Blood and Boots: A History of Union Violence in America, Part III

You can now add “drones” to the list of union intimidation tactics.

The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 98 in Philadelphia, PA has invested over $10,000 on three drones, according to a union spokesperson. 

Local 98 insists they were needed to film its picket lines, defending itself from “false claims” of illegal picket-line activities and to identify unlicensed or undocumented workers on job sites. (The union’s spokesperson later retracted the inclusion of “undocumented workers.”)

This sounds more like a fancy way to justify stalking.

So far, the drones have been used to record a creepy video posted by the union on YouTube in February, 2016. 

The footage captured Local 98 members, Teamster trucks and the infamous blow-up rats scattered throughout Philadelphia streets — all set to the tune of Rockwell’s ’84 hit, “I Always Feel Like Somebody’s Watching Me.” The gathering was a part of the union’s protest against a contractor who was seeking non-unionized work for a project.

Local 98’s video is apparently part of their official, “IBEW Local 98 Drone Surveillance Program,” which some construction contractors believe is actually a new intimidation tactic.

This notion might not be that far-fetched given the songs’s lyrics:

I always feel like somebody's watching me

And I have no privacy.

Woh, I always feel like somebody's watching me.

Who's playing tricks on me?

But more than a few lyrics are giving contractors a reason for concern over Local 98 members’ intent.

Heat Street reported violence by nine Philadelphia construction unions in 2012 against another contractor considering non-union bids. Courthouse.com posted the case document online which lists numerous alleged offensive and illegal activities, including threats of physical violence and distribution of asbestos and bottles of urine on the contractor’s property.

Then there is John “Johnny Doc” Dougherty, drone video master-mind, IBEW business manager and head of the Philadelphia Building Trades Council, who has an infamous track record of violence and intimidation. 

In January 2016, Philly.com reported that Dougherty “allegedly hit a nonunion electrician in the face . . . at a worksite.” The worker walked away with an apparent broken nose. Dougherty still claims he was only acting in self defense. 

You would think Dougherty would learn the consequences of surveillance cameras. Portions of the January altercations and the confrontation aftermath was caught on a street cam. WPCI-TV Action 6 News posted the video here. 

Dougherty may be threatening contractors using drones and 80’s pop hits. But he should know that he is being watched too.