Christmas Tributes in the ILA - IT'S TRUE!

Not sure what's going on behind the scenes, but finally the Waterfront Commission is keeping up the pressure, and people are folding.   No wonder the ILA has been so intent on keeping the Container Royalty Fund intact.

From The NY/NJ Waterfront Commission

Longshoremen Plead Guilty To Extortion Conspiracy Involving Christmastime Tribute Payments
May 21, 2014
           NEWARK, N.J. - Three former longshoremen admitted today that they conspired to extort others in Local 1235 of the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) for Christmastime tribute payments, New Jersey U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman and Eastern District of New York U.S. Attorney Loretta E. Lynch announced.
           Salvatore LaGrasso, 58, of Edison, N.J.; Michael Nicolosi, 45, of Staten Island, N.Y.; and Julio Porrao, 71, of Palm Coast, Fla. – all former supervisors on the New Jersey piers – pleaded guilty today to conspiring to extort Christmastime tributes from the union members – count three of the second superseding indictment against them. LaGrasso, Nicolosi and Porrao entered their guilty pleas before U.S. District Judge Claire C. Cecchi in Newark federal court.
           According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
            During their guilty plea proceedings, LaGrasso, Nicolosi and Porrao admitted that they conspired with each other and others to compel tribute payments from ILA union members, who made the payments based on actual and threatened force, violence and fear. The timing of the extortions typically coincided with the receipt by certain ILA members of “Container Royalty Fund” checks, a form of year-end compensation. LaGrasso and Nicolosi were suspended from their positions following their arrests in this case. Porrao had already retired from his employment on the New Jersey piers at the time of his arrest.

click here for link to read complete article

China Air and price fixing

China Air is the last of many airlines which have agreed to pay fines for fixing prices with other carriers for transport of air cargo.

The case is being handled in Brooklyn, New York.

From Bloomberg News

Previous accords involved airlines including Lufthansa Cargo AG, Societe Air France, Qantas Airways Ltd. and British Airways Plc, according to settlement filings. Of the previous settlements, 18 have received final approval from a judge, according to court documents. Three have received preliminary approval, the complainants said.
Shipping customers sued the airlines in 2006 alleging that they were fixing prices through surcharges related to fuel costs and security following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in the U.S.
In addition to paying $90 million, China Airlines will provide $200,000 for settlement notice and administration costs and will cooperate in the case against the remaining companies, the complainants said.

click here for link to complete article