Communist Party allegedly financed its campaign with undeclared funds from SUNCA

SUNCA (National Construction Workers' Union) has been led by the Communist Party for decades; in fact, its most prominent leader for years was Óscar Andrade, current senator of that Party.

Another of SUNCA's main union leaders until recently was Daniel Diverio, current deputy of the Party for the Department of Canelones.

The fraud that broke out a few months ago is a true scandal, which, in addition to implicating the Communist Party and SUNCA itself, also involves PIT-CNT.

The case

The case concerns the diversion of funds from the Construction Workers' Social Housing Fund (FOSVOC), detected at the end of 2024.

FOSVOC, created in 1967 and co-managed by SUNCA and business organizations such as the Chamber of Construction, aims to facilitate access to housing for workers in the sector through loans or non-repayable benefits. 

It is funded by contributions of 0.025% of the nominal salary from employees and employers.

Between February and December 2024, several unauthorized electronic transfers were identified totaling about 26 million Uruguayan pesos, approximately 840,000 US dollars, to 14 personal accounts, at least seven of which belonged to SUNCA members, all linked to the Communist Party.

In addition, a possible further scheme involving checks for about 500,000 dollars is under investigation, which would significantly increase the total amount of irregularities.

Discovery and complaint

The irregularities became public in December 2024, when FOSVOC's financial manager, Stella Rey, went on leave. 

Those who replaced her detected transfers without supporting documents or authorization from the Board of Directors, completely violating the required dual-signature system. 

As a result, the union expelled several involved members, including Víctor Rivero, Santiago Bernaola, and Miguel Duarte, the latter in May 2025, just a few days ago. 

In total, eight members were expelled for violating principles of honesty and solidarity. 

Some of those expelled, such as Duarte, rejected the accusations and announced legal action against the union.

Prosecutor's office investigates

The Third Shift Economic and Complex Crimes Prosecutor's Office requested the lifting of bank secrecy to investigate the accounts of Rey and other beneficiaries, as well as possible triangulations or front men. 

It is being analyzed whether the funds were used to finance political campaigns, such as the 2024 social security referendum.

The case caused enormous internal controversy within SUNCA, with criticism from opposition groups such as the Manuel Barrios group, which accuse the union leadership of handling the case opaquely and behind the workers' backs.

Amount and scope

Initially, a shortfall of 600,000 dollars was reported, but the internal audit raised the figure to 900,000 dollars, with the possibility that it could reach 1.4 million dollars if the schemes with checks are confirmed.

Several union members who went to testify to the Police stated that a large part of the money siphoned from the Fund, which belongs to the workers, was sent to PIT-CNT's electoral campaign last year for the referendum on social security. 

As is known, the union center promoted a referendum that was voted on together with the national elections in October to overturn the social security system.

Very costly electoral campaign

It was enough to see the campaign deployed to notice the gigantic expense it entailed.

According to the weekly Búsqueda, what these union members stated a few weeks ago is that part of that money was used by PIT-CNT's main union leaders to pay for the electoral campaign for the referendum.

This is totally illegal and is a true fraud against all construction workers who trustingly deposited their money only for it to be used clandestinely to finance a referendum. 

Óscar Andrade's reaction

So far, the senator of the Communist Party who, as mentioned, was SUNCA's most prominent leader for years, has not commented on the matter.

The legislator has not commented on the issue, which is very striking.

Andrade comments on any subject, from the price of bus tickets in Montevideo to the armed conflict in the Middle East, but regarding the mega fraud perpetrated by SUNCA and its possible link to the Communist Party, no statements are known.

According to Búsqueda, at least five testimonies refer to financing by the Communist Party in the case concerning the construction housing fund.

More than 20 statements were taken in the investigation into the diversion of more than one million dollars.

The former president of the Fund representing SUNCA has not yet testified.

After an audit detected irregular money transfers of at least US$ 840,000 between February and December 2024, Fosvoc's board decided to file a complaint for the possible crimes of "embezzlement," "criminal association," and "fraud."

The identified irregular schemes exceed one million dollars and more than 20 people have testified. 

Almost all of them, so far, have done so before the Police, which assists the Prosecutor's Office in the investigation.

SUNCA and Communist Party Finance Secretary, Laura Alberti, testified as a suspect in the construction housing fund case.

Irregular financing of Frente Amplio

In at least five statements to the Police, there were mentions of the Communist Party related to the Fund's money. 

The most direct was Santiago Bernaola, who referred to the use of money for financing the "Yes" campaign for the social security reform, and for the national and internal elections campaigns of Frente Amplio.

Other testimonies also refer to the financing of "campaigns" of the Communist Party.

Several of these testimonies refer to Bruno Bertolio, president of Fosvoc in 2024.

Bertolio has not yet testified to the Police or the Prosecutor's Office. 

Stella Rey told the Prosecutor's Office that she had acted in response to Bertolio's orders when executing the unauthorized transfers.

Everything is odd, strange, murky, and the Prosecutor's Office will continue investigating.