Do you guys know if any unions are still controlled by LCN? I know unions were a cash cow for the families back in the day but I know the government has worked hard to end that. Also I wonder what impact right-to-work states had on that. RTW states pretty much render the unions powerless.

The Laborers and Dock Workers unions in the Northeast (namely New York and New Jersey) are still somewhat tied to the Genovese family, as are the Operating Engineers and the Steam Fitters to a degree. But the Mob's influence over the Teamsters is all but over. And being able to "borrow" against the Teamster pension fund was probably their biggest "cash cow" ever. That's how they funded their Vegas casinos (when the mob still had Vegas casinos).

"Right to Work" states? Don't get me started. I worked for the Teamsters for 25 years. As much as I love Florida, when I see the wages of truck drivers down there I literally cringe.

Welcome to the boards, Jenkins .

yes,i.l.a.,carpenters,masons tenders,laborers,engineers, that almagamated transport, etcetera.

Theres some union out here like bakery workers or butchers thats really obscure but its corrupt as hell, run by some genovese guy. Thats Jersey for ya... Doctors an lawyers runnin around Escalades thinking theyre Tony Soprano.

That's the Cake Boss .

What was the one... Like kitchen fellas or something with the caterer who just got arrested?

Yea it's strange, in my home state of Alabama everyone used to be in a union and they were damn proud of it. Fast forward a few decades and Alabama is a RTW state and union is a dirty word around here. But that's a topic for another forum I suppose.

Im from va. And it's a rtw state.its bs.u can be let go for no good reason.if a company EVER needed a union it would be wal mart.u know the head of wal mart makes thousands of dollars n hour.I think like15? If wal mart employees could unionize it would be great.they are lucky2make 8.50n hour unloading trucks n its bust ass work.bs

@PizzaBoy am I going to run into any OC if I get a local 472 or 1298 card after college? They're both Liuna houses I believe.

Jenkins,

I hear you, when certain people find out that I am a Union delegate they look at me like I am a murderer.

Now a days people would rather get jerked around and eat shit rather then fight like our brother's and sister's did back in the day.

As I've said before, generally speaking, I think pizzaboy is correct. Compared to other unions, there's been relatively little in the way of mob cases involving the Teamsters in recent years. Back in 2001, Michael Marchini of IBT Local 813 got in trouble for meeting with Genovese capo Matty Ianniello. In 2003, internal charges were brought against IBT Local 701 president Denato Desanti for entering into a sweetheart contract with Genovese soldier Michael Sciarra and trucking bigwig Frank Walsh. Then, of course, there was the Amalgamated Transit Local 1181, tied to Ianniello's crew. In 2006 there was an investigation into members of IBT Local 295 associating with Lucchese members. And in 2008, it came out that the mob still had influence over the funds of IBT Local 282.

One case I'm not sure about - maybe pizzaboy knows more - was in 2003 when members of IBT Local 854, which had past ties to the Gambinos, filed a complaint against the local's president, Daniel Gatto, and their company Consolidated Bus for harassing them by spying and threatening assault after they complained the local's shop steward and the company were too close.

Another one was when Anthony Rumore, president of IBT Local 812, was ousted in 2007 for using union members to do personal work for him. I believe Rumore's father had been a made guy in the Gambino family but I'm not sure how much this case involved the LCN. Even if it did, it was fairly penny ante.



I don't know if it's the one you're referring to but the Bakery, Confectionary, & Tobacco Workers Union Local 102 was involved in the 2006 indictment against Bellomo, Ardito, etc.

the irish were always the main source of power, not the italians, although they did have a say in certain spots

Looking at the other unions and any mob cases since 2000...

The ILA has had 10 locals connected to the Genovese and/or Gambino families.

The Laborers have had 10 locals connected to the Gambino, Lucchese, Genovese, and Colombo families.

The Carpenters have had 6 locals connected to the Genovese and Lucchese families.

The Operating Engineers have had 4 locals connected to the Genovese and Colombo families.

The Operative Plasterers & Cement Masons have had 2 locals connected to the Genovese family.

And there have been several miscellaneous union locals, i.e. Journeymen & Allied Trades, Amalgamated Carpenters & Joiners, Elevator Constructors, Bricklayers, Roofers, United Food & Commercial Workers, Building Service Workers, Production, Clerical & Public Employees, etc.

One of my all-time favorite Dan lines.