Bill Bumpus Somerville MA - An injury to one is an injury to all

In 2016, $4,510.00 was illegitimately withdrawn and spent from the Boston IWW General Membership Branch’s bank account. This is a statement of what occurred in that case.

In January of 2016, the General Administration of the IWW was made aware of conflicts developing in the Boston General Membership Branch (GMB). As a result, on February 8, 2016, the General Executive Board (GEB) struck a committee to audit the "practices and culture" of the Boston GMB. The Boston GMB met on February 14, 2016, and a conflict erupted during this meeting, resulting in the formation of two separate groups, or factions, which would go on to meet separately. As a result of this dispute and various controversies surrounding it, the GEB suspended the Boston branch's charter on April 7, 2016. Branch officers were notified via email by GEB Chair Michael Garcia on April 8, 2016. The branch charter was reinstated on September 9, 2016.

After the branch charter was reinstated, new branch officers were not able to gain access to the branch bank account until early 2017 because of the bank's requirements for verification. Once they did, they discovered the balance was $17.21. During the time that the branch’s charter had been suspended, officers of the former Boston GMB had continued making expenditures from the branch’s bank account, spending a total of $4,510.00.
 
In particular, a series of six checks was written mid-April to late May 2016, all signed by Christopher (“Chris”) Helali, addressed to himself, Christopher (“Max”) Perkins or Genevieve Butler. Three checks were made out to Christopher “Max” Perkins, for a total amount of $740. Two checks were made out to Chris Helali, for a total amount of $3,500. One check was made out to Genevieve Butler in the amount of $150.

Check #
Date
Amount
Made out to:
479
4/19/16
$190.00
Christopher Perkins
480
5/12/16
$500.00
Christopher Perkins
481
5/12/16
$500.00
Christopher Helali
482
5/18/16
$50.00
Christopher Perkins
9999
5/25/16
$3,000.00
Christopher Helali
485
5/27/16
$150.00
Genevieve Butler

Total:
$4,510.00

Although some of these fund disbursals may have been previously discussed or authorized by the branch, these officers had no authorization to conduct any branch business or handle union funds during the suspension of the Boston branch’s charter. They were made aware of this in the GEB chair’s email to them, which stated “no member shall attempt to organize or carry out GMB functions or business during the suspension”.

After the General Administration was contacted by the Boston branch about this matter, in February of 2017, the General Secretary-Treasurer pursued it with our insurance agency. The insurance agency reviewed all of the evidence and found that the funds were indeed spent illegitimately. They reimbursed the IWW for all of the funds spent. The General Administration then disbursed these funds back to the Boston branch in May of 2017.

In the midst of this process, on April 7, 2017, the General Secretary-Treasurer also contacted Chris Helali, Chris “Max” Perkins, and Genevieve Butler, asking them to return the spent funds, and giving them an opportunity to give their account as to why those funds were spent.

Date: Tue, 14 Feb 2017 09:29:45 -0600
From: shugE Mississippi
To: geb
Subject: [Geb] Report To IWW Membership Regarding Embezzlement Of
Funds From Boston GMB

Report To IWW Membership Regarding Embezzlement Of Funds From Boston GMB

I have been asked to publish this report as GEB Chair for the membership to
see and know the facts as we know it.