From the Blog why did you join the union

Roger Toussaint a bad idea

In a surprisingly serious interview with the Wall Street Journal on March 13, 2012 under ‘Clash at Transit Union by Ted Mann’ Roger Toussaint talked about his disappointment with President of TWU Local 100 John Samuelsen and with the Executive Board.
Here are some of Mr. Toussaint’s comments: 1) ‘He previously ruled out a power grab, including in an open letter to the union's executive board in January’  2) ‘It's about getting it from them’ 3) ‘including appearing at a recent meeting of the executive board’ - imagine George W Bush hanging outside of the US Congress it makes no sense. Those we would imagine are made up pejoratives.
In regard to Roger Toussaint’s spotty record, he can blame John Samuelsen all he wants but he cannot run away from his spotty record. He has to answer for it - he can look at the man in the mirror who gave away ‘No Layoff Clause’. Until now he has not come clean with an explanation to the membership which deserve an explanation. He had the ability to deny in giving the MTA ‘No Lay off Clause’ but he did not rather he gave it away freely - why.
Who gave away Union Hall (80 West End Avenue) - it should have been for thirty million more than he received. Until now he has not come clean with an explanation to the membership who deserve an explanation - isn’t that the truth, Mr. Roger Toussaint? Can you deny it?
Who gave away Christmas contract deadline? We are not sure what he truly thinks is the right path for the current contract negotiations, other than that he governed by fear. As president he kept everyone around him who blindly obeyed him but tossed away any who questioned him.
Let us give you now our personal opinion of Roger Toussaint - we believe Roger Toussaint does not represent membership interests no matter how you look at him. He has betrayed membership interests.
At this particular point in time, Roger Toussaint has not yet been proven to be corrupt (we’ll see how the 80 West End Avenue scandal plays out however in the minds of the membership it is clear) but he certainly has proven to be inexperienced, insincere, insolent and above all incompetent.  
Roger Toussaint unfortunately for TWU Local 100 is in over his head. He is not up to the job and is even more of a catastrophe than the inept George Armstrong Custer who was at Little Big Horn - based on his spotty record Roger Toussaint is a bad idea!