Union to pay $36,000 to settle campaign lawsuit

A second unit of Service Employees International Union has settled a lawsuit by the state over campaign-disclosure omissions.

Thurston County Superior Court Judge Anne Hirsch approved the settlement Monday. Child-care workers union SEIU 925 agreed to pay $31,715 and its political committee to pay another $4,500, Attorney General Bob Ferguson’s office said. Another $6,948 for the union and $1,500 for the committee will be suspended as long as the groups comply in the future.

Ferguson’s lawsuit contended the union had failed to report cash and in-kind contributions made from its treasury to its political committee. The committee reported receiving the cash but not the in-kind contributions such as union staff time, Ferguson’s office alleged.

Complaints from the conservative Freedom Foundation have prompted campaign-finance lawsuits by the Democratic attorney general against several labor groups that contribute heavily to Democrats.

A unit of SEIU that represents home health care workers settled last month, agreeing to pay more than $43,000 from its treasury and political committee. Ferguson is also suing the Freedom Foundation over campaign allegations.

This story was originally published February 9, 2016 at 11:29 AM with the headline "Union to pay $36,000 to settle campaign lawsuit."