New Jersey city teachers union finds financial ‘irregularities’ and ‘discrepancies’
The Union City teachers union has been compelled to request missing records from a former officer, some dating back 25 years. Information on the situation is scarce. Other officers have resigned and refuse comment.
Mike D’Onofrio has the story in the Jersey Journal.
The Union City Education Association has uncovered “significant discrepancies and irregularities” in its financial records, according to a message to members on the website.
The union’s attorneys have sent a letter to the former treasurer, Joseph Cheung, who resigned in December, threatening to sue him if he does not return 25 years of ledgers and UCEA meeting minutes, and UCEA account bank statements and receipts from expenses incurred by the union from June 2013 to the present, the website states.
Cheung teaches chemistry at Union City High School. He did not return calls for comment.
Two other union officers, Third Vice President Rica Constantinides and Recording Secretary Blanca Cardona also resigned in December. They also could not be reached for comment.
UCEA President Antoinette “Toni” Fellowes and other union officials did not return numerous calls and emails seeking comment about the alleged “discrepancies and irregularities” and resignations.
Fellowes spoke at the regular meeting of the Union City Board of Education earlier this month but did not address this issue, and when a reporter asked her about it, she declined to comment.
In its online note to union members, UCEA officials say they have taken steps to investigate the matter that include conducting a forensic audit of the union’s financial records, bringing in a law firm to recoup missing records and having a tax, accounting and business consulting firm review and reconcile all financial records.
The website indicates Cheung has not responded. According to the website, the firm has notified Cheung that his lack f a response is “unacceptable,” leaving the UCEA “no choice” but to file a lawsuit against him.