Who's Union-Busting?

 To the Editor:

In response to Mike Sirchia and his Nov. 24 letter, in 2002 many others, including myself, did get signatures for a petition to have a vote on whether our members did or did not want to form another local under TWU. We did not want to leave the union as Mike and so many others put it; only to be in a different local so that we could have our elected officers represent us.

Back in 2002 and unfortunately still today, our elected officers were and continue to be shut out from negotiations. These elected offices were voted in to express our (Private Bus Lines members') concerns, wants, and needs at the table. They never had the opportunity to do so and, if they did, it was undermined by a private session without them present. This is not what we call democracy; it's a dictatorship.

Mr. Sirchia addressed this act in his letter while making sure not to let others see the circumstances that led up to the act. This is typical of the current union administration; Mike Sirchia especially since he is part of the same slate. Who would believe for one minute that it was done for no reason at all?

Mike Sirchia brings this old information to light during election time, but fails to mention that the slate he's running under (Roger, Ed, and Darlene) supports our PBL Starters & Dispatchers (Local 100) being put into a different local (Local 106). No, I don't call them "Union Busters," as they referred to us, but they are weakening Local 100 membership - the very thing they accused us of.

JOSEPH SAMMARCO, Bus Operator, Shop Steward