A HISTORY OF NON-DISCLOSURE, DEFLECTION & LACK OF TRANSPARENCY

For decades, Local 1611 has been controlled by the same inner circle of executives, passing power among themselves while avoiding accountability. Time and time again, members have raised serious concerns about financial mismanagement, lack of transparency, and backroom deals—yet the current leadership refuses to answer questions.

One of the most troubling issues came in late 2016 and early 2017, just months before the 2017 union election. Allegations surfaced from former employees that union funds may have been mismanaged under the leadership of then-President and Training Society Administrator Gary Palmiere. Members have discussed claims that significant sums of money—potentially upwards of $100,000—were unaccounted for.

Rumors swirled that casinos had been attempting to contact Mr. Palmiere regarding financial matters—yet no explanation was ever given to the membership. Shortly afterward, Palmiere was quietly removed from his position, and no charges were ever laid. The only information members ever received was that an audit was allegedly conducted, the money was said to have been returned, and Palmiere reportedly agreed not to run in future Local 1611 elections.

The bigger questions are: 

• Why was none of this disclosed to the membership? 

• If financial concerns were serious enough to remove a sitting President and trigger an audit, why wasn’t this issue addressed publicly? 

• Why did the executive board choose silence over transparency?

Even more troubling is why Local 1611’s leadership brought Palmiere into a top position in the first place. Before joining 1611, Palmiere had previously held a leadership role in another building trades union, where concerns about financial matters had also been raised. If this history was known, why was he still placed in charge of managing funds on behalf of 1611 members?

This pattern of avoiding accountability, ignoring financial concerns, and protecting insiders is not new. It is the same approach that has allowed Local 1611 to be run like a private club for nearly three decades, with the same families, friends, and handpicked successors holding all the power while keeping members in the dark.

The Nav Malhotra lawsuit has already exposed serious allegations about how this union is run behind closed doors. 

How many other scandals have been hidden from the membership? 

• What happened to our First Nations partnerships that we once led? 

• How did Ledcor end up with those deals instead of 1611? 

• Why did the CCW Red Seal program mysteriously stall after the 2017 election? 

• Where is the long-term plan for membership job security and pension protection?

The nomination meeting on April 5th is your chance to make it clear that members will not be silenced. This is the moment to show the election judges—and everyone in the room—that you support a change in leadership and stand behind the candidates running against the current board. 

Your presence also puts pressure on the election judges to ensure a fair process, making it known that any attempt to illegitimately disqualify a candidate will not go unnoticed or unchallenged.

This election, vote for change. Vote for leadership that fights for members—not for their own interests.

YOUR UNION. YOUR VOICE. YOUR POWER TO CHANGE.

In Solidarity,

Voice of the Members