Mr. MUNDIE. They purchased a building and remodeled it, and they purchased two airplanes and remodeled both of them. And for the years' operation, they have a deficit of $47,518.59. The CHAIRMAN. What year is that? Mr. MUNDIE. That is for the years 1952 through 1958; a detailed analysis is contained in the workpapers. In other words, they started with $91,000 at the period and ended with $44,000. The CHAIRMAN. In other words, they have some $40,000-odd less now than they had when they started. Mr. MUNDIE. And when I left El Dorado, I went into the bank to obtain their balances, and this $44,000 had gone down to some $10,000 during 1959 and the first part of 1960. The CHAIRMAN. I may ask you if you checked their records to ascertain how some of these funds have been spent? Mr. MUNDIE. Yes, sir; we checked all records. The CHAIRMAN. Did you find any indication of improper expenditures? Mr. MUNDIE. Yes, sir. The CHAIRMAN. Is there anything further now in connection with this assessment money? Mr. MUNDIE. No, sir. The CHAIRMAN. Do you have any other comment about that? The CHAIRMAN. You have given us the information about that, together with the documents that you have submitted now, which covers that aspect of your inquiry? Mr. MUNDIE. Yes, sir. The CHAIRMAN. Áre there any questions on that, Senator Ervin, at this time? Senator ERVIN. No. The CHAIRMAN. I will have to recess until 2:30. (Whereupon, at 11:30 a.m., a recess was taken until 2:30 p.m., the same day.) AFTERNOON SESSION (The hearing was resumed at 2:30 p.m., the first floor of the Capitol, Senator McClellan presiding.) The CHAIRMAN. The committee will come to order. (Members of the committee present at the convening of the session: Senators McClellan and Ervin.) TESTIMONY OF JAMES F. MUNDIE AND LaVERN J. DUFFY-Resumed The CHAIRMAN. I believe this morning we concluded the testimony with respect to the assessment fund; did we not? Mr. MUNDIE. Yes, sir. The CHAIRMAN. I may ask each witness if that is so. Mr. DUFFY. That is correct. The CHAIRMAN. Is there anything else in connection with that which should go into this record? Mr. DUFFY. I think the record is complete on that, Senator. The CHAIRMAN. Did either of you review correspondence that the Chair had received regarding this local union's governmental affairs prior to the time you started making your preliminary investigation? Mr. DUFFY. I did, Senator. The CHAIRMAN. You found in these complaints from union members of this local 706, charges that there was lack of democracy in the union, that it was ruled in a dictatorial fashion; did you not? Mr. DUFFY. That is correct. The CHAIRMAN. Was there some charge-I have not reviewed the correspondence lately-was there some charge in the correspondence or did it develop in the course of your examination that there had been what they thought was a rigged election in this union? Mr. DUFFY. Yes, sir; we checked into that also, Senator. The CHAIRMAN. Was that in the letters? Mr. DUFFY. It was not in the initial correspondence. The CHAIRMAN. That was developed as a charge which came later in the course of the investigation? Mr. DUFFY. That is right. The CHAIRMAN. Did you investigate the charge of lack of democracy and dictatorial rule in this local union? Mr. DUFFY. We did, Senator. We also obtained affidavits from a number of the individuals setting forth examples of this development. The CHAIRMAN. You obtained affidavits from a number of witnesses, you mean, of union members of this local, with respect to this charge? Mr. DUFFY. Yes, Senator. The CHAIRMAN. Do you have those affidavits? Mr. DUFFY. Yes, sir; I do have them before me. I have seven affidavits and they cover some different allegations regarding perpetuation of the union officials in office, reprisals against certain members; and if you want me to read some of them, I will be glad to do so. The CHAIRMAN. Who are they from? Mr. DUFFY. The first affidavit is from Mr. J. W. Staples. The CHAIRMAN. Just give the name and where they are from. Mr. DUFFY. He resides at Route 1, Box 74, El Dorado, Ark. The second affidavit is from Mr. Plez Major, who resides at Route 4, El Dorado, Ark. There is one from Mr. A. M. Willett, who lives at Route 6, Box 111, El Dorado, Ark. The next is from Mr. O. H. Primm, who resides at Route 6, Box 258C, El Dorado, Ark. The next we have is an affidavit from Mr. J. R. Longing, Jr., who resides at Route 4, El Dorado, Ark., and the last is Mr. James Ralph Lucas, who resides at 500 Elm, Crossett, Ark. That covers the depositions. The CHAIRMAN. How about one from Coy D. Longing? Mr. DUFFY. Yes; I have another one. The CHAIRMAN. I think that you have only mentioned six. Mr. DUFFY. Mr. Coy D. Longing, residing at Route 4, Norphlet, Ark. The CHAIRMAN. These seven affidavits may be printed in the record at this point, and made exhibits Nos. 13A, B, C, and so on. (The documents referred to were marked "Exhibits 13A to 13G," inclusive, and may be found in the files of the subcommittee.) (The affidavits are as follows:) AFFIDAVIT I, J. W. Staples, who resides at Route 1, Box 74, El Dorado, Ark., make the following statement freely and voluntarily to LaVern J. Duffy, who has identified himself to me as a member of the staff of the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Improper Activities in the Labor or Management Field. No threat, force, or duress has been used to induce me to make this statement, nor have I received any promise of immunity from any consequences which may result from submission of this statement to the aforementioned Senate select committee. I have been a member of Local 706 of the Plumbers & Steamfitters Union, El Dorado, Ark., for the past 17 years. I am familiar with the type of discrimination which exists in our local union when one fails to go along with the policies of the Griffin brothers. I have learned through bitter experience that this is a fact. The latter part of 1957 I attended a union meeting at which time a motion was made to increase the salaries of the business agents $25 a week. I was the only one who stood up and objected. Exactly 1 week later, I lost my job. When I asked my superiors the reason I was fired, they would not give me any explanation whatsoever. Since this incident occurred, I have had trouble getting work out of the local. During the past year, I have not received any work out of local 706. This practice of discrimination has been existing in the local for many years since the Griffins took over. I have read the foregoing statement, and to the best of my knowledge it is true and correct. Witness: [SEAL] J. W. STAPLES. M. B. JOHNSON, Notary Public. My commission expires June 6, 1963. AFFIDAVIT I, Plez Major, who reside at Route 4, El Dorado, Ark., freely and voluntarily make the following statement to LaVern J. Duffy, who has identified himself to me as a member of the staff of the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Improper Activities in the Labor or Management Field. No threat, force, or duress has been used to induce me to make this statement, nor have I received any promise of immunity from any consequences which may result from submission of this statement to the aforementioned Senate select committee. Since 1947 I have been a member of the Plumbers & Steamfitters Local 706, El Dorado, Ark. Besides working out of this local, I am also an ordained Baptist minister. For many years I have been an outspoken critic of the dictatorial policies of the Griffins in the manner that they have run the affairs of local 706. I recall that in 1956 while working on a job in Pine Bluff, Ark., Benny Rybiski, foreman, asked me to sign a petition which was handed out by "Red" Yocom, steward on the job. This petition contained a list of the officers of the union and we were supposed to sign our name indicating we wanted them to remain in office. When I was asked to sign the petition, I told Benny that I didn't do things like that, that it was wrong. Benny answered that if I didn't sign it I wouldn't be around long. I didn't sign it. Since that time I have had difficulties getting a job in the local and they have discriminated against me in every way possible. I have also seen other members discriminated against and refused work who have seniority in the local; their jobs have been given to transits and permitmen who have moved into the area. I have read the foregoing statement, and to the best of my knowledge it is true and correct. [SEAL] My commission expires June 6, 1963. PLEZ MAJOR. M. B. JOHNSON, Notary Public. AFFIDAVIT I, A. M. Willett, who reside at Route 6, Box 111, El Dorado, Ark., freely and voluntarily make the following statement to LaVern J. Duffy, who has identified himself to me as a member of the staff of the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Improper Activities in the Labor or Management Field. No threat, force, or duress has been used to induce me to make this statement, nor have I received any promise of immunity from any consequences which may result from submission of this statement to the aforementioned select committee. Since 1942 I have been a member of Local 706, Plumbers & Steamfitters Union, located in El Dorado, Ark. Since Earl and Ermon Griffin took over local 706 in the early 1950's, they have discriminated against the rank-and-file members of our local union who have disagreed with their policies. I am familiar with the fact that local members have stood up at union meetings and objected to the policies of Earl and Ermon Griffin and for this they have either been laid off from their jobs or refused work at a later date. I, myself, have worked only 2 months during the last year due to my failure to go along with Earl and Ermon Griffin. Earlier this year I had a conversation with Ermon Griffin, and he said I wasn't a good enough politician to work out of the local. This is just another example of how the Griffins operate. People who object to the way things are being run get no work. Most of the memberships are afraid to speak out against the Griffin regime because they have families to support and they need the work. I have read the foregoing statement, and to the best of my knowledge it is true and correct. Witness: My commission expires September 1, 1964. S. M. WILLETT. SYLVIA J. EVANS, Notary Public. AFFIDAVIT I, O. H. Primm, who reside at Route 6, Box 258C, El Dorado, Ark., freely and voluntarily make the following statement to LaVern J. Duffy, who has identified himself to me as a member of the staff of the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Improper Activities in the Labor or Management Field. No threat, force, or duress has been used to induce me to make this statement, nor have I received any promise of immunity from any consequences which may result from submission of this statement to the aforementioned Senate select committee. Since 1948 I have been a member of Local 706, Plumbers & Steamfitters Union, El Dorado, Ark. I, for one, would like to complain against the lack of democracy in our local union. I hope that something can be done to remove the power of the Griffins, who dominate the local without considering the views of the membership. During August 1959, I signed a letter addressed to the president of our national union asking for an organizer of the national union to meet with a group of the local union members in order to investigate the finances of our local union. Within a week after I signed this letter, I was in the lobby of our union hall when Earl Griffin appeared and made a statement so typical of him. In the presence of about 60 men he said that the 6 individuals who had signed a letter to the president of our national union requesting an investigation of our local union would be suspended from the union or heavily fined and put back in line. He went on to discuss a job where approximately 35 men would be used, and then added that 6 additional men would have been used on that project if this letter had not been signed and sent to Washington. I would like to state at this time that I did not raise an objection when the motions were passed on the floor at union meetings which authorized the union officers to purchase an airplane. I did not complain because I knew that if I did object I would be refused work out of the local; I have seen this happen before. I have seen members of the union blackballed and prevented from getting work when they raised objections to motions made on the floor which were favorable to Earl and Ermon Griffin. I have read the foregoing statement, and to the best of my knowledge it is true and correct. Witness: My commission expires September 1, 1964. O. H. PRIMM. SYLVIA J. EVANS, Notary Public. AFFIDAVIT I, J. R. Longing, Jr., who reside at Route 4, El Dorado, Ark., make the following statement freely and voluntarily to LaVern J. Duffy, who has identified himself to me as a member of the staff of the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Improper Activities in the Labor or Management Field. No threat, force, or duress has been used to induce me to make this statement, nor have I received any promise of immunity from any consequences which may result from submission of this statement to the aforementioned Senate select committee. I am a charter member of the Plumbers & Steamfitters Local 706, El Dorado, Ark. I have been a member of the local union since 1941. In 1956 and 1957 a petition was passed around to keep in office the local union officers. Earl Griffin, who controls local 706, said at a union meeting that if the election didn't go as he wanted it, that he would cut the jurisdiction of the local back to the city limits of El Dorado. Our local union has no welfare fund or sick benefits. I, personally, have spoken up at union meetings and asked why we did not have such benefits. I have heard Earl Griffin answer that they would be too costly for the union. However, the union can afford an expensive airplane and other benefits for its officers. I have frequently spoken up at union meetings against the policies of the local union officers and as a result I have had trouble getting work. In 1956 I objected to the methods and the policies of the local union and the following day I was replaced on the instrument crew of the Lion Chemical construction job. Over the years, members of the local union have been afraid to speak up at union meetings because of retaliatory action taken against them for speaking their minds. I am aware of an incident where members have stood up and complained and have been refused work. It is the policy to discriminate against those who voice objections and give their work to transits and permit men who move into the area. I have read the foregoing statement and to the best of my knowledge it is true and correct. Witness: AFFIDAVIT J. R LONGING, Jr. M. B. JOHNSON, Notary Public. I, James Ralph Lucas, who reside at 500 Elm, Crossett, Ark., freely and voluntarily make the following statement to LaVern J. Duffy, who has identified himself to me as a member of the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Improper Activities in the Labor or Management Field. No threat, force, or duress has been used to induce me to make this statement, nor have I received any promise of immunity from any consequences which may result from submission of this statement to the aforementioned Senate select committee. I joined the Plumbers & Steamfitters Local Union 706, El Dorado, Ark., in January of 1947. In 1955 I was a member of the executive board of local 706. I held this position for 1 year filling an unexpired term. During this period that I was on the executive board, I was not allowed to see the financial records of local 706. In fact, I couldn't even get the bylaws of the local until I had been a member for 6 or 7 months. Since I left the executive board, I was unable to get a job out of this local. While I was on the executive board, I recall one incident that I would like to cite which occurred at Earl Griffin's cabin. At that time he mentioned that he wanted to purchase an airplane for the local union. I made the remark that I didn't think that the local needed one. Earl mentioned that we could get one cheaply from Jim Craddock, business agent of the local union in Tulsa, Okla. It was about 1 year later that I recall that the union did purchase an airplane; but I was no longer a member of the executive board, so I am not familiar with the details. I have read the foregoing statement, and to the best of my knowledge it is true and correct. Witness: My commission expires June 6, 1963. JAMES RALPH LUCAS. M. B. JOHNSON, Notary Public. |