Called Anti-Democratic
TWU Cancels Vote, Serves Up Steward

By ARI PAUL

A New York City Transit Structure Maintainer is crying "fix" after Transport Workers Union Local 100 officials canceled a shop steward election he was running in at his facility, instead appointing his challenger to the post.

The Chief-Leader/Pat Arnow 'WE CHOOSE OUR SHOP STEWARD': New York City Transit worker Greg McDonald was running for shop steward at his Manhattan workplace until Transport Workers Union Local 100 officials said Sept. 11 that he was ineligible and that the union would appoint someone. Most of the 100 workers there have signed a petition calling for an election.

Greg McDonald was set to run for shop steward against Joe Iovino for the 100-plus worker Structure Division shop at the 14th St. Sixth Ave. station on the F/V and L lines on Sept. 12. Acting Local 100 Structure Division Chairman Karl Beitzinger and Executive Board Member Edwin Benjamin Jr. went to the shop at around 3:30 p.m. the day before and announced that the election was called off because Mr. McDonald was under investigation. They appointed Mr. Iovino as shop steward.

JOHN SAMUELSEN: Hits Toussaint's 'phony' choice.

While by-law charges have not been filed against him, Mr. McDonald is accused of signing a letter urging members to pay dues but reminding them that Local 100 President Roger Toussaint had the responsibility not to abuse the union's finances. In June, Mr. Toussaint said he would not authorize Track Inspector and opposition leader John Samuelsen as a shop steward because he signed the same letter. A Local 100 spokesman had said the message of the letter put a condition on paying dues, which was tantamount to discouraging members from paying dues.

The union has been without automatic dues check-off since June 1 as a penalty for its illegal three-day strike last year.

Mr. McDonald said he encouraged members to pay dues and was himself a member in good standing. He also believed that Local 100 leaders were angry with him because he had directed workers to a Web site that lists salaries for Local 100 staffers.

"They don't like that, because they're yelling at people for dues," Mr. McDonald said of the local. "They're running around like it's the end of the world, but the salaries stay the same."

Unpopular Move

Several workers at the Sixth Ave. facility supported Mr. McDonald and called for an election.

"I think it's unfair," said one NYC Transit Structure Maintainer with five years on the job, who spoke conditioned on anonymity. "My opinion is that this union went from a democratic union to a dictatorship."

Most of the workers there signed a petition protesting Local 100's decision and will hold an election on their own. If Mr. McDonald was elected, Local 100 would not recognize him, but several workers believed that would not be a problem as long as he performed the shop steward's duties and was recognized by management.

"Regardless of who Toussaint rubber-stamps as the phony shop steward, McDonald is the recognized leader among the men," said Mr. Samuelsen. "McDonald has the support of the workers, therefore he has the power."

Blow to Democracy

Mr. Beitzinger declined to comment and Mr. Benjamin could not be reached.

Mr. McDonald claimed that even the workers who don't necessarily support his candidacy were angry at the union's decision because they believed they had the right to choose their shop steward.

"It's not about me," Mr. McDonald said. "It's about having the election. We need an election. We choose our shop stewards. This is the way it's always been."