Disunited Brotherhoods: Race, Racketeering and the Fall of the New York construction unions

Just 40 years ago, the construction unions of New York City were among the most powerful labor organizations in the world. They were also among the most openly racist and sexist, and were thoroughly dominated by organized crime. Today, minority males, and women of any color, can get work in the industry, and the power of gangsters is on the decline. But the fall of racketeering and racism also broke the power of those unions.

Gregory A. Butler is a carpenter in New York City. He works in the interior systems carpentry sector?installing office furniture and trade show exhibits. He has worked on over 100 construction jobs around the city during the course of his career?including the reconstruction of the American Express Tower in Battery Park City after the September 11th attacks. Gregory is a member of local union # 608, United Brotherhood of Carpenters & Joiners of America, and a graduate of the NYC District Council of Carpenters Labor Technical College carpenter apprenticeship program. He is also the founder, owner and moderator of the Gangbox: Construction Workers News Service on the yahoo groups network. Gregory is a lifelong New Yorker?born in Chelsea, raised in Far Rockaway and currently residing in West Harlem. This is his first book.