Juan Gonzalez: Battle Over $12 Million Splits Labor Movement UNITE HERE

Wednesday, June 17, 2009 :In the weeks before a bitter power struggle at one of the country's biggest unions, UNITE HERE, erupted into an open split, the union's general president ordered more than $12 million be transferred to local affiliates loyal to him and to outside groups. Bruce Raynor disbursed the money without the knowledge or required approval of the union's co-president, John Wilhelm, UNITE HERE leaders said this week. Those funds, they claim, were then used to finance a breakaway group from the union.