NCJ Number
82755
Date Published
1981
Length
496 pages
Annotation
Congressional testimony deals with the nature of organized crime activities at east and gulf port shipping harbors through the International Longshoremen's Association (ILA).
Abstract
Much of the testimony before the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations reveals the results of the U.S. Justice Department's 5-year investigation of corruption in the ILA. The testimony traces organized crime's involvement in the ILA as far back as 1953. Organized crime's involvement in labor-management corruption is documented on New York and New Jersey waterfronts and more recently in ports of the Southeast and Gulf Coast. Corruption is documented to consist primarily of using the union's power to manipulate shipping companies into making payoffs and kickbacks to corrupt union officials. Threats of physical harm are reported to be commonplace for those shipping executives who refuse to make such payoffs. Further, the interests of ILA rank-and-file members are often compromised to serve the interests of those shipping companies making huge payments to union officials. Witnesses alleged to be involved in ILA corruption took the fifth amendment for the questions relevant to their involvement in alleged corruption. Testimony was heard from various Government officials involved in investigating ILA corruption and from shipping executives approached by union officials for kickbacks.