Racism at MTA

To the Editor:

"Not racial"? Charles Jenkins is so blinded by his hatred of Roger Toussaint that he ignores blatant racism when it is right in front of his face.

Roger Toussaint said that people with dark skin and foreign accents get treated differently. Every transit worker knows that's the way it is in the MTA, but Jenkins lets the MTA off the hook.

There is racism in the MTA from top to bottom, even in 2006. It came out in negotiations. It comes out in disproportionate rates of discipline. It comes out on the job. None of this seems to matter to Jenkins.

We are the elected Local 100 Chairmen of two of the biggest bus depots in the city. One of us is black; one white. We both see MTA racism all the time. Jenkins doesn't even recognize MTA racism as a real problem. He can't be counted on to fight it.

STEPHAN THOMAS, Chairman, East New York Depot
J.P. PATAFIO, Chairman, Jackie Gleason Depot