News

NEW YORK, NY November 15, 2006 —Almost a year after leading his members in a 3-day strike, the head of the city's transit union is in a tough race for re-election and he appeared in a debate last night with his opponents. WNYC's Beth Fertig reports.

REPORTER: Roger Toussaint said he had no regrets about rejecting the MTA's offer last December and taking his 34,000 members on strike.

TOUSSAINT: It took a tough decision, a tough call to stay the course rather than buckle and fold.

REPORTER: But members of Transport Workers Union local 100 narrowly rejected the contract deal Toussaint eventually negotiated. And after heavy fines, they're still waiting for a state arbitrator to come up with a deal. Toussaint's opponents, including a subway cleaner named Anthony Staley, blame poor leadership.

STALEY: You've been in that union hall too much, too long and maybe you need to come back to the room and see how people are taking it out here.

REPORTER: The debate was organized by the labor schools of Cornell and the City University and it was NOT open to the union's membership. One of Toussaint's four opponents, Barry Roberts, declined to attend. His spokesman called it a media stunt for Toussaint. For WNYC I'm Beth Fertig.