TWU, Dissent and Dues
To the Editor:

It came as no surprise that the threatening agenda to silence critics goes beyond Transport Workers Union Local 100's active rank and file and elected officers, as the union's leadership arrogantly targets retirees as well. I am not just talking about myself; there are other Local 100 retirees who have been threatened and even sued in Civil Court by Local 100 lawyers.

They have faced hearings and depositions that have gone on for years at a terrible cost to them and their families.

What is the crime committed by these retirees? It is their continued refusal to give the local's leadership false dirt about myself, Sonny Hall, during my period as Local 100 and TWU International president.

Recently I was made aware of an Internet campaign that urges Local 100 members to sign their names to a petition demanding that the International's leadership remove me as International president emeritus. My crime is that I, as a Local 100 retiree, have written letters to The Chief commenting on letters written by Local 100 members. To be sure, my comments were not ringing endorsements of the leadership at Local 100, but they were truthful.

There is no doubt as to who is behind the campaign to remove me as International president emeritus, an honorary title I am very proud of. When I told my wife about it, she said to me that perhaps my letters were embarrassing the International leadership. I must admit that I had never given it a thought, but now I plan to ask my International about whether I caused its leaders any embarrassment. Their response will be kept private, and so, if this is my last letter to The Chief, I want to once more plead with active Local 100 members — and retirees if they can afford it — to pay their full dues to Local 100.

I wish I could sit down with every member and exchange thoughts about what paying union dues means. To me it is irrelevant who is elected or re-elected to Local 100 union offices. Union dues is about the economic strength of your union. It is a powerful message to every heavy-handed boss that they better not mess with our union. It is also the foundation of a strong message to the political structure in Albany and New York City that Local 100's voice will be heard and that our disappointments about legislation will be responded to.

Paying dues keeps faith with working families that an injustice to one working person is an injustice to every one of us.

Standing up and demanding democracy in your union and freedom of speech is every union member's responsibility.

SONNY HALL