History of www.Laborers.org

    In 1987, I began reporting about corruption in the Laborers Union after becoming a member of  Laborers' local 5 in 1984 at my first job site in Calumet City, Il as laborer foreman . Prior to my venture into the low tech world of building warehouses and high-rises, I was involved in the high tech world of law office automation, having introduced in 1969 the computerized timekeeping-billing system originally developed in the back-offices of Winston & Strawn where my former criminal law professor at Northwestern and former Illinois Governor, James Thompson, is managing partner. My best friend asked for help building buildings, a task that can provide immediate psychological satisfaction as well as keep one in good physical condition. I was between jobs and my best friend needed help. I gave the best help I could and entered a world totally foreign to those who work in a white collar environment. I entered the world of the Laborers Union.

    Some computer systems never get completed for a multitude of reasons. In the construction industry, I enjoyed seeing within 24 hours  plumb floors, straight walls, and curbs that met specifications because I had a hand in their building

    Dominic Palermo, subsequently convicted of labor racketeering, signed me up. He succeeded Al Pilotto at local 5, a local notorious for being under the influence of organized crime then and now. In February, 2000, I am still waiting for local 5's former secretary-treasurer, James DiForti, to be tried for the 1987 murder of the "Pallet Man", a murder he committed in the process of collecting a "juice" loan. The blood stains on the floor of the scene of the crime match DNA wise the blood samples DiForti provided the grand jury, a fact I knew.   In 1996, I was hoping to replace DiForti as a delegate to the convention when he got arrested. Silly me. He wasn't arrested until July 1997, one week before the hearings began on the Trusteeship LIUNA wanted to impose on the Chicago Laborers' District Council. The arrest was timed for maximum publicity purposes. Vaira revealed in one of his election rulings the fact I knew DiForti was going to be arrested for murder, despite my pleas not to reveal grand jury secrets.

The site of Laborers org was created by Chris White with my help. He paid for the site, I supplied the hard to obtain documents like the Draft RICO complain, Coia's testimony in the Serpico disciplinary hearing, newspaper articles about the Laborers, transcripts of the Chicago District Council Trusteeship Hearings, etc etc. In return for providing those documents, Chris White was supposed to give me the domain name laborers.com which I could not afford to reserve.

Chris White lied to me and reneged on his promise. Only later did I realize that he was not too bright. I have nothing to do with him because he can not be trusted.