Spin-Doctor Toussaint

To the Editor:

The Oct. 13 letter from Charles Jenkins regarding Roger Toussaint's pitiful remarks about race were right on the money. Stephan Thomas's and J.P. Patafio's attempt to deflect the issue to "MTA Racism" (Oct. 20 letter) is all too typical. Toussaint's administration pays a lot of people a lot of money to "spin" the issues away from the truth. Over the last couple of years, Toussaint has had to use a lot of "spin" to bolster his failing dictatorship.

Toussaint blames the massive momentum for opposition to his leadership on racism. What Toussaint doesn't want people to know is that hundreds of African-American Trackworkers in his Track Division home stand opposed to him. Are we all guilty of judging him based on his skin color? Toussaint is being judged solely by the content of his character and by his actions.

Toussaint has abandoned the ideals he once claimed to stand for. Over the last several years, Toussaint and his paid followers have been waging a dirty war against any elected officers in Local 100 who disagree with him. Roger Toussaint and Ed Watt have undermined democratically elected officers at every turn with no regard for those it hurts the most - TWU Local 100 members.

Toussaint's actions speak much louder that his words. His $10,000 a month publicity agent cannot mask the fact that he is a liar, a hypocrite and a dictator.

SHANNON POLAND, Track Worker

Editor's note: Mr. Poland is running, on the Rail and Bus United slate, for a Track Division executive board position in the upcoming Transport Workers' Union Local 100 elections.