Trade unions and organized crime

[Unicorn]

I am interested what kind of connections American trade unions have had with organized crime. Does anybody know good Marxist writings on the topic?

I am sure that connections between union bosses and lumpencapitalist mafiosos compromised the class struggle.

[Luís Henrique]

In Brazil I don't think they are "connected" to organised crime (as in drug dealing networks); but some of them certainly are organised crime on their own.

Luís Henrique

[gilhyle]

Ever see F.I.S.T. ?

[Colonello Buendia]

can't prove it, but in many cases the unionists were mafia related. it was a good way to have control of a large body of men. remember that the mafia was originally the Sicilian version of Robin Hoods group so even when they started to dabble in crime they often helped people out. some trad unionists may have been helped by mafiosi e.g. by the Don talking to the factory owner, or breaking the foremans legs etc.

[Chom]

Relations between trade unions and organised crime was/is really unknown to the workers. I mean, if you're suggesting worker action is the same as mafia business, I believe you're quite wrong. Capitalism is essentially related to mafia style; I mean, everytime I've read The Godfather, I can really see their negotiations, revenges, sitting and planning in over-smoked rooms the same way as corporate business operates.

The mafia had influence on some guys that knew some other guys that happened to be very influential union leaders or motivating speakers, and they used this influence to threathen government officials or big business men and say something like: "if you don't let me have my illegal distillery in your factory, I'll get a huge strike going on that will destroy you economically!"

Workers didn't know a thing, they just followed.

[Janus]

I don't know if any Marxist authors have ever written on the subject but most books on the American Mafia have sections dedicated to the Mob's connections with labor unions and union leadership. Jimmy Hoffa, the former President of the Teamsters, disappeared in mysterious circumstances which many believe were Mob related. Though there are few books on this specific subject, it's generally well-known that the Mob used labor unions to gain income, to gain greater control of certain industries and to exert greater political influence.

[Janus]

http://www.fbi.gov/hq/cid/orgcrime/lcnindex.htm

I also found a new book on this subject too:
http://www.amazon.com/Mobsters-Unions-Feds-American-Movement/dp/0814742734

[Os Cangaceiros]

I don't very much about this particular topic, but I do know that both the Teamsters and the International Longshoreman's Association were supposedly linked to organized crime.

[Red October]

Ever see F.I.S.T. ?

Are you talking about the American youth organization "Fight Imperialism Stand Together"?

[gilhyle]

No Im talking about this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F.I.S.T

If there is a Marxist writer who has written about this, the most interesting one would be Farrell Dobbs...I Have one book by him, Ill check it.

I think Hoffa's body was discovered recently.

The Mafia link to the Unions was at least three-fold, firstly they stole from the Pension Funds and secondly they used control to extort money from bosses, by threatening strikes and thirdly they used closed shops to set up fake jobs for Mafia members.....there is a slang term for it, but I cant remember it.

[gilhyle]

I Have one book by him, Ill check it.

Cant find it :(