Jury set in case against Globe union leader
The governing board of The Boston Globe’s largest union last night selected a seven-member jury to hear charges that the organization’s president misappropriated union money or property, violated its constitution and disobeyed orders, according to members with knowledge of the matter.
The action by the board sets in motion a process that could lead to Boston Newspaper Guild president Daniel Totten being fined, suspended, or even expelled from the union if found guilty by the jury. A date for the union trial has not been set, according to members with knowledge of the matter. Totten, who recently took a medical leave, could not be reached for comment.
In addition to the seven jurors, the governing board selected seven alternate jurors and a prosecutor, Globe reporter Sean Murphy, according to members with knowledge of the matter. The jurors and alternates will be notified by mail. Murphy declined to comment.
Union treasurer Patrice Sneyd filed formal charges against Totten Monday, a little more than two weeks after allegations surfaced that Totten had signed the name of another union officer to his paycheck, which required a counter signature. 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.
Totten 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.
