IUOE Local 150 and Andrew Zinke. Is this Gangster Money for a Gangster Cop?

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IUOE Local 150 and Andrew Zinke. Is this Gangster Money for a Gangster Cop?

A few weeks ago I noticed something peculiar about a contribution made to Andrew Zinke’s campaign for sheriff. The contribution was from the IUOE or the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 150. What I found peculiar was that they were not Headquartered in McHenry County. They are in over 40 counties in 5 states for this local. They have a Hall in Lakemoor, IL but that I believe is actually in Lake County not in McHenry. Why would they have an interest in this sheriff’s election in McHenry County?

Local 150 International Union of Operating Engineers

In trying to provide myself some clarity on the subject I sent a letter to James Sweeney the President and Business Manager for Local 150. In my letter to Mr. Sweeney, I asked what is the Union’s interest in the sheriff election for McHenry County. I also asked if he was aware of the way that the sheriff’s office conducts themselves. I liken their behavior as “gangsters,” but noted the reasons why I did. I told Mr. Sweeney if all possible I would like a response in a couple of weeks and a lack of response was a response of affirmation that they did understand that they supported gangsters. My article and copy of the letter that I sent can be found here, Will McHenry County be Ripped Off by Special Interest in Sheriff Election?

While I waited for a response that I was never to receive, I found some things of interests that explained that they do indeed know that they are supporting gangsters in the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office. First, people that I talked to about these guys were afraid to talk about them. I heard the same reference from people over and over again, “I don’t want to get ran off the road.” If they were familiar with this union at all, that was the standard reply. I could except this once or twice, but after that I felt like there was a real trend here. I started to do my own search on the web and then I fully understood their fears.

The International Union of Operating Engineers is the tenth largest union in the country, or at least that is what I could find. Then they are divided into Locals across the country and members report to their Locals. In short, we have to look at this from a national and local level. As of July of this year, members of Locals 12 and 501 have filed suit against their union. They have cited that the International Union of Operating Engineers have violated the RICO Act (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations). You typically only hear the RICO Act being cited in mob cases. Some of the allegations being made are death threats against restive members, kickbacks to officials from employers that have short changed pension and training funds, one official is accused of using union money for entertainment and breast enhancements for a girlfriend; and another flew to auto races and family get-togethers on an $8.6-million jet ostensibly purchased for union business. You can read the LA Times article here. In a Wall Street Journal article from this year states that Richard Griffin, former attorney for IUOE has been named as a defendant in federal racketeering lawsuit that claims he was complicit in covering up union embezzlement. The Wall Street Journal article can be found here. Here is another article written by Rebekah Kearn of the Courthouse News called, Members Say Bosses Ran Union Like the Mob. This is more of the same thing noted in this article. Here is another article from the National Legal and Policy Center linking IUOE to the Gambino crime family in New York. The article is called the Gambino Mobster Sentenced in NYC Construction Scam. Here is an article the New York Daily News from December of last year about a Colombo Mobster named Charles Panarella, getting am award from the IUOE. This is while he is being charged with racketeering conspiracy and supervising the Colombo crime family’s influence over union Locals 14 and 15 of the IUOE. Mobster, 90, who avoided trial claiming too ill, makes appearance to receive award.

There were many, many more articles that I could have continued to cite about the union at a national level, so let’s change gears and look at Local 150 themselves. William “Bill” Dugan was the previous President of Local 150. He stepped down from his position in June, 2008. He stepped down after the Chicago Sun-Times disclosed that the FBI and Labor Department were probing his potentially illegal use of union resources. He was sentenced to three years of probation for demanding farm equipment for his buffalo farm in Maryland from organizations that employed Local 150 workers. He was also sentenced for committing related offences. He had to pay over $40,000 fines and restitution. Here are a couple of articles on Mr. Dugan from the National Legal and Policy Center. The fact that Mr. Dugan was a thief stealing from his own union and from business’s’ that employed Local 150 workers did not prevent the current president Mr. James Sweeney from presenting Mr. Dugan with an award. Here is a document from the States Attorney’s office requesting a denial of Mr. Dugan’s request to travel and receive this award.

If you want to learn more about Local 150 and it’s allegations of RICO (Racketeer, Influenced, and Corrupt Organizations Act) search “International union of operating engineers” “local 150” RICO. These guys strike fear in those that oppose them. From death threats, to destroying trucks and equipment of non-union members, and intimidation. Don’t take my word for it on these guys, do your own research, it is actually rather easy in this case. This brings me back to Undersheriff and Sheriff Candidate Andrew Zinke.

Undersheriff Andrew Zinke and the Rita Corporation on RT 31

This is one of Andrew Zinke’s biggest supporters. They gave him over $12,000 just for signs. If you are contemplating on voting for Andrew Zinke, really think about who he is bringing to the table. We recognize supporters, supporting their candidate because they reflect their own values. What is the moral values of the leadership of the International Union of Operating Engineers? Based on their rap sheet you would have to suggest Death Threats, Embezzlement, and stealing from their own membership is the values that they hold true. They see the best candidate in support of their values is Undersheriff Andrew Zinke. Simply put, gangster money for the promise of a gangster sheriff. The moral compass tells us to be on the opposite side of this one.

If you have not come to the conclusion already, this is easily one of the most important elections in McHenry County in decades. It is an opportunity to get our community back. A community that has been hijacked by special interest for at least the past 40 years. A vote for Zinke is continuation of Nygren’s Good Ol’ Boy network of self-interest. We are not asleep anymore and our eyes are wide open to the tyranny that is on display. This article is only one more example of many of what is now in the conscious of the community. Do not wait for the DOJ (Department of Justice) to fix our community, we are all armed to defeat them. We are armed with voice to get the word out and a vote to execute change. We have an option in Bill Prim for Sheriff. It is time to commit for change, down with the Regime!!