SEIU union lawsuit will head to trial in Las Vegas
A federal judge on Wednesday declined to reverse the ouster of Service Employees International Union Local 1107 President Cherie Mancini before a trial.
Mancini is suing her parent union, SEIU International, to reverse her removal from office and six-month suspension of membership.
SEIU’s Nevada chapter represents about 18,000 government employees and private sector health care workers. Most are located in Clark County.
U.S. District Court Judge Andrew Gordon ruled there was not sufficient evidence to immediately reinstate Mancini, who was ousted in April. Gordon also determined there is not enough evidence to end a takeover of the Nevada union’s operations by SEIU International.
“Neither side should take my decision today as an indication how a trial would result,” Gordon said.
The judge said he will consider a motion by SEIU International attorneys to consolidate Mancini’s case with a lawsuit filed by SEIU 1107 member Raymond Garcia in May. Both Mancini and Garcia are represented by attorney Michael Mcavoyamaya, and both are seeking to reverse the parent union’s takeover.
Garcia last month alleged that SEIU International is using Local 1107 in Nevada as part of a money laundering scheme that has lasted more than a decade.
Mancini said after the hearing Wednesday that she would not take questions on the lawsuits. However, she did say, “I implore the membership to get involved in the business of 1107 and ensure their dues money is being spent appropriately.”
Contact Michael Scott Davidson at sdavidson@reviewjournal.com or 702-477- 3861. Follow @davidsonlvrj on Twitter.
