[RealJustme]

Ten Philadelphia union members have been indicted for allegedly using illegal means of coercion, including the torching of a Quaker meeting house, to force local contractors to use organized labor.

The indictment, which was unsealed Tuesday, accuses members of Ironworkers Local 401 of several crimes, including racketeering and arson. Other alleged crimes include incidents in which union members allegedly threatened or assaulted contractors and damaged construction equipment and job sites.

“While unions have the right to legally advocate on behalf of their members, my office will not tolerate the conduct of those who use violence to further union goals,” U.S. Attorney Zane David Memeger said in a press release. “Union officials and members who commit arson, destroy property, use threats of physical harm, and engage in other acts of violence to extort victims on behalf of their union need to be criminally prosecuted."

According to the indictment, the union members had a "network of individuals," friendly to the union, who helped identify construction projects and job sites were work was being performed without union labor. Then, business agents would approach foremen to imply or explicitly threaten violence, destruction of property, the U.S. Attorney's office said.

The union members even created "goon" squads, comprised of union members and associates, who carried out crimes, the indictment said. One such squad called itself "The Helpful Union Guys," or THUGs, for short.

In December 2012, several union members allegedly cut steel beams and bolts and used torches on structural columns in a Quaker meeting house that was being built in Philadelphia's Chestnut Hill section, reportedly causing $500,000 worth of damage.

Other alleged incidents include using baseball bats to beat a contractor in 2010, and picketing and threatening the contractor of an apartment complex under construction to the point where he relinquished his profits and turned the job over to another construction firm.

Attorney General Eric Holder had previously declined to investigate the incidents but under public and media pressure Memeger agreed to look into the matter resulting in the indictments. During a press conference Holder pointed out that those indicted don't represent Ironworkers Local 401 which is a good organization that makes the quality of life better for everyone. To a degree, Holder seemed to defend their actions when he said that in some cases he felt the 401 members involved were provoked, although he didn't agree with what they did.

[sillydaddy]

Wow !.......Jimmy Hoffa lives !

[johnforbes]

Holder is one of the worst excuses for an AG the nation has ever had.

He won't investigate anything which would shed light on Obama-era corruption.

Holder came to the job with Marc Rich baggage, and he never should have been appointed in the first place.

[Alogicalman]

Holder is one of the worst excuses for an AG the nation has ever had.

He won't investigate anything which would shed light on Obama-era corruption.

So what does Obama have to do with the guys who "may" have done the crimes they're accused of? It's a local matter.

[johnforbes]

Holder has a federal role.

That may be a bit too "logical" for an uneducated person such as yourself, but try to cope with it.

[Alogicalman]

Holder has a federal role

What's your beef, didn't you read that the guys responsible are getting prosecuted? Are you saying just because they have something to do with a union they should receive additional punishment?

[johnforbes]

Unions once had an important role to play, but that usually today they are bloated, corrupt, and counterproductive.

America would be better off without unions and without OSHA. Let litigation risk and profit awareness dictate such matters.

The workers would be better off and receive better lifetime compensation.

But the sad truth is that unions don't care about workers -- only about their own little empires.

[Clownkicker]

"America would be better off without unions and without OSHA. Let litigation risk and profit awareness dictate such matters."-johnforbes

But hypocritical clowns like you want to put a cap on injury lawsuits.
There's nothing business would like more than to be able to crunch the numbers and figure out exactly how many workers they can afford to maim or kill each year to maximize profit, and to only have to deal with lawsuits with a cap on damages while holding the advantage and the ability to outlast the plaintiffs' dwindling health and finances by dragging out lawsuits for years.

As to "profit awareness" regulating anything, even Greenspan came to realize (and testified before Congress) that companies will not let self interest stop them from destroying themselves and their employees when there is a chance for short term profit.
The days of losing 60 or 70 lives on a construction project (like Grand Coulee Dam) would return. But this doesn't bother johnny as long as his portfolio goes up 15%.
Lives are cheap to his sort.

[johnforbes]

No, those days would not return.

Worker death/injury rates declining long before OSHA show that.

It isn't practical, or cost-efficient, or good business to have workers dropping like flies.

Not even in Rissia.

[RealJustme]

The clown thinks companies make money if a worker gets injured. :lol: :lol: :lol:

From a business aspect the last thing you want is for a worker to get injured, forget compassion, it costs a company tons of money, first of all they have to hire and retrain a replacement on top of paying medical bills, compensation and wages to the injured worker who'll lay around watching soap operas as long as they can milk it. 99% percent of the time the injury is the worker's fault but the business will still have to pay up. So thinking businesses don't care about injuries just doesn't make sense.

Concerning unions, they're the closest thing in America to the mafia, it's all about greed, corruption and intimidation.

[brandon]

According to the indictment, the union members had a "network of individuals," friendly to the union, who helped identify construction projects and job sites were work was being performed without union labor. Then, business agents would approach foremen to imply or explicitly threaten violence, destruction of property, the U.S. Attorney's office said.

I could be wrong, but I'm not. Where I come from, shortly after those threats were made, that motherfucker would go for a nice ride out into the country. After dark.

:mrgreen:

[RealJustme]

I could be wrong, but I'm not. Where I come from, shortly after those threats were made, that motherfucker would go for a nice ride out into the country. After dark.

Years ago I had a IAM union rep visit my business discussing the advantages of using union certified machinists. When I told him I wasn't interested and that my guys were doing a great job even though they're not IAM union members he switched gears and started telling me about the disadvantages and there were several veiled threats including advising me to increase my insurance on my building because there are people out there that don't like union busters.

The more I thought about it, the madder I got, I ran his name and found his home address, I drove over to his house that night and paid him a little visit. He didn't invite me in but he got my point, I told him if something happened to my workers or my building he should consider increasing his insurance because there are people out there that don't like unions trying to force businesses to hire only union workers. He turned pale and I thought he was about to throw up, he said "point made" I then left. Never heard from them again.

Carlos

[Clownkicker]

^^^^If that fairy story actually took place, I'm proud of you RealTool.


Sadly, it's far more likely it's just something he read in a magazine somewhere.

[johnforbes]

Cliwnhicker has lived out many a real fairy tale in Rissia.

[RealJustme]

If that fairy story actually took place, I'm proud of you RealTool.

As you very well should be!