Taped Minutes

I have been Secretary of our Local Union for the last 6 years here in Washington State. I have recorded the general membership meetings all along to help me with the written official minutes. The recording was done with the membership's knowledge and approval. Our Union is a non-profit organization. I keep the tapes about 1 year then tape over them. I own the recording equipment and have not been re-imbursed for the tapes ever. Recently statements were made by the Local's President that certain members were not entitled to representation, they were caught on tape. A Unfair Labor Practice and Legal Action were taken against the Union, and I was asked to turn over the tapes to the Executive Board for destruction. Am I subject to criminal action if I allow these tapes to be destroyed? Are the contents (meeting information) of these tapes property of the Union? I want to know what is the proper thing to do with these tapes.

Does your union have counsel on retainer? I don't know anything about labor law and your question squarely falls under that topic. I would be nervous about destroying anything that could be used as evidence in any official proceeding. If you do not have access to union counsel then I would approach a lawyer in WA familiar with labor law and ask him/her his advice and give him/her the tapes for his safekeeping until this suit is resolved. This website has the names of attorneys you might wish to consult.