The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1928-01-14
Green, aware OF
CORRUPTION DATA,
REFUSES TO ACT
Men Now Accused were
Once Expelled

Prevalence of graft and corruption
among certain union officials in the
building trades to a degree hitherto
unsupported was charged yesterday
in statement issued by Patrick Nc
Nicholas, president of local 33 of the
international Hold Building
and Common Laborers Union Of
America.
The signing of secret agreements
with employers over the heads Of
bonafide union officers, the breaking
up of their legitimate organizations
IN the interest of dual unions fostered
by the machine, the placing in charge
of these dual unions former union Of
fieials convicted of extortion and mis-
appropriation of union funds and the
commission of various other corrupt
acts are among the charges made by
McNicholas.
Accuses Officials.
Those chiefly concerned in these
practices, according to the president
Of local 33, who has been fighting the
machine for over is years, are the
members of the executive committee
of the Bricklayers and the officials
of the Plasterers' Union.
McNicholas' charges confirm state
ments earlier this week by other Of
ficials.
''Not only are the facts true which
were published in The D Al l. \
WORKER Thursday, referring to the
corrupt and illegal practices of the
Bricklayers' and Plasterers' ruling
machine, but l will further charge
that these conditions have been known
for over three years by the officers
of our International and by the Of
ficers of the American Federation OF
Labor" McNicholas said yesterday.
Union Card Ignored.
"My own union has been reduced to
a mere skeleton through the practice
of forcing our men off jobs and put
ting on members of the dual United
Building an d Common Laborers
Union, organized by the Bricklayers'
Officials. l myself have been forced
off jobs at least three times over my
union card until now it is practically
impossible for me to find employ
ment."
~ McNicholas said he was leaving for
Newark to seek steady work.
& McNicholas further announced that
at the proper time he would show
that the men in charge of the dual
union were former members of build
ing trades locals who had been found
guilty of various crimes and had been
forced out of the labor movement.
Green Fails to Act.
81 have presented these facts to
William Green, president of the
American Federation of Labor" he
continued. Thus far l have failed to
hear from him in reply to my last
letter. l will wait for a few more
days for an answer, though I do not
expect any results because these con-
ditions have been known over three
years to officials of the A. F. of l..
Revelations made Thursday in con-
nection with Locals TAG and 116 of
the International Hold, Carriers gave
details of how laborers had been
forced from a job being operated by
the Union Construction Company On
57th Street. They showed how John
j. Gill, chairman of the executive
committee of the Bricklayers, had
given orders leading to the discharge
of union men and the substitution OF
sother workers.
Others Confirm Charges
John J. Gray, business agent of To-
cal 81, was reported to have laid the
responsibility on Gill. Business
agents L. D. Ferrari, of Local lie, and
J. f. Pugliese, of Local TAO, confirmed
the charge that members of their
unions were involved in the dis
termination.
McNicholas promised further dis
closures.
n 4 - -