 | ||||
| Review Office Dennis Walsh clamping down on lavish spending. |
Even as a slew of union leaders was headed to prison on corruption charges, other bigwigs were clamoring for union dues to pay for a swanky Vegas soiree, the Daily News has learned.
With the open bar the union delegates wanted, the bill for the bash could easily have topped $20,000 - but review officer Dennis Walsh wouldn't loosen the purse strings.
"They ought to be spending the union's money - which is their members' money - like it's their grandmother's Social Security check," he told the Daily News.
Walsh was tapped by a federal judge to clean up the District Council of Carpenters and prevent the remaining bosses from ripping off the rank and file.
Eight union officials, including chief Michael Forde and his top two lieutenants, have pleaded guilty to cheating the 20,000-plus members of its 11 locals.
Their replacements, though, apparently have no shame when it comes to spending.
Walsh is cracking down on union cars, and vetoed the feast at Panevino's Italian restaurant in Sin City after the national union's convention last week.
"The message is: This is the members' money. You can't take your posse to Sparks every time you get hungry," Walsh said.
The union declined to comment.
While he's keeping an eye on the bills, Walsh's real mission is to bring more far-reaching change with a new process that allows the rank-and-file to bring corruption charges against higher-ups in a fair forum.
"Before, if you had a problem with a shop steward, and you made a complaint, basically it went nowhere and you never worked again," said one union member.
Under the new system, each of New York's 11 locals will elect two trial members to hear charges starting Sept. 7.
Nine trial members will be picked from a hat to hear each case, and each side can knock off two - leaving five to weigh the charges.
The role of judge will swing between former New Jersey Chief Justice James Zazalli and former federal prosecutor Walter Mack.
Mack ferreted out corruption in the carpenter's union in the late 1990s until union leaders got him canned for being too good at the job, rank-and-file members said.
Walsh says this time, there will be real change.
"Before, you could bring charges against someone, he would be found guilty and nothing would happen - except the guy who brought the charges would get punished somehow," Walsh said.
"This will be different."
Now lets watch Spencer and see if he investigates or takes action against this slap in the face to the rank and file. Will somebody identify who asked for the money. Which NY bigwig??
ReplyDeleteLets wait for the LM2s to check and see what other Delegates and Officers had parties and did not get caught because they do not have a Dennis Walsh. I guess free golf ,fancy rooms,free buffets with steak and shrimp and gift bags was not enough.
I wonder if at the feast they were all going to wear their rat yellow Dougy tee shirts and bang rubber Doug McCarron blow up dolls. I heard part of the expenditure was for 5 of the New Dougy McCarron blow up doll with the vibrating vagina.
The highest ranking Council officer other than Frank Spencer is Lawrence D'Errico. Spencer recently appointed D'Errico "Acting Director of Operations," to replace Maurice Leary, who suddenly retired immediately after Michael Forde copped a plea to corruption charges and admitted selling out his membership by taking bribes from contractors, stealing union money - and then lying about it.
ReplyDeleteJohn,
ReplyDeleteWouldn't it be nice to expose that either Frank Spencer or Lawrence D'Errico solicited the money. It is a further reflection on the type of people Spencer seeks out for appointment.In the midst of all this criminal activity and the recent exposure someone would actually have the balls to ask for money for a feast in Vegas Did they not read the Pete huge extravagance story??
That is just Business as usual, There is no way to change the status quo unless you have total reform.
ReplyDeleteIf Dennis Walsh is working that hard.It seems he is taking a personal interest unlike Callahan we will start to see changes. NOW WE WILL BEGIN TO MOVE FORWARD.
But why pick Panevinos you say.Random restaurant to funnel up to $20,000 of Carpenters money to. Who owns it?? Who is Perry Eiman President of Marnell Corrao Associates AND a Carpenters Apprenticeship Program Trustee. Look for yourself and see who owns Panevinos "Development firm Marnell Corrao built and operates this gorgeous contemporary Italian Restaurant"
ReplyDeleteRichard you should have been a detective...This goes to show you why we must question everything, there is always a connection. I added the links to back up your post, good job.
ReplyDeleteRenowned Las Vegas architect Tony Marnell, whose firm Marnell Corrao Associates, designed Panevino Ristorante, an architecturally distinctive structure, which features a 19,000-square-foot main dining space and lounge.
Perry Eiman is president of Marnell Corrao Associates and a Trustee for the Southwest Carpenter's Union Apprenticeship Program.
Not just any Apprenticeship Fund but the one where he sits right next to Dougy and Mike McCarron
ReplyDeleteWhen I was looking at Eiman I found this interesting statement on the Southwest Regional Councils LM2.
It reads:
SCHEDULE 13:
UNDER THE LMRDA, THE COUNCIL IS AN INTERMEDIATE BODY AND IT ONLY HAS AFFILIATED LOCAL UNIONS. THUS, THE COUNCIL DOES NOT HAVE ANY MEMBERS.
So Mr. US Attorney tell us again how we are members of the Council.
Since the UBC Constitution clearly states that the Councils may make bylaws for its own MEMBERS ONLY and we are not members of the Council how have they been forcing us to be controlled and fleeced by Council Bylaws and Officers.. Why has McCarron and Spencer REFUSED to acknowledged this on multiple occasions when the locals were fighting to free ourselves from the control and corruption of the Councils. The only protection we had from corrupt councils was the UBC Constitution and the enforcement by the UBC which they refused to do so they could keep Fordes control over the rank and file and the locals. The same situation exists at the Empire and other councils.If this is not conspiracy on the part of the UBC what the hell is.
Pat you are two faced now all of sudden you see the light!!!!
ReplyDeleteHow the fuck can these assholes want to charge $20,000 just for a dinner after they spent Hotel money,food,airfare AND GET PAID TO GO TO LAS VEGAS.Fuck all of those scumbags.What do we need BA'S for anymore?They are worthless-don't create any jobs & are just by gone PARACITES sucking the blood out of the Union just like Forde & all those scumbags in 608 & 157.
ReplyDeleteLawrence D'Errico? Isn't he Vinny "THE CHIN" Gigante's nephew?
That's MAFIA SHIT if i ever heard it. Fire them all.
THE CHIN IS DEAD . ALL THESE MOTHER#@#$*&^ERS ROBBED US GET A SLAP ON THE WRIST AND WALK AWAY WITH A FAT PENSION .DO THE CRIME BECAUSE THERE IS NO TIME
ReplyDelete