Emperor Toussaint

To the Editor:

The article in last week's Chief did not clearly convey the true story behind my termination from Local 100 staff by Roger Toussaint.

Toussaint's comments regarding my work at Local 100 on behalf of the membership are ludicrous. I informed Toussaint as far back as June 2006 that I would not and could not support him this coming election. I was informed by the union's leadership that I would remain on staff because my work performance in representing our members was excellent, and that they could not find any reason to fire me.

Toussaint accuses me of trying to destroy his administration. That is utterly ridiculous. That fact is Roger Toussaint does not need any help from me to destroy his administration, or Local 100 for that matter, as he is very successful at doing this by himself.

Toussaint has moved against every single person in our union who dares to disagree with him. Life for Local 100 staffers is like life in a police state, under martial law.

Toussaint's "destroy those who disagree" policies have absolutely caused the waves of infighting which engulf our union. Make no mistake, Toussaint's oppressive policies caused our great union to be at its weakest point in years as we approached last December's contract expiration.

Ironically, this month's union newspaper features a message from President Roger Toussaint in which he calls for the union to "stand together." Toussaint's idea of "stand together" means do not disagree with Emperor Toussaint or you will be destroyed. Toussaint is worse than any NYC Transit boss I have ever encountered in my 27 years of service. He is everything unions fight against - the vindictive, power-crazed boss.

TONY UTANO, Chair, Power Division, TWU Local 100