TWU To Miss Bailey

To the Editor:

The recent resignation of Rod Bailey, the talented, popular and hard-working erstwhile vice president of the Private Bus Lines Division (PBL), sent the TWU Local 100 press flacks scrambling for an explanation, and a politically useful way to spin this piece of news.

They settled on the image of a boxer who stays on the stool and refuses to come out and fight even though the bell has rung. The Chief echoes this characterization with the front-page headline, "TWU's VP Favorite Knocks Himself Out." But this clever pugilistic overlay misses the mark.

Why did Bailey step down? Because he was not part of the incumbent's team, this officer was thwarted at every turn by the TWU Local 100 Administration. Rod Bailey was barred from contract negotiations involving PBL companies. Rod Bailey was not able to select staff members to carry out the service work of the PBL. There were times when he was kept from visiting PBL properties that he was elected to represent. How in the hell could he function as VP in these circumstances?

Bailey endured deplorable working conditions as long as he could. Even President Toussaint understood that loss of the skills of this capable veteran will set the local back when he archly remarked that if it did happen, then the management seduction of Rod Bailey would be union-busting. (Although he may try, the president cannot play the ingénue with conviction.)

Rod Bailey served as an elected officer for 15 years. He had the gift of the diplomat. He knew how to listen and to solve members' problems, and to win grievances. He was damned popular, and he saved many members' jobs. He will not easily be replaced. (These observations come from working shoulder to shoulder with Bailey in the PBL).

Because the current TWU Local 100 Administration was elected by the votes of fewer than one third of the total membership, press flacks should put spin aside and instead learn the meaning of the word magnanimity when figuring out how to deal with the loss of a valuable contributor to the union next time.

RUSSELL SMITH, TWU Local 100