Track Workers Elect Radical

Track Workers Elect Radical


A New York City Transit worker known for helping publish a radical newsletter for his fellow union members June 2 won a vice chair election in Transport Workers Union Local 100's Track Division.

The Chief-Leader/Michael O'Kane ERIC JOSEPHSON: A revolutionary victory?

Bronx-based Track Worker Eric Josephson, who distributes the Revolutionary Transit Worker, defeated Track Inspector Thomas Bodai by a ratio of 2-1, sources said. He had been critical of the joint labor/management safety stand-downs instructing all Maintenance of Way employees on new on-track safety procedures. The stand-downs have been taking place since last month.

'Shouldn't Be Collaborating'

"I haven't taken a scientific poll, but I would certainly say most people are dubious of the set-up," Mr. Josephson said. "People are immediately upset with this safety drive, a safety partnership with the union and management, and they think quite correctly the union should fight management over safety."

Mr. Bodai is one of the union representatives instructing classes on the new safety regulations. Local 100 President Roger Toussaint has worked closely with NYC Transit President Howard H. Roberts on redesigning track safety rules since two Track Workers were killed on the job in separate incidents in April 2007. Mr. Toussaint has hailed the new regulations, and said that the partnership with the management is unprecedented leading to a new "organization culture" in the authority.

ROGER TOUSSAINT: Hears thunder on his left.

"Myself and other comrades of the Revolutionary Transit Worker were able to do some campaigning and get out a fair number of people," said Mr. Josephson, a self-described revolutionary socialist. "We're saying that no partnership is possible because capitalism has to ultimately push back on safety."

He also claimed that the breakout sessions in the safety and stand-downs were meant for workers to speak their mind about on-the-job safety, but that the members had little input in the decision-making process.

"Decisions have been made behind closed doors," he said. "Even Stalin had a suggestion box."

While the members of the now-defunct dissident coalition Rail and Bus United had previously distanced themselves from Mr. Josephson, many of them backed him in this election, according to Track Inspector John Samuelsen, because they believed that Mr. Bodai had the support of the Toussaint administration.

"[Mr. Josephson has] been a reliable shop steward for a number of years and he's not a Toussaint yes-man," Mr. Samuelsen said.