Roberts Not The One

To the Editor:

As a member of TWU Local 100 who has been involved in the union political process for 10 years, I would like to offer my opinion about some of the candidates for President. I can say without hesitation that Vice President Barry Roberts is the least-qualified of the four candidates.

Barry has remained silent over the last five years while Roger Toussaint has systematically weakened the vice presidents with his penchant to micro-manage the divisions. I ran with Vice President Roberts on the Members First Slate three years ago, and although he seems like a decent guy, he does not possess the leadership skills and passion that it takes to lead a union against a cunning employer.

VP Roberts attends executive board meetings but never asks questions, makes any motions or offers an opinion. Several E-Board members told me his nickname is "The Sphinx." It is no wonder that President Toussaint challenged Barry to a debate rather than presidential candidate Ainsley Stewart.

Vice President Stewart would clean Toussaint's clock in a debate. Barry's style of campaigning amounts to offering influential union chairmen jobs, letting others do the talking in the media, and sending out glossy flyers with money from Sonny Hall. When I decided to run for recording secretary for TA Surface, I chose to run with the candidates who have done the heavy lifting. Vice Presidents Stewart, Pelletier and Mooney of the Union Democracy Slate led the fight against the 1.5-percent health-care giveback, the sale of our union hall to an unknown buyer, and the right of division chairs to attend the negotiations. Bill Pelletier authored the "Assault Bill" legislation which makes it a felony to assault on-duty union members.

When my fellow union members receive their ballots in the mail, I ask them to consider which candidates followed the course of least resistance and sat back, and which candidates showed guts and leadership despite personal and financial attacks from the current administration.

TOMMY McNALLY, Bus Operator, Ulmer Park Depot