A source told the paper that Drigo was injured in a morning assault late last year, but that it wasn’t reported to police.

John Moszynski, a senior general counsel for the Carpenters, insisted the Terceira attack is suspicious considering there are currently a number of union migrations from LiUNA to the Carpenters, along with three ongoing lawsuits.

“We’re waiting to see what the police are going to come up with,” he said. “I think anyone would be suspicious about what happened to Durval (Terceira).”

When asked about concern over violence and intimidation returning to the industry after a 15-year hiatus, he said he hopes that’s not what’s occurring.

“If it is, we will deal with it. We will respond appropriately,” he said.

But LiUNA Local 183’s lawyer, John Evans, called any connection between his union in the Terceira attack “pure fiction and nonsense”.

“Any troubles which have befallen Mr. Terceira of the nature you suggest were not at the direction or behest of Local 183. While he is a litigation distraction to our cause and movement, we do not wish him physical harm. Local 183 does not condone, support or encourage the use of violence.”

Some of the simmering issues behind the claims of retribution against Terceira involve him losing his post as LiUNA Local 183 business manager after losing a tightly run election.

He, along with a number of colleagues, then left for Carpenters where he has since criticized his former employers and is now engaged in several lawsuits against LiUNA.

LiUNA also has three lawsuits before the courts naming the Carpenters as defendants.Together, they reportedly claim more than $50 million in damages.

According to Terceira, the Carpenters have about 23,000 members while LiUNA boasts between 60,000 and 70,000 members, making it the largest construction union in Canada.

He said the two men involved in the assault are in late 20s or early 30s, clean shaven, about six-feet tall with slim builds.

—With files from Robert Cribb and Tony Van Alpen, Toronto Star