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BIW union kept in trusteeship

By The Associated Press wire report August 13, 2008 03:12 PM

The Machinists Union has decided to keep a trustee in charge of the largest union at Maine's Bath Iron Works following an investigation of alleged fiscal mismanagement and computer porn.

International President Thomas Buffenbarger says a union committee concluded there's sufficient evidence to support the most serious charges: failure to account for $27,000 in union merchandise, widespread viewing of porn on computers at union offices and failure to deal with grievances in a timely manner.

Machinists spokesman John Carr says Buffenbarger's letter was sent this week to all 3,200 Local S6 members. He says the letter didn't address the fate of several suspended officers, including President Mike Keenan.

Local S6 was placed in trusteeship in March and local officials including Keenan were suspended while the international panel investigated the allegations.