TORONTO — The former first vice-president and treasurer of an Ontario public sector union is countersuing the group, claiming he didn’t breach any fiduciary responsibility.
The Ontario Public Services Employees Union is suing former vice-president and treasurer Eduardo Almeida, former monetary providers administrator Maurice Gabay, and former president Warren (Smokey) Thomas for practically $6 million, alleging they unlawfully transferred strike fund money and union automobiles to themselves.
In a countersuit and assertion of defence, Almeida denies he breached any fiduciary responsibility owed to the union.
Almeida says he was a politically elected figurehead with none monetary {qualifications} to be the treasurer and he used due diligence and relied on the skilled recommendation of others within the group, which didn’t present any monetary, authorized or managerial coaching to him.
OPSEU says since Thomas and Almeida left their positions final April, the union has been doing a forensic audit and alleges it has uncovered that Thomas and Almeida paid themselves “significant compensation” they weren’t entitled to, used union cash for non-business functions, transferred union automobiles to themselves or members of the family and paid out strike fund money to themselves and Gabay.
None of the allegations have been confirmed in court docket and Thomas and Gabay have additionally filed statements of defence, denying the allegations.
