HAVOC

John Samuelsen president of the TWU Local 100 would like to portray an illusion that the union is fighting back - we wonder how. Here is how, in the literature of the shop gate survey you find suggested talking points for the HAVOC survey shop gates.

Initially you guided to demoralize the membership with the tough negotiations ahead to scare their wits. Specifically by Cuomo’s budget cuts on the MTA of 100 million, no help from city Bloomberg’s proposed huge cuts to the public sector, and lastly with the fact that many MTA unions are without a contract. In addition Walder was clear on his intent that there will be no gains for TWU with the statement of ‘net zero’. Members believed if they were a boxer and if their trainer came with that advice they would fire their trainer instantly. Their reason being that the trainer is not teaching them how to punch, how to move away from the incoming blows, how to use Muhammad Ali’s rope a dope strategy to effectively be victorious.

Secondly the fantasy continues with a positive opaque statement that ‘unions are fighting back’ - members were asking how, when and where. They noted that there was no fight back during the June/July 2010 massive layoff of the TWU Local 100 members. Then the next bulletin that there were more demonstrations against the cuts in the last two months than we have seen in two years - this is an inaccurate statement since John Samuelsen said he did not want to demonstrate. Specifically stating that he does not believe in rallies due to the fact that only a few or a handful show up which reflects poorly on TWU Local 100 power. Does he not realize that it is the majority who oppose him who do not want to show up. In addition to his inability to organize or mobilize which has been clearly noted by the MTA - that with Jay H Walder they have mister softee. Especially since the picket line at Jay H Walder most of the time was a dozen of paid staff per day. It continues with contradiction of the Wisconsin fight back, and the Ohio fight back. Nationally unions are more mobilized than they have been in twenty years. If those in Wisconsin, Ohio or elsewhere were lucky not to take advice from John Samuelsen - here we salute John Samuelsen as pretender with photo-ops ‘standing as one with Wisconsin’. Finally the claim that TWU is ahead of the curve with the contract coordinating committee in place and HAVOC campaign gearing up - that does not reflect clearly what the members are thinking of.

Then they went on about the survey and how it was being conducted. You can guess what John Samuelsen’s preferred way is - online. Here you can let your imagination run wild from previous past practices, such as the extension of the solidarity fund with phone voting. Remember the extension of ten hours beyond the deadline - well that unsavory card can be used by John Samuelsen which reflects poorly of not honoring a deadline, however that reflects his character.

It concludes the figment of imagination with a take away point - whatever the outcome of negations and the contract, the future of the TWU is brightest when the most members are involved. The survey is the first step towards getting members involved in the contract fight - members are curious about this fight. Their response is when the MTA audited members of their families then denied their children medical benefits, when they were docked two days on the snow blizzard of 2010 why was John Samuelsen missing in action and how come he never fought back then? Do you believe him now? You can answer that.