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THE CHIEF-LEADER welcomes letters from its readers for publication. Letters to the Editor: Little Fiddles As TWU Burns Letters to the Editor I applaud The Chief for keeping the ideal of union democracy alive with informative and insightful news articles relating to Local 100, as Roger Toussaint, president, and now James Little, president of TWU International, race our union to the bottom for their personal benefit. The diverse views published in The Chief make reading the newspaper an interesting and exciting experience every week. And, if it weren't for The Chief, Toussaint would have succeeded in contaminating the minds of everyone with the inaccurate picture he paints of Local 100 officers who demand input, accountability and financial transparency - all of which he detests. The content of Little's letter to the editor (Feb. 1 issue) is indicative of a weak person in a position to lead. It was also embarrassing and depressing to read that the TWU International president is afraid to assert he is president - not Toussaint! Little chooses to sit on the fence and allow Toussaint to run amuck, as he picked nearly $7 million in dues from Local 100 members' pockets in 2006 for protection the International fails to provide. Little's position that he does not have the "license to assert ... authority," nor "interfere from above," reining in Toussaint, because it is a matter controlled by "officers and governing bodies" of the local union is not true. It is just Little's way of conveniently hiding from doing his job of reining in an out-of-control president, whose support he is seeking as we approach the next TWU International convention, where, naturally, Little will seek a new term as president. Little can rein in Toussaint anytime he chooses. Ironically, Little ignored Local 100's governing body's determination that the Local 100 memo, which charged my dues payment was short $15.50, lacked merit - and did not warrant dues-delinquency charges. And instead, he asserted authority and interfered from above by bringing trumped-up dues-delinquency charges against seven International officers from Local 100, including International Vice President William Pelletier and myself, removing us from our titles. That is despite the fact that Pelletier and I, if anything, overpaid our dues and kept them timely. And, we were denied a full and fair hearing and a decision based on the evidence, as, despite our written request, Little barred us from presenting our side of the story to the International Executive Council as he did - a body which would determine our fate. A real kangaroo court. But most important to know, Little gave five of the titles he conspired to take from us to Toussaint and his Local 100 cronies. The other two went to Local 234 and Local 291. Together, the three locals make up nearly half the delegates voting at the next convention. From Little's action, it is transparently clear he is more concerned with lining up supporters for the next TWU convention election than with reining in Toussaint for the good of our union, and minimizing member apathy. However, it is evident nothing has changed over the first year of Toussaint's third term, other than the names of his victims. Toussaint's mode of operation remains the same. He continues to arbitrarily take every office he fails to win at the democratic election, installing his appointed reps - further chilling free speech and suppressing dissent. The right to express different ideas and opinions - the lifeline of union democracy - is forbidden in Local 100 and now TWU International. You dare not think outside the box! And, unless you pledge blind loyalty - become an anointed "yes" man or woman for Toussaint and/or Little, to abuse and discard at will - you are deemed an enemy whose days as an elected rep are numbered. Toussaint has run elaborate unchecked and unchallenged rackets against elected officers and members he disagrees with as a de-stabilizing tactic to distract attention from his failure to address the real issues of inadequate wages and benefits which our members face. He is encouraged by a majority of his self-serving executive board members, who sit idle, awaiting to condone his next corrupt act in exchange for a reward. The problems reported by new officers over the past year are similar, if not the same as those which led five of the seven vice presidents in Toussaint's last term, including myself, to file a suppressing dissent lawsuit against him, as we could not serve the membership effectively any longer operating in the dark and in silence. But unabashed, Toussaint continues to use the same script of destruction against newly-elected officers who demand input, transparency and accountability - which is detrimental to our union. The TWU constitution and Local 100 bylaws contain more than the needed rules and regulations to conduct business in a transparent and accountable manner. But Toussaint, joined by Little, both fail to obey the rules they swore to honor - for personal, instead of membership, gains. In the case of Little, it is obvious he believes bonding with Toussaint is worth the TWU International presidency. But from experience, it is a unique opportunity for Toussaint to betray Little. Little is condoning Toussaint's misconduct believing it will help expedite the bonding of their new relationship. But he is wrong. Toussaint's history bears evidence. Prior to his 2000 election to Local 100 president, and subsequently thereafter, Toussaint preached destruction of the international. The Sept. 5, 2003 Chief even reported then-Director Little accusing the irreconcilable Toussaint of trying to destroy TWU. And, in 2001, after only ten months as president he abandoned the membership, running for the position of TWU International President, but was defeated. Fathoming the state of mind of Toussaint in 2001 was scary. A division chairman representing 1,500 members on a part-time basis, turned president representing 37,000 members, quickly seeking election to head the national union representing more than 100,000 members, was delusional to say the least. I am confident Toussaint will lead Little to believe they are a team going into the next TWU convention election, only to announce a separation at the last moment - running a slate with Toussaint for president - a time too late for Little to organize his own slate. Betraying Little at convention election time would be business as usual for Toussaint. Nothing personal - just business, with a long list of Local 100 casualties to show. But only Little, who now acts as an agent of his own oppression, can save Little, and to some extent save Local 100. Beginning to act like a president in charge and enforcing the rules must be the first step. Little needs to make Toussaint abide by the rules governing our union, allowing all elected officers equal input in the affairs of our union, regardless of their views. And, demand transparency and accountability with all union business - critical factors in turning our union around from the race to the bottom. Our contract expires in less than a year. Toussaint believes contract negotiations is an opportunity for him to masquerade and showcase himself at the expense of the membership. Just look at his 2002 and 2005 pre-contract negotiations shows. But he is wrong! Doormen/women just settled a contract with 16-percent raises. Sanitation workers will earn $67,000 by the end of their contract. Teachers and others did well also. All without a show. Toussaint gave us a contract with a 1.5-percent health-care tax after a strike, at a time the employer had more than a $1-billion surplus. A contract which was about the worst in New York, and just about the worst among TWU unions. Little needs to protect the Local 100 membership to win our support, instead of Toussaint, as the record shows Local 100 convention delegations never vote as a bloc. Blind loyalty to Toussaint will only make Little a sore loser. It is time he report for duty or announce a surrender. AINSLEY STEWART Editor's note: Mr. Stewart ran against Mr. Toussaint for president of TWU Local 100 in 2006. |
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