Rein in Toussaint's Abuses

During Roger Toussaint's first two terms as president of Transport Workers Union Local 100, his authority was often undercut by the leadership of the TWU International.

This occurred most notably at crucial moments in the contract-bargaining process, either diverting Mr. Toussaint's attention by creating problems on other fronts or directly undermining his use of strike threats as leverage during the 2002 wage talks (which didn't result in a walkout) and the 2005 ones (which did).

The interference from above - an outgrowth of the fierce rivalry between Mr. Toussaint and International TWU President Sonny Hall that later spread to include Mr. Hall's hand-picked successor - was not a healthy situation.

But it has become clear during the past year that having an International President who looks the other way when Mr. Toussaint abuses his power is also unhealthy for Local 100.

In a campaign that stems from a combination of personal pique and a desire to strengthen his hold over a union where he won re-election 13 months ago with just 45 percent of the vote, Mr. Toussaint has tried to limit the access his growing army of critics who are elected union officers have to speak to rank-and-file members.

Last week Joe Sexton, the Queens chairman of Local 100's Private Lines Division, became the 10th internal critic who was stripped of his release-time privileges to take time off from his regular job to perform union duties. No reason was given for the move, which was ordered by a Toussaint ally, Private Lines Vice President Enzo Sinnona (who got that position when Mr. Toussaint decided not to hold an election for it).

But Mr. Toussaint has made clear for some time that those who object to any of his decisions are to be treated as enemies. Having consolidated his hold on the local's executive board following a second term marked by divisions caused by five vice presidents coming from his opposition, he has opted to deal with his political foes by stripping them of release time or knocking them off election ballots if they dare to question his judgment.

This is not only undemocratic but an abuse of release time, which is supposed to be granted based on duties performed rather than political loyalty.

Mr. Little, in theory anyway, outranks Mr. Toussaint as International President. It is well past time for him to assert his authority and rein him in, lest he be perceived as just a stooge with a big title who is letting the TWU's flagship local drift ever farther away from its ideals.