News

NEW YORK, NY February 01, 2006 —Opposing forces inside the Transport Workers Union erupted into a raucus shouting match last night, after union leaders held their first executive board meeting since members rejected their contract with the MTA. WNYC's Beth Fertig has more.

REPORTER: Dissidents within the union claim they were marginalized during the meeting by President Roger Toussaint and his allies. As board members spilled out into the street afterwards, Vice President John Mooney fiercely told one of Toussaint's supporters that members were right to reject the contract.

MOONEY: He don't want to go to jail, cause that's why we got a bad deal, he sold everyone out..

TOUSSAINT SUPPORTER: You lie to members, I represent them.

REPORTER: Toussaint brushed off the dissent. He said dissidents represent a minority.

TOUSSAINT: And yes there's some attempts to create disruptions and to get in the news primarily but our executive board is united.

REPORTER: Toussaint said the board voted to support efforts to re-start negotiations with the MTA, in order to avoid binding arbitration. Board members are also planning to punish hundreds of members who crossed the picket line by taking away their right to vote.