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Claude Fort's War

Claude Fort's War

To the Editor:

Your editorial and article in the March 21 issue of the Chief on Civil Service Technical Guild Local 375 interference in numerous chapter elections have created a great opportunity for membership who have been negatively affected and suffered because of President Claude Fort's despotic, king-like actions in chapter affairs. We at NYC Transit Chapter 2 would like to use this opportunity to focus on and highlight Claude's direct and indirect interferences in Transit chapter elections and specific chapter affairs.

The local made numerous forceful attempts to take over the Transit chapter elections because Claude's candidate did not feel comfortable with the chapter's election committee.

A memorandum from the local to Mel Edelman, election chair, and Behrouz Fathi, candidate for chapter president, dated Oct. 18, 2004, stated that "Local 375 is in receipt of a petition .. requesting the Local [375] Election Committee to conduct the Chapter's Election. Due to this request the Election Committee will carry out this election."

This in itself is a gross violation of the AFSCME election by-laws. Mr. Fort's uncalled-for interference in the Transit chapter was brought to the attention of AFSCME in Washington, D.C. and DC 37's top leadership, in order to stop his most offensive behavior, and to allow the chapter election committee to conduct its fair, unbiased, and impartial election.

Shortly after Brother Fathi's victory by a 2-to-1 margin, Mr. Fort appointed the candidate who had lost in his bid for president, to chair the very important anti-privatization committee. The committee eventually self-destructed because of incompetence and a total lack of interest. This infuriated the chapter's officers, which resulted in a petition objecting to Claude's decision to appoint this individual to chair the Committee, but he specifically ignored the chapter's officers. Instead he kept this individual in the position for two years, resulting in a total collapse of this important committee, which allowed the MTA to hire more outside consultants.

Mr. Fort's direct personal contacts with NYC Transit's Office of Labor Relations have caused tremendous strain on the chapter officers' efforts to mobilize and organize membership. Reduction of the Chapter 2 President's release time and giving those release-time days to Mr. Fort's supporters illustrates his arrogance and irresponsible acts as a union leader.

The chapter officers' vision, program, and activities stand in spite of these attacks and are geared to fundamental issues: a) Unity, b) Organizing, c) Transparency, d) Union Democracy, and e) Promoting a Progressive agenda. Claude Fort's behavior is diametrically opposite.

The sabotage is systematic. Claude has waged a major conflict against chapter presidents, executive board members, delegates, and members who dare to voice their opinions, and he has the habit of demonizing the opposition.

He has visited the Transit chapter a significant number of times, specifically during elections, without contacting the chapter office at 2 Broadway and without even a courtesy of notifying the president. This type of practice has been witnessed numerous times by the members for the last three years.

Mr. Fort appeared as Santa Claude in December 2006, right in the middle of his run-off election. He had sent a personal letter to 1,100 members of NYC Transit Chapter 2 indicating that he was in negotiations with NYC Transit for a $10,000 wage increase for all members. He intentionally misled our members by not mentioning the Transit response to his unrealistic request of wage increases.

Yet Mr. Fort shows no sign of moving from his rigid stand, not listening to those who are more-experienced, democratic-minded unionists. Rather, he continuously exercises his despotic and interventionist policies in chapters' affairs and their elections.

While the Chapter 2 members and leadership in conjunction with the DC 37 Research and Negotiations Department have been involved in the Unit Bargaining, non-economic, working-condition negotiation with NYC Transit, from preparation of the demands to the end of the negotiations, Claude's involvement was just ceremonial.

Falsification of the facts and events to gain personal credits has become Mr. Fort's usual norm. All members will suffer if Fort's constitutional violations, power-hungry arrogances, straight lies, unprincipled actions, and corruption are not exposed.

We believed that after almost eight years in the office, Mr. Fort would have learned from the progressive union movement and its rich history, but unfortunately it is proven that even six weeks of his recent attendance at a Harvard Labor Class has not helped.

We at Chapter 2 remain dedicated to achieve total success. We work even harder to overcome the shortcomings of those who have chosen to be obstructionist.

BEHROUZ FATHI, President,
GEORGE DAMES, Grievance Chair,
VIJAY KAPOOR, Salary Chair,
PETER KADNAR, Treasurer,
DAVID WHITMAN, Recording Secretary