10th Toussaint Foe Stripped
Local 100 Dissident Loses Release Time

By ARI PAUL

A Transport Workers Union Local 100 elected officer known for his opposition to President Roger Toussaint was stripped of his release time to perform union work last week.

JOE SEXTON: Toussaint 'mowing down' critics.

Joe Sexton, the Queens Division chairman of the Private Lines Division, received notice from a supervisor Jan. 7 that Private Lines Vice President Enzo Sinnona informed Metropolitan Transportation Authority Bus officials that Mr. Sexton's release position would be filled by Hector Comrie.

Mr. Comrie recently won the Queens Division's vice chairman position.

A Vocal Critic

Mr. Sexton, a Bus Operator based at the College Point Depot, has been outspoken about his distrust of Mr. Toussaint's handling of contract negotiations with MTA Bus and insisted that the union have an election for division vice president after then-Vice President Rod Bailey was promoted to management in April. Instead, Mr. Toussaint appointed Mr. Sinnona as a replacement.

"I'm doing my best to defend the members and that's what my role is," Mr. Sexton said.

Since losing release time, Mr. Sexton has returned to his MTA Bus job but has retained his union title. Mr. Sinnona did not give a reason for taking away Mr. Sexton's release time.

"I have nothing to comment about it," Mr. Sinnona said.

Mr. Sexton was elected in December 2006 on the dissident Fresh Start slate. He is the 10th Local 100 officer who opposed Mr. Toussaint in the last election who has lost release time in the past year. The top officials penalized in that fashion were Track Division Chairman Carlos Albert and Recording Secretary Jack Blazejewicz.

Barred From Meetings

The Private Lines Division represents Local 100 members at MTA Bus in addition to private companies.

During his time as Queens Division chairman, Mr. Sexton said that he has been kept out of disciplinary meetings and contract negotiations.

"Obviously the deal is already done with Roger," Mr. Sexton said of the pending wage deal with MTA Bus. "He has to push this though, hell or high water. Any opposition has to be mowed down and pushed aside. We're a problem for him, I guess, in this situation."