Labor Voice, Summer 1998

VAIRA "FLIPS" AS
DISSIDENTS REFUSE OFFER OF "CHAT"

Former Local 230 [Hartford, Ct] candidates Gene Julian & Steve Manos
were recently offered the "opportunity" to attend an informal, unsworn,
& unrecorded "interview" by the office of LIUNA Independent Hearing
Officer Peter Vaira in regard to election protests lodged by Julian & Manos

Julian & Manos argued adamantly against this format, contending that it
was counterproductive & that they would much prefer to "operate under
the penalty of perjury"!!!

The "interview" was to be presided over by IHO staffer Joseph Zaffarese.
of Philadelphia & "Special Hearing Master" George Kelly, a former

federal prosecutor from Massachusetts.

IHO Vaira reversed his stand & allowed the testimony to be sworn &
transcribed by a court reporter.
On August 12-13, 1998, a hearing was held in Hartford, Connecticut.

Among others interviewed were Manos, Julian, Business Manager Charles
LeConche, & Judge of Election Horace Daley.

Vaira's office is in the process of investigating further evidence.

CT DISTRICT COUNCIL LAWSUIT MOVES FORWARD

A suit filed by Bridgeport, Ct. Business Manager Ronald Nobili Against
the CT. Laborers' District Council has been scheduled for October of 1998.

This suit charges, among other things, the willful withholding of funds
owed to the Bridgeport Local.

On October 6, 1997, & following the assault of Local 230 Vice-President
Steve Manos.

Nobili was also physically attacked for asking the same question that
Manos asked about suspicious expenditures of Union members' money.

CT DISSIDENT RETIRES

Former Vice-President & unsuccessful candidate for the office of
Business Manager of Hartford, Ct Laborers' local 230 has retired as of
August 1, 1998.

In an exclusive interview with this newsleter, Manos stated that he was,
in fact, forced out at the age of 53 because of his inability to get
work & also because he & others feared for his physical safety on
certain jobs.

Manos is being sued by Local 230 Business Manager Charles LeConche for
giving criminal evidence to the FBI & also for testifying at a U.S.
Congresional hearing.

Manos is in the process of subpoenaing interviews conducted by LIUNA
Inspector General Douglas Gow with union officers who either witnessed
or participated in the assault of then Vice-President Manos on July 30,
1997 at an Executive Board meeting.

These interviews were given before the participants knew that Manos had
secretly recorded the assault.

As "THE SHADOW" used to say :
"The weed of crime bears bitter fruit" !!!

WHAT'S GOING ON IN LOCAL 703 IN CHAMPAIGN ILLINOIS ???? [MORE TO FOLLOW]