The Federal Election Commission filed suit against a local union alleging it and its political action committee failed to follow an agreement addressing a previous violation of federal election laws.
On May 17, the FEC filed a civil complaint against Plumbers and Pipefitters Local Union No. 9 and its PAC in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.
The complaint alleges the union violated an agreement the FEC and the union made to resolve a 2016 issue centered on improper payroll deductions from union employees to finance the PAC.
“The commission seeks a declaration from the court that defendants have violated one or more of the requirements set forth in the conciliation agreement that they entered into with the commission, and other appropriate relief,” a release from the FEC said.
According to the FEC’s complaint, a member of the local union filed a complaint with the regulator in March 2016, alleging UA Local 9 “improperly deducted [political] contributions from his pay without his prior authorization and had failed to issue a refund of his contributions when requested.”
According to the complaint, in 2017, the FEC’s commissioners “found reason to believe” the 2016 complaint was valid and authorized a formal investigation.
In 2018, the commission, the local union, and the local union’s PAC agreed to and signed a so-called conciliation agreement.
The agreement said between 2012 and 2017, the union improperly collected about $2.4 million in payroll deductions from 1,310 employees to fund its PAC.
According to the complaint, the local union’s PAC sent $47,000 to federal candidates and about $219,000 to the national union’s PAC.
As part of that agreement, the local union pledged to notify all members who contributed to the local union PAC between 2012 and 2017 and offer a reimbursement.
It was told to pay a refund within 30 days of receiving a request.
The complaint was submitted by the FEC’s Acting General Counsel Lisa Stevenson, Assistant General Counsel Christopher Bell, and Attorney Greg Mueller.
The complaint was signed by FEC attorney Haven Ward.
The FEC declined to offer further comment on the matter, citing its policy not to comment on current litigation.
According to FEC records, the Plumbers & Pipefitters Local No. 9 Political Action Committee held about $202,000 in cash at the end of March.
The records show the committee made numerous, large contributions to the national union’s PAC, the United Association Political Education Committee, in 2023.
FEC records state the local union also supported several Democratic Party causes and candidates in New Jersey.
According to its website, the United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry of the United States and Canada represents about 376,000 professionals working in plumbing and related building trades throughout North America.
UA Local 9, based in Englishtown, New Jersey, represents more than 2,500 tradesmen in central New Jersey.
According to FEC records, the United Association Political Education Committee held about $5 million at the end of March.
The national PAC is a significant contributor to national Democrat politics.
In 2024, it sent $120,000 to the Biden Victory Fund and $500,000 to a hybrid PAC supporting President Joe Biden known as FF PAC.
Mike Maloney, UA Local 9’s business manager and secretary-treasurer, declined to comment on the litigation, citing his union’s policy not to comment on pending litigation.
