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TWU PACT STILL BAD

TWU Pact Still Bad

To the Editor:

This is a response to the "TWU Contract Math" letter which appeared in your April 7 issue.

Terrance Williams, who works for Roger Toussaint on occasion, surprised me with his letter.

Regardless of how Roger Toussaint or anyone else chooses to self-servingly interpret the language in the rejected/re-vote contract, the fact is, the contract states, "all active employees will contribute 1.5 percent of their bi-weekly wages to offset the cost of retirees health benefits. In future years, the 1.5-percent contribution rate shall be increased by the extent to which the rate of increase in the cost of health benefits exceeds general wage increases." End of story.

Putting it simply - members will receive the full 10.5-percent pay raise over three years, but, each year, we are required to give back 1.5 percent of our gross pay, including overtime, for health care. And, as health costs increase, it will be passed on to us, decreasing our take-home pay further. And there is no cap.

The contract is bad for our members but good for the MTA. However, Toussaint does not take responsibility for anything bad - even when he negotiates it. And, at all times he would vilify the character of others with deliberate misrepresentations to accomplish his objectives - in this case, it is the forced revote on the same contract based on his "opinion" members did not understand the flier I wrote regarding the 1.5 percent. Toussaint's irrational action is just plain corrupt.

Following conventional wisdom, when the company has money - for the MTA a billion-dollar surplus - workers must receive their fair share. Ironically, Toussaint failed to get us our fair share. Three percent, 4 percent and 3.5 percent over three years subject to a 1.5 percent give-back each year is inadequate considering the rate of inflation. His failure adds to his 2002 contract failure where he accepted 0 percent, 3 percent and 3 percent pay raises over three years.

Thirty-three thousand seven hundred members read the contract he sent to each of our homes. We did not like what it contained. And, 11,234 members rejected it. Simple.

Despite pretending to champion "dignity and respect" for workers, the bottom line is, as evidenced by the forced re-vote, Toussaint does not respect our decision, our rights to choose, nor having a point of view different than his. Re-voting is standard operating procedure for Toussaint.

When the membership rejected candidates on Toussaint's slate at the December 2003 election, including five of seven vice presidents, Toussaint demanded the election monitor re-run the election only for candidates on his slate who lost the election. One VP was lost as a result. And he dictated a re-vote for the division chairman position in my department - all with the blessing of the executive board, with a majority elected on his slate and beholden to him for the benefits he gives to them.

Re-voting on the same contract makes a mockery of our members, the voting process, and union democracy. Paying for health care sets a very bad precedent for the entire labor movement. And, under pattern bargaining, the entire labor movement will suffer from Toussaint's action for years to come.

AINSLEY STEWART, Vice President, TWU Local 100