THE CHIEF-LEADER welcomes letters from its readers for publication.
Correspondents must include their names, addresses and
phone numbers. Letters should be submitted with the understanding
that all correspondence is subject to the editorial judgment of this
newspaper. Letters can be e-mailed to: RSTEIER@RCN.COM or
mailed to: Richard Steier, Editor, 277 Broadway, Suite 1506, NY, NY
10007.

'375' Head Must Step Aside

To the Editor:

Most members of the Civil Service Technical Guild, Local 375 of District Council 37, have long known that the problems of Local 375 are not the work of a few disgruntled individuals trying to "overthrow" President Claude Fort. Rather, the problems are the chain of unprincipled actions leading to the abuse of power, constant violations of the local's constitution, disrespect for constructive ideas, attempts to abuse the local treasury, abuse of release time, retaliation against dissent by impairing and suppressing it, and constantly creating division in the ranks, which impairs and tarnishes the unity.

These decisions and policies of President Fort have deeply harmed our union's image as a union of Engineers, Architects, scientific and technical workers of the City of New York struggling to improve benefits and to better the working conditions.

Now the DC 37 Ethical Practices Officer's investigation has been completed and its report indicates that President Fort "was aware of" Public Relations Chair Vincent Sawinski's failures "to perform any work on behalf of the local while on release time." President Fort also "failed to take appropriate action to safeguard the local's interests." Hence, DC 37 Executive Director Lillian Roberts, and Associate Director Oliver Gray have decided there is sufficient reason to charge Claude Fort and Vincent Sawinski to initiate an AFSCME International Judicial Panel proceeding.

The charges against President Fort are as follows: misappropriations, embezzlement, making illegal use of union funds, and "the solicitation or acceptance of a bribe ..." and Fort has violated his "fiduciary duty ... to honestly and faithfully serve the best interest of the membership."

In order to implicate the Local 375 executive board members, Claude Fort combined the local's holiday party with its executive board meeting. With misinformation and confusing tactics, he fast-tracked passing a motion that the union pay for his legal fees arising from his violations of the union constitution and pending charges.

Members of Local 375 are eager to put these sad chapters of this saga behind them, but it would be lacking in our responsibility to just ignore what has happened during Claude Fort's administration.

Membership expectations of transparency, openness, honesty, and proper representation from the leadership of the local are a valid demand. The promises that were made to the members during the campaign are exactly what the membership expects to receive in return. The betrayal of the members' trust by the current administration is the last thing that the local can afford.

Under such gravity and seriousness of the pending charges against Claude Fort and Vincent Sawinski, both should consider immediately stepping aside in order to allow the local to function normally for the benefit of the members. This action should be taken for the duration of the trial until the final resolution and decision by the AFSCME Judicial Panel is published and illuminated.

BEHROUZ FATHI, President, RAOUL NAZON, Vice President, DAVE WHITMAN, Recording Secretary, VIJAY KAPOOR, Salary Chair, G. AUGUSTINE, Education Chair, GEORGE L. DAMES Sr., Grievance Chair; Civil Service Technical Guild, Local 375 NYC Transit-Chapter 2