Vote No on TWU Bylaws
To the Editor:

Voting by mail on Transport Workers Union Local 100 President Roger Toussaint's 16 bylaw amendments compounds his reign of corruption, as it violates Union Bylaw XXII which mandates, "Bylaws may be amended by ... members of the Local Union voting either at a general membership meeting of the Local Union or through the respective Section or Division meeting." The mail ballot represents typical Toussaint conduct: keep members in the dark and ignorant, then force us to vote on critical issues.

The 47-member executive board is equally guilty of the same crime.

The general membership meeting guarantees direct input from the supreme governing body of the union - the membership - and the opportunity to ask "pro and con" questions, before wording new bylaw language, prior to voting on each proposed amendment, witnessed by all in attendance - which Toussaint's secret mail vote denies us. Where is Toussaint's "Dignity and Respect" toward us?

The ballot packet mailed to our homes cannot answer questions that arise after reading it. Especially questions regarding the justification or lack thereof for the amendments. The don't-think-out-of-the-box approach serves Toussaint's personal interest best, as he does not want any challenges to his quest for the writ that will crown him "the untouchable King Toussaint."

The amendments, which include having a new executive vice president position to serve as a buffer between Toussaint and the membership and elected officers; presidential elections to be held in June 2009 with ballots counted six months later in December 2009; financial accountability by union officers to Toussaint, when to date Toussaint has refused to account for union finances in general; a judicial panel selected by Toussaint and accountable to Toussaint, to persecute members he disagrees with - all serve to insulate Toussaint and make him untouchable.

Toussaint refused to accept the December 2005 contract rejection margin, which he verbally reported as seven votes, never producing one document to substantiate his report - re-running the election. Do you trust him to keep ballots safe and secured for six months - which would be improper under the TWU Constitution? Can't make up your mind on the question above? Here is some help. In the Car Equipment Division Section #36 chair election in 2003, Toussaint's Albany legislative representative ran for the position of chair against a member I supported. The post office issued a receipt for about 120 ballots received. But after the votes were divided at the union hall between the two contesting candidates, the total was about 160, with Toussaint's candidate winning the election and Toussaint failing to explain the fuzzy math.

Today Toussaint is using the oldest dictator's trick around - calling on all whom he fed with special contract hand-outs and more, over the years, to vote in favor of his corrupt bylaw amendments.

Dictators cater to the needs of the masses to garner their support, then make sweeping constitutional changes empowering themselves to remain in office for life. Empowered, they then end the hand-out and discard you. Toussaint's action today is the same.

Don't fall for Toussaint's amendments. He seeks to amend the bylaws only because they currently serve the membership's best interest - not his.

There is no need for bylaw amendments. Toussaint must abide by the existing bylaw mandate! And instead, he needs to tell us what plans he has to win us a good contract come Jan. 15, 2009, and not waste our precious resources to empower himself. Send the message to Toussaint. Follow the old saying of, "If it does not itch, don't scratch it," and vote no! Stay strong!

AINSLEY STEWART

Editor's note: Mr. Stewart ran for president of TWU Local 100 against Mr. Toussaint in 2006.