A Unifor Manitoba Branch is demanding its former financial secretary, claiming that more than $ 50,000 of the union’s funds through falsified or altered checks last year.
Local Unifor 3005, which represents about 350 employees in Magellan Aerospace in Winnipeg, accuses Ashley Samonte of negligence, breach of contract and breach of the fiduciary duty, according to a lawsuit filed in the Bank of the King’s Bank on September 11.
According to the lawsuit, Samonte, who began working for the union around January 2024, to manage financial matters and accounting of local 3005 as financial secretary. He was allowed to write checks and approve payments.
An internal investigation by the union in or around October 2024 discovered that between July and October of that year, Samonte presented the payments of the union funds to their own personal bank account when issuing and depositing counterfeit checks or altered to itself, without the knowledge or consent of the Union, the claim statement alleges.
The union affirms that by knowing amounts and names in payment documents, with the intention of defrauding Unifor.
He also alleges that he could not keep internal records or any adequate registration related to the financial affairs of the union.
None of the accusations has been tested in court. A defense statement has not yet been submitted.
Samonte has also been criminally accused of theft of more than $ 5,000 in relation to the accusation of embezzled union funds, a court spokesman said to CBC News.
The union has demanded that Samonte return the money, according to its demand. Samonte acknowledged that she took and maintained the funds from the union and promised to return or pay the money, but she has failed and/or careless to do so, alleges the demand of the union.
It is looking for almost $ 55,000 in damages, the amount that the union says it was taken unfairly, together with exemplary and punitive damage for the “meaningless contempt” of the uniform rights.
You are also looking for a court order to avoid eliminating any of its assets.
CBC News contacted Samonte to comment, but had not received an answer before the publication.
The members ‘feel betrayed’: union
AJ Mcaulay, current financial secretary of Unifor Local 3005, says that Samonte has not returned to work at Magellan Aerospace since the accusations against her emerged.
Demand is the last resort of the Union to recover lost funds, he said.
“The members finally feel betrayed,” Mcaulay told CBC News on Wednesday.
“They have voted to go to the maximum extension of the law and civil matter, whatever necessary.”
Some of Samonte’s former co -workers feel personally affected by the accusations against him, because they knew Samonte and their family members, Mcaulay said.
“This is where it hurts, right?” said. “Trust is lost.”
