JUST TO REFRESH
Carpenters Union Hierarchy as Crooked as Autoworkers Union Hierarchy
Forced-Unionism Abuses Exposed – The facts Big Labor bosses would rather you didn’t hear about.
“Compulsory unionism and corruption go hand in hand . . . .”
— U.S. Sen. John McClellan (D-Ark.)
Many concerned Americans who read news accounts regarding the ever-growing United Autoworkers union scandal undoubtedly have a lot of questions. You may wonder how the widespread outrageous greed and criminality that federal prosecutors have already demonstrated to be rampant in UAW officialdom are among top bosses of other U.S. unions.
As of last November, nine people pleaded guilty to criminal misuse of workers’ union dues and/or corporate funds set aside for worker training. These included six high-ranking UAW bosses and three executives for Big Labor-dominated Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. Three other UAW bosses, including former Vice President Joe Ashton, had been charged in connection with the scandal that became public in July 2017. Former UAW President Dennis Williams had already been implicated in the criminal conspiracy and was facing a possible indictment. President Gary Jones was forced to step down. He then later took the extraordinary step of resigning his union membership. This was perhaps to avoid internal union discipline for his alleged extensive misappropriation of union treasury funds.
A review of Big Labor federal indictments and convictions shows the AFL-CIO-affiliated UAW isn’t the only union plagued by corruption.
For example, look at reports from the entertainment industry observer, Deadline. Officers of local subsidiaries of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) union in “Alabama, Alaska, Virginia and Michigan” were either indicted, pleaded guilty, or were sentenced “for stealing funds from their local unions”. And this was all within just two years, from November 2016 to November 2018.
Then look over the decade from 2008 to 2018. “Former treasurers, presidents and bookkeepers of IATSE locals in California, New York, Florida, Rhode Island, Wisconsin, Tennessee and South Dakota have faced similar charges and have pleaded guilty or died before going to trial”. Combined, these IATSE kingpins stole more than $900,000 in union funds.
Now tradesmen across the country who regularly pay dues, whether voluntarily or not, to the United Brotherhood of Carpenters (UBC) union have growing reason for suspicion. They suspect that their hard-earned money is being pilfered by Big Labor bosses so they can live the high life.
Now let’s take a look at George Laufenberg, the former administrative manager of the UBC New York/New Jersey benefit funds. In September, he was indicted by a grand jury “for defrauding the funds of more than $1.5 million”. This was according to federal prosecutors. Laufenberg was charged with “embezzlement of pension funds, embezzlement of excess annuity fund contributions, conspiracy to embezzle with a ‘low-show’ employee, and making a false statement in an annual financial report”.
Roughly a week before Thanksgiving, it was publicly reported that the UBC hierarchy, along with managers of the UBC pension and pharmacy benefits and several other outfits with close ties to the union, had been issued federal subpoenas.
The Laufenberg indictment and the subpoenas both apparently stem from communications with the Justice Department, the Labor Department, the IRS, and the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey by John Ballantyne, the former head of the UBC’s Northeast Regional Council.
In 2018, Ballantyne’s position was terminated as part of a UBC “restructuring”. In a subsequent civil suit, Ballantyne and two of his former staff members charged that UBC kingpins had engineered the elimination of their jobs in retaliation for Ballantyne’s having blown the whistle on Laufenberg.
The illegal retaliation and derivative retaliation suit (eventually settled out of court, with the terms undisclosed) charged that, along with Laufenberg, UBC General Vice President Frank Spencer and UBC Eastern District Vice President Mike Capelli had used their positions of power to enrich themselves at workers’ expense.
For example, Spencer and Capelli allegedly raked in a total of $300,000 in union dues-funded payments to their annuities from the Northeast Regional Council. But, this was at a time when they were no longer employed by that entity.
In addition to Spencer and Capelli, UBC General President Doug McCarron was personally named as a defendant in the lawsuit.
72 comments:
No Union that prohibits their members from directly voting on all matters including the ratification and approval of wage increases, new CBA’s and the selection of Representatives shall have the irrevocable right to mandate that Union members pay dues.
A Delegate system of Representatives is not democracy, it is a means of denying the individual members from expressing the will of the majority. A system of Representation via Delegates, of which the majority are also Union employees is corrupt on its face.
I now support Right to Work!!!
After all that, still no arrests wtf
Real shocker there. The carpenters union will make the auto workers look great. !!!
Look at all of the retired ba organizers. Internatinal reps in the last 6 months. You know they know something is going down they have been imploded
If greedy sad face Pete Gowan finally retires then I think something is going down. Unfortunately these guys have a lot covered. As much as we all know they are POS I think a lot of their nonsense is unethical and unfortunately not illegal. I know John Ballantyne was against Satrianos golf day and he wasn’t supposed to have another but when john got terminated, game on and then satriano got terminated 😂 wanna be mafia pinky ring wearing faggot. These guys spend so much on themselves and not the membership but you know it’s always been like this.
Verrelli do something besides settle for a monetary lump!
If they put tracking devices on your car did you make a police report or does it not matter because it was a council car. Was it a magnetic gps or a traditional hardwire one. I guess being a elected official means nothing if the word Carpenter is attached to it
Best Thing that should come is FEDERAL OVERSIGHT
Almost everything the new Union employee/representative does is unethical, some of this activity is also illegal.
Georgie Boy broke the law under the pretence of “I’m not doing anything my predecessor didn’t do” which got him jammed up.
What Doug did with the Odom’s is completely illegal. I’d also bet that he’s committed a whole series of other illegal acts as well.
I hope he and all the rest of them are held accountable for what they’ve done to our Union and Local Unions.
When a govt shifts to a socialist model... As it is... And another entity is a socialist model... Only 1 will survive and it isnt a union.
You will get your government oversight. Not what you want... But it will be pure fascistic takeover.
If anyone isnt sure. England was the strongest organized labor in the world. Right up until they voted for socialism.
These " leaders are skinning as much bacon off of this pig before it dies.
Continuously " supporting" those that slit our throats instead of " re organizing" and using new and better tactics that focus on labor. Not politics. Not federal grants.. Not goodies ... Labor.
Fielding a labor force worthy of our rate. Not a friend of a friends cousin who cant drive a nail.
We are our own demise.
John to bad you never voiced that when you were around
The socioeconomic system that we as citizens of the United States live and work under has nothing to do with the one problem affecting the UBC, and that is Doug McCarron being the General President.
By the way the people of England voted by the will of the majority to adopt policies you can consider socialist following the development of the Industrial Revolution at the beginning of the 19th century. The decline of organised Labor in England followed the election of Margaret Thatcher who then advanced free trade deals and conservative legal reforms that led to a slow decline of organised Labor.
Doug McCarron is the UBC’s biggest problem not any political philosophy!!!
Now go head to back to DC to stop the steal with Mike Lindel and the great Q.....
So I guess when it’s done to him it’s not ok and he never knew what kind of people he was in bed with.....gimme a break
Thanks Mike Hand, you did so much good for the brotherhood and you should be proud. HAHAHAHU GET THE F¥CK OUT OF HERE!!!! You got to be the biggest sellout I ever known. You went along with NJ MUPPS program from the beginning knowing that the program was wrong for one “screwed the members “ and illegal. You know deep down in your heart Mike what you did was wrong. If you honestly disagree then it shows that you were in this union for one reason, JUST FOR YOU. You have a pocket full of so called members that only back you up so that they can get jobs. The apple doesn’t fall to far from the tree. See Mike they’re just like you. Do you see it now Mike? Well it is about time you go now hope you enjoy your pension meanwhile you have let down your brotherhood.
What J.O. Is taking his spot
I wonder what Jersey tool they will put in place
If anyone wants to start a go fund me page for legal council I’m in
25+ years of McCarron's UBC tenure . . . how many millions of the membership's dues money has been wasted on legal defense for McCarron's corruption? McCarron's legal defense fees and the numerous settlements throughout his time in office is money which could have been better spent on the membership's benefit plans.
There needs to a movement to restructure the UBC. Todays general office and its officers are a waste of the membership's money, and produces nothing which benefits the UBC membership.
Our dues money, which per capita tax payments to the UBC are derived from, would be better spent in bolstering the many pension funds, our members depend on. The UBC membership must be more involved with the allocation of their respective collectively bargained wages, making sure pension are appropriately funded . . . and, of course, securely invested.
That may be the way to go.
You know as well as i do that it would never get through a motion at the local.
Proper redress has to be given.
That has been done pertaining to " elections" ..
Proper redress was also done on investigating capelli and spencer and the ballantyne charges.
There are copies of the response from doug. So that 1st step was exhausted.
What would need to happen is a letter to william sproules requesting a full documented audit of dues/ pacs/ pecs/ maps/ and the salaries of all council reps and a complete manhour breakout.
Then a list of signatories.
A break down of jobs flipped and manhours attained vs manhours expended in salary and benefits for reps.
The easiest way is to request a full irs audit... When they say no... There is your answer.
Then you proceed with a class action suit.
Remember Philly Brethren run right to the Feds if they put Ray Bugarus in place. This guy wouldn’t sign a decree stating he had no ties to organize crime. In doing that he was not allowed to get a position at the district council I’m sure there’s more to know it’s out there.
If anyone would like to add please do so our future depends on it.
Philly Brethren don’t wait if they slip Ray Bugarus into your leadership he refused to sign the federal oversight decree by doing this he could not work for the NYC district council. Go to the FEDS!
You think the MUPS is bad just wait.
Funny how Billy Sproule is the face of leadership in Philly publications I thought Ballantyne’s recreated period piece flicks were funny what a joke. Billy go choke on some pork roll you fat POS.
Securely invested with George Laughenberg JR no conflict of interest here. Don’t worry all your favorite reps and delegates and trustees always do the right thing 😂
A new Union could be formed that was based on what the UBC and the MRC was prior to take over of McCarron, all the authority is vested in the members and not the Union employees expressed by the will of the majority via a secret ballot.
This new Union could be selected by current members to represent them in place of the UBC by one employer at a time.
Step 1, form a new Union, 501 C3 non-profit organisation just like the UBC,
Step 2, Utilise the old CBA’s and Bylaws for founding documents,
Step 3, Represent any members working at any signatory employer who doesn’t want to be represented by McCarron’s minions.
Step 4, File for election with the NLRB and conduct a secret ballot vote, one member one vote, majority wins.
Step 5, be the master of your own destiny........
This post is very accurate.
Ray Brugaris a tradeshow worker
( sneaker and short brigade) out of nowhere... Removed from the NYC council because he refused to sign a sworn affidavit disavowing his association with organized crime... Handed to him notttt by the ubc but by the federal govt overseeing that council .... Because of organized crime..
So Frank Spencer ( who should HAVE to sign the same but isnt technically part of that council...he moves Ray to the EAS as a CFO.
The feds are well aware of where he is.
Spencer and his literal mafia have moved to phila bc there was a market and money that isnt ( as of yet) under receivership.
If i were you.
I would remove all my money in the 401k B. Get a lawyer if you have to. Get together and get legal counsel... It can be removed and moved to another financial vehicle that is tax free until you reach retirement age.
If not. You willlll have nothing.
The whole purpose of that 401k change was because the original was secure. McCarron and Spencer cant access that.
The " new" 401k... They can.
Id get it and move it before they do.
If ray brugaris becomes EAS you know we have maybe 5 years left until we are wiped out ( as we know it now , which isnt tooo good)
I remember when this was suggested this is not meant to be damming but not for nothing ballantyne wanted everyone on board this meant all the reps including the ones that got to retire gracefully to tell all their devotees anything to keep them on board. Now look at what we inherited, They are all gone now!!!!
I’ve heard everything from a member and laughenberg were working on gaining power from john to a current rep playing both sides leaking info.
They got all there guys spot and those who didn’t got them now. You all deserve each other
Joe Elmo I get it you were retiring to bad you didn’t go out like Barisso and those before you. you come to virtual meetings to bad your not coming to the rescue😔 I mean that with respect
England? Just like here in the US, conservatism and pro business politics in England, along with Margaret Thatcher in the 1980s, crushed unionism in the UK.
Last meeting 253 she’s got more balls than Tom Hurley crying foul at the 300 hitters. You don’t see him standing up against corruption
If we do not secede from the ubc. None of us in our OWN. Region will have work.
The irony is that the ubc for years... Every election cycle always cried Davis/Bacon Act.
Yet in essence by these huge mergers... In many ways are quasi violating ... That very act.
Im speaking on the broad concept of the act. So spare me the response and " quotes" and excerpts from the law. I read it. Im well aware of the details.
Im talking about the broader concept of multiple labor rates and individuals pouring in to fill slots from home regions with different cost of livings.
Then once employers begin to fully abuse the provisional carpenter.... Which our " dear leadership" says cant happen... Even though it already is..anyone from the phila area at journeyman rate... You are screwed. Do you guys not see whats happening?
Yeah she has bigger ones than the whole executive board!
Good talk guys 😂
President Biden yesterday 2/17 Had several labor leaders at the White House, I did not see McCarran I don't know if he was invited?anybody have any information whether he was in attendance? Another problem for McCarran is President Biden's appointment For secretary of labor
Arguing half the story is a tactic used by half wits.
You. You have a quarter of the story. There is no " quarter wit"
Keep supporting them.
The " steal" was right here.
This union is stealing from YOU.
Not me.
Im not a sheep. I am not a member of your criminal enterprise.
I dooo however like to " report" on it.
Eddie Hubschmitt and I thought Mike Dejohn was a useless POS!
ATTENTION ATTENTION LOCAL 253 or if you like to switch your Book click on Leadership then Committees we have Recreation/Golf Committee Rocco Lepore 201-250-2025 how about a “Work Committee” guys you all blamed Satriano on the side for not giving to the membership.
Now that I think about it why the fuck would you want to hang with any of you.
EBSRA. ARE YOU LISTENING. THE NORTHEAST FUNDS ARE UNDER A FULL INVESTAGAION THE SOCK PUPPET BILLY SPROLLES JUST LOST TWO TRUSTESS FROM THE PHILADELPHIA PENSION BOARD WHO UNEXPECTLY. RESINDED AND RETIRED. SHADY BUSSINESS GOING ON FROM THE SOCK PUPPET TRYING TO CHANGE MEMBERS PENSIONS. THEY ARE DELIVERTLY MERGING A FULL HEALTHY PENSION FUND IN PHILADELPHIA TO TRY SND NOT PAY OUT BENIFITS. TIME TO INVESTAGATE. !!! BILLY SPROLLES IS THE WEAK LINK TO THE SOENCER CASE HE DOES WHAT HE IS TOLD. HE IS SO DUMB SIGING ANYTHING THAT FRANK PUTS IN FRONT OF HIM. LOOK IN TO BILLY SPROLLES !!!!
I heard macarron was looking for his women clothes to get a new passport And fake identity. To make an escape Before the hammer drops. Hi. Doug Rot in hell for what you done to our union
I looked I didn’t see a 70 year old exaggerated hand gesturing duche bag
Biden, like every other Politician took our money from McCarron, but he isn’t going to be seen with him again because of all of Doug’s well known misdeeds. That and all the other Building Trade leaders hate McCarron because he’s such a self serving piece of trash.
Are you sure you don’t think they were pushed out, nobody up top leaves on there own after all the fuckery it took to get there sounds good though and so did the fake news of Doug’s passport being taken
All these guys tell you who they know and what they know and you guessed it do nothing. Followed by I’m getting out and I feel sorry for the guys who have more time to do. Guess all the retiring and retired guys who care so much just make a charter for retired jerkoffs you’re the best Artie Delarosa
Let’s remember these idiots got covid sucking each other off playing golf and they got paid to play then we pay them to stay home nursing back themselves to health
Hand, Hocker, Kelly, Morrow. If there are funding issues with the Philadelphia pension why don’t you guys lower the accrual like they did in the middle of the plan year 2009 from 65 to 45 dollars for 4 1/2 years then 55 dollars for a year then 60 next year and didn’t get back up 70 dollars until May 2017. 5 dollars more than it was in 2009. Thoughts?
At least the Brotherhood takes care of present executive board members and past members so they stay quiet
yep. they are delibertly lowering out value. it is the only way the federal goverment will aloow them to merge two seperate pensions they have to lower the value of phillys so its even with new jerseys so they can merge them. mark my words buddy they are not looking out for us they will say its to save money for the members. bahahahaha. no one in this union beilves that unless you are one of their koolaid drinkers. they do nothing for the members !!! all actions are to help the criminal syndicate
if they were worried about us and saving money why did they pay charles brock 250000 dollars to leave because he was the drciding vote to keep philly seperate from merging our apprentiships snd now they got a guy to do it. mark my words i do not care that turd brock is gone just staing the reality of the situatoon. who paid for brock to leave ??? sprolles we already told the feds. hope your lm-2 are correct it not the members job to pay him offf so you pos can rape and pulvorize our programs fir your own good. we will be checking who funded the 250???? inquiring minds want to know
yep. they are delibertly lowering out value. it is the only way the federal goverment will aloow them to merge two seperate pensions they have to lower the value of phillys so its even with new jerseys so they can merge them. mark my words buddy they are not looking out for us they will say its to save money for the members. bahahahaha. no one in this union beilves that unless you are one of their koolaid drinkers. they do nothing for the members !!! all actions are to help the criminal syndicate
Coryell made that move to preserve the integrity of the Pension Fund and it worked like most things associated with Coryell and the MRC. Today Coryell is long gone, things don’t work, and our Pension Fund is going to be destroyed.
Maybe that guy that wore blackface in the murmmer parade can fix that
Hand job is the luckiest guy in the UBC. Where else could an incoherent moron move up like he did? He should have been canned when his mentor Rat Naughton got fired.
How do you all feel about your Philly reps just curious
Just saw the official Eas newsletter well your boy hand voted against you all then retired he should be in US politics
NI 7.25 in annuity thanks guys
??
New Jersey annuity return 7.25% way they word it it sounds like they select a percentage like we’re not getting all of it
DOL and SEC get with it. Employees in annuities that have no clue what their fees and investments are and no investment options. You know what to do here. Oh ya and extremely unqualified bought and paid for Trustees. Frank the first employee that sues say goodbye and I know you know. Easy 7 figure payout.
It is difficult to accept that there are no improprieties.
Im not accusing anyone, but, based on the availability and performance ( proven) of many other investment strategies and vehicles available... Then with the " collective bargaining" power of an enormous fund, youd think that we could do better than 2%
5% 10% .
Yet we are " capped"?
All the mantras of " expanding our collective bargaining power.. Seems to be a lie.. Vs. Performance.
There needs to be accountability.
There needs to be an audit of who is sitting on whos boards receiving a paycheck while handing our fund over ... A tool.. Basically for " free" to an investment group.
Who profits? Not we the member.
John you should’ve fixed that when you were in court but you and the 2 others settled and took the money.
How is that:
" by combining we increase the strength of our collective bargaining line of crap" working out for everyone?
Where is the work?
2 gated jobs in center city?
Thats reallll progress... For undercutting our livlihoods.
A huge shout out and middle finger to mike hand.
You signed these deals.
Then ran.
Heres hoping 11 checks is your reward.
Frank Spencer great guy and everyone who has been put in power is POS AND IF YOU DONT THINK THAT YOU ARE WITH THEM
Philly guys are the best
Here’s an update on Frank Spencer’s good friend Johnny Doc:
https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/you-think-yous-are-untouchable-union-leader-nephew-charged-with-intimidation/2726533/
When is the corruption trial going to start whos George giving up any bets. is he going to trial or making a deal
Johnny Doc going to trial reel soon
Other trades are saying covid restrictions loosening up time for jury selections and trials
Wont be long now Georgie the courts are opening up
State Senate president Sweeney has been taken out!!!!!!! Frankie the fraud left you a long time ago Steve!!! Hey Frankie told us you couldn’t count! Hey Steve remember when you told George to use a Hoboken address? Billy told us real good friend ya got there! I wonder if the carpenters union will put him on as a no-show consultant to double dip with ground works like they do everybody else! Just another Political hack pretending to be for the workingman. Hey Sweeney maybe the ironworkers will get a decent days work out of you now !!!!
The Ironworkers never have and never will get an honest day's work out of Sweeney. The question for the Ironworkers now though is that with Sweeney no longer in power is his $250K+ deal with the union a good investment? The answer is obviously no. Interesting that Lexie Norcross's Philly Voice is also reporting tonight on Sweeney's demise. Many are saying that Murphy had a bad showing last night. Wrong! It can be argued, and there is evidence to support this, that yesterday's squeaker victory by Murphy was part of a grand plan. Murphy has good alliances (you have to look carefully beyond the day-to-day political rhetoric, which like a professional wrestling match, is staged), with some Rs, like Testa, in South Jersey. These alliances, it could be argued, applied a pincer attack on the Norcross machine. The Rs reclaimed lots of territory -- including Sweeney's district -- that they had lost to the Norcross machine. And Murphy took full control of the NJ Dems, as he is no longer encumbered by the blockade that is (was) the South Jersey Democratic machine. In order for this grand plan to be put into effect for maximal effect, Murphy and his allied R forces had to have the Republican wave sweep through South Jersey largely unchecked. In the north, Essex Co. would be Murphy's firewall. Essex Co. would deliver a narrow victory for Murphy and the Rs would roll to victory in South Jersey, including Sweeney's district. And that is what happened. Murphy is stronger, the Rs are stronger, and the Norcross machine is terribly weakened and appears to have been pushed back to Camden Co. An unanswered question is who in the South Jersey Democratic machine was in on this grand plan and what did they get out if it? Any trade union rep that is still genuflecting to a South Jersey Democratic machine bigwig is not reading the post-Election Day political landscape in NJ. I don't claim this to be a good or bad thing for any union. It is simply a report on the changed political landscape in NJ.
This is a very accurate analysis. I agree with most , not all, but not worth arguing about. Nice job.
Not for nothing.
Project Veritas.
What the hell. We cant get exposure.
Just a thought.
Steve Sweeney also tried to get ballantyne removed from his Position at NJSEA after he was removed as est. I wonder why he had such a hard on for him. Wonder if Sweeney and south Jersey EDA will get revisited
Ballantine supported Murphy at Sweeney’s expense, that’s why Sweeney disliked Ballantine.
The guy who keeps smelling like a rose is Ballantine cause he’s comfortably retired with an additional seven figure sum taken from our wallets.
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