Plans to Appoint VP
Toussaint Opposes Private Lines Vote

By ARI PAUL

Transport Workers Union Local 100 President Roger Toussaint has vowed that his executive board will appoint the next vice president of the Private Lines Division, despite calls from members to hold an election.

ROGER TOUSSAINT: Says it's his prerogative.

Mr. Toussaint spoke before division members July 20 at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 3 hall in Queens and took questions regarding contract negotiations and the vacancy left by elected Vice President Rod Bailey, who departed from the bargaining unit in April to take a management position.

'Members Not Happy'

When asked about the prospects of an election, Bus Operator John Day recalled, Mr. Toussaint was "adamant" that the next vice president would be appointed at the union's next executive board meeting.

"Members really want to see an election," said Mr. Day, who ran second in last December's vote for vice president. "They were not happy."

Bus Operator Neil Winberry, who served as vice president until last December and finished behind Mr. Day in the election, circulated a petition throughout the division calling for a new election.

NEIL WINBERRY: Pressing for election.

There is confusion within the union about what the bylaws indicate should happen in the event of a vacancy. On the one hand, the bylaws state that a vacancy occurring between elections in any office, besides the office of the president, can be filled by an executive board appointment. But members like Mr. Day contend that the bylaws also state if there is a vacancy left by an executive board member - and the division vice president sits on this board - or in a division officer position occurring more than 18 months before a general election, then a special election to fill the vacancy must be held.

Little Backs Toussaint

The union reiterated that the rules for executive board member vacancies are for those members who are not vice presidents, and that the rule about elections being held if a vacancy happens more than 18 months prior to an election applies only to division chairmen and recording secretaries, not vice presidents.

TWU International President James Little agreed with Mr. Toussaint's interpretation of the bylaws, Mr. Day said, and he asked Mr. Little to urge Local 100 to appoint someone who ran in the last election. Mr. Day also wanted the International to challenge the results from the last vice-presidential election, because votes were still being counted in May while Mr. Bailey, the projected winner, had already left the bargaining unit.

"I want to know how they certified an election when you know beforehand that Rod Bailey cannot accept the job," he said.

Mr. Day wasn't optimistic, however. He doubted Mr. Toussaint would appoint him or Mr. Winberry, who ran on Mr. Toussaint's slate, to the division's top post because they have both publicly criticized Mr. Toussaint's decisions.

Regardless, Queens Division chairman Joe Sexton, an immigrant from Ireland, saw Mr. Toussaint's decision as an affront to democracy, the lofty ideal that inspired him to leave the Emerald Isle for the United States.

"To appoint somebody who never ran in an election is absurd," said Mr. Sexton. "That's very disturbing to me."