THE CHIEF-LEADER welcomes letters from its readers for publication.
Correspondents must include their names, addresses and
phone numbers. Letters should be submitted with the understanding
that all correspondence is subject to the editorial judgment of this
newspaper. Letters can be e-mailed to: RSTEIER@RCN.COM or
mailed to: Richard Steier, Editor, 277 Broadway, Suite 1506, NY, NY
10007.

CAN’T JUSTIFY 1.5%

Can't Justify 1.5%

To the Editor:

Transport Workers' Union Local 100 President Roger Toussaint claims that lies from political opponents helped lead to the membership's rejection of the contract. The only untruths I heard being spoken in the Track Division were spoken by a Toussaint supporter, track union rep Jeffrey Lee.

Prior to the contract vote, Lee came to my quarters at Prospect Park and misled everyone. He said that the new 1.5-percent health premium was capped and wouldn't include all of our overtime.

Worse yet, Lee told me that if I opted out of the TA's medical plan (new to this contract), I would be exempt from the 1.5-percent health payment. This would have saved me about $800 a year.

I later found out that what Jeffrey Lee told me was untrue. I almost voted for this poor contract because of Lee's false statements. Thankfully, I ran into someone who knew what they were talking about before I cast my vote. It seemed like Lee was just saying things to sell the contract to people, instead of giving accurate information.

Why should transit workers get stuck paying first-time-ever health benefit premiums in a year that the TA has a $1.5-billion surplus?

GEORGE TSIHLIS

Editor's note: Mr. Tsihlis is a Track Inspector.