Dispute Over Dues
Toussaint on Trial In Ejection Beef

By ARI PAUL

Transport Workers Union Local 100 President Roger Toussaint will face the trial committee of the union's executive board Sept. 20 on by-law charges that he wrongly accused a member of not paying dues and had him physically removed from the building.

ROGER TOUSSAINT: An unwarranted booting?

Station Agent Joe Pollard brought the charges against Mr. Toussaint on Aug. 10, saying that he had gone to the local's Upper West Side headquarters July 26 to attend a division meeting. There, he said, Division Chairwoman Jamel Chisolm said that he had not paid dues, and that he would have to leave the building immediately. Mr. Toussaint then asked whether he had paid, Mr. Pollard recalled, and Mr. Pollard refused to answer.

Hurt During Scuffle

In response, Mr. Toussaint ordered union staffers to pick up Mr. Pollard and take him out of the building. Mr. Pollard had a video camera in his bag, which recorded the sounds of what occurred. Mr. Pollard hit his head on the floor during the scuffle, and went to Roosevelt Hospital. He called the police after the incident. While police officers told Mr. Pollard they could not press charges, he is still contemplating taking civil action against Mr. Toussaint and the union.

JOE POLLARD: Still barred from premises.

The trial committee will be made up of Dennis Boyd of Rapid Transit Operations, Anthony Vaglica of TA Surface and David Thrower of Rapid Transit Operations. The alternate is Kevin Cadigan of Private Lines.

"In the event that you do not appear at the hearing, the trial will go forward in your absence unless you provide a reasonable excuse acceptable to the committee demonstrating that you are unable to attend," a letter from the union to Mr. Toussaint stated Sept. 7.

Counter-Charge Filed

Mr. Pollard received a letter indicating that Mr. Toussaint brought by-law charges against him as well.

Mr. Toussaint has maintained in executive board meetings that Mr. Pollard was a member in bad standing and started the scuffle.

Mr. Toussaint also filed by-law charges against Mr. Pollard, claiming he "kept following me around" and "would stand within inches of me in a provocative manner."

Dues Crisis

The trial committee will also hear these charges Sept. 20.

The union has been without automatic dues check-off since June as a result of its illegal three-day strike in 2005. Local 100 has been organizing members to voluntarily pay dues either by post, in person or on-line. While the president has the authority to bar members in bad standing from union meetings, Mr. Pollard's dues statement from the union's own Web site showed he was in good standing.

Since the incident, Mr. Pollard has not been allowed beyond the lobby of the union's headquarters. Security officers briefly displayed a photo of Mr. Pollard that appeared in THE CHIEF-LEADER while informing other staffers that he was not to enter, he said.

"They're denying me my democracy rights," he said.