Communist Party would be financed with irregular money from SUNCA

In the orbit of the Sindicato Único Nacional y de la Construcción y Afines operates the FOSVOC.

Created in 1967, the FOSVOC is the oldest social fund in the construction sector in Uruguay, co-directed by the SUNCA and business organizations (Cámara de la Construcción del Uruguay, Liga de la Construcción, Asociación de Promotores Privados de la Construcción, and Coordinadora de la Industria de la Construcción del Este).

Its purpose is to facilitate access to housing for construction workers, either through loans for materials or non-repayable benefits.

It is financed with contributions of 0.025% of the workers' and employers' nominal salary.

Serious irregularities

A misappropriation of funds was detected between February and December 2024, leading to a criminal complaint filed on January 28, 2025.

An internal audit indicated that unauthorized electronic transfers were made totaling approximately US$ 840,000.

Additionally, a possible additional maneuver with checks for about US$ 500,000 is being investigated, raising the total amount of irregularities.

These funds, supposedly intended for the purchase of materials, were cashed by SUNCA delegates, instead of being delivered directly to the beneficiaries.

Everything very murky

The irregularities were detected in December 2024, when the financial manager of FOSVOC, Stella Rey, took leave.

In Rey's absence, those who replaced her discovered transfers without receipts or authorization from the Board of Directors, violating the dual-signature system required for fund withdrawals.

The audit, commissioned after this finding, confirmed 193 irregular electronic transfers to 14 personal accounts, of which at least seven belonged to SUNCA affiliates, all linked to the Communist Party.

The implicated

One is Stella Rey, head of the FOSVOC Department since 2005.

She was the main person responsible for the unauthorized transfers. She had access to bank accounts to pay salaries but made unjustified transfers.

She was dismissed in January 2025.

Seven unionists were expelled for receiving irregular funds.

One is Víctor Rivero who received about US$ 67,000 between February and December 2024.

Santiago Bernaola received significant transfers, about US$ 70,000.

Both were departmental leaders in Montevideo, members of list 658 (Agustín Pedroza current, controlled by the PCU), and were expelled from SUNCA in December 2024.

John Fernández, Bruno Bertolio, Robert Marcelo Martínez, Carlos Larrosa, and Juan Ortiz were also expelled. All active activists of the PCU.

PCU leader implicated

LauraAlberti, Finance Secretary of SUNCA and the PCU, was mentioned in statements by former members as possibly aware of the maneuvers.

This case is serious because Alberti is a figure with high responsibilities within the PCU.

Prosecutor's Office investigates

The Economic and Complex Crimes Prosecutor's Office of the 3rd Shift requested the lifting of bank secrecy to investigate the accounts of Rey and the beneficiaries, as well as reports to the Central Bank of Uruguay (BCU).

They also requested the search of Rey's home and the seizure of assets to recover the funds.

The investigation analyzes possible "triangulations" or "front men" to determine if the recipients of the transfers were the final beneficiaries or if the money was redirected for other purposes, such as political campaigns.

Did the PCU finance itself with SUNCA's money?

Everything seems to indicate so.

This enormous amount of money that ended up in the accounts of unionists linked to the PCU can't be a coincidence.

Everything indicates that the PCU used SUNCA and the fund to siphon money irregularly and thus finance the electoral campaigns of the June 2024 primaries, and essentially the national elections of October of that year, as well as the departmental elections of May 2025.

It can't be a coincidence that almost all those involved are from the PCU.

If it is finally proven that the PCU orchestrated this maneuver, we would be facing a colossal case of political corruption.

One of the main parties of the Frente Amplio, which also dominates the PIT-CNT, would have financed itself with black money from the workers.

Did Oscar Andrade not find out about anything?

It is worth remembering that the current senator of the Communist Party was the main leader of SUNCA for many years.

It is very strange that before such irregularities he did not find out about the matter.

Andrade is not an amateur; he was a very skilled unionist.

It is impossible that he did not find out about this mega scam when he was the one who led the union and was the one who mainly made the most important decisions.

Another very important unionist in SUNCA was Daniel Diverio, who is now a deputy of the PCU.