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Saturday, April 8, 2000
CCAD union investigates its own leader
President's letter to arbitrator in question
By Deborah Martínez
Caller-Times
A Corpus Christi Army Depot union is investigating whether its president tried to eliminate a $49 million judgment against the depot, without the union's knowledge, in an effort to save thousands of civilian jobs.
Joe Gonzales, the president of the American Federation of Government Employees, one of the three unions that filed the asbestos contamination grievance against the depot, is under investigation by the rest of the union's executive board, said Bruce Thorne, first vice president of the union.
The allegations arose after Thorne and other union officers received a letter from union attorney Brian Bishop that said Gonzales had called federal arbitrator John Barnard and asked him to eliminate the $49 million back pay to at least 2,000 of the depot's employees.
Still, there is no reason to believe Gonzales would jeopardize the case, Thorne said. The unions have no plans to revoke the back pay, he said.
"We're standing fast with the arbitrators' decision," Thorne said. "We're not stupid."
Gonzales didn't return any phone calls Friday. CCAD officials couldn't be reached.
Bishop, who works out of Austin, and Dallas-based attorney Hal Gillespie, represent the American Federation and the grievance's other two unions, the International Association of Machinists and National Federation of Federal Employees.
Bishop's letter told American Federation union leaders that Gonzales' phone call to Barnard took place without Bishop's or Gillespie's knowledge. The letter said that if Gonzales' request had been successful, his phone call would have been a breach of the union's duty and obligation to provide fair representation. That breach could hold them liable to the union's employees, who are entitled to the back pay, Bishop's letter said.
Apparently, Bishop wrote, Gonzales is acting out of concern for depot employees' jobs. Since the arbitrator's decision was released two weeks ago, fears have arisen at the depot that jobs may be cut, rates may be raised and the depot could close in order to pay the large judgment.
Bishop declined to comment on the letter Friday but did say he was told by union employees that Col. Mitch Dockens, commanding officer at CCAD, had announced that overtime, promotions and new hires would be cut because of the ruling's amount.
Dockens has since changed his mind, Bishop said, because questions of whether that action could be ruled an unfair labor practice were brought up.
Depot officials have until April 23 to decide whether to appeal the $49 million decision.
Staff writer Deborah Martínez can be reached at 886-3618 or by e-mail at martinezd@caller.com
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