A quick roundup of who the above pictures are, starting at the top left:
Richard Griffin was appointed to the National Labor Relations Board via a recess appointment and still serves despite a court ruling that his appointment was illegal. The U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor Pensions (HELP) will hold hearings on Griffin’s nomination on May 16.
From his bio:
Richard F. Griffin, Jr. was sworn in as a Board Member on January 9, 2012, following a recess appointment by the President.
Mr. Griffin previously served as General Counsel for International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE). He also served on the board of directors for the AFL-CIO Lawyers Coordinating Committee, a position he held since 1994. Since 1983, he has held a number of leadership positions with IUOE from Assistant House Counsel to Associate General Counsel. From 1985 to 1994, Mr. Griffin served as a member of the board of trustees of the IUOE’s central pension fund. From 1981 to 1983, he served as a Counsel to NLRB Board Members. Mr. Griffin holds a B.A. from Yale University and a J.D. from Northeastern University School of Law.
As the Workforce Fairness Institute points out:
Griffin, the former general counsel to the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) has served in a leadership role in a union that has been overrun by organized crime. According to Fox News, “The rap sheet for members of the International Union of Operating Engineers reads like something out of ‘Goodfellas.’ Embezzlement. Wire fraud. Bribery. That’s just scratching the surface of crimes committed by the IUOE ranks.”
Moving on – James Roemer was IUOE Treasurer and pleaded guilty in 2003 to fraud. Jamie DeRoss, an IUOE member, pleaded guilty to extortion in 2003. Kenneth Campbell was IUOE’s Business Manager and International Vice President. He pleaded guilty to charges of a conspiracy to embezzle funds in 2008. Martin Taccetta was a Boss of the Jersey Crew in the Lucchese crime family. He was charged with extortion and labor racketeering. Joel “Joe Waverly” Cacace (acting Columbo family boss) conspired with union members to get a paid no-show job for his son in 2003. ouis Moscatiello (Genovese crime family high-ranking figure) pleaded guilty to controlling three labor unions for organized crime in 2004. Andrew Merola, an IUOE Member, pleaded guilty to wire fraud and not showing up for work in 2010.
WFI Also points out that:
Earlier this year, the Washington Free Beacon reported, “According to the lawsuit filed by 10 members of Los Angeles-based IUOE Local 501, which represents workers in Southern California and Southern Nevada, Griffin participated in a conspiracy to manipulate the operation of Local 501 ‘through a pattern of racketeering activity.’ Griffin was served with the complaint and a court summons relating to the lawsuit at his Washington, D.C., home on Dec. 4, according to documents filed in court.”












