Feb. 29, 2024 By Bill Parry An aging captain in the Colombo crime family was sentenced Wednesday to more than four years in federal prison for shaking down a high ranking official in a Queens-based construction union. Vincent Ricciardo, 77, of Franklin Square, LI, pleaded guilty in Brooklyn federal court in July for his participation in the long-running extortion of the senior official in what is called the “Labor Union,” in court filings and various conspiracies to commit money laundering, loansharking, and fraud in connection with workplace safety certificates. Ricciardo, known as “Vinny Unions,” is the tenth defendant sentenced in…
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Tag: Union
Union members picket outside Ozanam Hall in Bayside, demanding new contract and better pay
Sep. 13, 2023 By Gabriele Holtermann Union members and representatives of UFCW Local 342 rallied outside Ozanam Hall of Queens Nursing Home at 41-41 201st St. in Bayside on Sept. 12, demanding a fair contract and safer working conditions. The over 200 Ozanam workers, which include licensed professional nurses (LPN), certified nursing assistants (CNA), dietary aides and service and maintenance workers, have been without a contract for over a year. Besides higher wages, workers are asking for retirement benefits after their pension benefits were frozen in 2021 and affordable health care that lowers out-of-pocket costs. Additionally, they want Ozanam to…
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Fired Starbucks worker behind Astoria store’s unionization gets reinstated — and $21,000 in back pay
March 2, 2023 By Michael Dorgan An Astoria Starbucks worker who was fired by the chain last summer — in the midst of the store where he worked voting to unionize — has been reinstated and awarded more than $21,000 in back pay and penalties. Austin Locke was sacked from his barista role at the… Read more »