Say TWU Candidates Up for Promotion Should Be Off Ballot

A Brooklyn-based New York City Transit Bus Operator running for division rep in Transport Workers Union Local 100 officer elections filed challenges Oct.22 claiming that three members running on the incumbent slate were on promotion lists and therefore should be disqualified.

Ulmer Park Depot-based driver Tommy McNally, who is running on the dissident Take Back Our Union slate, claimed in letters to the union’selection committee that Richard Thorne, who is running for vice chairman of Flatbush Depot, Rodney Wade, who is running for chairman of Grand Ave. Depot,and Ronald Carter, who is running for chairman of East NewYork Depot, are all on a promotion list for Surface Line Dispatcher.

Allies of Toussaint

The three members are running on the United Invincible slate,which has the support of departing Local 100 President Roger Toussaint.

Mr. McNally explained in a phone interview that a controversial referendum last year in which members voted to move the union’s general election to June while leaving ballots unopened until December included a bylaw change that members listed on promotion lists were not eligible to run in union elections.

“It was the only bylaw I voted for,”said Mr.McNally,whose slate opposedmoving up the election.