DORA TO IAM MEMBERS: YOU OWE ME MONEY

At IAM Local Lodge 2198’s member meeting last night before a packed house and as recorded in the lodge minutes, GST Cervantes was asked the following question by a Local Lodge 2198 member: “Have you made reparations for the reimbursement of fraudulent expenditures to the cost of IAM Members?”

Dora was incensed by the question and stated that “the Union and the members owe me money.” She ranted that when she travels she uses her own passes, which we know is a blatant lie. Click here to view evidence of GST buying first class tickets for unofficial business, leisure travel. She claims she stays with “friends” while in Houston. Why then submit per diem expenses?

GST Cervantes' arrogance and dishonesty is as egregious as it can get, especially since she had to pay the IAM thousands and thousands of dollars due to expense account irregularities, as recently as two weeks ago. That’s correct. The highest ranking Financial Officer in the IAM had to write a check for thousands upon thousands of dollars to pay back OUR UNION for fraudulent expenditures.

The IAM’s top brass is trying to hide this. I encourage you to ask GST Cervantes and International President Martinez if what I am saying is untrue. They work for us. Ask them if Dora had to repay money for fraudulent expenses this past week. Tell them you want an answer in writing, so when the Department of Labor investigation begins, which it certainly will, WE have them on record.

On top of all this, our staff pension has been utterly mismanaged and so poorly funded since Dora Cervantes was appointed to the GST’s Department that Districts and Locals now have to contribute 30% to the fund, as compared to 2% prior to her appointment.

Furthermore, the IAM National Plan Fund is a complete disaster. It was funded at over 120% prior to Dora Cervantes’ appointment to the GST’s Department. Because the IAMNPF has been so poorly run, it now must increase contributions from employers and it has eliminated critical benefits, such early retirement, disability pensions and the lump sum death benefit for plan participants.

The Plan will no longer pay to provide a fully or partially unreduced “30 and Out” benefit to participants who retire prior to age 65, no matter how physically difficult their jobs are. IAM Members are now forced to try and hang on until they are 65 to retire with full benefits. For tens of thousands of IAM Members this is physically impossible. In addition, those under the Default Schedule, will suffer a 39% reduction in future accruals. This is unacceptable.

This is the exact reason I am running to be the next IAM General Secretary Treasurer. Our Union needs change. We need to restore integrity and honor in the highest offices of our Union. I implore IAM Members and leaders to hold GST Cervantes accountable and force the IAM’s Executive Council to force her resignation immediately.

To contact the above mentioned Officers:

Call: (301) 967-4500 and ask to be transferred to any of the above

To email:
GST Dora Cervantes: dcervantes@iamaw.org
IP Robert Martinez: bmartinez@iamaw.org

I promise that I will never defraud this Union out of anything whatsoever, or allow it to be defrauded, if within my power to prevent it. To all of this, I most solemnly pledge my sacred word of honor—Challenger and Candidate for IAM GST Ian Scott-Anderman