By Joel Cook
Some questions for the anonymous poster calling for the, Nov. 10th 4:00PM, protest at 395 Hudson St.
Who are you and why do you prefer to be anonymous?
What is the purpose of this rally?
Clearly there are reasons to be angry and there are changes to be made.
What are your long and short term goals?
How would you decide if this rally is a success or failure?
What are your tactics, do you plan to just stand there and yell, are you planning civil disobedience?
What are the possible consequences of such an action?
Would members risk arrest, physical violence, or possible charges from the DC?
I ask because I am of the opinion that resources should not be wasted and risk should not be taken unless these and other questions have been answered. You should think again if you are planning to march a bunch of members, probably good, involved ones, into a situation that could cause them harm and from which no good could come.
Don't get me wrong, I am all for direct action and civil disobedience, and I have no problem risking all the possible outcomes but without clear goals, a plan, and precaution I cannot see being involved in some rally "organized" by an anonymous poster on a few internet forums. For all anyone knows you could be working with the DC just to bait good dedicated members into trouble they aren't bargaining for.
I can understand the desire to remain anonymous, but you are asking for a lot of trust by asking members to show up for this. The problem is that you aren't giving any good reasons to give that trust.
(John's note, my sources say the rally has been canceled.)
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Rally Cry?
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Page Six
We hear...THAT Douglas McCarron, the UBC general president is in town for a meeting with the Department Of Labor. While in town McCarron was spotted dining with Gov. Jon Corzine and Supervisor Frank Spencer in New Jersey.
Monday, November 2, 2009
Exclusive: UBC Hearing Testimony
Clearly, Unity Team union officers, motivated by greed, conducted the affairs of the council like a self-serving out of control criminal enterprise, that was both detrimental to the welfare and best interest of the district council and its members.
With the arrest of Mike Forde and revelations at the UBC Hearings of:
- Corruption
- Drug use
- Prostitution (see page 505)
- Hiding illegal weapons and drugs on our property
- Employees removing hair from their bodies in order to avoid detection of drug use
- Financial Mismanagement
- Cash Flow Mismanagement, costing $300 to $500 thousand per year in lost interest (see page 5)
- Trustees not adequately performing their duties
- Losing control over the management of employee spending
- Employees with serious driving offense are provided union cars and expense reimbursements
- Flawed systems of accountability in place (see page 93)
Since becoming Supervisor, Frank Spencer has undertaken "several measures" in an attempt to correct the problems plaguing the district council. While we applaud Mr. Spencer's initiatives, observers say they fall short of the mark.
The biggest obstacle to reform, is these "measures" are being implemented by the same people who have failed us and led us to where we are today.
It not assuring that Spencer named former "Unity Team" partner, Pete Thomassen, as "assistant" nor the fact that most of Forde's enablers are still in positions of power and trustees to our benefit funds. This is a major source of mistrust and anger among the rank and file.
The illusion that Spencer has cleaned house is just that; an illusion.
Why did Spencer name Thomassen, assistant supervisor?
Why would Spencer do this?
Is union politics trumping what is in the best interest of the membership?
Unfortunately, these questions remain unanswered, since Spencer has refused to answer written questions, or provide a forum to answer questions directly.
Below are links to the full transcripts for the UBC Hearings on October 15,16, 2009 held at the Javits Center in New York City.
| Date Received | Testimony | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| October 15, 2009 | Transcript pages 1 to 200 | |
| October 15, 2009 | Transcript Pages 201 to 412 | |
| October 16, 2009 | Transcript Pages 413 to 613 | |
| October 15, 2009 | Supervisor, Frank Spencer with Exhibits | |
| October 15, 2009 | Terrence R Mooney, Certified Public Account with Exhibits | |
| October 15, 2009 | Phil Newkirk, Assistant to General President Douglas McCarron with Exhibits | |
| October 15, 2009 | John Musumeci, UBC member with Exhibits | |
| March 11, 2010 | Final Hearing Committee Report |
Sunday, November 1, 2009
The distance between "us" and "them"
By Joel Cook
With regard to foreign powers, Thomas Jefferson and George Washington warned against the perils of "entangled alliances." They did so for good reason and we can see throughout the 20th century and into the 21st where our alliances have gotten us. Wars all over the globe at one time or another, foreign investors with their financial claws deep in our economy rendering even diplomatic confrontation nearly impossible.
We can see it with multinational corporations headquartered in the US while their labor is in some third world country and their bank accounts are "offshore."
These entanglements lead to a great deal of ambiguity, they muddy the water, and make it difficult and in some cases impossible to understand the consequences of certain negotiating tactics or actions. These men, along with Thomas Paine foresaw the consequences of getting too involved with their neighbors/competitors.
"The great rule of conduct for us, in regard to foreign nations, is in extending our commercial relations, to have with them as little political connection as possible. Europe has a set of primary interests, which to us have none, or a very remote relation. Hence she must be engaged in frequent controversies the causes of which are essentially foreign to our concerns. Hence, therefore, it must be unwise in us to implicate ourselves, by artificial ties, in the ordinary vicissitudes of her politics, or the ordinary combinations and collisions of her friendships or enmities." --George Washington
"Peace, commerce, and honest friendship with all nations, entangling alliances with none."--Thomas Jefferson
The NYCDCC has committed the sin of entangling alliances with the wrong people. It has acted in a self serving manner, and in doing so has further damaged our credibility. By engaging in the alleged offenses the NYCDCC has rendered itself impotent when dealing with contractor negotiations.
How can the NYCDCC demand anything when it has played golf with, taken bribes from, and used illegal narcotics with their opponent? The optics are bad, and an ineffectual negotiating team will never accomplish the goals of, and meet the needs of the membership.
NYC residents voted in 1993 to impose a two-term limit and voted again in 1996 to maintain the earlier decision. In our name, Mike Forde endorsed Mike Bloomberg for a third term as mayor. Mr. Bloomberg has completely disregarded the will of NYC voters and NYCDCC has endorsed him. By supporting this illegitimate candidate the NYCDCC appears antidemocratic. This act clearly demonstrates their ability and willingness to ignore the will of voters be they NYC residents or members of the carpenters union. We must ask ourselves what was given up in this political horse-trading. Did this endorsement dull the historically sharp instrument that is organized labors greatest weapon, direct action?
During the Stella Doro BCGTM50 strike, support committee leaders attempted to get city officials to divest city employee pension funds from the union busting owners of Stella. The owner, Brynwood partners is an investment firm attempting to route the union from Stella in order to lower labor costs so they could sell it for a huge profit. Raising the question in my mind; why would union pensions be invested in companies that work to bust unions or just don't use union labor. At present it appears the workers have lost, the factory sold to Lance, the workers all laid off and the plant moving out of state. Had the support committee succeeded would things have turned out different?
The carpenters union, like many others is guilty in the same way. We invest our pension funds in companies that do not operate in the best interests of the American people, let alone the best interests of union members. Toll Brothers is a prime example, we have invested a large unconfirmed sum, and since Toll operates south of the Mason Dixon it is clearly not using union labor because there is almost no residential union labor in southern states.
By participating in these political campaigns and investing in corporations such as Toll we are accepting and validating what has become the status quo. Our involvement with the political system has at times yielded small victories but at what cost, and for the most part we have lost market share and membership rates partly because we rely on politicians to legislate for us.
We are the ones suffering due to fraud and mismanagement on the part of our so-called leadership and apathy and cynicism on the part of the membership. The distance between "us," and "them" has grown too far. It appears that those in the council who came from the field have lost touch with what it means to work with their tools. Many never even came from the field at all and got their position through connections and nepotism. They are so far from us that our faces have blurred into an inhuman mass to be taken from and used like a consumable resource. If this weren't true, if they saw the hardship we face and had to look us in the eyes every day chances are this corruption would be less likely.
It is our organizations corruption and corporatism that are part of a trend or a common thread if you will, a thread in a needle, firmly torqued in the sewing machine of cynicism and apathy, government subsidized capitalism and corporate greed, tirelessly stitching the burial suit of labor.
Many of us are in tough shape, having worked very little over the last 18 months. We read news stories and wait with baited breath as congress debates the next unemployment extension in hopes that it will pass before our benefits run out. We did not create this economic mess, we did not cause credit to stop flowing, we did not force lenders to lower standards for loans, we did not create the complex, and fraudulent mechanisms by which a very few individuals have gotten rich while seriously damaging the economy. Yet when the shit hits the fan, lending stops, and building abates, we are the ones who are first to get pink slips. While forced into desperate situations we get to hear accusations about our jobs being given away to non union and undocumented workers, our money being stolen, officials taking bribes, and getting paid way too much.
Here is a quote by Edmund Burke, "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." Normally I find statements like this to be ambiguous and subjective. Words like "good, evil, and triumph" are left to individual interpretation. Yet in this instance our common goal is clear, as are the meanings of "good, evil, and triumph" we, the membership are all standing on common ground and we need to take our future into our own hands!
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Bound By Duty
This is in response to the post "Never Reveal By Word Or Deed"
By Richard Dorrough--Carpenters Local 370, Albany NY
Usually when the pro closet Union members talk about the oath, they leave out the "Unless legally authorized to do so." They stay away from that part because it shoots their attempt to silence members in the ass.
Lets discuss what the Law says your are “Legally Authorized” to do.
The UBC, in its usual pompous arrogance, had the audacity to write such a restriction because in their feeble little minds they see themselves above the US Constitution and free speech. Thanks to Fat Cat elitist International Union Officers, attempting to silence free speech in their ranks, we have court precedent already in place that holds such tripe as the UBC Oath in the same esteem as say dogs%*t!
Thank god we have judges who have laughed in the face of pompous arrogant wind bags who write such tripe. We do have the occasional local judge who is either paid for by the Unions or ran unopposed for office and went from box boy to judge who try to pander to these Union Carpetbaggers.
That is why we have the Supreme Court. They see to it that no individual little despot such as McCarron is allowed to impose regulations on any citizens that deny their rights under the US Constitution. So as a rule of thumb, as long as your speech does not compromise a specific action, you can talk about what ever the hell you want. For instance you cannot divulge the specifics of a contract in the middle of a negotiation, that would compromise that negotiation.
That’s it. End of story.
Disservice to the members. Now that’s a good one. Would you not agree that people like Forde who has been indicted, tested positive for drugs and who was in collusion with the rest of the council done a disservice to the Union.
Would you not say Mr. Spencer who has allowed this to happen as Eastern District Rep. has done a disservice to the members?
Would you not say people like Patrick Morin and his Empire Council cronies who have lost at least $33 million to Madoff and then taken substantial raises have done a disservice to the members?
New Jersey Carpenters BA Shawn Clark justified his use of a union charge card at strip clubs as business expenses. Is that a disservice to members?
Would you not say that Walter Ralph Mabry, who was the Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters and the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Carpenters Pension Trust Fund accepting kickbacks was a disservice to the members?
On and on and on we could go. Many UBC members are suffering under McCarron's repressive regime and self serving rules and policies. McCarron and his cronies only interest is to line their pockets with the funds of hard working rank and file members and the quest for power.
McCarron and his cronies, like Regional Director Frank Spencer, conspire to destroy the democratic rights of rank and file members and support Council puppet regimes who have again been indicted for bribery, fraud and now drugs such as Forde.
They support the destruction of working Locals by allowing Regional Councils to raid their funds and seize control of all aspects of their existence so that a duly elected Local President can be locked out of his own Union Hall at the whim of some Council crackpot and McCarron cronies.
Locals that fight to retain their autonomy are crushed as they did with Carpenters Local 229 in Glens Falls NY in 2003.
McCarron and his council puppets destroyed the local, ruined its Pension Fund and robbed its Welfare fund. They tossed members into the street to send a message to all those that opposed his council appointed cronies.
This is how the UBC and McCarron “serves the needs of its rank and file members.”
Douglas McCarron is not only blight on Unionism but an arrogant and deceitful would be dictator who has destroyed the future and prosperity of the rank and file UBC member for the sake of power and money.
HIS Power and money for HIS cronies which they bleed from the hard work and sweat of the UBC membership. Is this a disservice to the members?? If you’re so worried about the UBCs laundry perhaps it should not be so dirty.
These so called Union Brothers have gotten away with these actions for so many years and the corruption is so deep because the rank and file has failed to do its DUTY to act in the best interest of the membership.
We each have a duty to expose this corruption. We each have a duty to expose theses rats to the thing they fear the most. Publicity.
By playing the three monkeys who never hear, see or say anything the membership has failed itself. These common criminals have entrenched themselves deep in the pockets of the membership.
Our internal system has failed to police itself, as is evident by an International who has supported these criminals, refused to answer to the membership, have acted in a pompous arrogant manner towards the rank and file rights and have fleeced the paycheck of the rank and file to line their own pockets.
Is this the system you would depend on to police itself?
It has already proven itself to be such a blatant dismal failure that one can only assume it is part of the corruption.
We have a demand called “Exhaust all internal remedies.”
When thousands of members letters go unanswered, when demands for clarification on the UBC Constitution and members rights are ignored, as they were in the 157 fiasco by Spencer and the International legal beagle. When blatant attempts to steal from the membership, such as the “Blue Card” scam, are ignored by the leeches who suck per capita tax out of each and every local and when the UBC Elected Officers ignore the demands of the rank and file who they work for than we have exhausted enough.
By providing a public forum that details this corruption, John and members like him serve the membership.
This public forum provides the membership access to financial records denied them by the UBC corrupt elements even though access to the documents is a legal right.
Here in this public forum, we see the lavish lifestyle the rank and file provides to these McCarron hand picked carpetbaggers.
We see outrageous salaries and pension contributions.
We see weeks in Hollywood Florida with golf sessions and $500 a night rooms.
All this while thousands of good Union members are out of work and many more have no health care.
In this public forum, we see the nepotism that has allowed the wives, cousin’s brothers, sisters and girlfriends of these corrupt individuals in the door of the UBC to get their cut of the rank and file dollar.
We see lavish gifts and payments made to connected lawyers and accountants who bleed millions from the rank and file pay checks.
Tell me, If it were not for these so called radical members utilizing this tool called the internet WHERE would they get access to the records needed to expose this corruption?
Can they expect to follow procedure and get the information from the likes of Frank Spencer and the UBC International who has repeatedly refused to comply?
You would rather support and work to perpetuate this corruption rather than let the non Union sector have a field day with the TRUTH.
You would have the rape of membership continue rather than have the non Union sector have a field day with the TRUTH.
You however would be the first to put a blow up rat outside of a job site if a contractor defies attempts to force them and their employees to become a part of this corruption by extortion actions.
We have misguided cretins making wanted posters of non Union contractors who refuse to pay kickbacks to the Carpenters Union when the actions of Forde, McCarron and Spencer makes them look like boy scouts.
We have organizers whose new motto is “Organize or Lie” because if they had to tell the TRUTH of the realities of UBC membership they would get laughed out of the game.
It is sad that as a rank and file members there are those that would rather allow corruption to remain in power rather than be embarrassed by the truth.
We have elected officers who work diligently to hide the truth and run interference for common UBC criminals rather than be embarrassed by the truth.
Members have a duty to act in the best interest of the membership and expose by any means possible the corruption that is the UBC.
The message that this and other sites like it sends to the non Union sector is that we the rank and File do NOT support the corrupt elements in the UBC and are working to expose and rid ourselves of the rat bastards.
In the middle of the negative publicity that McCarrons would be dictatorship, Spencers complicity, Fordes indictment, Mabry’s kickbacks and Patrirck Morins ignorance has generated, the non Union sector and public in general can see that the working men and woman of the UBC are standing up to this corruption.
They can see that the Union rank and file are a victim of and not part of this corruption.
They can see that the rank and file is as disgusted and embarrassed by this corruption as everyone else.
That message must be sent. The world needs to look in and see for itself that the rank and file which is the true essence of Unionism is being victimized by the same criminal element in the UBC that the public has found reprehensible.
To say nothing to avoid the embarrassing TRUTH makes us a willing part of the corruption.
The oath was written as a symbol of loyalty to a brotherhood and as a symbol of allegiance to that ideal which Unionism is meant to represent.
Since that oath has been commandeered by some California pimp like Douglas McCarron who systematically has reduced the UBC to his delusional version of Unionism we are no longer bound by that oath.
Since that oath has been commandeered by arrogant pompous wind bags such as Frank Spencer who has the audacity and delusion to insist that we work for him and are here to serve at his pleasure we are no longer bound by that oath.
Since that oath has been commandeered by the likes of Patrick Morin who has destroyed the future of rank and file Pensions, Annuities and Health funds while taking raises and bonuses for himself and his fellow cub scouts we are no longer bound by that oath.
Since common criminals such as Forde and the others indicted with him, Mabry, Clark and other examples of the UBCs brightest have commandeered that oath to try to silence those that would expose them we are no longer bound by that oath.
What we are bound by is duty. That duty is not to would be dictators such as McCarron. That duty is not to pompous arrogant windbags such as Spencer. That duty is not to common criminals such as Forde and the rest. That duty is to each other. That duty is to support the rank and file. By exposing these carpetbaggers and providing a source for all members to access information, John is fulfilling that duty. Perhaps instead of chastising him you might ask how you can help.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Never Reveal By Word Or Deed
I received this email from a UBC brother, I am posting his comment here so we can discuss the issue the brother brings up.
Please give your opinion on whether you agree or disagree with the brothers comments about using the internet to "put the Brotherhood's laundry out in public view."
It's the Obligation you made when you joined the UBC. "I do, of my own free will and accord, solemnly and sincerely promise - on my sacred honor - that I will never reveal by word or deed - any of the business of this United Brotherhood - unless legally authorized to do so."
You have put the Brotherhood's laundry out in public view on the WWW and done a disservice to all of us. I bet the open-shop organizations print that stuff out and chat about it.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Page Six
We hear...THAT Douglas McCarron, the UBC general president is summoning key council leadership to Washington for a meeting on Thursday, October 22.
Sources say McCarron is not happy and wants to personally speak with Pete Thomassen, Dennis Sheil, Mo Leary, Ed Mc Williams and Scott Danielson. It seems for the last ten years, these overpaid clueless council clowns have been running the council where the left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing!
In a report to the Hearing Committee criticizing the councils flawed supervisory model, Phil Newkirk, an assistant to McCarron wrote, "the councils supervisory model is fraught with problems to both effective supervision and potential for corruption."
He also wrote among other things, "had the anti-corruption committee's investigations been more thorough and aggressive, particularly to the governments allegations pertaining to high level of corruption within the council, if true, may have been discovered."
Read more Page Six stories...
Have a story SEND TIPS! E-mail jmusumeci157@gmail.com
Sunday, October 18, 2009
"Because That’s Where The Money Is"
Carpenters often ask, "What do they spend my dues and assessment money on?"
Listed below is the New York City District Council Of Carpenters, LM2 reports, covering the Forde years, from 2000 - 2009.
The reports show total membership has increased from 23,992 members in 2000, to 24,816 members in 2009, an increase of 894 members.
During the same period total receipts (that’s the money they take from you) has increase from $17,671,440 to $53,049,510, an increase of $35,378,070.
Also during the same period total disbursements (that’s the money they spent) has increase from $17,739,233 to $41,665,341 an increase of $23,926,108.
Can someone explain, how has this increase of almost $24 million in spending benefited the rank and file?
Has this fleecing of membership money improved our District Council?
What aspects of our lives have improved due to an outrageously expensive District Council under the “Unity Team” administration?
In other words, what have we gained from this appalling increase in spending, other than ridiculously high council salaries? (see ALL STARS, below)
With carpenters struggling everyday, and the current state of our district council, you would have to conclude the members are hardly getting the best bang for their hard earned bucks from these council "ALL STARS."
Let us know what you think, comment below!
Reports filed for the District Council, click to view each year. (032-922)
| Date Received | Filing Type | Fiscal Year | Trust Name | Total Assets | Total Liabilities | Total Receipts | Total Disbursements | Total Membership |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 06, 2009 | LM-2 | 2009 Report | $58,193,112 | $1,700,013 | $53,049,510 | $41,665,341 | 24,816 | |
| Sep 24, 2008 | LM-2 | 2008 Report | $47,586,471 | $2,178,591 | $58,028,935 | $39,049,178 | 25,515 | |
| Sep 27, 2007 | LM-2 | 2007 Report | $32,679,947 | $1,713,102 | $45,518,392 | $43,247,257 | 24,857 | |
| Oct 05, 2006 | LM-2 | 2006 Report | $23,028,874 | $1,664,918 | $44,130,236 | $44,094,876 | 24,015 | |
| Sep 30, 2005 | LM-2 | 2005 Report | $23,138,518 | $3,953,753 | $39,691,330 | $38,817,299 | 22,107 | |
| Oct 04, 2004 | LM-2 | 2004 Report | $22,887,757 | $1,435,067 | $37,928,272 | $38,408,615 | 22,855 | |
| Sep 29, 2003 | LM-2 | 2003 Report | $22,122,672 | $1,210,280 | $32,328,877 | $30,633,503 | 23,127 | |
| Oct 10, 2002 | LM-2 | 2002 Report | $22,985,856 | $1,070,616 | $32,961,853 | $32,991,436 | 24,058 | |
| Oct 09, 2001 | LM-2 | 2001 Report | $20,877,299 | $1,144,920 | $34,880,406 | $34,613,324 | 24,027 | |
| Oct 03, 2000 | LM-2 | 2000 Report | $14,746,914 | $810,534 | $17,671,440 | $17,739,233 | 23,992 |
Indicted former carpenter boss Mike Forde was at the top of the heap pulling down a yearly salary and disbursements of $702,568, followed by Pete Thomassen at $268,827 and Dennis Sheil at $253,500, these figures do not include compensation for pensions, annuity's, car allowances and other union-related expenses, which brings the total even higher.
The top earning council "ALL STARS" for 2009:
- Martin Devereaut $506,824
- Scott Danielson $214,224
- Maurice Leary $204,345
- Charles Harkin $195,014
- John Greaney $184,307
- Samuel Baley $183,452
- Edward McWilliams $179,792
- John Early $178,578
- Jeff Passante $178,210
- Richard Tuccillo $176,472
- Michael Koballa $176,337
- John Harkin $172,850
- Mike Zemski $171,760
- Robert Seeger $171,682
- Maryann June $169,572
- Joe Ventura $169,340
- Gary Shelton $166,538
- Paul Tyznar $164,270
- Sal Antonucci $161,908
- Ron Rawald $161,123
Saturday, October 17, 2009
UBC Hearing Testimony -- Frank Spencer
Friday, October 16, 2009
UBC Hearing Testimony Day 2
Below is the testimony from Day 2 of the UBC Hearings on October 16, 2009.
10-16 UBC Hearing Pg 1-200
Thursday, October 15, 2009
UBC Hearing Testimony
I attended the afternoon hearing session, attendance was poor, fewer than 200 members showed up. The members that spoke were very good, very passionate. I will have more to say later, below is my testimony with links to exhibits.
Exhibit A
Exhibit B
Exhibit C
Exhibit D
Exhibit E
Exhibit F
Exhibit G
Exhibit H
UBC Hearing Testimony
Testimony Bill Walsh
The below testimony was given at the evening hearing session, by Brother Bill Walsh of local 157.
UBC Hearing Testimony--Terrence R Mooney
Report To The UBCJA Hearings Committee
Below is testimony with links to exhibits given by Phil Newkirk to the Hearing Committee. Mr. Newkirk is a thirty year UBC member who currently serves as an Assistant to General President Douglas McCarron.
(John's note. The report fails to mention, Director of Operations Maurice Leary is the Recording Secretary of local 608. Leary’s lack of knowledge about the union car crash, suspended license and local 157 ba's AWOL is not creditable. Newkirk also fails to hold Pete Thomassen, Dennis Sheild and OWL supervisor, Scott Danielson accountable. Fails to mention how in November of 2004 Thomassen obstructed Mack's investigation of Tri-built and hired Kroll to take over the investigation from Mack. Fails to mention the contempt charge and how the district council officers "engaged in, at least, willful ignorance" of the corrupt conduct by companies like Tri-Built and On Par, which are believed to be two of the six unnamed contractors in the indictment and were notoriously known among carpenters as "cash" companies, “yet permitted to work corrupt for years.”) Also no mention of Benefit Fund employee corruption.
Report to the Hearings Committee III.doc
UBC Hearing Testimony Day 1
Below is the testimony from Day 1 of the UBC Hearings pages 1 to 200 held on October 15, 2009.
10-15 UBC Hearing pg 1-200
Friday, October 9, 2009
A Little Rebellion Now and Then Is A Good Thing
"I hold it that a little rebellion now and then is a good thing and as necessary in the political world as storms in the physical....It is a medicine necessary for the sound health of government." – Thomas Jefferson
Here's a breaking news alert for all Carpenters: High level union politics and power is at the heart of the "emergency supervision" over the New York City District Council Of Carpenters.
The depth of the district council corruption is much greater than you are being told. Mike Fordes ten year reign of corruption, rewarded lax ethics, corrupt behavior and drug use. In this “culture of corruption,” a toxic work environment was created where the more willfully ignorant of corrupt conduct an individual is, the more you advance in position and power.
Brothers and Sisters, We cannot remain silent any longer! This is our union; these are our employees, taking bribes and narcotics, hiding illegal weapons and drugs on our property, while Supervisor, Frank Spencer installs Pete Thomassen, the person who cover-up corruption and failed to protect our financial interest, as his assistant. Spencer, has also kept all of Fordes handpicked yes-men in their positions of power.
What the hell is going on here? Why are we standing for this? Why are we not standing at 395 Hudson Street with "torches and pitch forks", demanding involvement in the supervision? Who is protecting our financial interest including our pension and health benefits?
Thomas Jefferson, that revolutionary patriot, advocated rebellion every 20 years or so in order to remind the government that a spirit of resistance flourished among the people.
In that sprite, Union Carpenters must take the time to voice their concerns at union meetings and the UBC Hearing on October 15, 16, and that's as it should be.
This is what is known:
August 5, Mike Forde and nine others, were arrested charged in a 29-count indictment, in a $1 million scheme for corruption, racketeering, bribery and perjury, in a conspiracy that stretches over a decade, involving six contractors, business agents, business manager, benefit fund trustees, shop stewards, mob associates and council employees.
August 13, UBC General President Douglas McCarron fired council EST Mike Forde, local 608 business manager, John Greaney, local 608 business agent, Brian Hayes, and ordered an “emergency supervision” of the district council and appointed Vice President Frank Spencer, supervisor.
September 24, Federal agents armed with a search warrant seized drugs, said to include large quantities of the highly addictive prescription painkiller OxyContin, and a stun gun hidden inside a secret wall at the council.
Forde, long rumored to have thrown drug-fueled parties in the council, tested positive for cocaine and marijuana when he was arrested. Seven of his nine co-defendants also tested positive for drugs. Two refused to be tested.
In recent weeks, at least seven more high level council employees have either been fired, suspended or still employed for failing drug tests ordered by Frank Spencer. Several employees shaved off the hair on their heads and removed all body hair to avoid detection of drug use.
Independent Investigator, Walter Mack who’s work led to the charges in the indictment wrote,Thomassen and district council officers "engaged in, at least, willful ignorance" of the corrupt conduct by companies like Tri-Built and On Par, which are believed to be two of the six unnamed contractors in the indictment and were notoriously known among carpenters as "cash" companies, “yet permitted to work corrupt for years.”
Once again the membership who pays the salaries of these so-called leaders have been kept in the dark. There has been a virtual news blackout and members questions unanswered by Supervisor, Frank Spencer.
Print out the flyer below, take it with you to the hearing, post it on the job, voice your concerns to Chairman Draper! Its your union!
Rebellion
Monday, October 5, 2009
Secret den of vice at union's HQ: Raid turns up stun gun & drug stash
By Brian Kates
Federal agents probing corruption in the city's most powerful construction union seized drugs and an illegal stun gun at the group's Manhattan headquarters, the Daily News has learned.
The discovery at the District Council of Carpenters building came after the indictment of council chief Michael Forde and nine others - including two mob associates - in a $1 million bribery scheme.
Federal agents seized the drugs, said to include quantities of the highly addictive prescription painkiller OxyContin, and a stun gun while executing a search warrant Sept. 24, a union spokesman confirmed.
The illicit stash was hidden at the Labor and Technical College, a vast basement workshop at the council's 395 Hudson St. headquarters where apprentices are trained, union sources told The News.
No one was arrested.
Forde, long rumored to have thrown drug-fueled parties in the building, tested positive for cocaine and marijuana when he was arrested in August.
Seven of his nine co-defendants also tested positive for drugs. Two refused to be tested, prosecutors said.
In recent weeks, five more district council employees have been fired or suspended for failing drug tests ordered by Frank Spencer, the emergency supervisor of the International Brotherhood of Carpenters named to supervise the council.
A union leader alerted the feds to the OxyContin cache after learning of it from a council worker who failed a drug test, the spokesman said.
An Internet blog run by dissident union members said U.S. Labor Department agents removed the drugs from a compartment behind a wall.
Forde, free on $75,000 bond, was ordered to undergo 28 days of drug rehab.
The feds have been monitoring the district council, which is made up of 11 union locals, since 1994 under a decree in another racketeering case.
That has not diminished its political clout.
Since Forde took office 10years ago, the group has lavished at least $3 million on politicians and handed out eagerly sought endorsements to Hillary Clinton, Mayor Bloomberg and others.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Drugs and Gun Found at District Council
On Thursday morning September 24, two special agents from the Department of Labor paid a visit to 395 Hudson Street, headquarters of the New York City District Council of Carpenters.
Informed sources say, two federal agents armed with a search warrant “for a secret wall”, were escorted by council staff and taken to a specific location inside the council where the agents found a stash of OxyContin and a stun gun hidden inside a "secret wall."
OxyContin, a trade name for the narcotic oxycodone hydrochloride, is a painkiller available in the United States only by prescription. OxyContin, has a street name of “hillbilly heroin” and can cost as much as $50 per pill on the street.
It is illegal to be in possession of a stun gun in New York.
Sources say the agents made no arrest and there has been no official comment by the district council.
“The district council has a big drug problem,” under Fordes “Unity Team” administration, the council “was one big party” say sources.
Frank Spencer who has assumed supervision of the council really “has no clue to the extent of corruption and drug use.” Spencer, sources say is determined to identify and separated the good employees from the bad and develop a plan to clean up the district council.
Spencer is just kidding himself “he needs to clean house and fire at least half the council" if he really wants to change things a source inside the council said.
Spencer has been criticized for his handling of the supervision, especially by naming Pete Thomassen (Fordes right-hand man) as his assistant and for not keeping the membership updated on the supervision.
Sources say Pete Thomassen "knew exactly what was going on, Pete isn't some unsophisticated rube, he is a very sophisticated guy, you think he doesn't know anything?"
Everyone in Fordes inner circle “knew all along and simply couldn't resist the easy money, feeding at this trough of greed, hoping it was never going to end.”
The membership trust in the district council has been shattered. The lax ethics and previous scandals have left members too numb to be very outraged by the latest revelations of corruption, drug use, arrest of Mike Forde and think of it as just “business as usual.”
