International Union of Allied Novelty and Production Workers


The International Union of Allied Novelty and Production Workers or Novelty Workers traditionally represented workers at toy factories in the United States. Because that industry almost entirely moved to China, the trade union now represents other manufacturing, construction and healthcare workers. The Novelty Workers belongs to the AFL-CIO and is one of the organization’s smallest members.

Organized crime

John Serpico, a prominent member of the Chicago Outfit, held multiple paid positions with both the Novelty Workers and the Laborers Union. In the 2001 case U.S. v. Serpico, a federal jury convicted him of multiple counts of mail fraud involving a bribery scheme with union pension funds. Two members of the Colombo crime family were also convicted under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act for bribery in exchange for under-reporting union employment on behalf of a represented trucking company.
A Federal court also convicted the labor lawyer Sanford Pollack, who represented both the Novelty Workers and Teamsters, for racketeering in order to embezzle from the organization, and arson to conceal evidence.