corzines troubled ex girlfriend union

Corzine's Troubled Ex-Girlfriend: Union Foes Demand Katz's ouster

The New Jersey Star-Ledger reports:

Dissident union leaders this week filed charges seeking to have

state labor leader Carla Katz ex pelled from the Communications

Workers of America and billed for union money they charge she

"misappropriated."

The charges were filed by CWA Local 1034 Vice Presidents Jonathan

Berg and Linda Kukor and Shop Steward Dan Antonellis. They were

delivered yesterday morning to CWA headquarters in Washington. A

copy of the charges was obtained by The Star-Ledger.

Gov. Jon Corzine's ex-girlfriend, Katz, 48, is in the final year of

her third three-year term as president of Local 1034, the union's

largest single chapter. She is seeking re- election in September.

"Katz has been an absentee president," the complaint said. "She has

misappropriated union funds. The public thinks less of CWA as a

result of her antics. The members are humiliated by them."

"Katz," the complaint says in bold type, "should be expelled from

the union and fined."

Katz declined to comment yesterday, as did the other local

officials accused in the filing of violat ing CWA rules and bylaws.

In addi tion to Katz, charges were lodged against 1034's secretary,

treasurer and four other board members.

Candice Johnson, the chief spokeswoman for CWA, said union leaders

"will certainly look into" the allegations to determine what, if

any, action should be taken.

Katz and her union's national leadership have been at odds since

early this year, when she opposed a new state contract hammered out

by CWA negotiators.

State Republican Chairman Tom Wilson has sued Corzine for access to

e-mails the governor and Katz exchanged during contract

negotiations. Corzine has said the e-mails are not subject to the

state Open Public Records Act because they are personal

correspondence or confidential records covered by executive

privilege.

Katz said the e-mails must be kept from the public because they

fall under OPRA's special exemp tion for documents relating to

union negotiations.

Corzine and Katz broke up after a two-year romance just months

before Corzine announced in 2004 he would run for governor. The

wealthy Corzine gave Katz a multimillion-dollar settlement, which

came to light more than a year after Corzine took office.

Corzine repeatedly has said the past relationship would not affect

his judgment in dealing with the state workers Katz represents.

Katz also said it would have no ef fect on her professional duties.

Berg, Kukor and Antonellis charge Katz "was not forthcoming" about

her financial entanglement with Corzine and should have

disqualified herself from recent negotiations that ended with a new

state worker contract. They also allege that Katz's actions have

led to a drop in CWA membership.

The dissidents are citing in their newest filing her decision to

enter the e-mail lawsuit as proof she is misusing union funds. They

also agree with the national union that Katz had no right to hold

secret contract talks with Corzine and charge she entered the

lawsuit to cover up her improper conduct.

Berg, Kukor and Antonellis also allege Katz has made political do

nations in the union's name without proper authorization and is