TWU Elections Set for Queens Division Posts

By ARI PAUL

Transport Workers Union Local 100 will hold elections in its Private Lines Queens Division in a month's time, THE CHIEF-LEADER has learned.

Local 100's executive board appointed Queens Division Vice Chairman and LaGuardia Depot Chairman Enzo Sinnona as Private Lines Division Vice President Aug. 27, causing a vacancy in his old posts. There are open spots for depot officers in the Queens Division as well.

Toussaint Critic Running

Bus Operator John Day, who ran unsuccessfully for Private Lines Division vice president on the dissident Fresh Start slate in 2006, announced his candidacy Oct. 16 for Queens Division vice chairman. He is currently facing four other candidates. Some of those candidates, he claimed, were encouraged to run by Mr. Sinnona to take votes away from him.

Mr. Day, who has long been critical of Local 100 President Roger Toussaint's administration, began campaigning at his workplace, College Point Depot. But he is afraid that many of his supporters will not able to vote because they have fallen behind in their dues. Queens Division Chairman Joe Sexton complained, as have other union officials who did not run on Mr. Toussaint's slate last year, that Local 100 has not provided them with a list of which members are in bad standing.

Many Private Lines members had advocated for a new election for vice president prior to Mr. Sinnona's appointment by Local 100's board, while Mr. Toussaint insisted that the union's bylaws allowed for an executive board appointment. Rod Bailey was elected to division vice president in late 2006 on the dissident Rail and Bus slate, but departed from the bargaining unit in April to take a management position, creating a vacancy.

Not Worth Winning?

Even if elected, Mr. Day speculated he would still have an uphill battle against Local 100's leadership.

"If I win as vice chair, the release time is very limited," Mr. Day said. "I doubt they'll give me very little release time even if I win."

Mr. Day's biggest concern is the lack of a contract for the division. He said he is running so he can be a part of contract negotiations. He does not have confidence in the current union administration's ability to bargain a contract despite Mr. Toussaint's vow in July to deliver a contract in a matter of weeks, and called the current situation "unacceptable."

"We most likely will not have a contract by the end of the year," Mr. Day said.