So what has become of the chosen Twenty Two?
From the Philadelphia Inquirer
> http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/business/14651197.htm
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> Posted on Wed, May. 24, 2006
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> 22 machinists charged in Feb. airport brawl
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> By Jane M. Von Bergen
> Inquirer Staff Writer
> Warrants were issued Monday for the arrests of 22 members of the
International Association of Machinists, who are accused of aggravated and
simple assault, conspiracy, making terroristic threats, and theft in
connection with a Feb. 8 brawl at the Philadelphia Airport Marriott Hotel.
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> The union members, including three officers, are accused of assaulting
organizers from a rival union, the Transport Workers Union.
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> Ten of those charged turned themselves in yesterday and the rest will
surrender on Tuesday, said Charles Ehrlich, the prosecutor who heads the
municipal courts unit.
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> Stephen "Randy" Canale, general chairman of the machinists' union branch
that represents US Airways baggage handlers, said the union "does not
advocate or condone violence." However, he said, "we discourage any rush to
judgment based on incomplete accounts."
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> The unions were in competition to represent baggage handlers and
fleet-service workers at US Airways, which merged last year with America
West Airlines. Since then, the unions have agreed that the machinists' union
will represent all the baggage handlers.
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> The machinists' union had represented US Airways' baggage handlers, the
TWU America West's.
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> "It's a sad chapter in the history of the IAM," said David Rosen, the
Transport Workers Union's general counsel. "If they are guilty, they don't
belong in the labor movement or as airline employees."
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> The three union officers for whom warrants have been issued are Robert
Boland, local president of IAM Local Lodge 1776 in Philadelphia; Anthony
Armidio, assistant general chairman; and Vincent Cerasso, international
representative.
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> On Feb. 8, three men identifying themselves as machinists' union officials
warned five TWU organizers to leave the hotel and the city, according to the
arrest warrants issued Monday.
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> A few minutes later, about 25 men entered the room and began throwing
chairs, glasses, tables - and punches - according to a police affidavit. Two
of the TWU organizers were beaten badly enough that they went by ambulance
to Methodist Hospital.
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> Hotel videotape captured the men in the hotel corridors, but not what
happened inside the meeting room. US Airways officials were able to identify
all those on tape, police said
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> Shortly after the incident, US Airways fired the 22 men. The machinists'
union responded by demanding arbitration for all the men and by filing a
federal lawsuit that accused US Airways of trying to systematically
eliminate union representation at US Airways facilities at Philadelphia
International Airport.
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> The suit said the machinists' union members acted in self-defense. US
Airways said the suit had no merit.
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