Mike Maitland has been removed as business manager and secretary treasurer of LiUNA local 1089 in Sarnia.
LiUNA's regional office said it will be imposing supervision of the Local and dismantling its executive board following an internal investigation into alleged improprieties.
In an email to BlackburnNews.com, LiUNA Director of Public Relations, Communications and Strategic Partnerships Victoria Mancinelli said an extensive internal investigation and a special hearing were undertaken to critically and fairly adjudicate the allegations in question.
"The result of these allegations have been concluded and in the best interest of the members of LiUNA Local 1089, the local union has been placed under supervision and the executive board dismantled until an election is called and voted on by the members," said Mancinelli. "The members have rightfully regained power of their local union."
A special hearing was held after six officers of the local union, in an April 18 letter, made 11 allegations against Maitland that were investigated by Assistant Regional Manager Tony Pietrangelo and an outside firm.
Mancinelli noted that Maitland has made a number of improvements to Local 1089 for the benefit of the organization and its members.
"His years of service are not to be minimized," she said. "It is also worth noting that this proceeding was and is not disciplinary in nature, however, detrimental to restoring the local union in adherence to LiUNA code of conduct that has been disturbingly ignored evident in the claims set forth in the complaints of April 2020 and throughout."
The union said all business managers, secretary treasurers and executive board members have a duty to abide by the highest standard of ethical behaviour and comply with all internal protocols to maintain the integrity of the organization and the interests of the membership. It said those who fail to meet their obligation to responsibly and ethically represent the members and protect their rights will face necessary consequences including removal from office if necessary.
Maitland had been a business manager since June 2009.
On its website, Local 1089 of the Labourers’ International Union of North America says it conducts the bargaining of several collective agreements for 775-plus members.
The union has offices at 1255 Confederation St.
-With files from Dave Dentinger