BSEIU Investigation Committee Files, 1940-1941
Collection Number: 5265
Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation & Archives
Cornell University Library
DESCRIPTIVE SUMMARY
Title:
BSEIU Investigation Committee Files, 1940-1941
Repository:
Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation & Archives
Collection Number:
5265
Abstract:
Consist chiefly of transcripts of hearings before the Investigating Committee for
locals of the Building Service Employees' International Union (BSEIU) and the Window
Washers Union.
Creator:
Building Service Employees' International Union (BSEIU)
Quanitities:
0.5 cubic feet
Language:
Collection material in English
In the latter part of 1939, New York City District Attorney Thomas 3. Dewey undertook
an investigation of the Building Service Employees International Union. The investigation
allegedly arose after the D.A.'s office had received several complaints of extortion
from landlords and building operators. The results of this investigation began to
bear fruit in March of 1940 with the indictment of L. & I. Schwarz, officials of Local
32 J, BSEIU, for conspiracy of extort money. This indictment was soon changed to simple
extortion, a felony.
Soon thereafter, George Scalise, president of the BSEIU, was indicted under similar
charges. As the Scalise Case became more prominent, other officials became implicated.
Before the investigation was completed, the following union officials were either
indicted or dismissed from union activity for irregularities: Peter Byrne, James Seamon
and I. Eisenberg, officials of Local 32A, were expelled from the union; James Bambrick,
president of Local 323, was convicted of embezzeling $10,000 from the union treasury;
Frank Gold, Scalise aid in 32B was convicted of extortion, as were Hymen Palatnik,
M. Saverino, S. Abrams and S. Abramson. Among the alleged union irregularities were;
failure to issue financial reports, failure to hold regular meetings, rigged election
procedure, running of meetings in an autocratic fashion, and failure to process the
complaints and grievances of the membership.
As a result of the notoriety that was brought upon the union by the Grand Jury investigation,
president-elect William McFetridge ordered an additional investigation into the affairs
of all local unions within the city of New York and the immediate vicinity. The committee
which was established to conduct these investigations consisted of: Thomas Murtha,
president of the New York City Central Trades and Labor Council, Arthur S. Meyer,
chairman of the New York State Board of Mediation, Hugh S. Robertson, executive manager
of Rockefeller Center, Andrew Jackson, secretary to the Investigating Committee and
David Cahill.
Records pertain to hearings conducted by a special investigating committee established
to investigate "fiscal irregularities and maladministration of various locals of the
Building and Service Employees International Union (BSEIU), notably Local 32 in New
York City. Besides transcripts, documents include reports and minutes of the investigating
committee; bylaws and pamphlets of the New York Hotel Trade Council; and a jurisdictional
agreement between BSEIU Local 32 and the New York Hotel Trade Council.
Access to the collections in the Kheel Center is restricted. Please contact a reference
archivist for access to these materials.
This collection must be used in keeping with the Kheel Center Information Sheet and
Procedures for Document Use.
INFORMATION FOR USERS
BSEIU Investigation Committee Files #5265. Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation
and Archives, Cornell University Library.
Related Collections: 6046: Archives Union File (AUF)
Names:
Meyer, Arthur S., 1880-1955
Building Service Employees' International Union
Building Service Employees' International Union. Local 32 (New York, N.Y.)
New York Hotel Trade Council
Subjects:
Racketeering -- New York (State) -- New York
Building-service employees.
Grievance procedures. Building-service industries. United States.
Trade-unions. Building-service employees. New York (N.Y.)
Trade-unions. Building-service employees. United States.
Trade-unions. Hotels, taverns, etc. New York (N.Y.)
Trade-unions. United States. Corrupt practices.
Trade-unions. United States. Elections of officials.
CONTAINER LIST
|
Container
|
Description
|
Date
|
|
| Box 1 | Folder 1 |
Local 32B- Final Report of the Investigating Committee, Local 323
|
1941 |
| Box 1 | Folder 2 |
Report of the Impartial Referee
|
|
| Box 1 | Folder 3 |
Report of the Referee, Arthur S. Rogue in the matter of the investigation of Local
32 J Building Service Employees International Union
|
1941 |
| Box 1 | Folder 4 |
Committee on Investigation of the Building Service Employees International Union
|
1940 |
| Box 1 | Folder 5 |
Committee on Investigation of the Building Service Employees International Union
|
1940 |
| Box 1 | Folder 6 |
Minutes of May 2, 1940 Meeting (discussion of 32A issue)
|
1940 |
| Box 1 | Folder 7 |
The Committee of Investigation for Building Service Employees' International Union
|
1940 |
| Box 1 | Folder 8 |
By-Laws of NY Hotel Trades Council
|
|
| Box 1 | Folder 9 |
Authorization Slip giving N.Y.H.T.C. permission to act on 32A employees behalf.
|
1940 |
| Box 1 | Folder 10 |
Jurisdiction agreement between Locals 32A and 6
|
1938 |
| Box 1 | Folder 11 |
Summary of minuts, November 2, 1940
|
1940 |
| Box 1 | Folder 12 |
Supplemental Report of the Committee of Investigation, Locals 2 and 95, July 2, 1941
|
1941 |
| Box 1 | Folder 13 |
Report of the Investigating Committee, Feb. 1941
|
1941 |
| Box 1 | Folder 14 |
Division of Rooming House Employees and Front Service Employees
|
|