An Example of What I said Yesterday.
Yesterday I commented that one of organized labors biggest self-inflicted wounds came from their corruption, which from where I sit appears to be beyond any possibility of exaggeration.
Now two senior officials in the Regional Council of Carpenters and Millwrights, union chief Ralph Mabry and former carpenters union Executive Director-President Anthony Michael, were sentenced to prison and fines for seeking illegal discounts in building a house for Mr. Mabry. His exact crimes were conspiracy to solicit and receive prohibited payments and solicitation and receipt of prohibited payments by a labor union official.
A couple of things jump out at me.
First of all a Union head is supposed to be a working class person looking out for other workers, and not a greedy businessman looking for wealth. Seems that this clown got quite a load if he could afford a $900,000+ (before the discount) house.
It's also noteworthy that his attorney, James Robinson, is offering the following defense: the statute of limitations had expired on all but one of the counts. If only one of the counts still stands after excluding the other two, it is still a conviction. Also a person who gets off on the statute of limitations is still morally guilty even if they can't be punished.
Finally I see the names of people pushing for a conviction. I see former governor James Blanchard and Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, along with union people. These are people who would normally side with a Union Chief unless the believed he was truly guilty.
Update: I misread the final paragraph, and was corrected by an annonymous comment. I double checked and see that Blanchard and Kilpatrick opposed the conviction. Oh well.
Now two senior officials in the Regional Council of Carpenters and Millwrights, union chief Ralph Mabry and former carpenters union Executive Director-President Anthony Michael, were sentenced to prison and fines for seeking illegal discounts in building a house for Mr. Mabry. His exact crimes were conspiracy to solicit and receive prohibited payments and solicitation and receipt of prohibited payments by a labor union official.
A couple of things jump out at me.
First of all a Union head is supposed to be a working class person looking out for other workers, and not a greedy businessman looking for wealth. Seems that this clown got quite a load if he could afford a $900,000+ (before the discount) house.
It's also noteworthy that his attorney, James Robinson, is offering the following defense: the statute of limitations had expired on all but one of the counts. If only one of the counts still stands after excluding the other two, it is still a conviction. Also a person who gets off on the statute of limitations is still morally guilty even if they can't be punished.
Finally I see the names of people pushing for a conviction. I see former governor James Blanchard and Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, along with union people. These are people who would normally side with a Union Chief unless the believed he was truly guilty.
Update: I misread the final paragraph, and was corrected by an annonymous comment. I double checked and see that Blanchard and Kilpatrick opposed the conviction. Oh well.
posted by shoprat at 5:55 PM
3 Comments:
Governor James Blanchard and Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, among others, sent letters of support and phrase of Ralph Mabry.
You are correct, I misread the last paragraph. I am suprised that no one else noticed that.
Why are you so convinced that union leaders are corrupt? Are your opinions based on past collaborations (union and organized crime) or is it simply a "gut" feeling? I don't think unions function on the same level as in the past, the climate has changed. I would think that with all the challenges coming from government, anti-union organizations, etc., it would be to their benefit to function according to the law since "everyone" seems to be watching.
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