PDC Campaign

Labor Must Defend NYC Transit Unions!

(Partisan Defense Committee
Class-Struggle Defense Notes)

In January, the Partisan Defense Committee initiated a campaign urging labor solidarity with the New York City transit unions, which face massive legal sanctions for conducting a powerful three-day strike last December in defiance of the state’s anti-strike Taylor Law (see WV Nos. 862, 20 January, and 863, 3 February). Trade unions nationally and internationally responded to the PDC campaign by sending protest letters demanding no reprisals to New York governor George Pataki, Attorney General Eliot Spitzer and NYC mayor Michael Bloomberg, as well as messages of support to the unions.

In response to this campaign, a spokesman at the Office of Labor Relations, writing on behalf of Mayor Bloomberg, sent the PDC the first letter printed at right, which exemplifies their vicious, anti-labor stance. The second letter is from Transport Workers Union (TWU) Local 100 president Roger Toussaint.

The memberships of TWU Local 100 and Amalgamated Transit Union locals 726 and 1056 have already been hit with fines and Local 100 is still working without a contract. Meanwhile, the leaders continue to be threatened with imprisonment and the unions with pauperization. Governor Pataki’s office has reaffirmed his position that the union leaders “should face the full weight of penalties available under the Taylor Law,” including jail time (AM New York, 3 March). Letters of protest and solidarity are still urgently needed. All of labor must take a stand with the NYC transit unions.

* * *

January 18, 2006

Gene Herson
Labor Coordinator, Partisan Defense Committee

This is in response to your letter, dated January 9, 2006, to Mayor Bloomberg. He has asked me to reply on his behalf.

Be assured that the Mayor expects all employers in the City of New York to comply with applicable Federal, State and Local laws governing the workers in any workplace.

Similarly, the Mayor also expects all employees to comply with applicable Federal, State and Local laws governing the workers in any workplace.

Since your letter contains patently incorrect statements, including your misrepresentation of the Taylor Law—a law designed and implemented with Union input—we will respectfully refrain from any further discussion of your letter except to state that we disagree with its contents entirely.

Sincerely,
James F. Hanley

* * *

February 10, 2006

Mr. Paul Cooperstein
Chairman, Partisan Defense Committee

The members, staff and officers of Transport Workers Union Local 100 deeply appreciate your support during our recent contract fight and strike.

It seemed that our contract fight was conducted under the bright lights of the mass media. However, there were very important things happening outside camera range, like the solidarity you displayed. If the media ignored it, transit workers did not. Our 35,000 members were strengthened by the knowledge that they were not alone.

I would have liked to have written sooner, noting how your efforts helped produce a successful resolution of our battle. While that has not yet occurred, expressing our appreciation can’t wait.

Our picket signs said “It’s About Respect.” Please let your members, officers and staff know that you have the respect and heartfelt thanks of the entire TWU Local 100 family.

Sincerely,
Roger Toussaint
President