Union Conspiracy -- agree to contract or we'll burn you out!

You wouldn't think of cinema projectionists as being violent, but apparently some of them are up to Chicago-style politics.

By the way... Texas is a "right to work" state. No one here can be forced to join a union, and the few unions we do have are not made up of everyone in a particular business or particular building. I believe that's one of the reasons that Texas was targeted... other states might have given in to the demands of the union, but here in Texas they can fire you (union or no) and give your job to someone (non-union) else.

story.news.yahoo.com.../ap/20031107/ap_on_re_us/movie_theater_arsons
Nine Are Charged in Wave of Cinema Arsons
By MIKE ROBINSON, Associated Press Writer

CHICAGO - Seven members of a movie projectionists union and two associates have been charged in a wave of fires and assaults at movie theaters in 10 states, federal prosecutors said Friday.

Prosecutors said the crimes were intended to scare officials of three theater chains into giving in during contract disputes. In some cases, theater managers were beaten � with a pipe in one case, with a bat in another.

The crimes took place from New York to Texas, and fires were started with moviegoers in the theaters, forcing mass evacuations, according to the indictment.

Four defendants � including Albin C. Brenkus, 48, business manager of Chicago-based Local 110 of the movie projectionists union � were arrested early Friday by federal agents

The article is an interesting read for the other things associated with the union. Seven attacks were in Illinois, with others in Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Texas and Wisconsin.