sweetheart deal

Related to sweetheart deal: Sweetheart contract

sweetheart deal

1. An industrial agreement made between an employer and local labor union officials containing terms beneficial to the employer without the knowledge of the employees, typically in exchange for money to the union or its leaders. It was later discovered that the union leader had made a sweetheart deal with the company that eliminated employees' right to strike in exchange for a hefty yearly bonus for himself. The automotive manufacturer decided to move its factories to a different country, where it established a sweetheart deal with the local labor union to pay workers substantially less than those previously enjoyed by American employees.
2. Any kind of agreement or contract that is mutually beneficial two the two parties directly involved, typically at the expense of a third party that is not privy to the agreement. It turns out the athletic director had in place a sweetheart deal with the national athletics association, essentially receiving kickbacks every time one of his athletes performed well. The charity has come under fire for what some are calling a sweetheart deal with a for-profit events organizer that receives nearly 40% of the annual donations the charity receives.
See also: deal, sweetheart
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

sweetheart deal

n. a deal made between friends so that both may profit well. (Such deals usually involve illegal or unethical practices.) Most of the general contractors in town would be out of business if they didn’t offer “sweetheart deals” to the politicians.
See also: deal, sweetheart
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
See also:
  • sweetheart agreement
  • sweetheart contract
  • break the Sabbath
  • benies
  • slave market
  • pink slip
  • get a pink slip
  • (one's) door is always open
  • have (one's) fingers in the till
  • have your fingers/hand in the till
References in periodicals archive
In other words she wants to defer to the people who made the sweetheart deal for Glynn.
Maid of Mist fight far from over appeal reversal may see New York get $100 million more for state parks
HMRC has reportedly done a number of other sweetheart deals with multinational corporations, raking in [pounds sterling]4.5bn for the Treasury, though it is not known how much tax owed was waived in the process.
UK Uncut Loses High Court Challenge to HMRC's 'Sweetheart Deal' with Goldman Sachs
Couples who book at any participating Holiday Inn in US as their wedding venue will receive a Prepaid Visa card up to USD750 using the Sweetheart Deal wedding reception offer.
-InterContinental Hotels Offers Sweetheart Deal for Couples
The suit, filed earlier this year, claimed that SPSA's contract with Bay Disposal was a "sweetheart deal" which violated local law.
Judge dismisses lawsuit against SPSA
For example, what's the secret to getting a sweetheart deal in salary negotiations?
Sweetheart deal
In one sweetheart deal, the Connecticut Resources Recovery Authority (CRRA) lost $220 million in a failed contract with bankrupt Enron (whose executives had contributed $80,000 to the Republican Governors Association, chaired by Rowland, and $1 million to his re-election campaign).
Department of environmental corruption
We think this year's results are a huge step in the right direction." Over a year ago, Edison schools in Philadelphia struggled with bad publicity in part due to allegations over a state sweetheart deal and falling stock prices.
Charter schools: waste, wonder or solution? A national report shows charter students lag behind traditional school students, but critics say that's not the whole story
The Bush administration chose Valentine's Day to announce a sweetheart deal to fund the overseas activities of some of the most notorious pro-abortion organizations.
Under Bush, AIDS funds to go to abortion groups. (Insider Report)
Without the support of his religious leaders or nation, this controversial resister refused the Army's sweetheart deal, suffered the wrath of millions of fans, and surrendered his title and livelihood in service of his conscience.
Ali (Columbia Pictures, 2001). (McCormick's Quick Takes On Conscientious Objector Films)
In other Skateboarder news, the message boards and voice mailboxes are practically bursting with bile as they battle with the old men at TWS over their sweetheart deal to cover the idiot box's King of Skate Pay Per View event.
Trash
Twentieth is being extra careful to avoid even the hint of a sweetheart deal because it has suffered a number of lawsuits in the past.
`Malcolm' in syndie. (Update)
Nor are fundraisers eager to publicize the figure and draw attention to their sweetheart deal. Michael Nilsen, a spokesman for the Association of Fundraising Professionals, conceded that records for car donation programs are "kind of a loosey-goosey type of thing right now" and couldn't put a figure on it.
The tow-away tax break: why car donation programs benefit everyone but the charities they're intended to help
The sweetheart deal between Venezuela and Cuba (Venezuela sells Cuba up to 53,000 b/d of oil and refined products per day, about a third of Cuban consumption, under extremely favorable terms.) has become a bone of contention between officials at state oil company Petroleos de Venezuela and the government of President Hugo Chavez.
Sweetheart oil deal with Venezuela may be in danger
The Fangs acquired The Examiner in November 2000 as part of a sweetheart deal that was more like a giveaway.
Citizen Fang
But the heavily criticized JOA arrangement has now come to an end with a $306 million payment by Pulitzer to end the sweetheart deal. Under a revised agreement, a new venture called St.
Buying away a JOA