U.S. Department of Labor

Office of Labor-Management Standards
Division of Enforcement
Washington, DC 20210
(202) 693-0143 Fax: (202) 693-1343



May 28, 2014




Dear :

This statement of reasons is in response to your complaint filed on January 6, 2014 with the U.S. Department of Labor alleging that violations of Title IV of the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act (LMRDA) occurred in connection with the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) international officer election conducted on August 13, 2013. The Department is closing this case and no further investigation will be conducted.

You broadly alleged to the union that the Local 770 President, Region 8 Director, and International President engaged in “unethical conduct” which affected the outcome of the election for International Vice President of the UFCW. By letter dated
September 18, 2013, the International Executive Board requested additional information about your election protest. You did not respond to clarify to the UFCW what “unethical conduct” occurred.

When interviewed by the Department, you advised that the officers engaged in unethical conduct during the Local 770 delegate election which in turn prevented you from running for International Vice President at the UFCW international convention. Although you were not elected as a delegate in the Local 770 election, a member is not required to be a delegate to be nominated for an international officer position.

The Local 770 delegate election also did not impair your ability to attend the UFCW international convention to campaign for nomination as a candidate for International Vice President, which you did not attempt to do. A candidate needed fifteen local union nominations to be nominated. Thus, even if there were improprieties in the Local 770 election, your ability to run for International Vice President was not affected.

For the reasons set forth above, it is concluded that no violation of the LMRDA occurred
which may have affected the outcome of the international officer election. Accordingly, the office has closed the file on this matter.

Sincerely,



Patricia Fox, Chief
Division of Enforcement

cc: Mr. Joseph T. Hansen, International President
United Food and Commercial Workers
1775 K Street, NW
Washington, DC 20006

Christopher B. Wilkinson
Associate Solicitor for Civil Rights and Labor-Management