Claim Toussaint Made Dispute At TWU Racial

Transport Workers Union Local 100 President Roger Toussaint allegedly couched a dispute with a white union official in racial terms at a local Power Division meeting March 19, prompting a stern reaction from two other nonwhite officials.

A RACIAL TINGE?: Thomas Creegan (left) is among three Transport Workers Union Local 100 officials who claim President Roger Toussaint invoked race when he became angered by questions Mr. Creegan posed at a meeting of the local's Power Division.

According to Power Distribution Maintainer rep Thomas Creegan, after he had lobbed questions about the proceeds from the sale of Local 100's headquarters, upcoming contract negotiations, dues collection and release-time representation in the division, Mr. Toussaint said something to the effect of "Mr. Creegan, a white man, should be careful when speaking to Mr. Toussaint, the black man."

'Used Race As Diversion'

TWU division reps Richard Holly, an African-American, and Anthony Osorio, a Latino, both of whom were at the meeting, sent a letter to Mr. Toussaint March 22 denouncing his statements.

"It seems that when you come under hard questioning from the members, you decide to play the race card," their letter stated. "Indeed, when you cannot or will not answer difficult questions you deliberately inject race into the equation as a means of focusing the members' attention away from the issues at hand."

According to several people who attended the meeting, Mr. Toussaint also referred to an incident eight months ago during which Mr. Creegan mocked the union president by moving his lips.

"I think he took it the wrong way," Power Distribution Maintainer Rashard Boyd said of Mr. Toussaint.

Call Creegan Color-Blind

The division officers continued in their letter, "As African-American and Latino-American members of Power Division, we condemn your attempt to place a blemish on Chairman Creegan's character. Thomas Creegan doesn't see color. Thomas sees Local 100 members. The same cannot be said for you."

Spokesmen for Mr. Toussaint did not respond to several requests for comment.

Mr. Osorio later added in a phone interview that he didn't believe Mr. Creegan harbored racial prejudice.

"I was shocked that he would even go there," he said of Mr. Toussaint. "I was pretty disappointed when I knew that it wasn't true."