End the extravagant perks at the Union Hall

Vice Presidents in TWU Local 100 make a good living and rightfully so: they have an important and demanding job overseeing their respective division. A good VP can mean the difference between a department that gets 14 release time spots for its members in a contract (CED) or just a clipboard in the contract (Stations). But the perks that come along with the office of VP in TWU Local 100 actually hurt the Union.

In addition to getting their own office at the Union Hall, where they either spend way too much time in and not enough on the field (RTO, Stations). Or they are never at their Union offices so members cannot see them (CED, TA Surface), the VPs also receive an automobile from the TWU Local 100, ostensibly for Union work. 

Late model vehicles for VPs would make sense if they were actually used for Union work, but most of these guys (with the exception of Harrington, who does not drive), use these cars for everything but union work. It is an expense TWU Local 100 could do without. Likewise the director of communications having a union vehicle is nothing short of ridiculous as well. Are we expected to believe he is running down stories for the TWU Express in his car? Highly unlikely.

A case could be made that the only union officer deserving of a 24 hour vehicle at their disposal should be the President of the TWU Local 100. After all the President of the TWU Local 100 should have access and freedom of movement at all times for whatever emergencies that may pop up.

The Secretary Treasurer of the TWU Local 100 is an important job as well and deserves respect and admiration, but do they really deserve a union car to go along with their big salary? It’s not like they are traveling to sign checks or going out to check the unions investments, the job is an office job, so the union car is an unnecessary perk.

A better idea would be a 24 hour vehicle for the President of the TWU Local 100. The safety department would also have 24 hour vehicular access in case of emergencies. Everyone else could use a few Union cars, a literal pool of cars that would be jointly shared by departments. When a VP needs a car for union work they could simply reserve one. Why should our membership dues go to pay for a VP taking their wife to go shopping? Or a VP who has to travel to non-work related areas? It is ridiculous and a classic waste of our membership dues. It is time to cut the inessential out in TWU Local 100.

Eid ul-Fitr

Replace Members services with a Health, Compensation and Disability Department

Currently the TWU Local 100 provides a department called “Members Services” whose mission is to rectify all sorts of members’ problems. It is located at 180 Livingston Street on the fourth floor. There are no less than 6 Union reps assigned to work there. These reps are charged with manning the phone lines to help members in need, well, at least that is the theory. The reality is far different than the appointed mission. On any given day when a member calls members’ services it is a roll of the dice. We have called every number in members’ services, from (347)643-8062 to (347)643-8069, a total of seven different phone numbers, and did not get an answer in a 3-4 minute period. Seven phone numbers with seven “leave a message please”. Everyone was busy at the same time? Pretty hard to believe, but 100% true.

You may ask yourself, what is the cost of this “leave a message at the tone” syndicate? If one takes into account that each union rep assigned makes an average of 60K to work there (a conservative estimate) the total comes to $360,000. Not chicken feed at all.

And the problem with members services is not only with them not answering the phones on a consistent basis but when they do answer the phone they usually just give out another phone number to call. That may be a help in some instances, but aren’t they supposed to be something more than a verbal phonebook? Shouldn’t they actually advocate for their members? This is not to say every rep at members services is a talking phonebook, one or two actually do take action, but too many of them are too happy to hand you off to the next guy.

A better idea would be to restructure members services into a Worker’s compensation, disability and health issues department. Workers’ compensation issues, disability issues and healthcare issues are of paramount importance to members and are specialties that would be better disseminated by a structured department specializing and having expertise in the subjects.

When members need information about these issues, time is always of the essence - a few days can make the difference between a successful claim and an unsuccessful one. This would be a benefit to the membership and also a benefit to union reps because it would free them up to do other important work.

And as for the Union reps who should run this new department? Their selection should not have any political input at all, it should be totally merit based. To give someone a managerial job based on your desire to carry their division in the next election, is a disservice to the membership. Two good choices would be Jose Lagoa of RTO and Phil Caruana since both are competent, knowledgeable and hard workers.

A specialized department focusing on these issues would be a major improvement over a Members’ Services department which making a phone call to is actually a coin-flip on whether it would be answered or not. Our membership deserves better.

James J Gannon

Every member in the TWU Local 100 when they become an employee of the MTA they accrue paid vacation days which takes them years to accumulate as clearly demonstrated in the collective bargaining agreement between the New York City Transit Authority, Manhattan and Bronx Surface Transit Operating Authority and Transport Workers Union of America Local 100. Section 2.4 - Vacation - B1 Each employee to whom this section is applicable who, at the beginning of a vacation year shall have been actively in the employ of the Transit Authority for less than one year, will be granted a vacation of one day  for each calendar month he/she shall have been in the employ of Transit Authority prior to the beginning of the vacation year but not exceeding two (2) weeks.

If the above section governs the TWU Local 100 membership then it creates a level plain field that creates equality among all the membership without preferential treatment to anyone. However James J Gannon is above the membership - it is wrong of John E Samuelsen president of TWU Local 100 Take Backward Our Union - TBOU to grant four  weeks of paid vacation to James J Gannon who has been in the employment of the TWU Local 100 less than one year. This nepotism should not be allowed to stand. Clearly in this instance John E Sameulsen has committed an ethics violation by granting four weeks of paid vacation to James J Gannon. John E Samuelsen owes a duty of due care to the membership however in this instance he has breached this duty of due care - it is not a mere error in judgment. It is unfathomable that the membership had to work in hurricane Irene while James J Gannon had to enjoy four weeks of paid vacation. 

It is clear John E Sameulsen is not able to police himself behind closed doors - in this instance he is raiding the membership dues by padding James J Gannon’s pay. James J Gannon does not deserve this exorbitant salary. It is unethical - TWU Local 100 membership dues are not for his pleasure and he has never been a member of TWU Local 100.

FILE NUMBER: 003-424

(D)  Gross Salary  Disbursements  (before any  deductions)

(E)  Allowances Disbursed

(F)  Disbursements for Official Business

(G)  Other Disbursements not reported in  (D) thru (F)

(H)  TOTAL

James   J   Gannon Employee None

$96,198

$0

$5,854

$3,610

$105,662

It is also time that the last vestiges of the Samuelsen coup d’etat, that has compromised the effectiveness of the TWU Local 100 be eliminated - through the appointment or election of fresh faces to replace the compromised cronies who have put their loyalty to the John E Samuelsen machine ahead of the interests of the TWU Local 100 membership.

Fringe benefits

We here in why did you join the union do not agree in any attempt on concessions in the fringe benefits area specifically in reductions in holiday and vacation time. We caution John E Samuelsen president of TWU Local 100 Take Backward Our Union - TBOU in giving up any of the Paid Personal Holidays (PPH) per year.

As it is we have eleven holidays that are not enough thus we believe there should never be reduction. We also demand increase of the banking of overtime (OTO) hours to 88 hours instead of the current 72 hours. In addition those OTO hours should never be restricted in a manner such as the established AVA/Personal days quotas but rather the banked OTO should augment AVA quotas without any restrictions such as the required approval from the management. What is the use of the OTO if you cannot get in the book? We wonder.

We demand that section 2.5 - Holidays - B: Employees who actually work on a holiday shall receive a $2 per hour differential for all hours actually worked on the following holidays: July 4th, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. First the $2 is an out of date amount (gallon of gas or milk cost is more than $2) that needs to be changed probably to be moved to a minimum of $5. Second this $2 should be applied to all eleven holidays rather than the current four. Third the $2 should be applied to the spread not restricted to ...hours actually worked...

Pick holidays where the schedule should be a sunday schedule and the night differential should be a holiday night differential rather than the current which is considered as a regular weekday. For non pick holidays it should be on a saturday schedule - we also do not agree that if a TWU Local 100 member is absent for 30 days he/she loses holiday allowance. 

Personal day - a member should be able to use that day on holiday. We do not agree with the current restriction which denies the member to use that personal day on holiday.

Wages

Since the TWU Local 100 membership responded in the HAVOC survey that wages is their number one priority lets discuss that by making it clear. Some unions agreed to pay freezes such as Civil Service Employees Association from Governor Andrew Cuomo in early August 2011. Others agreed to actual cuts in wages as we have seen the United Federation of Teachers under Michael Mulgrew (a friend of John E Samuelsen) who agreed to all Mayor Bloomberg conditions on June 2011 "We said we would try to work with every union to find ways to do more with less and the [United Federation of Teachers] . . . came through and did that," Bloomberg said.

We here in why did you join the union do not agree with those positions taken by those other unions - shame on them. However we in the TWU Local 100 demand from John E Samuelsen president of TWU Local 100 Take Backward Our Union - TBOU that first and foremost anything less than 4% percent wage increase (the annual improvement factor) is unacceptable. Second the automatic adjustments under the cost of living allowance (COLA) clauses must be in the contract of 2012. Third no ‘two-tier’ wage structure where newly employees start at substantially lower wage rates than under the previous contracts.

Earthquake

The earthquake in Virginia which was powerful was felt across the east coast on Tuesday August 23, 2011. We wish TWU Local 100 members and their loved one’s all the best.

Time will tell

We here in why did you join the union do not agree with John E Samuelsen president of TWU Local 100 - Take Backward Our Union - TBOU position of supporting the Communication Workers of America CWA and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers IBEW in their struggle against Verizon. 

First CWA and IBEW did not adhere to the principle of no contract no work. When CWA, IBEW reached an agreement on bargaining with Verizon which is not a contract they ordered their members who walked out on August 7th, 2011 to return to work on Tuesday, August 23 2011. Therefore that translates that the members are working without a contract. We here in why did you join the union believe that was a bad decision from Larry Cohen president of CWA. We remember when John E Samuelsen went around claiming that Roger Toussaint was wrong for not holding out all the way during the strike when he ordered TWU Local 100 membership back to work. Now in the contract of 2012 the only way to know how great John E Samuelsen president of TWU Local 100 - Take Backward Our Union - TBOU is, is if the proof is in the pudding.

Second we also remember when Larry Hanley the president of the Amalgamated Transit Union ATU got his cronies to appoint John E Samuelsen as a co chair of useless MTA Labor Coalition. ATU Local 726 (Angelo Tanzi) with Local 1056 (I Danek Miller) could not get a contract for their members thus leaving their members to diminish their earnings. As long as their membership are paying their dues Tanzi and Miller are happy by fattening their wallets with six figure pay checks.

Smart money in Vegas would bet that John E Samuelsen’s record of supporting phony union leaders who fold like cheap cameras in the heat of the battle does not inspire confidence. Thus the smart money believe that John E Samuelsen would not go against the grain but rather John E Samuelsen in the contract of 2012 would fold just like those phony union leaders he befriended. Those phony union leaders could not stand on the sidewalk to motivate their own members - who were brave and who took financial burden. Thus those phony union leaders resorted to return to work without a contract which is a shame. As the old idiom says tell me who are his friends and I will tell you who he is. If John E Samuelsen’s friends are phony union leaders then what would the smart money in Vegas say? Will John E Samuelsen allow TWU Local 100 membership to work without a contract on January 16, 2012 just like his buddies did (Cohen, Tanzi and Miller). What is your guess?

Compensation Problem

Imagine after entering into the management office you start to blast a member of the management with curses or offensive words, imagine what would happen to you? Can you guess what your outcome would be? Another example is imagine if you expose yourself or urinate in front of the management office - what would happen to you?

TWU Local 100 members are exposed to those incidents daily whether it be a station agent who is forced to observe this undignified incident or the act of urination by a customer. Or bus operators who are verbally assaulted by customers who are mad for mysterious reasons (whether waiting to long in the hot sun or drenched in the rain or too cold or the bus is late). It is clear in the above examples if they were committed by a TWU Local 100 member against the management that member would not survive the incident but rather they would be dismissed. We believe this is discrimination - if the TWU Local 100 members have to endure this then so does the management.

Now the question is why would TWU Local 100  not address this issue to the benefit of the membership? Is John E Samuelsen president of TWU Local 100 - Take Backward Our Union - TBOU not aware of these occurrences that confront the membership which cause emotional distress. We know what the management wants that the TWU Local 100 membership should accept with an open heart the extremely difficult, rude or disrespectful customer. In the end of the day they still blame the membership for the incident for not using the so called useless ‘conflict resolution techniques’. We wonder how a station agent should be able to use the ‘conflict resolution techniques’ when they observe a customer that is urinating - it is obvious the management are not using common sense.

We here in why did you join the union demand from John E Samuelsen president of TWU Local 100 - Take Backward Our Union - TBOU that in the contract of 2012 there must be a cost to be paid by our employer. Since we know that emotional distress takes a toll on the health of the membership just as the management are compensated for the emotional distress then TWU Local 100 membership should be compensated. We believe there are two forms of compensation. The first form can be monetary compensation of five hundred ($500) yearly sum awarded to the membership. The second form three (3) days paid as emotional retreat - one day for emotional treatment. We believe either of those choices will be beneficial to the membership who suffer emotional distress daily while they are doing their work that goes without compensation or being addressed. We also believe they are reasonable to our employer and that they can select either one to their liking. However, health of TWU Local 100 membership is not to be abused and then go without compensation.

September 21, 2011

Is John E Samuelsen president of TWU Local 100 -Take backward Our Union -TBOU out of touch, out of date or perhaps on his way out? Now he has to prove solidarity with the assaulted train operator.

Train Operator Darryl George was assaulted by Richard Arrocho - on Friday July 22, 2011

Docket: 041330 2011 BX

Date: Wednesday - September 21, 2011

Time: Courts open 09:30 AM (It depends when the case will be called)

Location:

The Bronx County Criminal Division is located at 215 East 161st Street  

Bronx, NY 10451 - Between Sherman & Sheridan

Public Transportation

Bus: Take the BX 6 or BX 13 to East 161st Street & Sheridan Avenue 

Take BX 1 to East 161st Street & Grand Concourse

Train: Take the D or 4 train to Yankee Stadium/161 Street Station

September 12, 2011

Is John E Samuelsen president of TWU Local 100 -Take backward Our Union -TBOU out of touch, out of date or perhaps on his way out? Now he has to prove solidarity with the assaulted bus operator.

Bus Operator Marlene Bien-Aime was assaulted by Stengali Medina for advising her that no dogs are allowed in the bus - on Tuesday June 21, 2011

Docket: 035162 2011 BX

Date: Monday - September 12, 2011

Time: Courts open 09:30 AM (It depends when the case will be called)

Location:

The Bronx County Criminal Division is located at 215 East 161st Street  

Bronx, NY 10451 - Between Sherman & Sheridan

Public Transportation

Bus: Take the BX 6 or BX 13 to East 161st Street & Sheridan Avenue 

Take BX 1 to East 161st Street & Grand Concourse

Train: Take the D or 4 train to Yankee Stadium/161 Street Station

Health insurance

Many of the membership are now tied down with hospital or other medical bills that the health insurance company refuses to pay for some unknown mysterious reason. However, that is not the only problem now to add insult to injury the credit rating of those TWU Local 100 members is shredded due to the outstanding bills. There is a member whose wife has multiple sclerosis and to be normal daily she needs the costly medication. Another member whose family member needs dialysis due to being on a waiting list to get a kidney is hobbled with medical and hospital bills in addition to their credit rating going down. What is the solution? Now not tomorrow many had hoped to have heard from John E Samuelsen president of TWU Local 100 Take Backward Our Union - TBOU that all your problems will be solved by Ms. Benita Johnson who will handle the medical grievance.

John E Samuelsen president of TWU Local 100 Take Backward Our Union - TBOU has pinned hopes of those desperate members on the medical grievance. However 

Ms. Benita Johnson with the medical grievance that she prepared at the arbitrator was laughed at. Now the question is what do those members above have to do before the bill collectors come calling or start harassing them? Obviously John E Samuelsen president of TWU Local 100 Take Backward Our Union - TBOU dropped the ball when he agreed with the employer to the health audit with the sole intention to drop family members from health insurance coverage. The other issue was acquiescing to the employer to switch health insurance coverage from one company to another not on the principle of ‘equal or better’ but rather from ‘better to worse’. 

Dominican day parade

TWU Local 100 had purchased a huge quantity of food that was supposed to feed the membership at the Dominican day parade. Due to the inclement of the weather only a handful of members showed up. However the majority were the paid staff from the union hall. So what about the food? The fingers are pointing that John E Samuelsen president of TWU - Take Backward Our Union TBOU authorized the food to be given to the management in the hope that they will reward TWU Local 100 with a better contract because of our generosity. 

If that is the thinking of John E Samuelsen then it is a lost cause. We would like to ask him why he didn’t send the food to the swing rooms? Or why the food was not given to the homeless shelters that deserve it. Management are wealthy they make more money than us the blue collar - this is a clear case of waste of membership dues.

Station safety

As station agents get sick frequently one wonders where the station department safety inspectors are? What are they doing? Why are they missing in action? Why are there no answers about the station agents who are getting sick frequently or what is the root cause? It is obvious from John E Samuelsen president of TWU Local 100 Take Backward Our Union - TBOU will claim he is not aware of such ailments thus he should be afforded the benefit of doubt. Maybe he may use a defense that those elected officers from the station department have dropped the ball of not informing him or taking the matter seriously. Or he may say they never requested safety inspectors to be released.

We here in why did you join the union do not agree with John E Sameulsen’s explanation. Safety in addition to the health of station agents must be taken seriously just as his - here is why. First they are locked in a booth and second their source of air is the air conditioner which can pose a problem. Lets imagine that a nearby building has asbestos then the question is can that asbestos find its way to the inside of the booth? Is that possible? Also the chairs that they sit on may not have proper back support, lower back support or lumbar support. 

Vermin are known to carry diseases that are harmful to human beings. Maybe John E Samuelsen president of TWU Local 100 Take Backward Our Union - TBOU will claim that station departments don't need released safety inspectors for rats, mice and cockroaches but rather that those station agents should swat the vermin themselves.

Cause and effect

If cause and effect is the guiding principle or whether trial and error then the outcome we desire may probably be on the positive side. However we cannot utilize a medium without extracting something that would benefit TWU Local 100. On Tuesday August 9, 2011 John E Samuelsen, president of TWU Local 100 - Take Backward Our Union - TBOU appeared on the NY1’s Inside City Hall program. It was not clear whether the New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo was observing the program or whether John E Sameulsen president of TWU Local 100 was asking for something or conveying a message. As a result no assumptions can be made.

Lets hypothesize that Governor Andrew Cuomo may ask his advisers what the gentleman from the TWU Local 100 want? We believe he may get blank stares from his advisers. As the old idiom states be careful what you ask for since you might get it. However not asking may lead to a missed opportunity. Therefore we should ask for what we need.

First we should ask to be consulted by the search committee on the selection of the future MTA leader. We are aware that it is Governor Andrew Cuomo’s call. Second we should push for a presence in the search committee on the selection of the future MTA leader so we can have first hand of his views, visions and ideas. Thus it would be appropriate to have a good relation from the start. We are not interested in a leader who will come with excuses of the dollar has been devalued, the economy is in a downward spiral. Since that leader will be working with us - TWU Local 100 we prefer a new leader to be sensitive to New Yorkers in their need for first class mass transportation system in the world. We believe everyone has learned from the mistake of Jay H Walder which was a high pressure combative style from day one that did not produce anything except headache. Third we could convey our preferences of who we would like to be the future MTA head. Then maybe Governor Andrew Cuomo may grant us our wish.

We have to recalibrate our approach especially with the selection of the new leader - we cannot rely exclusively on these two - first Vincent Alvarez, President, New York City Central Labor Council and Denis Hughes, President, New York State AFL-CIO who have embraced Governor George E Pataki at the AFL-CIO convention on December 4, 2001. At the end of the day those two have not operated a bus or train. TWU Local 100 should convey our choices clearly of a new leader which is a major concern for TWU Local 100 before he or she is installed. It is clear John E Samuelsen was not prepared or has no strategy to face the sudden departure of Jay H Walder. Therefore we demand from John E Samuelsen president of TWU Local 100 - Take Backward Our Union - TBOU to utilize any medium he prefers. However the message must benefit TWU Local 100 memberships rights and benefits. The following statement of ‘the last person in the room’ are poor words of choice that convey a negative tone. We would prefer a prudent approach to elicit approval in addition to cooperation from the New York State Governor Andrew M Cuomo. Maybe if we ask for we might be granted our wish or choice.

Contract Crystal Ball?

To analyze any opponent one must see their moves and the possible alternatives that are made conceivable by such moves.  As we inch closer and closer to this contract fight, the anticipation of what strategies the MTA may employ in that fight seem to become clearer or they just may be a mirage, only time will tell the complete story. A recent development inside the MTA perhaps has tipped their hand to a potential strategy. In the last few days the MTA has released information that they are creating a special Retirement Section at 130 Livingston St. This Retirement Section is on par with other MTA sections such as sick, safety and timekeeping. If one has followed the MTA they should know that they do not do anything without a reason, especially during the run-up to contract negotiations, so the creation of such a section is noteworthy and curious. 

One thing the MTA bosses have spoken about time and again as a long-term expense is our pensions. For the longest of times, MTA bureaucrats have moaned and whined about the cost of our future pensions. It does not matter the price we pay as workers to realize those pensions, in the eyes of the MTA they are luxurious and extravagant. There seems to be a general consensus inside the MTA to deal with the pension situation.

Let’s examine what we know: Gov. Andrew Cuomo has repeatedly stated his desire for a new tier six pension plan for new employees. Right now we as TWU Local 100 members are in a 25/55 tier four pension. The tier 6 pensions would include a higher contribution rate for employees from 2% to as much as 6%, a longer road to top salary for these employees and a 30/62 service/age requirement. Over the term of the 30 years the MTA would make $100s of millions of dollars. It is an almost sure bet that Cuomo will try for a tier 6 for any new MTA employees. He wants to be known as the Governor who reformed public pensions. 

We also know that under the former Gov. David Patterson, some state employees were afforded the option of an Early Retirement Initiative (ERI), which was never offered to TWU Local 100 members, well at least not publicly offered. What many do not know is that around the time of the lay-offs Walder and the MTA did offer ERI to TWU Local 100, but later reneged on the deal. Under the ERI workers will receive one month of additional pension credit for each year of service up to a maximum of 36 months/3 years added credit. Essentially one could make more money on their pension, sooner. Without the fork-tongued Walder around to renege on deals, ERI becomes a possibility.  It is a vehicle to not only escort, if not push, senior workers out but also a way to downsize the workforce, without lay-offs and RIF lists.

We also know that our current pension contribution is 2%. As employees there was a time in the 1990’s where we were paying 5.3%, so a 2% pension is fairly light in our experience. It would be our guess that the MTA would attempt to get an increase in this area as well. Perhaps a jump of 1% to 3% for established workers is possible.

The MTAs’ goals for this contract fight are what they always are: to give as little as possible and get as much as they can. We also know the MTA has created a new Retirement Section. What we don’t know is the possible ramifications this brings to us as TWU Local 100 members going into what may be the worst climate for a contract in recent memory. 

Now here is the speculative part: With the establishment of this Retirement Section in the MTA that may be signaling the coalescing of some of the things we know, as stated above. Who is to say that the establishment of a tier six pensions coupled with the offer of the ERI for veteran employees, coupled with a pension contribution increase for existing employees won’t happen? If it did it would stand to be a moneymaker for the bosses. Whatever money the state/MTA would have to shell out for the ERI would be dwarfed by the future savings of the tier 6 pension.

The realization of MTA profit from any long term pension savings on an ERI, a new tier 6 or any pension contribution increase would start slowly but eventually save the MTA $100s and $100s of millions of dollars. And more importantly change the landscape of the MTA employee pensions forever.

By this move the MTA would be accomplishing attainable goals: riding itself of high-salaried, (with what the MTA views as an unfavorable pension plan), employees and replacing them with new employees with a higher contribution rate, longer employment term and lower salaries. It would be seen as almost an investment plan for them.

But most of this is sadly from an MTA point of view, now come the important questions: What do we get? In business economics, the short term expense, say a 3% wage raise over 3 years is temporary, while it is true that all raises eventually cost the employer more in terms of pensions, the real change they want is long-term pension reform.  If the MTA and Gov. Cuomo really want pension reform, they should have to pay dearly for it.

Nothing should be off the table for us. A solid, iron-clad no layoff clause would be a good place to start. Job security is never a bad thing. High wage increases over the life of the contract would be a must. Therefore lets make that much better medical, dental and vision coverage, more and better choices in providers. Expanded health coverage zones that reach into New Jersey and PA. Perhaps even a switch to TWU Local 100 control of the Health Benefit Trust. 

Better, stronger, safety language, more TWU safety department inspectors released. An overhaul of the discipline system would be a welcome idea as well; TWU Local 100 member to having real recourse in the event of petty management abuse and the ability to act on those abuses would be a real benefit. To be honest the list could go on and on. Wish lists often do that. But make no mistake if pension reform is Cuomo’ and the MTAs goal then they must pay dearly for it. To let them have easily would be a huge mistake.

To be sure, at best this article is speculative and clearly based on a reactive projection to the MTAs’ latest bureaucratic section, the Retirement Section, but we in TWU Local 100 must begin to learn to think outside the box and try to anticipate our employers’ actions. Preparation to all possibilities is impossible, but that doesn’t mean that preparations to some possibilities are wasted efforts. What the MTA will eventually come to the table with is as of yet unknown, but with the contract right around the corner we should know soon enough.

Credit card and expense policy

The credit card and expense policy that was developed for TWU Local 100 has a lot of loopholes, that one can drive a bus through this credit card policy and expense policy June 24th, 2011. We are not excited that it has the ‘OK JS’ scrawled all over it especially in article 4. Union credit card charges ‘...Examples of TWU business or TWU business-related expenses include, but are not limited to:..’ why is there no limitation one wonders.

On page 2 ‘Supplies, goods, or services;’ the meaning of these words creates a loophole that a bus can drive through this credit card policy and expense policy June 24th, 2011. We are not happy about that. The meaning at the open dictionary - Merriam-Webster for the word ‘supplies’ means to add, to provide for, to make available for use, to satisfy the needs or wishes of - or the word ‘goods’ means profit or advantage, worth, benefit, possessions. Now if we look at the word ‘services’ that means work performed for remuneration. Thus those words are ill conceived which only creates loopholes that would drag TWU Local 100 into financial irregularities. TWU Local 100 should not be in the business of creating loopholes for the union credit card holders so they can abuse it now with impunity.

The redundancy (c) Travel expenses (e.g. transportation, lodging, meals); (d) Transportation; it is obvious these give way to loopholes and should be corrected. Then there is (e) Union business related events - meaning anything can be related.

This credit card and expense policy governing the use of credit cards, petty cash and expenses was presented to the Board.  It was approved by a vote of 34 yes, 1 no, 1 abstention. We advice the executive board to revisit this policy as it stands now since it is still exploitable by the union credit card holders. We need a credit card and expense policy that is clear, concise and that is iron clad.

Petty cash policy

We here in why did you join the union do not agree with John E Samuelsen president of TWU Local 100 - Take Backward Our Union - TBOU giving the general counsel to develop a petty cash policy. The general counsel is disqualified based on that he has never been a member of TWU Local 100. We here in why did you join the union would prefer that the members of TWU Local 100 develop this petty cash policy - those who are on the executive committee in conjunction with the executive board.

We here in why did you join the union believe the general counsel duty is to render advice, nothing more - this developing petty cash policy is beyond the advice of law. In this instance it is clear there is conflict between the organization TWU Local 100 and its human constituents John E Samuelsen - if it is to be believed that the organization TWU Local 100 is the client then it is not relevant for the law to view John E Samuelsen the general counsel may offer weather advice - weatherman Al Roker may say wait a minute what is going on? Weather is not law - we second that petty cash policy which is not relevant to law.

Lets imagine a bank hired a lawyer to do legal work with a security public offering. However the bank will never allow the lawyer to dictate the price or the quantity of the security because that is beyond the the legal work. Based on this principle the petty cash policy of TWU Local 100 is a members issue; therefore it should be handled by members.

Blue collar

It is strange that we the members of TWU Local 100 are not wearing the same uniform - we wonder why? In general those that claim solidarity wear the same uniform to represent equality among the labor. In addition it differentiates against the management. However we in the TWU Local 100 have some departments wearing different uniforms instead of the blue uniform. Also there is no clear or coherent explanation why that is from the union bosses.

You may notice some departments have different color uniforms. Maybe those union bosses are the problem - you can notice that at the union hall everyone has different  TWU Local 100 casual wear. Based on the above there is no solidarity. 

Financial control officer

It is said John E Samuelsen president of TWU Local 100 - Take Backward Our Union has had enough of his financial irregularities which has thrown the TWU Local 100 into a downward spiral. Based on that in the beginning of June 1, 2011 he has created a position of financial control officer who will devise and verify appropriate financial control policies. It is said he is still trying hard to name the position, whether its financial control officer, financial advisor or financial ombudsman. We say name him financial control officer, let his blue inked pen flow - that has consumed him since June 1, 2011. He believes the time is not right - the critical question remains when is a good time for John E Samuelsen.

The financial control officer will use a blue ink pen, as per John E Samuelsen that the financial control officer will review policies for other areas. It is said John E Samuelsen wants to safeguard the membership dues. Samuelsen believes that going after others is critical. That those who were before him must be pursued first then they have to pay first. As a result if they pay up then he can look at what went wrong since he took office. Sound contradicting? Yes it is. John E Samuelsen wants to throw TWU Local 100 into turmoil - then he can go around claiming the previous administration took monies that they don't want to pay up. He will use it as an excuse that his financial irregularities be forgiven or overlooked that is his way to put things right. 

John E Samuelsen believes he is smarter than the US President Barack H Obama’s principle of ‘looking forward as opposed to backwards’ investigating the crimes of the Bush administration. Samuelsen’s principle is to look backward rather than to look forward. He is so assured that the executive board members will rubber stamp this principle of looking backward. He believes he has the votes from the executive board - as a reward to those executive board members they would be issued blue inked pens so they can use them in signing their names in blue ink on their votes.

Frank Goldsmith

Frank Goldsmith is director of Occupational Health as per LM2 of 2010 he has earned 

(D)  Gross Salary  Disbursements  (before any  deductions)

(E)  Allowances Disbursed

(F)  Disbursements for Official Business

(G)  Other Disbursements not reported in  (D) thru (F)

(H)  TOTAL

Frank     Goldsmith Employee None

$73,899

$0

$1,549

$0

$75,448

It is widely known that he is not a member of TWU Local 100. It is strange that he earns this huge salary. It is time for Mr. Goldsmith to find employment elsewhere, membership dues are not for his pleasure - enough is enough.

Recently he provided an expert who read the instructions from the manual then billed TWU Local 100 $900.00 - reading a manual does not entitle anyone to get $900.00. It is obvious TWU Local 100 president John E Samuelsen - Take Backward Our Union - TBOU is taking the membership as fools by giving the membership dues to his buddies. However every book has its last page.

September 12, 2011

Bus Operator Marlene Bien-Aime was assaulted by Stengali Medina for advising her that no dogs are allowed in the bus - on Tuesday June 21, 2011

Docket: 035162 2011 BX

Date: Monday - September 12, 2011

Time: TBA (To Be Announced)

Location

The Bronx County Criminal Division is located at 215 East 161st Street  

Bronx, NY 10451 - Between Sherman & Sheridan

Public Transportation

Bus: Take the BX 6 or BX 13 to East 161st Street & Sheridan Avenue 

Take BX 1 to East 161st Street & Grand Concourse.

Train: Take the C, D or 4 train to Yankee Stadium/161 Street Station

That is the date the attacker of the bus operator Marlene Bien-Aime is suppose to appear in court. Now we here in why did you join the union demand that TWU Local 100 president John E Samuelsen - Take Backward Our Union - TBOU brings out all of the members who were assaulted while they were doing their work. Why? It is a three prong approach - the first approach which is the obvious one is to remind the judge or the jurors that it is an unacceptable behavior to assault members of TWU Local 100 while they are doing their work; the law has to come down on its might on Ms. Stengali Medina and she should not get a free pass. The second approach is to remind MTA to take a seriousness in safeguarding TWU Local 100 membership due to the fact we are in the contract year. The third approach is to educate the general public that assaulting a TWU Local 100 member is an unacceptable behavior that has consequences. 

It is now the time for those cronies of John E Samuelsen who get six figures to show up at the court in uniform blue shirts with navy pants and fill the court room to its capacity; they have to attend the hearing in its completion. However many will claim they do not have the uniforms which is a mockery to solidarity. They will also try to claim that they have very important appointments or they would just show their faces, then sneak away.

161

161 TWU Local 100 members from the station department who were laid off in 2010 have not been recalled - what is John E Samuelsen president of TWU Local 100 Take Backward Our Union - TBOU doing for them we wonder. Maybe since they are out of his sight they are out of his mind - so he can enjoy his vacation while they have to sweat out the summer without work.

We here in why did you join the union wish John E Samuelsen secures the recall for those 161 members - we do not know what he is waiting for. Maybe in John E Samuelsen’s mind that is not a pressing matter that may take long since he is the president of TWU Local 100 - Take Backward Our Union - TBOU. However we here in why did you join the union are not going to forget our 161 brethren - we are not going to accept any excuses. It is clear he cannot steer TWU Local 100 properly in a direction to get the 161 back to work. We will resist his deviations from the proper course till all of 161 are back on their jobs. There is no sense for John E Samuelsen to enjoy his vacation while our brethren of 161 are without jobs. We know of John E Samuelsen cronies that will come out of the wood work to defend him. They will say: first, that he has a right to his vacation second, he owes his family vacation time third, there is nothing he can do.

We here in why did you join the union say then that the solidarity is dead - it is a meaningless word that John E Samuelsen throws around whenever he feels like. In addition to his rhetoric ‘I am my brothers keeper’ now it is obvious that those are just empty rhetoric - we are getting nowhere. We are prepared to forget many of his bad decisions however we need action.

Jay H Walder

We here in why did you join the union do not agree with the New York Times article which stated ‘Governor Said to Have Irked Transit Leader Who Is Leaving’ on July 29, 2011. We believe Jay H Walder is like a spoiled rich kid who complains and leaves if he does not get his way. He had no vision for New York City or New York State and his big selling point that got him appointed as the MTA head was his willingness to kick the blue collar employees out of their jobs which as a result ruined their families’ livelihood.

Now this article clearly reveals how ungrateful he is to the New York State Governor Andrew M Cuomo. We here in why did you join the union are very happy that he is leaving and this article will not fade possibly Mr. Cuomo will not forget that - we love it. If Jay H Walder believes that Governor Cuomo owes him anything then he is wrong. Jay H Walder when he became the head of the MTA he did not make life easier for New Yorkers to get around. He slashed the services, he attacked the students by threatening the elimination of free rides for school kids and held their parents to pay up. He eliminated bus and train routes, cut late night service. New Yorkers felt paralyzed and no one liked it. The bottom line is he has done nothing good for the average New Yorker or the employees at the MTA - he was insensitive to both. ‘Mr. Walder was meeting the governor’s staff at the Capitol when Mr. Cuomo walked in. The governor greeted Mr. Walder, then promptly turned his attention to his chief of staff, Howard Glaser, with whom he spoke for several moments before departing, said two people familiar with the meeting’. If Jay H Walder felt slighted then maybe he should take a minute to reflect what the average New Yorker or the employees who have scorn and contempt about him felt - we believe what’s good for the goose is good for the gander.

If Jay H Walder came with a vision to enhance mass transportation to the benefit of New Yorkers or caring for the employees of the MTA then he would have been welcomed. However he will be remembered in history annals of New York City as a failure (just as the NY Mets under the Wilpons) who piggy back on the projects of others who had the gumption of hard work who made mass transportation a success story for New Yorkers. Obviously he is not Robert Moses - while the overall impact of many of Moses's projects continues to be debated, their sheer scale across the urban landscape is indisputable. The peak of Moses’s construction occurred during the economic duress of the Great Depression and despite that era’s woes, Moses’s projects were completed in a timely fashion. We believe the MTA may fare better with a leader who is sensitive to the needs of New Yorkers and its employees.

Is TWU Local 100 in good hands?

Any respectable organization has policies in the event that their Chief Executive Officer CEO is absent due to either a medical or personal reason. They plan ahead so that every one knows and there are no surprises. The biggest example would be when the Apple Corporation’s CEO Steve Jobs took medical leave, Tim Cook replaced him as the CEO. Now lets look at the smallest example - when a class room teacher is absent the New York City Department of Education knows exactly who is the substitute teacher so that the students are not left alone. Another example is when the bus operator comes to relieve the bus operator on the road the MTA knows ahead of time so that the customers can continue with their journey with minimal interruption. Those examples above demonstrate clear lines of authority which ensures continuity with minimal disruption coupled with smooth operation therefore the transition is made easier.

However TWU Local 100 with president John E Samuelsen Take Backward Our Union TBOU is on vacation without any clear lines of authority - if our president is absent then who is in charge? If president John E Samuelsen is sick then how long should the transition period be? Does John E Samuelsen’s vacation put TWU Local 100 power for grabs? One wonders for the day-to-day business and one supervisory for control purposes (since he was elected by the membership - 5549 votes out of 38,180 members as per LM2 of 2010). 

For TWU Local 100 John E Samuelsen presides over the executive board as well as the executive committee. Instead of these two roles being held by different people in our TWU Local 100 it is held by one. Those two roles usually ensure a distinction between management of the executive board and governing by the executive committee. This allows for clear lines of authority. The aim is to prevent a conflict of interest and too much power being concentrated in the hands of one person. That is the principle that a reasonable organization would follow but not in the case of TWU Local 100.

The rumors are flying that Shannon Poland is John E Samuelsen’s designee or a proxy to run the day to day business of TWU Local 100 but the question remains - is TWU Local 100 in good hands?