Globe union official files charges vs. president
The treasurer of The Boston Globe’s largest union yesterday formally accused the organization’s president of misappropriating union money or property, violating its constitution, and disobeying orders.
Boston Newspaper Guild president Daniel Totten was charged with signing the name of another union officer to his paycheck, which required a countersignature, according to members with knowledge of the matter. Totten could not be reached for comment, but he has denied any financial impropriety.
The allegations were first raised by treasurer Patrice Sneyd a little more than two weeks ago, prompting the Guild’s executive committee to launch an audit of union finances and prepare internal charges against him, while canceling his credit card and suspending his check-signing authority. The formal charges filed yesterday begin a process that could lead to Totten being fined, suspended, or even expelled from the union if he is found guilty by a jury of union members.
Sneyd was apparently withholding Totten’s paycheck because he had failed to turn in receipts for expenses, despite repeated requests for many months, according to members with knowledge of the matter. The Guild’s policy is to deduct expenses that are not accounted for within a certain timeframe. The expenses without receipts totaled nearly one paycheck.
Totten, however, then signed the name of Scott Steeves, the union vice president, as a countersignature in order to cash the check, according to these members. Totten later turned in at least most of the receipts.
Steeves was unaware that Totten had signed his name, members said. Steeves could not be reached for comment yesterday. He earlier declined to comment on the situation. Sneyd could not be reached for comment.
The Guild represents more than 600 editorial, advertising, and business office workers. Totten, the Guild president since 2005, recently took a medical leave. Steeves is serving as acting president.
The charges will be presented today to the union’s governing board, comprising top union officers and delegates elected from departments represented by the Guild. The governing board will determine whether the charges conform to the constitution of the Guild’s parent, Communications Workers of America. If they do, it will begin a process that could include a trial, heard by a jury of seven selected by lottery from the general membership. Some members have said the trial would take place within 60 days, but the Communications Workers’ constitution does not specify a time period.
If jury members make a guilty finding, they would also determine punishment, which could include fines, suspension, or expulsion from the union, according to the Communications Workers’ constitution.
Robert Gavin can be reached at rgavin@globe.com. 
