TWU Recording Sec'y Is Denied Union Logs After Toussaint Clash

DARLYNE LAWSON: 'Kept from carrying out duties.'

Transport Workers Union Local 100 Recording Secretary Darlyne Lawson has been denied access to meeting log books, a reflection of growing hostility between her and out-going President Roger Toussaint, according to correspondence obtained by THE CHIEF-LEADER.

Ms. Lawson, who was elected to the union's third-highest position on Mr. Toussaint's slate, is responsible for keeping the logs to record which members attend meetings. Members have to prove they have attended a certain number of meetings in a year in order to be eligible to run for local office.

Toussaint Changed Locks

Track Equipment Maintainer Daniel Dermody, who is running for a division rep spot on the dissident Take Back Our Union slate, contacted Ms. Lawson after he attended two Track Division meetings at the union's Upper West Side headquarters where the required log books were unavailable.

"As per our phone conversation yesterday July 22, 2009 I informed you I wasn't given the new keys to the cabinets in my office after R. Toussaint had the locks replaced," she told Mr. Dermody in an e-mail. "I also instructed you to e-mail me in order to have your attendance recorded. I also understand your frustration because I am in an elected position yet I have been blocked from carrying out the duties of my office."

Rumors about a falling-out between Mr. Toussaint and Ms. Lawson spread throughout the union earlier this year when it was learned she would not run for re-election on the incumbent United Invincible slate with Acting President Curtis Tate and Secretary- Treasurer Ed Watt. Local 100 Stations Division Vice President Andreeva Pinder is running for recording secretary on the UI slate.

Tension grew between Ms. Lawson, a former Station Agent, and Mr. Toussaint last summer when she unsuccessfully tried to get the executive board to block several bylaw changes the president had proposed, most notable among them moving the 2009 general office election up six months to June, although ballots won't be counted until December.

Ms. Lawson and spokesmen for Local 100 did not respond to requests for comment.

Instead of running for a fourth term, Mr. Toussaint has taken on fulltime job duties as a vice president at TWU of America.