Former Ironworker Offical Testifies Union Boss Knew About Illegal 'Nightwork,' Details Construction Site Sabotage
By Tony Hanson
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) --- A former Ironworkers Union Local 401 official says former union boss Joseph Dougherty knew about so-called illegal "nightwork," and expected it, as did most in the union.
Former Ironworkers business agent Edward Sweeney testified Dougherty was usually told after the fact.
"He knew how we did it, and then he let [Dougherty] know how the job turned out. Like, did smashing the anchor bolts work, which 90% of the time doesn't work," Sweeney testified. "The non-union contractor just gets sore, and it's kind of a wash. But then sometimes the next time he comes in town, he'll think about it twice or another contractor will say, you know, look what happened to that guy... hire union guys or that will happen at our job."
Sweeney says destroying property at non-union jobsites was routine, a practice that goes way back in the union.
Sweeney says the union would try to negotiate to get union workers on the site first. "And if that didn't work," Sweeney testified, "if someone was just adamant against the union, you know, you would try to close the job down on them... put sugar in the welding machine so they can't run the welders, smash the anchor bolts over."
Dougherty has pleaded not guilty. His defense team says he did not order and was not involved in the illegal activities.
