem), wrote herself unauthorized union checks and altered union financial records to conceal the thefts. She was released after pleading not guilty. Trial is set for June 1. The indictment follows a probe by the U.S. Labor Department's Office of Labor-Management Office.
On April 6, Cory Carroll, secretary-treasurer of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen's Regional and Shortline Committee of Adjustment, was indicted in Minneapolis federal court for embezzlement. Prosecutors say that during February 2007-March 2009, Carroll, 39, a resident of Albert Lea, illegally diverted about $35,000 from the labor organization to his own use. The indictment follows an investigation by the Labor Department's Office of Labor-Management Standards.
Almost everyone connected to organized labor by now has heard the news: Andrew Stern soon will resign as president of the Service Employees International Union. His departure in all likelihood will be permanent. And, if somewhat muted, so will the edgy aggression of the union he redefined. 
About the only thing Sid Mannetti can hope for now is leniency. Mannetti, formerly president of American Federation of Government Employees Local 1170, pleaded guilty in Seattle federal court on Thursday, April 8 to embezzling more than $50,000 from his union, which represents about 140 employees at Pacific Medical Centers in the Seattle area. During 2006-08 he diverted funds from the union's credit card and bank account to pay for personal expenses. He had been charged in January. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the U.S. Labor Department's Office of Labor-Management Standards.
Gambling losses have contributed to the downfall of dozens of union officials and employees over the past several years. Sherell Mitchell, formerly secretary-treasurer of Local 86823 of the Communications Workers America, has joined their ranks. On April 8 
Embezzlement, or at least its detection, is catching lately in Oregon's labor organizations. Toni Lancaster is yet another casualty. The ex-office manager for United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners Local 711 in Portland, was indicted in U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon for embezzling some $68,000 from her union. Federal prosecutors charge that Lancaster, 40, a resident of the Portland-area community of Milwaukie, wrote unauthorized union checks to herself and falsified financial records to conceal the thefts. She pleaded not guilty and faces trial on June 1. The indictment follows a probe by the U.S. Labor Department's Office of Labor-Management Standards.
Charles Owens stole from his union for four years. He's now hoping his sentence won't last as long. Owens, former financial secretary of United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners Local 2791, was indicted on March 30 in U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon for embezzling at least $65,000 from the Albany, Ore.-based union. Prosecutors allege that Owens, 61, a resident of Eugene, during 2004-08 made unauthorized cash withdrawals on a local account. As with Michele Pedersen, he pleaded not guilty and faces a trial scheduled for June 1. The indictment follows an investigation by the U.S. Labor Department's Office of Labor-Management Standards.
