Leaders of Buffalo-area construction union arrested (racketeering and extortion)

[Omaha Steve]

These are the kinds that make ALL union members look bad in the public eye.

OS

http://www.wcax.com/Global/story.asp?S=8134853

Associated Press - April 8, 2008 11:15 AM ET

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) - Federal agents in Buffalo have arrested 12 members of a large construction union as part of an investigation into racketeering and extortion.

U.S. Attorney Terrance Flynn plans to release details of the arrests at a late-morning news conference.

The Buffalo News reports the arrests include officers and members of Operating Engineers Local 17 and that law enforcement has been investigating alleged acts of violence and extortion involving the union for more than a year.

The union's president, Mark Kirsch, was reportedly among those arrested Tuesday.

A woman who answered the phone at the union's Lakeview headquarters declined to comment and said she did not know if a lawyer had been retained to represent union members.

[acmavm]

1. Too damn bad people aren't smart enough to understand that

corruption is EVERYWHERE and that this is not an issue or hot button topic that you can point at unions and say "see, I told ya so". People are too lazy to take an article that they're reading and think beyond that piece of paper in their hands. They don't understand that unless you have representation, you're nothing. But they'll see this and say something about Jimmy Hoffa and think they formed a coherent thought.

[Sanity Claws]

2. Alleged

I just can't put much weight on prosecutions by US Attorneys these days. All the remaining ones are there because they are willing to do politically-motivated prosecutions.

[Lefty48197]

3. I think our union leaders and members should be....

I think our union leaders and members should be sweet innocent choirboys.

[Sinistrous]

4. The Mob has been in control of (most of) the trades in Buffalo for decades.

Given their power, I am amazed that they have even been investigated.