The Laborers’ Local 79 election would have been a turning point, if Peter J. DiNuzzo had been elected.   Local 79 was in the midst of a boom industry.  New construction was everywhere. The laborers were happy.  The “Clean Slate”, the ‘appointed’ slate, was a sure win.

The first time I heard Pete DiNuzzo speak to members of Local 79, I saw a certain gleam in his eye and a determination in his voice that I had never before seen from any laborer.  FBI Agent Wendy Brouwer’s words of “we don’t want to let the Pete DiNuzzo’s of this world get a hold of this” were echoing in my mind.  The truth of why Pete and I should not have crossed paths was staring right at me.  Pete,  just like myself,   wanted to finally let the members understand that they  are the victims.  All the stealing, all the governmental cover-ups, all the intimidations, this is something that the laborers have  had to endure before the consolidation of the ten locals and even after it. 

Do you remember when a Laborers Local was run by the membership, when the membership had a say as to who, what, where, how, and most importantly why?  Of course you don’t remember, because it’s  never existed. Pete DiNuzzo wanted to have the opportunity to get the membership the answers.  He wanted to fight not only for the members but with the members.  Pete offered the membership a chance for change.  He did something that was never heard of, he stood up, he challenged and he brought a touch of democracy to a union that has lived on intimidation and fear for years.

 

The election campaign for Pete  was tough. Anywhere Pete’s “Kleen House” posters were hung, they were torn down.  “Anonymous” posters, defaming Pete’s character, were hung around the city.  Pete and his supporters were blacklisted.  Why  resort to all these tactics if the "Clean Slate" felt that in their four years of tenure,  they  had done a decent job for the membership?   The “Clean Slate” knew  that by giving out television sets at union meetings and giving the best jobs to friends and families would help keep them in power.  The tactic of giving certain members the privileges of not having to be put on the work list,  in exchange for votes,  worked.  Wearing suits, driving company cars and talking on cell phones is what represents the current leadership.  Apparently, they’ve forgotten where they came from.  The members were afraid to be seen talking with Pete and his “people”.  But wait, aren’t they all the same “people”?  Should there be a distinction between ex-local members of 13, 23, 33, 37, 46, 47, 48, 51, 59,  and 104 for jobs or positions?   Does what local you belonged to influence your rank in the union?  Apparently, it does.  Michael C. Pagano, Jr.,  former Business Manager of Local 104 and former Fund Trustee, who was named in the 1994 Rico Suit is now the head of two LIUNA Tri-Funds.  His son is the head of the apprenticeship program for Local 79.  Joseph Speziale, now Business Manager of Local 79 and Salvatore Speziale now President of Local 78, who  just happen to be brothers, are former members of Local 104.  Wasn’t nepotism and cronyism supposed to end?   Michael C. Pagano, Jr., at the time of the consolidation, was slated by Steve Hammond, (LIUNA Trustee), the FBI and the Investigations Officer to be the president of Local 79, but was turned down by the court appointed monitor.   It would only be logical to reward members of his local with positions. So, who is really running Local 79? Are we back to the same regime?  Have only the shirts changed?  Frank Noviello, President of Local 79 had no comment about the election. “There is a Business Manager too, I don’t know what goes on. I’m out on the job, any press should speak to Richard Weiss.”   Richard Weiss's comment was “the membership is happy, with the local community in organizing and the membership voted for what they were happy with.”

During his campaign, Pete spoke before a group of Spanish laborers.  Since there is a language barrier, minority members have been led to believe that they can only do  demolition work.  Why demolition work?  Apart from it being the most dangerous in the construction trade,  demolition work means that you are in the Tier B Pay Rate - less wages, less benefit contributions.   Pete pointed to the new construction of  hi-rise buildings across the water  and said “you see those buildings there, there are laborers working there and all of you have a right to work there too.”  The members were shocked.  “Benefit money is not being collected from delinquent contractors”,  continued Pete, “what makes working for a union contractor any different then working for a non-union one?  Contractors are not being forced to pay benefits,  jobs are not being shut down, who is losing in the long run?   We all are.” 

After losing the election, Pete was told by the “Clean Slate” that they were all one union.  So, Pete addressed a letter to the newly formed Executive Board.  The letter contained changes and proposals that Pete and his slate would have made if they had won the election.   Since that letter, organizers and business agents have been let go from their positions, but none of Pete’s proposals were acknowledged.  Although, Pete has been “locked out” from working until about a week ago, he says that he will continue his fight, he will continue to raise questions and demand answers.

It is true, with this election we may have lost the battle to bring democracy and truth to this local, however,  the war continues.  The Local 79 election was being watched by numerous other laborers across the country.  If Pete had won, it would have proven to the other locals that the stranglehold on the union could be lifted.

This article cannot bring across the emotions of the many people who through the years have tried to do the right thing for the laborers and have ended up losing their jobs and self-esteem.  The only thing that can be done is to show support for people like Pete who has and will continue to demand answers.  Everyone can make a difference if they let their voice be heard.  We have four years to help Pete realize his dream.  A dream that will one day  become a reality if the members realize that they are the forces behind what represent the true meaning of unionism.

 

Louise Furio