Local 100 Executive Board Suspends Secretary-Treasurer Israel Rivera, Jr.

The TWU Local 100 Executive Board, in emergency session on Thursday evening Oct. 8, 2010, voted 40-1 with one abstention to suspend Secretary Treasurer Israel Rivera, Jr. on four charges of violation of fiduciary responsibility and dereliction of duty. The only dissenting vote for the suspension came from Rivera himself.

Local 100 President John Samuelsen brought the charges against Rivera under Article XIX Sections 1 and 3, Article XVII Section 5, and Article XVI Sections 4 and 5 of the TWU International Constitution.

The charges include misappropriation of union funds for the personal gain of his live-in girlfriend; misuse of funds in the purchase of an automobile for his use at $15,000 over market value; refusal to produce a financial report for the Local 100 Executive Board, and refusal to process the union's payroll.

Rivera must answer the charges before the Local 100 Executive Board within 15 days.

Local 100 President John Samuelsen said: "The Local 100 Executive Board and leadership have acted quickly and directly to prosecute these serious charges. Brother Rivera will be given every opportunity, under the Constitution of the Union to dispute the charges. Until then, he is suspended from all duties as Secretary Treasurer."