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A Union Beyond Repair

To the Editor:

It is time for drastic action to once and for all bring to an end what is an overwhelming lust for power of TWU Local 100 President Roger Toussaint, and the resultant rape of the rights of the union's membership and the strangulation of any meaningful change.

Toussaint is no friend of democracy or fair and honest play. He has staged a set of circumstances in which he can impose his will whenever he so chooses.

We cannot win this way, nor should we have to try. There is a better way: to take the bold and creative step of decertifying TWU Local 100 and bringing in another union. A decertification vote would permit all the members to vote, and it would not take six months to count the ballots.

We need a union where the membership truly possesses the power and where there are comprehensive and progressive safeguards — such as term limits and membership voting on all policy initiatives — against the corruption of power.

TWU Local 100 is broken and beyond repair. The members have said this with their wallets kept in their pockets and their widespread apathy. We have a president whose primary concern and pursuit is the domination and control of others.

We need to start afresh with a new union. RICHARD LAURIE, Conductor, New York City Transit