Forde Holdover Carpenter Boss D'Errico Fired and 7 Others Netted in Walsh's Mob Corruption Probe

Forde Holdover D'Errico Fired.

Informed sources say Local 157 President/Director of Operations/Benefit Fund Trustee, and Forde holdover, Lawrence D’Errico, 47, has been fired by UBC Supervisor Frank Spencer, on Friday March 18th.

Spencer appointed Area Standards Director Eddie McWilliams, new "Acting Director of Operations," the source said.

On Wednesday March 16, we reported that Review Officer ("RO") Dennis Walsh, issued a veto letter to D’Errico on Monday March 14th, vetoing D'Errico's employment as a council representative, allegedly for organized crime associations.

D'Errico, was appointed "Acting Director of Operations" in July, and replaced Maurice Leary, who suddenly retired immediately after Michael Forde copped a plea to corruption charges, received a $45,000 salary increase in December from Supervisor Spencer, increasing his salary from $177,776 last year to over $223,000 this year, an informed source said.

The RO has been zealously conducting investigations into troubling allegations that after 587 days of supervision by the UBC International, because former council leader, Michael J. Forde, and nine others, were charged with racketeering, the New York City District Council of Carpenters remains influenced by the mob, deeply ingrained in the culture of corruption and is still a source of cash and illicit benefits for a select few.

In October, Spencer posted a video message on the councils website, saying "We had the issues with corruption, But that's yesterday."

On Friday, November 19, 2010, Michael Forde was sentenced to 11 years in prison. Forde had pleaded guilty to racketeering, bribery and perjury in late July in connection with taking as much as $1 million in illegal contractor bribes and skimming many millions more from union benefit funds. The Justice Department uncovered the scheme as part of a probe that netted guilty pleas from eight persons and the jury conviction of Genovese crime family-linked contractor Joseph Olivieri. 

In December the RO filed a report showing some progress in cleaning up the district council but presented a troubling picture of corruption, and some aspects of the report raise questions about the stewardship of supervisor Frank Spencer.

Many members, including myself have criticized Spencer and his handling of the supervision. The RO's report includes evidence and troubling allegations that some of the same kinds of misconduct that led to the 2009 charges have continued under Spencer’s supervision.

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Walsh's Mob Corruption Probe Nets 3 More Carpenter Leaders

Informed sources say that Review Officer ("RO") Dennis Walsh investigation pertaining to organized crime influence over the affairs of the District Council has netted 3 more Carpenter leaders.

Local 157 Financial Secretary/Regional Manager Paul Capurso, and Local 926 President/Representative Joseph DiNapoli, have not signed the RO's declaration to disclose any information that they have about such conduct, and are consulting with attorneys and may invoke their privilege against self-incrimination.  

Council employees are required to cooperate with the RO in this undertaking pursuant to Paragraph 7 of the Stipulation and Order. Failure to comply with the undertaking or invocation of the right against self-incrimination may subject persons to action pursuant to Paragraph 7, which makes failure to cooperate an express violation of the Stipulation and Order, as well as Paragraphs 5.b and 5.f.

It is expected that Capurso who last year reportedly made $116,709 and recently received a huge salary increase since being named regional manager, and DiNapoli, who earned $156,327 will either be fired or will resign an informed source said.

Local 157 Organizer Andre Puerta, did not sign the declaration and resigned last week this source said. Puerta who reportedly made $153,333 last year is rumored to be married to Brian O'Dwyer's niece (O'Dwyer & Bernstein LLP) and has been well taken care of over the years seeing his salary dramatically increase since being hired as an organizer a member commented.

We also reported that Walsh sent Local 157 President/Director of Operations Lawrence D’Errico a letter late Monday vetoing D'Errico's employment as a council representative, Local 157 Vice President/Representative Anthony Pugliese was pushed into retirement because he refused to cooperate and sign the declaration and council employees Ray Brugueras, Richard Tuccillo and Paul Pietropaolo all resigned rather than sign the declaration.

That brings the total to eight council employees netted so far last week, in the RO's investigation pertaining to organized crime influence over the affairs of the District Council.

The RO said his investigation "is broad in scope and many employees (as well as persons affiliated with the Benefit Funds) can expect to be interviewed in the near future."

Welcome to “Respect Our Crafts”

Click for Website

The National Building and Construction Trades Department in Washington DC launches a new website that showcases the collective efforts of all member unions and their leaders as they stand in UNITY against United Brotherhood of Carpenters leader Doug McCarron.

I was going to reprint the article titled, "Now is the time - this is the place," but instead please go to the website and see for yourself!

The website also features our Rally Flier and says, "On April 13, 2011, rank and file UBC members who “are sick and tired of business as usual” will gather outside a meeting of the NYC District Council of Carpenters at 395 Hudson Street in New York City to protest what they say is a “Rubber Stamp Committee” for UBC President Doug McCarron.

We are saluting the efforts of the BCTD and President Ayers!!
For additional videos click here. 

Attention All Carpenters

Frank Spencer and the International Union have begun their attempt in court to bring full mobility to the NYC District Council.
 
Because I hear a number of carpenters are interested in the court conference before Judge Berman regarding OWL referrals and full mobility, be advised that it has been moved from March 22 to April 6, 11:00.  In effect, it will be combined with the conference already scheduled for April 6 regarding progress on the elections.  See below. 

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Trade Unions in City Confront a Rise in Nonunion Projects

By CHARLES V. BAGLI

A luxury apartment building is rising at 23rd Street and 10th Avenue, and, across town, one is being created inside an old Salvation Army building overlooking Gramercy Park. Other residential buildings and hotels are going up on 11th Avenue, West 18th Street and East 23rd Street.

All are signs that New York City’s real estate industry is clawing out of the recession. But they are noteworthy for another reason: they are being constructed without any union labor.

For most of the last century, the city’s construction unions were a symbol of labor strength in a pro-labor town, and their involvement in large projects was almost never in doubt. But just as public employees’ unions across the country are in the fights of their lives, the city’s major building unions are facing their own moment of reckoning.

While they are still a major presence, their share of the city’s $20 billion to $30 billion in annual construction work has dropped significantly in recent years. There are no official statistics; according to unionized construction companies, two out of five construction jobs in the city are now nonunion, though unions put the number at one in four. All agree that for many years, at least 85 percent of building jobs were union ones.

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Prefabricated Tower May Rise at Brooklyn’s Atlantic Yards

A 34-story structure at Atlantic Yards would satisfy an obligation of the developer, Bruce C. Ratner, to build affordable housing.

By CHARLES V. BAGLI

In a bid to cut costs at his star-crossed Atlantic Yards project in Brooklyn, the developer Bruce C. Ratner is pursuing plans to erect the world’s tallest prefabricated steel structure, a 34-story tower that would fulfill his obligation to start building affordable housing at the site.

The prefabricated, or modular, method he would use, which is untested at that height, could cut construction costs in half by saving time and requiring substantially fewer and cheaper workers. And the large number of buildings planned for the $4.9 billion Atlantic Yards — 16 in all, not including the Nets arena now under construction — could also make it economical for the company to run its own modular factory, where walls, ceilings, floors, plumbing and even bathrooms and kitchens could be installed in prefabricated steel-frame boxes.

The 34-story building, with roughly 400 apartments, would comprise more than 900 modules that would be hauled to Atlantic Yards, lifted into place by crane and bolted together at the corner of Flatbush Avenue and Dean Street, next to the arena.

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Walsh’s Mob Corruption Probe Leads to D’Errico

You're Fired! Carpenter Boss D'Errico

Breaking News...Informed sources say Local 157 President/Director of Operations and Benefit Fund Trustee, Lawrence D’Errico, 47, has been vetoed by Review Officer Dennis Walsh.

Walsh has been zealously conducting investigations into troubling allegations that the District Council remains influenced by the mob and is still a source of cash and illicit benefits for a select few.

In December Walsh, issued his First Interim Report, and wrote:

“My office has deep historical knowledge and is developing current information about actual and attempted influence of organized crime over the affairs of the district council and the funds,” Walsh wrote in the report. “We have developed sufficient information to reasonably suspect that there are certain district council employees who have been and are currently under the influence of La Cosa Nostra figures.”

The report said individuals involved in running some of the local unions were under scrutiny for similar ties, something that Walsh said was “a matter of grave import.”

Walsh sent D’Errico a letter late Monday vetoing D'Errico's employment as a council representative, allegedly for organized crime associations an informed source said.

In an email seeking comment, Walsh wrote, he "can’t presently comment." The story is still developing, stay tuned...

Carpenter Leader Pugliese Was Forced to Retire or Face Disciplinary Action

Pugliese speaking, with Forde and Sheil.

Local 157 Vice President/Representative Anthony Pugliese was pushed into retirement because he refused to cooperate and sign a declaration under penalty of perjury pertaining to mob influence over the affairs of the District Council, an informed source said.

Pugliese 57, a 35-year UBC member, and for the past 12 years, a Council Representative reportedly making $158,069 and collecting a tools pension, before he unexpectedly retired last week amid a zealous investigation by Review Officer Dennis Walsh, pertaining to organized crime influence over the affairs of the District Council, its affiliated local unions and members.

As part of Walsh’s investigation, employees of the District Council are asked to disclose any information that they have about such conduct other than what they may know from the information available from the docketed materials or from media accounts.

Those who say that they have no such information are asked to confirm their response by signing a declaration under penalty of perjury. Pugliese invoked his privilege against self-incrimination and decided to retire instead of sign the declaration an informed source said.

Pugliese a former organizer was appointed business agent of Local 157 by corrupt former Carpenter boss Mike Forde during the November 2007 phony Local 157 supervision. In 2008 he was elected vice president running on president Lawrence D'Errico's slate.

At a union meeting last August, Pugliese continued to defend and support convicted Forde by declaring "Forde Innocent" and improperly tabled a motion to have the UBC sue Mike Forde and Martin Devereaux for the $800,000 they reimburse themselves for legal fees in 2008 in connection with a September 2000, indictment by the Manhattan District Attorney's office on bribery and racketeering charges.

Last month Pugliese stated, "the work list houses incompetent carpenters and that's why the contractors want to pick and choose who they want working for them."

Also last week we reported that council employees Ray Brugueras, Richard Tuccillo and Paul Pietropaolo all resigned rather than sign the declaration.

Walsh Begins New Phase Of Investigation Into Mob Influence Over District Council

In December Review Officer (“RO”) Dennis Walsh, issued his First Interim Report, which was filed in federal court in Manhattan, accompanied by hundreds of pages of exhibits, and included evidence and troubling allegations that the council remains influenced by the mob and is still a source of cash and illicit benefits for a select few.

“My office has deep historical knowledge and is developing current information about actual and attempted influence of organized crime over the affairs of the district council and the funds,” the RO, wrote in the report. “We have developed sufficient information to reasonably suspect that there are certain district council employees who have been and are currently under the influence of La Cosa Nostra figures.”

The report said individuals involved in running some of the local unions were under scrutiny for similar ties, something that Walsh said was “a matter of grave import” that remained under investigation.

In an email, the RO said he has begun a new phase of investigation pertaining to organized crime influence over the affairs of the District Council, its affiliated local unions and members. As part of the investigation, employees of the District Council are asked to disclose any information that they have about such conduct other than what they may know from the information available from the docketed materials in U.S. v. District Council (90 Civ. 5722) or from media accounts.

Those who say that they have no such information are asked to confirm their response by signing a declaration under penalty of perjury pursuant to Paragraph 5.d of the Stipulation and Order entered on June 3, 2010 (which grants the RO the authority, among other things, to compel sworn statements of any officer, agent, representative, employee, trustee or member of the District Council or the Benefit Funds concerning any matter within the RO’s authority).

All such persons are given a reasonable opportunity to consider their options and to consult with an attorney and may invoke their privilege against self-incrimination. All such persons are required to cooperate with the RO in this undertaking pursuant to Paragraph 7 of the Stipulation and Order. Failure to comply with the undertaking or invocation of the right against self-incrimination may subject persons to action pursuant to Paragraph 7, which makes failure to cooperate an express violation of the Stipulation and Order, as well as Paragraphs 5.b and 5.f.

The investigation is broad in scope and many employees (as well as persons affiliated with the Benefit Funds) can expect to be interviewed in the near future.

Note: We reported that council employees Ray Brugueras, Richard Tuccillo and Paul Pietropaolo have all resigned rather then sign the below declaration.

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Page Six

Brugeras third from left.

And Another Carpenter Union Leader Bites The Dust

We hear...THAT council organizer/Local 926 Financial Secretary, Ray Brugeras, has also suddenly resigned last week.

Sources say Brugueras is the third person to resign because he refused to sign an affidavit from the Review Officer, Dennis Walsh, stating he's not connected to or has any knowledge of organized crime influence over the district council. Richard Tuccillo and Paul Pietropaolo also resigned and did not sign the affidavit. 

Brugeras was Director Eddie McWilliams, deputy in Organizing and hired last year at the request of Joe Olivieri, an informed source said.

In November a Manhattan federal jury found Olivieri (56), ex-executive director of the Association of Wall, Ceiling & Carpentry Industries guilty of perjury over a sworn deposition he gave three years ago in a civil RICO case.

Contractors Call For 20% Wage Cut

The Building Trades Employers’ Association has launched a campaign to inform Rank and File Building Trade Union members and the public about the need to reduce costs that will protect union construction jobs.

The campaign, “Build Union Jobs,” will consist of subway advertisements, a website and op-eds in the press and will outline how the number of union construction jobs will keep shrinking unless union work becomes more economically competitive. Subway ads are running from March 7th to April 11th, 2011.

Union construction workers are experiencing over 30% unemployment.  At the same time, market share of non-union construction continues to grow because it is 20-30% less expensive than union work.



Contractors, who are represented by the Building Trades Employers' Association, say that major concessions are necessary to help crank up the city's construction industry.

They have provided unions with a 26-point list it calls a "Framework For Reducing Union Construction Cost", which includes 25 proposed rule changes and a 20% reduction in wages and fringe benefits.

Click to Enlarge.

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Current District Council Delegates

Below is a list of all current council delegates by local noting whether they are elected or appointed.

Preview of “delegates list”

REVIEW OFFICER FORUM ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 30, 2011

All members of constituent local unions of the District Council, as well as employees of the District Council, Benefit Funds and local unions are invited to attend the next Review Officer Forum at 395 Hudson Street. I will speak as well as answer questions and hear from those in attendance who wish to share their thoughts on matters relating to the District Council, the Consent Decree and the Stipulation and Order.

The forum will be in the meeting space of the school on the second floor from 4:30 to 7:00 p.m. Please have your current union or employee identification cards ready for presentation at the door to gain admission.

Dennis M. Walsh
Review Officer

Updated Rally for Solidarity

The permit is filed and the rally date has been changed to Wednesday April 13, 2011@ 3:30 pm.

Print out the below flier and and hand it out to your fellow brothers and sisters, post it at your job site, deli, etc.

We must stand together and let our voice be heard!

GET THERE & GET INVOLVED!!!

Rally Flier

Page Six

Another Carpenter Union Leader Bites The Dust...

We hear...THAT Paul Pietropaolo, who reportedly made $152,493 last year as a district council business agent has suddenly resigned. Pietropaolo a former collection agent, was appointed business agent to Local 45 in May by UBC Supervisor Frank Spencer.

Sources say Spencer made the appointment as a favor to Pete Thomassen, the former president of the scandal-scarred carpenters union, who resigned amid revelations of massive spending on steak dinners, junkets and parties. Insiders say Pietropaolo, who join the union 10 years ago, never worked in the field or with tools. He was hired as a security guard from Bo Dietl Associates as a favor, then moved up to collection agent and business agent.

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Carpenter Union Leader Bites The Dust

We hear...THAT District Council employee Richard Tuccillo, suddenly resigned on Tuesday, March 8th, according to informed sources. Tuccillo of Local 157, is a 25-year member with more than 12 years as a council representative covering trade show work, grievance processing, and other duties. Tuccillo was also an elected delegate to the council. Under the corrupt Mike Forde administration, Tuccillo saw his salary increase dramatically from $94,418 in 2000 to over $180,477 in 2010. He could not be reached for comment.

                         Photo from Local Connection 157

Notice of Appearance

New counsel for the Benefit Funds, Raymond McGuire, of the law firm Kauff MuGuire and Margolis LLP filed the below notice to appear in all court proceedings.

Click to enlarge.

A Message From Louis J. Coletti, President of the Building Trades Employer’s Association

The Building Trades Employers’ Association has launched a campaign to inform Rank and File Building Trade Union members and the public about the need to reduce costs that will protect union construction jobs.

The campaign, “Build Union Jobs,” will consist of subway advertisements, a website and op-eds in the press and will outline how the number of union construction jobs will keep shrinking unless union work becomes more economically competitive. Subway ads are running from March 7th to April 11th, 2011.

Union construction workers are experiencing over 30% unemployment.  At the same time, market share of non-union construction continues to grow because it is 20-30% less expensive than union work.

The campaign intends to deliver the message that union contractors and labor unions need to:

    •    Work Together
    •    Face The Facts As They Are, Not as They Would Like Them To Be
    •    Embrace Change That Will Result In Reducing Union Construction Costs

The campaign coincides with 30 union contracts set to expire June 30, 2011.  

We urge you to go to the website, www.buildunionjobs.com, and give us your feedback on this effort.

District Council Requests Clarification on Manning Provision

Frank Spencer and the International Union have begun their attempt in court to bring full mobility to the NYC District Council. 

From the Councils website: The District Council of Carpenters has petitioned the United States District Court Judge Richard Berman to clarify how to interpret and enforce manning provisions set forth in the Collective Bargaining Agreement with the Association of Wall and Ceiling Industries of New York, Inc.
 
This request pertains to the May 26, 2009 “Final Order and Judgment of Contempt and Remedy” regarding the abolishment of contractors being able to make unlimited requests for particular union carpenters, by name, from the OWL.  This order stipulates that the total carpenter workforce on a job site selected by the contractor shall not exceed 67% and 33% provided by the union, however if the number of carpenters required at a particular job site does not divide evenly into this formula then the contractor may select an additional carpenter whose prior employment satisfies paragraph 3 b (iii) of this Order.

As the District Council and the Association have disagreed on the interpretation of the proper ratio under this ruling, we will await a clarification from Judge Berman on the proper job manning ratio to apply that would be in compliance with the Court’s order.  Once the Council receives clarification we will post this information on our website for the membership.

conboy 3-3-11(2)

FORMATION OF AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO THE REVIEW OFFICER

To: All Members of the Local Unions of the New York District Council of Carpenters

I intend to form a committee composed of approximately 50 to 75 local union members for the purpose of holding monthly meetings to facilitate my communication with the membership and to inform me directly of any and all issues of concern to the membership and to receive their suggestions regarding improvements to the operation of the District Council and local unions. Meetings will typically be held at the District Council at 4 p.m. Committee member service will be on a volunteer basis.

Any member who would like to be considered by me for appointment to the committee should write a statement of between 250 and 300 words explaining why he or she would like to serve and why I should select them to serve. Include your contact information and local union affiliation.

Please email any such submission or other communications relevant to this notice to dmwfw@verizon.net, with a copy to mfitzwalsh@optonline.net. The deadline for submissions is March 15, 2011.

Dated: February 27, 2011

Dennis M. Walsh
Review Officer

Updated April,16: Below are the 63 members selected to serve on the committee.

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