Schaitberger Uses Investigators to Search Emails
Last summer Harold Schaitberger, with board approval, hired private detectives for what he termed a short review of policies around document safekeeping.
He lied to the executive board and employees when he subsequently allowed those investigators to begin a witch hunt by searching through private email correspondence.
He created a “KGB” to snoop on vice-presidents elected by IAFF delegates.
Vice President Walsh
Rick Walsh
Schaitberger says he has uncovered evidence of Walsh providing information to me via email as if that were a crime.
He proposes suspending Walsh and charging him under the IAFF Constitution unless Walsh resigns.
Sources say that the board is backing Schaitberger’s attempt to remove Walsh from his position even though Schaitberger lied to them in order to achieve his objective.
The real crime is Schaitberger being allowed to spy on elected IAFF leadership.
His email trolling affects every IAFF leader who corresponds with his DVP.
He has destroyed the very idea of open, free and democratic communication.
Walsh’s supposed offense isn’t stealing or bribery or lying, it’s providing information to another IAFF member.
Schaitberger is plotting to remove a highly effective, dedicated elected official in order to terrorize the remainder of the board into silence as he rules effectively as a dictator, doing whatever he wants.
Federal Whistleblower Protection
Schaitberger and his phony cronies should know that the US Department of Labor has received significant information regarding the unethical and illegal activities at the IAFF.
I would know as I have hand delivered it to investigators as an IAFF member.
How will DOL react when they find out that Schaitberger is attempting to suspend a senior elected official for fighting corruption?
What will be their view of Schaitberger unethically spying on other elected officials by searching their communication records?
How many of those being spied upon also have whisteblower protection?
The Unspooling Begins
They say there is no honor among thieves and Schaitberger is the chief thief.
The Walsh episode proves the board has begun to disintegrate by feeding on itself.
No one knows what shoe will drop next but we can be sure that there is much more to come.
It will be interesting to see if the Department of Labor sits by and allows Schaitberger to oust an elected vice-president in order to continue his cover-up.
Affiliate leaders should be telling their vice-presidents to stand up to Schaitberger before he destroys the IAFF entirely.
Time to Stand Tough
Ricky Walsh is a principled trade union leader with a great reputation for fighting for what is right.
He is what the IAFF should be about rather than the current garbage at the top.
IAFF members who care about dignity and fairness and the future of our union need to stand with him in the days and weeks to come because it takes guts to do the right thing.
Seventh district members, especially Kelly Fox and other state leaders, need to stand with Ricky and be the first to vigorously defend him.
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