Wheels Turning At TWU

Transport Workers Union Local 100 President Roger Toussaint, after some madcap maneuvering last summer that seemed designed to improve his chances of winning re-election to a fourth term, apparently has decided he'd prefer being above the fray.

It was disclosed last week that he will not be running, instead intending to devote full time to his duties as a vice president of Local 100's international union once his term expires in December. But since one of his duties at the TWU of America is to oversee its flagship local, it's hard to believe his influence at Local 100 will evaporate anytime soon.

It certainly is likely to be a factor in the election, which will be held in June, although ballots won't be counted until December (we didn't use the word madcap lightly). If anything, it figures to be a referendum on his tenure, with his designee, Curtis Tate, serving as a friendlier, less-confrontational face of the current administration.

What will be most interesting is whether a new contract is in place by the time that members vote. Arbitrations generally take six months or more to be decided, and the three-man panel for Local 100 was just picked last week. There has been speculation already that arbitration is being used to provide cover for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to approve a deal resembling the one that Mayor Bloomberg vetoed in October, and that the two sides will ask the arbitration chairman to put his name on a package whose terms they have already decided.

If such an award comes down shortly before ballots are sent out, it will boost Mr. Tate's chances, and speculation will turn to certainty.