Local 17 Members Arrested

[winfield31]

Approx. 15 members of Local 17 have been arrested following months of investigations for extortion & racketeering............

[winfield31]

Local 17 ("Operating Engineers") have been arrested for extorting private contractors , using the DMV & "other" "FOIL" "Acts" to obtain info on private contractors , their workers & families to threaten them to join their union...............Seems they were actualy threatening to sexually assault some of the worker's girlfriends & wifes & families , vandalize property , etc.

[WNYresident]

How do you know this?

I just skimmed 2,4,7 and see no mention.

[winfield31]

How do you know this?

I just skimmed 2,4,7 and see no mention.

just sent "Breaking News" to my Blackberry via Channel 4's Breaking News sent directly to my cell phone !

[winfield31]

How do you know this?

I just skimmed 2,4,7 and see no mention.

Each channel "opened" with this as LEAD story , much more to follow.............

[winfield31]

Small details on Channel 4's web-site already............

[gorja]

On the Buffalo News site.
http://www.buffalonews.com/home/story/318304.html

[WNYresident]

Federal agents bust local union on racketeering and extortion charges

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - - Federal agents have made a major bust involving a dozen officers and members of a local construction union on racketeering and extortion charges.
Authorities on Tuesday morning arrested 12 people associated with Operating Engineers Local 17 following what they termed as a lengthy investigation.
Published reports state that agents started the roundup at 5:30 a.m. Among those arrested was Mark N. Kirsch the president of the Lakeview based local.
Officials are comparing the case to a recent investigation that led to prison terms for several top tier officials from Laborers Local 91 in Niagara Falls.
Local 1 runs equipment repair shops, gravel yards and ready-mix concrete plants at construction sites. They have 2,100 members in Western New York and they are part of an international union with 400,000 members.

Read the Full Story ib Channel 4

[LHardy]

Unions aren't corrupt. So I've been told.