MIAMI - The United Teachers of Dade has laid off more than one-third of its employees and is receiving a $1.7-million infusion from its parent organization in an attempt recover from recent financial mismanagement and alleged corruption, officials said Friday.
New managers brought in by the American Federation of Teachers to run the local announced the layoff of 24 people and a series of financial restructuring plans, along with plans to lower member's dues by 10 percent and expand services.
"We're going to return this union to its members," said Mark Richard, who was appointed by the American Federation of Teachers to be the local's new administrator.
An independent firm is also going to audit the union's finances, Richard said.
"If the funds were misappropriated by anyone, including (union president) Pat Tornillo . . . we will seek restitution," he said.
Richard said the local's financial woes stem from its expensive and poorly financed new headquarters in downtown Miami and from the loss of about 500 members during the past three months. The union has a $13-million mortgage on its new headquarters, which Richard said could be rented or sold, and $2.9-million on three credit cards.
The national union is giving $1.7-million in loans, grants and in-kind contributions to the local, Richard said. The parent organization is also taking over the local's financial and legal departments, where many of the staff cuts were made, he said.
