The Other Problem at Our Ports

[Adam's Apple]

Well, at least Marlon Brando became a rich man from his "association" with this continuing problem.........

The Other Problem at the Port
By Linda Chavez for www.townhall.com
Mar 8, 2006

With all the recent talk about security vulnerabilities at the nation's ports, one subject goes virtually unmentioned. The men who actually control many of the nation's docks, especially on the Eastern seaboard, are in the hip pocket of the Mafia and have been for decades.

Regardless of whether or not a Dubai-owned company manages operations at these ports -- currently the source of much hand-wringing in Washington -- many of those with the most direct access to the billions of tons of cargo that move through those ports owe their jobs to the mob.

How can that be? It all has to do with the peculiar institution of the union hiring hall. No matter who owns or operates the ports, the union, not the employer, actually assigns workers to jobs. You can't work unless you carry a union card. And on East Coast and Gulf ports, the union card belongs to the International Longshoreman's Association (ILA), one of the most mobbed-up unions in the country.

for full article:
http://www.townhall.com/opinion/columns/lindachavez/2006/03/08/189030.html

 

[dilloduck]

Well, at least Marlon Brando became a rich man from his "association" with this continuing problem.........

The Other Problem at the Port
By Linda Chavez for www.townhall.com
Mar 8, 2006

With all the recent talk about security vulnerabilities at the nation's ports, one subject goes virtually unmentioned. The men who actually control many of the nation's docks, especially on the Eastern seaboard, are in the hip pocket of the Mafia and have been for decades.

Regardless of whether or not a Dubai-owned company manages operations at these ports -- currently the source of much hand-wringing in Washington -- many of those with the most direct access to the billions of tons of cargo that move through those ports owe their jobs to the mob.

How can that be? It all has to do with the peculiar institution of the union hiring hall. No matter who owns or operates the ports, the union, not the employer, actually assigns workers to jobs. You can't work unless you carry a union card. And on East Coast and Gulf ports, the union card belongs to the International Longshoreman's Association (ILA), one of the most mobbed-up unions in the country.

for full article:
http://www.townhall.com/opinion/columns/lindachavez/2006/03/08/189030.html

But they are American crooks---we trust them.

 

[trobinett]

Yea, they`ve made us an offer we can`t refuse.