Another NYC carpenters union boss bites the dust.
Another NYC carpenters union leader bites the dust as Michael Murphy’s booted from his post. Another example of business unionism, how their model creates the same class divisions, crooked leaders, and scandal no different from the bosses, lobbyist and politicians.
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
For the fifth time this year, the head of the city’s biggest carpenters union local has been booted amid corruption allegations, the Daily News has learned.
Michael Murphy, president of crime-racked Local 608, was suspended without pay less than two months after taking office in September.
He was bounced days before former District Council of Carpenters chief Michael Forde, a one-time Local 608 boss, was sentenced to 11 years in prison for racketeering.
Four of Murphy’s predecessors were axed this year for financial skulduggery, rigging job referrals and other infractions, officials said.
With 7,400 members, Local 608 is the largest of 11 locals in the district council and controls virtually all high-rise construction on Manhattan‘s West Side and in the Bronx.
Murphy rigged work assignments to put cronies in plum jobs and is suspected of tipping probe subjects about an investigation by the district council’s anti-corruption committee, sources said.
He could not be reached for comment.
District council trustee Michael Koballa, vice president of Dockbuilders Local 1456, was suspended without pay last week.
Koballa, whose duties included reviewing district council bills, ignored a key union officer’s unauthorized use of union credit cards to run up whopping tabs for luxury hotel stays, gourmet meals and junkets, sources said.
Koballa’s lawyer did not return calls for comment.
Since September 2009, 15 district council leaders and rank-and-file members have been forced out for everything from rigging job referrals to credit card abuse and drug use, officials said.
Federal court-appointed corruption monitor Dennis Walsh and International United Brotherhood of Carpenters emergency supervisor Frank Spencer have joined forces to clean up the district council.
