TEA Union Leader Huntley Wins Re-Election Easily; Thwarts Cassar's Comeback

Communications Workers of America Local 1182 President James Huntley Nov. 19 won re-election over former president Robert Cassar by a nearly 2-1 margin.

JAMES HUNTLEY: Achievements rewarded.

Mr. Huntley said the win was an endorsement of his first term in office, during which a bill to make assault on Traffic Enforcement Agents was signed into law and those agents were granted uniformed status in future collective-bargaining sessions. He received 656 votes to 334 for Mr. Cassar, with a third candidate, David Casey, getting 76.

"The vote reflected the action we have taken," said Mr. Huntley after being elected to another three-year term. "I am so happy with the results."

Foe Not As Pleased

Mr. Cassar saw it differently, saying, "This is, in fact, a sad day for the membership of Local 1182 when the will of the membership is deferred."

Mr. Cassar, who alleged Mr. Huntley was violating union rules before the election, stood by his claim that there were problems with the current administration's handling of the balloting. "I fall short of saying they cheated, but the processes were not followed properly. Something was awry."

ROBERT CASSAR: Couldn't turn the tables.

Mr. Huntley said his challenger "missed the glamour, the fame, the lights," and dismissed his charges as "sour grapes."

Mr. Cassar will challenge the election, but did not have much hope for a reversal.

Mr. Huntley said his first priority was to raise pay for Traffic Enforcement Agents based on the dangerous nature of their job. "We do all this and they don't get pay increases that reflect the danger," he said, adding that he hoped to raise TEA Level I pay to $50,000.

"We now are bargaining with uniformed status, same as the NYPD and all the others, to get a better pay scale to reflect their hard work," Mr. Huntley said.

The union leader said changing the residency requirement for Traffic Enforcement Agents was also a priority. Currently, TEAs must live in the five boroughs, unlike other uniformed workers who can live in the six neighboring state counties. "Why do you have Teachers, lawyers [and others] living in the six counties and not us?" he asked. "It is not fair." Mr. Huntley said he was currently "engaging in a conversation" with the Office of Labor Relations to change the requirement.

Another of his priorities is to get Traffic Enforcement Agents line-of-duty disability benefits equivalent to three-fourths salary instead of the regular disability. Mr. Huntley said high-profile incidents, such as the pregnant TEA who was hit by a bus a few months ago, made clear that his members face real danger. "That's why the assault bill was so important," he said.

Mr. Huntley also said he would lobby for an improved career path for TEAs to become Police Officers. "If we are doing the job without guns, imagine if we made the transition over," he said. The aggressive second-term agenda includes exploring a new affordable home community for Traffic Enforcement Agents much like the Electchester complex for electricians in Queens.

Relief for Sanit Agents

The union president, who also represents Sanitation Enforcement Agents, said he would work to get a felony assault bill for those officers. Mr. Huntley said Sanitation Enforcement Agents are often "forgotten" but are targets of brutality when people throw garbage cans off roofs at them or unleash their dogs on them.

All of Mr. Huntley's slate members won re-election with the exception of Jacqueline Burnette, who lost to Russell Martin for Manhattan Delegate At Large. Charlesetta "Charlie" Horton won the executive vice president post. Gordon McGill won the vice president contest and Ruth Thomas won another term as vice president for Sanitation. Patrick Plummer returns as secretary treasurer, and Richard Brown was unopposed for Chief Delegate. Mamie Partee, Lula Johnson and Phillis Stokes remain the delegates from Brooklyn, Queens, and The Bronx, respectively. Irene Cummings, who ran unopposed, stays on as the chief delegate, Sanitation.