Retaliation Claimed TWU Removes Dissident In New Dues Dispute

Retaliation Claimed
TWU Removes Dissident In New Dues Dispute

The Chief-Leader/Pat Arnow PETER ROSCONI: Says politics spurred ban.

The executive board of Transport Workers Union Local 100 has removed a dissident Private Lines Division officer on the grounds of not paying dues, despite evidence that his arrears was the result of administrative delays in payment-processing. The officer claimed the action was retaliation for his opposition to the union's leadership.

The board voted Feb. 27 that Peter Rosconi, who served as the Westchester vice chair for the union's Private Lines Division, was unable to continue serving as an officer based on his alleged nonpayment.

A Three-Year Exclusion

Local 100 Recording Secretary Darlyne Lawson told Mr. Rosconi in a letter that the executive board voted that "you be barred from holding or running for office for a period of three years, during which you are required to remain in good standing."

Mr. Rosconi said he is now in good standing. In December Local 100 Dues Team Staff Rep Joe Ruggiero submitted a sworn statement to the board that late payments at Eastchester Depot were a result of the team falling behind in coming to the depot to collect dues.

"When we arrived at Eastchester Depot, Mr. Rosconi was happy to see us there and was very helpful to the dues team," Mr. Ruggiero said.

He explained that after the team left the depot, "Mr. Rosconi called me regarding problems logging on to the system and expressed surprise that we left. He told me he had a personal money order for his dues to give to me. I suggested he call the dues center for help and to mail his money order in."

'He Cooperated'

Ultimately, Mr. Ruggiero believed that "Mr. Rosconi was patient and cooperated with the dues team and that this untimely circumstance and confusion contributed to the late payments of Mr. Rosconi."

Mr. Rosconi said that the board's decision was politically motivated, because the charges came after he had stated to Division Vice President Enzo Sinnona that he planned to run against him in the June election. Last March, Mr. Rosconi tussled with Local 100 leadership when he participated in an unsanctioned protest outside the Metropolitan Transportation Authority headquarters regarding the lack of a contract for MTA Bus workers and a lack of pay parity with their counterparts in the two New York City Transit bus divisions.

Mr. Rosconi is the latest Private Lines Division dissident to lose his position or release time. Local 100 instructed MTA Bus officials that they should not recognize Queens Division Recording Secretary Angel Perez without stating a reason, although union records showed he was in good standing. Mr. Sinnona revoked release time in January 2008 for Queens Chair Joe Sexton on allegations of being disruptive during union meetings and using release time for personal business, which Mr. Sexton has denied.

Mr. Rosconi said he is planning an appeal, but has yet to receive a transcript from the executive board hearing on his case, which he asked for on March 4.