Published on: October 22, 2025, 09:36h.
Updated on: October 22, 2025, 10:02h.
- Audit reveals extravagant spending by union leaders in Las Vegas
- Trip proceeded despite the cancellation of a merger deal
- Forensic analysis uncovers lack of oversight and missing documentation
Leaders of a UK railway trade union are under scrutiny for alleged financial mismanagement after spending a significant amount of the union’s funds on an unnecessary trip to Las Vegas, as reported by The Telegraph.
Key figures in the Transport Salaried Staff Association (TSSA), including former General Secretary Manuel Cortes, President Bernard “Mick” Carney, and Deputy General Secretary Frank Ward, submitted expense claims totaling £8,411 (approximately US$11,200).
This included substantial charges from casinos and hotels, extravagant meals such as a roast suckling pig for six, and business class airfare.
Cortes also reportedly withdrew hundreds of dollars in union funds ahead of the trip in August 2022, according to The Telegraph.
The TSSA represents over 17,000 members who work across administrative, managerial, and professional sectors of the UK rail industry. Members contribute up to £25 monthly, which gives them access to support in workplace disputes and legal advice.
The Vegas Incident Explained
The Las Vegas excursion exemplifies a broader trend of alleged financial mismanagement. The issues emerged following an audit initiated in 2023, after five senior management members, including Cortes, were suspended due to bullying and sexual harassment allegations.
The purpose of the trip was ostensibly to negotiate a potential merger with the Kansas City-based International Brotherhood of Boilermakers (IBB).
The US union contacted Cortes two days prior to the trip, stating, “Unfortunately, we do not expect to reach an agreement, making a merger between our unions unfeasible.”
This implies that by the time the three officials left for Las Vegas, they were aware that the stated goal of the trip was no longer relevant. Auditor HW Fisher found no evidence of any official activities conducted, only receipts from hotels and restaurants.
Spending Patterns Uncovered
HW Fisher determined that the Las Vegas trip illustrated a recurring issue of expenditures lacking proper justification or approval.
“Dinner costs often exceeded TSSA guidelines,” auditors reported. “Alcohol charges were routinely submitted for reimbursement. In many cases, invoices were missing.”
The audit revealed that numerous credit card transactions from 2021 to 2022 were missing essential documentation or approvals, with several expenses lacking any supporting paperwork.
“This money belongs to the members, who expect it to be utilized for their benefits, not to enrich senior officials in the TSSA,” stated Steve Coe, a former TSSA assistant general secretary, to The Telegraph, adding that Cortes should be accountable for reimbursing any improper expenditures.