Toussaint is Out of Control
To the Editor:

Roger Toussaint's latest scapegoating of The Chief is just a ploy to hide his improper and corrupt bylaw amendments, and is indicative of a dictator refusing to obey the rules. Will Transport Workers Union International, which has the last word in the matter, approve the amendments, which violate its own constitution and Local 100's bylaws?

At issue is Toussaint and his executive board's arbitrary and unilateral action to violate union rules by dictating 16 bylaw amendments to govern the 39,000 members, excluding our constitutionally mandated input.

Not "forces outside our union, notably the newspaper called The Chief," working "to disrupt our organization," as charged by the hallucinating Toussaint in a July 14 Local 100 flier.

The fact is, The Chief continues to do the same job today as it did yesterday for many (including Toussaint), which is: allow a forum for the expression of different ideas and opinions — the nature of democracy, which Toussaint now detests.

A classic case was when Toussaint was in dire straits to create a better face for his betrayal of labor with the 1.5-percent health-care giveback tax he imposed on our gross wages in his 2005 contract. He had his surrogate Terrance Williams solicit Richard Steier, The Chief's editor, for an explanation of the 1.5-percent tax in an April 7, 2006 letter, writing, "Many of us rely on The Chief for unbiased factual reporting" and, "The Chief should explain this once and for all," even though Mr. Steier did not negotiate our contract — Toussaint did.

What great praise for the editor, when the finger is not pointed at Toussaint.

Williams's letter was aimed at misinforming the membership that the open-end 1.5-percent tax, with a dollar value equivalent to the giveback of one week's vacation time, is not what it is, and condemning the opposition, including myself, for staunchly opposing another giveback contract.

In other words, Toussaint the mongoose wanted us to believe we did not know how to count when we took stock and discovered the chickens we entrusted him to watch were missing: meaning, reinvested in the strike and rewarded with less take-home pay.

The Chief served Toussaint very well, to the dislike of many, including myself, for we knew The Chief did not fully understand what it was getting into. Toussaint has a history of biting hands that once fed him, which we see again today.

Regarding the improper amendments, the question is, is James Little, president of the TWU International, capable of upholding its own constitution, and our bylaws, from Toussaint's amendment onslaught, for the near $7 million dues we paid them annually for representation, prior to the dues suspension?

TWU Constitution XXI (2) mandates that "the supreme authority in the Local Union shall be the membership of the Local Union."

Local 100 Bylaw VIII mandates that " ... any action, decision or rule of the Executive Board may be reversed or amended by the vote of the majority of the members of the Local Union voting either at a general membership meeting, of the Local Union, or through their respective Section or Division meetings," forums Toussaint failed to provide for members to address "amendment" issues we disagreed with.

Bylaw XXII mandates, "These By-laws may be amended by the Executive Board with the approval of the majority of the members of the Local Union voting at their general membership meeting of the Local Union or through the respective Section or Division meetings." Toussaint failed to provide this forum also, preventing any challenges and changes and/or changes to the amendment language he dictated.

Then, instead of Toussaint and the board obeying the amendment ratification rules, acting in concert, they schemed and denied member input, and imposed this improper ratification vote via mail — compounding the problem.

Regarding the TWU Constitution and local union presidents, Article XVI mandates, "He shall be responsible for the proper conduct of the affairs of the Local Union, and the compliance by his fellow officers with their obligations under the Constitution and Local bylaws." Emphasis on "compliance ... with ... obligations under ... Local bylaws."

Under TWU Constitution Article XVI, Little has the power, and was required to rein in Toussaint immediately, as an International officer, and as a local union president, for violating the above union rules. Thus far, he has failed to do his job.

Little's International Administrative Council has the last word on the amendment issue, as TWU Constitution Article XIV (5) mandates, "Bylaws ... shall be effective only when approved by the International Administrative Council." Their decision will determine whether Toussaint or Little is in charge of the International and if Toussaint is above the rules.

Toussaint taking five days to count a mere 5,600 ballots, which he has a personal interest in, is a clear indication of fraud. Especially when you consider there were other options available to count all the ballots the same day they were released by the post office.

To keep it simple, the dastard Toussaint is paranoid and does not abide by rules. His paranoia goes out of control when he is unable to control the views you express, as in the case of Local 100 members' critical views of him in The Chief.

The improper amendments which suppress dissent, chill free speech and conflict with the TWU Constitution and our bylaws serve Toussaint's interest — not our union — and must never be allowed to govern us, as our union is a democracy and not a dictatorship.

The Chief remains an indispensable vehicle which everyone, including Toussaint, has used, or can use, to air dissenting views. However, lacking any rational or logical explanation for their corrupt and anti-union democracy conduct, Toussaint and his surrogates prefer to unjustly whine in Local 100 fliers about everyone, instead of obeying union rules — which remains the center of a majority of the disagreements.

As we await the International's decision, it is critical that we continue to stand together to survive the insane roller-coaster ride aimed at destroying our union. But don't despair. Labor's success is not a destination — it's a journey we cannot afford to abandon, as we as a labor union have too much to lose. In solidarity — stay strong.

AINSLEY STEWART

Editor's note: Mr. Stewart ran against Mr. Toussaint in the 2006 officers election of Transport Workers Union Local 100.