ckf Posted May 10, 2019 Share Posted May 10, 2019 Chuck Rocha. Screenshot from Twitter. A senior adviser to Sen. Bernie Sanders and a member of the negotiating team that recently drafted his presidential campaign’s staff union contract was convicted in 2013 of embezzling funds from a steel workers union. On Wednesday, the Sanders’ campaign announced it had reached an agreement on its historic union contract with United Food & Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 400. RELATED STORIES Top Sanders adviser embezzled union funds in 2008 Sanders leads Democratic field in fundraising, but trails Trump Sanders has entered millionaire class, tax returns show Elizabeth Warren campaigns in Bernie Sanders’ shadow Margolis: An opportunity and a test in Bernie’s tax returns Following the announcement, Charles Rocha, a senior adviser who helped orchestrate the agreement, announced on Twitter he was “proud to have been on the negotiating committee” that worked on the contract for Sanders’ campaign staff. Rocha, who also worked for Sanders in 2016, was convicted six years ago for embezzling money from the United Steelworkers Union when he served as political director. In 2013, Rocha was sentenced to two years probation and to pay a $2,000 fine for embezzling United Steelworkers Union funds. Before pleading guilty to the embezzlement charge and being sentenced, Rocha had already been ordered to pay $12,449 back to the union, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Rocha illegally used union money to buy $400 in Stanley Cup finals tickets. He also paid thousands of dollars for golf trips in South Carolina and Florida between the end of 2008 and midway through 2009, according to court documents. VTDigger is underwritten by: Rocha did not return requests for comment. Jeff Weaver, a senior adviser for Sanders, told VTDigger that Rocha had paid the price for his misdeeds and that he is a valued part of the campaign. “Chuck Rocha made a mistake earlier in life and served his probation and paid his fine. He has since established a successful business that has served as a pipeline for young people of color into the world of politics,” Weaver said. Weaver went on to say that by reporting on Rocha, who is Latino, and his criminal conviction, VTDigger was helping to uphold systemic racism. “Sadly, like too many others in our society, the Vermont Digger wants to brand people like Chuck Rocha for life — an attitude that disproportionately impacts black and brown people and poor people,” Weaver said. “This is just another way systemic racism works. It’s disappointing that VTDigger is helping to uphold it.” Rocha’s criminal history received little media attention while he worked for Sanders’ ill-fated 2016 challenge to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. In reaction to a 2016 report in Politico, Weaver, who was Sanders’ campaign manager at the time, said he had no issue with Rocha’s behavior. “It’s not politically sensitive at all,” Weaver told Politico. “I’m not politically afraid of this story at all. Please, I’m asking you to print.” Both the UFCW Local 400 and the United Steelworkers Union would not comment on Rocha’s role in the Sanders campaign or on the union contract negotiations. Rocha, who rejoined the Sanders team in February, is also the president of Solidarity Strategies, a political consulting firm that has been paid $71,750 by the campaign for event planning this year, according to the most recent campaign finance filings. https://vtdigger.org/2019/05/09/top-sanders-advisor-embezzled-union-funds-2008/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Platinum Contributing Member Highmark Posted May 10, 2019 Platinum Contributing Member Share Posted May 10, 2019 Need a bigger picture. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edmo Posted May 10, 2019 Share Posted May 10, 2019 The union leadership is living large off the backs of hard working folks. Expensive golf trips, Stanley cup tickets, etc. That sounds like a familiar story (UAW). It’s no wonder people hate unions these days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zambroski Posted May 10, 2019 Share Posted May 10, 2019 17 minutes ago, Edmo said: The union leadership is living large off the backs of hard working folks. Expensive golf trips, Stanley cup tickets, etc. That sounds like a familiar story (UAW). It’s no wonder people hate unions these days. Not sure why members of the unions haven’t quite figured this out completely yet. But, you can see it fracturing. Our mining districts are slowly going red. Imagine, being in the mining industry and voting Dem? LOL! Imbeciles. Our district went red for the first time in 30 years in the last congressional election. Waking up! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cold War Posted May 10, 2019 Share Posted May 10, 2019 21 minutes ago, Edmo said: The union leadership is living large off the backs of hard working folks. Expensive golf trips, Stanley cup tickets, etc. That sounds like a familiar story (UAW). It’s no wonder people hate unions these days. yup, hard to believe any of these unions or members would see allies in any of these D candidates Wonder what is going on there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zambroski Posted May 10, 2019 Share Posted May 10, 2019 1 minute ago, Cold War said: yup, hard to believe any of these unions or members would see allies in any of these D candidates Wonder what is going on there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edmo Posted May 10, 2019 Share Posted May 10, 2019 1 minute ago, Cold War said: yup, hard to believe any of these unions or members would see allies in any of these D candidates Wonder what is going on there. They’re in bed together. My uncle was a UAW exec for years. He was on a first name basis with all the elected D officials. Carl and Sander Levin would show up for family parties. I could tell some stories that would get these union guys heads to fly off. It’s not pretty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cold War Posted May 10, 2019 Share Posted May 10, 2019 1 hour ago, Zambroski said: Nahhhhhhhh. Couldn’t be that. 1 hour ago, Edmo said: They’re in bed together. My uncle was a UAW exec for years. He was on a first name basis with all the elected D officials. Carl and Sander Levin would show up for family parties. I could tell some stories that would get these union guys heads to fly off. It’s not pretty. Yeah, I had a couple of buddies that for years, you said anything bad about the union , you were heading outside to throw down. Like calling their mother a whore. Both of them are off the die hard union mantra. Final straw was when the head of union stole their pension to build lake house ........ with non union workers!!!! 😂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
racer254 Posted May 10, 2019 Share Posted May 10, 2019 But we had to bail GM out because of LABOR costs. Or so that was the excuse and many seemed to fall for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anler Posted May 10, 2019 Share Posted May 10, 2019 2 years probation for embezzlement? Crime does pay I guess... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edmo Posted May 10, 2019 Share Posted May 10, 2019 35 minutes ago, Cold War said: Nahhhhhhhh. Couldn’t be that. Yeah, I had a couple of buddies that for years, you said anything bad about the union , you were heading outside to throw down. Like calling their mother a whore. Both of them are off the die hard union mantra. Final straw was when the head of union stole their pension to build lake house ........ with non union workers!!!! 😂 Do you know why they used non union labor on that house? The union quote on that house was too high!!!! If you have never been to their resort on black lake you should check it out if you’re in that area - it’s spectacular. I just never understood how they can justify it. They always said that it’s paid for off interest from the yuge strike fund. Seems like a stretch to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cold War Posted May 10, 2019 Share Posted May 10, 2019 20 minutes ago, Edmo said: Do you know why they used non union labor on that house? The union quote on that house was too high!!!! If you have never been to their resort on black lake you should check it out if you’re in that area - it’s spectacular. I just never understood how they can justify it. They always said that it’s paid for off interest from the yuge strike fund. Seems like a stretch to me. Yup, local private company would sneak over and work through the night. Public sector unions are still strong. The teachers union is unshakable. Still a strong force in Michigan, able to sway elections. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gold Member Kivalo Posted May 10, 2019 Gold Member Share Posted May 10, 2019 1 hour ago, racer254 said: But we had to bail GM out because of LABOR costs. Or so that was the excuse and many seemed to fall for it. GM Should have been left to fail along with the banks. They fleeced the taxpayers on that shit! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Platinum Contributing Member steve from amherst Posted May 10, 2019 Platinum Contributing Member Share Posted May 10, 2019 4 hours ago, Kivalo said: GM Should have been left to fail along with the banks. They fleeced the taxpayers on that shit! WE would have been left holding a much bigger ball. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gold Member Kivalo Posted May 10, 2019 Gold Member Share Posted May 10, 2019 56 minutes ago, steve from amherst said: WE would have been left holding a much bigger ball. Debatable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
revkevsdi Posted May 10, 2019 Share Posted May 10, 2019 Rocha illegally used union money to buy $400 in Stanley Cup finals tickets. He also paid thousands of dollars for golf trips in South Carolina and Florida between the end of 2008 and midway through 2009, according to court documents. its the golf that always pisses of Republicans. They hate it when Dems spend money on golf. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sal Rosenberg Posted May 10, 2019 Share Posted May 10, 2019 1 hour ago, revkevsdi said: Rocha illegally used union money to buy $400 in Stanley Cup finals tickets. He also paid thousands of dollars for golf trips in South Carolina and Florida between the end of 2008 and midway through 2009, according to court documents. its the golf that always pisses of Republicans. They hate it when Dems spend money on golf. DERP DERP DERP DERP DERP DERP !!!!!!1111 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sleepr2 Posted May 11, 2019 Share Posted May 11, 2019 Where’s that dumfuck Jimmy to defend unions? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sleepr2 Posted May 11, 2019 Share Posted May 11, 2019 2 hours ago, revkevsdi said: Rocha illegally used union money to buy $400 in Stanley Cup finals tickets. He also paid thousands of dollars for golf trips in South Carolina and Florida between the end of 2008 and midway through 2009, according to court documents. its the golf that always pisses of Republicans. They hate it when Dems spend money on golf. Libtards love golf and travel on the taxpayers money when it’s liberals. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anler Posted May 11, 2019 Share Posted May 11, 2019 12 hours ago, Zambroski said: Not sure why members of the unions haven’t quite figured this out completely yet. But, you can see it fracturing. Our mining districts are slowly going red. Imagine, being in the mining industry and voting Dem? LOL! Imbeciles. Our district went red for the first time in 30 years in the last congressional election. Waking up! That's because your a fucking idiot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zambroski Posted May 11, 2019 Share Posted May 11, 2019 1 minute ago, Anler said: That's because your a fucking idiot If you want to be bitter, just be quiet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anler Posted May 11, 2019 Share Posted May 11, 2019 Just now, Zambroski said: If you want to be bitter, just be quiet. That was an assessment not a condemnation... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zambroski Posted May 11, 2019 Share Posted May 11, 2019 Just now, Anler said: That was an assessment not a condemnation... Either of those coming from you are inconsequential though....so, what am I supposed to do? Kill myself? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Platinum Contributing Member Jimmy Snacks Posted May 11, 2019 Platinum Contributing Member Share Posted May 11, 2019 17 minutes ago, Zambroski said: Either of those coming from you are inconsequential though....so, what am I supposed to do? Kill myself? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anler Posted May 11, 2019 Share Posted May 11, 2019 45 minutes ago, Zambroski said: Either of those coming from you are inconsequential though....so, what am I supposed to do? Kill myself? That will be fine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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