Congress Questions Pro-Democrat Union on Hiring a Sex Offender for Leadership Position

House Committee Investigates Union’s Hiring Practices

The House Education and Workforce Committee is looking into the decision made by a local union to hire individuals with a history of child molestation, following reports from the Daily Caller News Foundation (DCNF) that revealed employee records.

Rep. Tim Wahlberg, a Republican from Michigan and the committee’s chairman, questioned the hiring of Noelia Linares, a known sex offender, as a business agent for the San Francisco branch. This inquiry comes in light of broader concerns raised after a recent incident in Los Angeles, which linked the SEIU to unrest and drew attention to the union’s activities.

“Given the vulnerable groups that many SEIU workers serve, the committee is trying to understand how this happened and whether reforms to the Labor Management Reporting and Disclosure Act (LMRDA) are necessary,” Walberg stated in a letter to the SEIU President.

Linares was charged with sex offenses in 2017 involving four high school victims, as reported by the committee. In 2018, she entered a plea of “no contest” to one count of sexual penetration of minors, while six other charges related to child abuse were dismissed. She was hired by SEIU Local 87 in October 2022.

Neither SEIU nor Linares has responded to requests for comments from DCNF.

Walberg expressed his concerns, emphasizing that the decision to employ Linares is troubling, especially considering the millions of workers represented by SEIU. He noted that these workers interact with vulnerable populations, including over 60 million patients across various healthcare settings.

The committee is asking SEIU to disclose the number of employees who are registered sex offenders and how they assess the suitability of potential hires.

Wahlberg pointed out that the LMRDA bars individuals convicted of serious crimes, like rape, from working in unions. He highlighted that the committee will investigate whether LMRDA should be amended to include registered sex offenders in this prohibition.

SEIU, known for its support of Democratic candidates and advocacy for migrant workers, previously faced criticism for its involvement in protests related to the arrest of a California SEIU leader. Events in Los Angeles escalated into significant unrest, drawing hundreds to federal buildings in protest.