The high conflict employer?

Is MTA a high conflict employer? Does the MTA run its business in a way that breeds conflict as well as an adversarial relationship between management and labor by attempting to obtain every concession at the expense of labor. 

MTA behaves and views labor as a commodity that should be purchased as cheaply as possible and used only as long as the management deems it valuable. Thus this type of employer tries to keep labor cost down by paying wages and benefits as low as the market will allow.

Workers and employers - adversaries or partners II

Non-Marxists typically take a different view about the degree of conflict that exists in the employment relationship. While many workers and firms do have adversarial relationships, non-Marxists believe that it is also possible to have employer/employee relationships that are built on cooperation. This cooperation means not just the minimum necessary for the employment relationship to survive, but rather a relationship similar to that between two partners who pursue a common goal. In this view the type of labor relations will contain elements of both cooperation and conflict, although the exact proportion will depend on the management philosophy of the employer and the firm’s competitive position in the product market. 

Workers and employers - adversaries or partners I

Given that some degree of cooperation is required if anything is to be produced, considerable room for conflict remains between labor and management. 

How serious will this conflict be? According to Marxists, the relationship between managers and workers in a capitalist system is inherently adversarial, since management’s goal (higher profits) can only be obtained at the expense of the worker’s goal (higher wages) and vice versa.

To strengthen their bargaining power and to protect their class interests in the face of management’s continual drive for greater profits, workers are inevitably led to form labor unions. From a Marxist perspective however labor unions are not the ultimate solution to the adversarial relationship. The ultimate solution is for workers to seize control of the state and substitute government ownership of capital for private ownership. 

Since the state will then be controlled by the workers, an adversarial relationship can not exist because the workers will be in effect their own bosses. This line of thinking was used by the Ukrainian government when it outlawed independent union. (If the state owns the means of production and operates them in the interests of the workers, why do workers need an independent union?) Events in Ukraine suggest however that the goals of managers and workers in a former socialist country may be in as much or even more conflict as those in a capitalist country.

In the auto industry (GM and Chrysler) workers thru their unions are the owners, can that idea trickle down from Detroit to New York City? 

Yuppie going thru middle life crisis

A yuppie who rides his ‘bike a lot’ who is known to cut in front of the buses instead of adhering and staying in the bike lane. Which New Yorkers have coughed monies so that those bikers could stay in their lane however not this yuppie.

He states ‘Just thinking of my own safety of course!’ however he hides the fact that he never stops for a red light, that he does not stop for pedestrians or allow them to cross the road in their crosswalk but he whizzes by. Sometimes ago he claimed that it gives him the adrenaline rush of his role model Lance Armstrong. This yuppie does not believe in the head helmet debate. He claims that it is a personal preference that he is not riding in a club or organized ride where wearing a helmet is required therefore it has no bearing on him or his ride or safety whatsoever. His choice is to let his hair loose and let it float in the air.

His bike is a fixed-gear bicycle, he claims its advantage is the low weight as well as that there are no brakes. He states that the brakes and their cables add extra bulk to the simple appearance of a fixed gear bicycle such as the famous fixed-gear-only race Monstertrack alleycat.

But rather he is free wheeling - riding on the wrong side of the road. We wish the NYPD was under William Bratton of the days bygone who dealt with those quality of life issues - especially like this yuppie biker who enjoys riding in a bus lane instead of being in the bike lane.

His holier-than-thou attitude when a bus sounds the horn causes him to yell at the bus operators that are honking the horn stating that it has ruined his ride while neglecting to mention that he is in the bus lane. He is quite the rebel (puberty is in the rear mirror but not while he has grey hair).

It is time New York City should enact a law for bicyclists to have good insurance and have identification. We TWU Local 100 are over taxed in paying for people’s negligence. Thus in our endorsement for the oncoming mayor race we should endorse a candidate who will enforce the bus only lane.

Walder lite

On Thursday, June 20, 2013 The New York State Senate has confirmed Tom Prendergast as chairman and CEO of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. 

We here in why did you join the union believe Prendergast is ill suited for the job. Here is why - he is from Chicago therefore a non native New Yorker, and he does not have big connections to political or financial resources that can summon Governor Cuomo at a heart beat. Based on the above we do not believe that Prendergast would be able to deliver fair contracts to TWU 100, 106 and give a raise to the management. 

We here in why did you join the union believe that Joseph Lhota was able to deliver a fair contract to TWU Local 100 due to his political muscle. For instance one call from Mayor Rudolph Giuliani or US Senator Alfonse D’Amato to Governor Andrew Cuomo would have yielded in what we desire. As we know now Lhota had other plans in mind namely to run for New York City Mayor. He walked away from the MTA while he was on a high note which was a clever political move. Thus with every passing day now he looks good. If he champions Giuliani’s doctrine of dealing with quality of life issues with an iron fist, like jaywalking, public urination, drinking beer in the open, farebeating, hanging in the streets, smoking controlled substances, bicyclists cutting buses (which is common) then it would be in favor of the community. However those Giuliani and William Bratton days are bygone leaving the small guy and families to fend for themselves. Bloomberg has stacked the deck in favor of commerce, putting their profit above all else and has made it difficult for the small guy and families. The other side of the coin is that Democrats will never champion for the small guy and family issues.

Now TWU Local 100 we have to think strategically in order to procure a fair contract. We know the economy is rebounding therefore the question is whether we are getting an 18% raise for 3 years? Based on 6% raise per year? Or better yet for Prendergast to walk briskly into the governor’s office, bang on his table and look into Governor Andrew Cuomo’s eyes stating that he has made his mind to go against Cuomo’s philosophy of giving nothing to state workers but rather he will spend state monies in giving fair contracts to TWU 100, 106 and a raise to the management. Is that possible? We believe he will be supplicating the governor since he may not have access to the governor. Prendergast will be happy if he can meet the governor chief of staff or he may follow in his mentor Jay H Walder’s footsteps by having access to an aide of the governor. Prendergast is definitely not going to be Father Christmas but rather Walder lite. 

Wrong again

One thing is clear Steve Downs did not deceive anyone as Israel Rivera Jr alleged in his email. The first sentence in Steve Downs’ newsletter is a disclaimer  -‘This is NOT an official record of the meeting. It is based on my notes’. We can bet you that Israel Rivera Jr glasses were foggy because he did not see that.

Since it is not an official record Steve Downs did not lie and it is not deception. However if you take note of those who were copied the email you will notice that they never have the memberships best interest.

We recall when Israel Rivera Jr lobbied a racist remark to ‘tanotou’ stating that he was not worth a coconut. We wonder when they have made up, many know ‘tanotou’ does not let the past go. However maybe now he is aging gracefully. It is also known Nelson Rivera and Stephan Thomas were apart of the list of names.  

From: Israel Rivera jr

Sent: 5/7/2013 7:54 PM

Cc: Ainsley Stewart; tanotou@aol.com; David Alvarado kb; Bjodwyer@aol.com; Max Ortiz; Alex Borrero; william colon; kooljohnnyj1960@yahoo.com; Dylan Valle; Evelyn Figueroa; Richard Fields Jr; hlombardo@twu.org; Iris Aquino; Mowstructure; mailto:Nelson Rivera; Monique Rondon; Stephan Thomas; Sandra Santiago; virginia sanders

Israel Rivera Jr IV

One wonders why a former disgraced secretary treasurer Israel Rivera Jr of TWU Local 100 who was removed from office for improper use of membership funds, as well as awarding Ms. Baum a service contract and was excluded from running for office now has championed management causes against the local? He is a turncoat. ‘My advice to this woman and any other individual wronged on the job with the MTA, take your complaints outside of TWU and the MTA - Israel Rivera Jr’.

We in the TWU Local 100 believe in the principle that ‘an injury to one is an injury to all’ and ‘we protect our own’.

Israel Rivera Jr III

Shuffle animation indicates the level of maturity of the sender - he may retort that we should have some sense of humor. However we see no humor in that animation but rather bad taste. We remember those inferior quality cartoon productions (star wars cartoons, the chicken dancing etc.) which are irrelevant and a joke that no one takes them seriously.

John Samuelsen is our leader, and is due all the respect as president of TWU Local 100 and nothing less.

We may have different opinions however at the end of the day we believe: a) in an injury to one is an injury to all, b) we protect our own. 

From: Israel Rivera jr

Sent: 6/8/2013 12:23 PM

Subject: shuffle

Israel Rivera Jr II

You have to wonder if it is true about the ‘Shady TWU Local 100 rep?’. You come to the realization that it is not true. Then you realize it is the ravings of Israel Rivera Jr, which are baseless innuendo.

One has to wonder why this vitriol? Others wonder if he has ever helped any member of Local 100. The obvious answer is no. Many remember when he was at 

80 West End Ave how he did not acknowledge his fellow co workers except for his lackeys!

Recently he has attacked Stephen A Downs as chair to the train operators (disclaimer I have benefited from Mr. Downs advice and guidance in the struggle against management as well as many other issues - thus Mr. Downs has fulfilled his obligated duty to protect our own).

It is also true Mr. Downs is capable of defending himself against the ramblings of Israel Rivera Jr. However Stephen A Downs deserves all the gratitude and thanks. We had a difference of opinion in the past but I have found him to be pluralistic. Maybe in the past he may have had views that were socialist however as we know today USSR has faded away and it is not in existence, the present day Russia has moved on to a capitalist camp. 

Many would like to know what Israel Rivera Jr has done to benefit the membership? The resounding answer is zilch. Does Israel Rivera Jr attend TWU Local 100 activities? No one can recall his presence. 

Israel Rivera I

Executive Board Trial Results 10-25-2010

# Keypad Name Response

1 Motion to vote Israel Rivera Jr guilty on charge #1 

1 Terry Adams Abstain 

2 Tony Aiken Yes 

3 Brussard Alston Yes 

4 Lloyd Archer Abstain 

5 Frank Austin Yes 

6 Edwin Benjamin Yes 

7 Jack Blazejewicz Yes 

8 Dennis Boyd No 

9 Ron Carter No

10 John V Chiarello Yes 

11 Eze Chisolm Yes 

12 Brian Clarke Yes 

13 Tommy Creegan No 

14 Latonya Crisp‐Saura Yes 

15 Richard Davis Yes 

18 Grigory Dunichev Yes 

19 Jolly Eapen No 

20 Derrick Echevarria Yes 

22 Pete Foley Yes

23 Mario Galvet Yes 

24 Angel Giboyeaux Yes 

25 Jerry Greenhaus Yes 

26 Annie Hallahan Yes 

27 Kevin Harrington Yes 

28 Lee Ireland Yes 

29 Maurice Jenkins Yes 

30 Benita Johnson Yes 

31 Tom Lenane Yes 

33 Cleveland Manley Yes 

34 Shirley Martin Yes 

35 Dennis McCormick Yes 

38 Gwendolina Peebles Abstain

39 Neil Phillips No 

40 Paul Piazza Yes 

41 Nelson Rivera Yes 

44 John H. Spicer, Jr Yes 

45 Robert H. Stahl Yes 

46 K.Taylor‐Davidson Yes 

48 Tony Utano Yes 

49 Brander White Yes 

50 Christine Williams Yes 

52 Michael Morales Yes 

53 Joe Sclafani Yes

# Keypad Name Response

2 Motion to vote Israel Rivera, Jr. Guilty of the allegations in Charge #2 

1 Terry Adams Yes 

2 Tony Aiken Yes 

3 Brussard Alston Abstain

4 Lloyd Archer Yes 

5 Frank Austin Yes 

6 Edwin Benjamin Yes 

7 Jack Blazejewicz Yes 

8 Dennis Boyd Yes 

9 Ron Carter Yes

10 John V Chiarello Yes 

11 Eze Chisolm Yes 

12 Brian Clarke Yes 

13 Tommy Creegan No 

14 Latonya Crisp‐Saura Yes 

15 Richard Davis Yes 

18 Grigory Dunichev Yes 

19 Jolly Eapen Yes 

20 Derrick Echevarria Yes 

22 Pete Foley Yes 

23 Mario Galvet Yes 

24 Angel Giboyeaux Yes 

25 Jerry Greenhaus Yes 

26 Annie Hallahan Yes 

27 Kevin Harrington Yes

  28 Lee Ireland Yes 

29 Maurice Jenkins Yes 

30 Benita Johnson Yes 

31 Tom Lenane Yes 

33 Cleveland Manley Yes 

34 Shirley Martin Abstain 

35 Dennis McCormick Yes

38 Gwendolina Peebles Yes 

40 Paul Piazza Yes

41 Nelson Rivera Yes 

44 John H. Spicer, Jr Yes 

45 Robert H. Stahl Yes 

46 K.Taylor‐Davidson Yes 

48 Tony Utano Yes 

49 Brander White Yes 

50 Christine Williams Yes 

52 Michael Morales Yes 

53 Joe Sclafani Yes

# Keypad Name Response

3 Motion to vote Israel Rivera, Jr. Guilty of the allegations in Charge #3 

1 Terry Adams Abstain 

2 Tony Aiken Yes 

3 Brussard Alston Yes

4 Lloyd Archer Yes 

5 Frank Austin Yes 

6 Edwin Benjamin Yes 

7 Jack Blazejewicz Yes 

8 Dennis Boyd Yes 

9 Ron Carter Yes

10 John V Chiarello Yes 

11 Eze Chisolm Yes 

12 Brian Clarke Yes 

13 Tommy Creegan No 

14 Latonya Crisp‐Saura Yes 

15 Richard Davis Yes 

18 Grigory Dunichev Yes 

19 Jolly Eapen Yes 

20 Derrick Echevarria Yes 

22 Pete Foley Yes 

23 Mario Galvet Yes 

24 Angel Giboyeaux Yes 

25 Jerry Greenhaus Yes 

26 Annie Hallahan Yes 

27 Kevin Harrington Yes

  28 Lee Ireland Yes 

29 Maurice Jenkins Yes 

30 Benita Johnson Yes 

31 Tom Lenane Yes 

33 Cleveland Manley Yes 

34 Shirley Martin Yes 

35 Dennis McCormick Yes

38 Gwendolina Peebles Yes 

40 Paul Piazza Yes

41 Nelson Rivera Yes 

44 John H. Spicer, Jr Yes 

45 Robert H. Stahl Yes 

46 K.Taylor‐Davidson Yes 

48 Tony Utano Yes 

49 Brander White Yes 

50 Christine Williams Yes 

52 Michael Morales Yes 

53 Joe Sclafani Yes

# Keypad Name Response

4 Motion to vote Israel Rivera, Jr. Guilty of the allegations in Charge #4 

1 Terry Adams Yes 

2 Tony Aiken Yes 

3 Brussard Alston Yes

4 Lloyd Archer Yes 

5 Frank Austin Yes 

6 Edwin Benjamin Yes 

7 Jack Blazejewicz Yes 

8 Dennis Boyd Yes 

9 Ron Carter Yes

10 John V Chiarello Yes 

11 Eze Chisolm Yes 

12 Brian Clarke Yes 

13 Tommy Creegan No 

14 Latonya Crisp‐Saura Yes 

15 Richard Davis Yes 

18 Grigory Dunichev Yes 

19 Jolly Eapen Yes 

20 Derrick Echevarria Yes 

22 Pete Foley Yes 

23 Mario Galvet Yes 

24 Angel Giboyeaux Yes 

25 Jerry Greenhaus Yes 

26 Annie Hallahan Yes 

27 Kevin Harrington Yes

  28 Lee Ireland Yes 

29 Maurice Jenkins Yes 

30 Benita Johnson Yes 

31 Tom Lenane Yes 

33 Cleveland Manley Yes 

34 Shirley Martin               Yes 

35 Dennis McCormick Yes

38 Gwendolina Peebles Yes 

40 Paul Piazza Yes

41 Nelson Rivera Yes 

44 John H. Spicer, Jr Yes 

45 Robert H. Stahl Yes 

46 K.Taylor‐Davidson Yes 

48 Tony Utano Yes 

49 Brander White Yes 

50 Christine Williams Yes 

52 Michael Morales Yes 

53 Joe Sclafani Yes

# Keypad Name Response

5 Having found Israel Rivera, Jr guilty on the allegations under charges 1 ‐ 4 brought by John Samuelsen, the board votes to immediately remove him from office of Secretary Treasurer

1 Terry Adams Yes 

2 Tony Aiken Yes 

3 Brussard Alston Yes

4 Lloyd Archer Yes 

5 Frank Austin Yes 

6 Edwin Benjamin Yes 

7 Jack Blazejewicz Yes 

8 Dennis Boyd Yes 

9 Ron Carter Yes

10 John V Chiarello Yes 

11 Eze Chisolm Yes 

12 Brian Clarke Yes 

13 Tommy Creegan No 

14 Latonya Crisp‐Saura Yes 

15 Richard Davis Yes 

18 Grigory Dunichev Yes 

19 Jolly Eapen Yes 

20 Derrick Echevarria Yes 

22 Pete Foley Yes 

23 Mario Galvet Yes 

24 Angel Giboyeaux Yes 

25 Jerry Greenhaus Yes 

26 Annie Hallahan Yes 

27 Kevin Harrington Yes

  28 Lee Ireland Yes 

29 Maurice Jenkins Yes 

30 Benita Johnson Yes 

31 Tom Lenane Yes 

33 Cleveland Manley Yes 

34 Shirley Martin Yes 

35 Dennis McCormick Yes

38 Gwendolina Peebles Yes 

40 Paul Piazza Yes

41 Nelson Rivera Yes 

44 John H. Spicer, Jr Yes 

45 Robert H. Stahl Yes 

46 K.Taylor‐Davidson Yes 

48 Tony Utano Yes 

49 Brander White Yes 

50 Christine Williams Yes 

52 Michael Morales Yes 

53 Joe Sclafani Yes

# Keypad Name Response

6 Israel Rivera, Jr shall be ineligible to hold any office or appointive position in the local or international union for a period of (3) Three Years, the maximum allowable under the constitution of TWU

1 Terry Adams Yes 

2 Tony Aiken Yes 

3 Brussard Alston Yes

4 Lloyd Archer Yes 

5 Frank Austin Yes 

6 Edwin Benjamin Yes 

7 Jack Blazejewicz Yes 

8 Dennis Boyd Yes 

9 Ron Carter Yes

10 John V Chiarello Yes 

11 Eze Chisolm Yes 

12 Brian Clarke Yes 

13 Tommy Creegan No 

14 Latonya Crisp‐Saura Yes 

15 Richard Davis Yes 

18 Grigory Dunichev Yes 

19 Jolly Eapen Yes 

20 Derrick Echevarria Yes 

22 Pete Foley Yes 

23 Mario Galvet Yes 

24 Angel Giboyeaux Yes 

25 Jerry Greenhaus Yes 

26 Annie Hallahan Yes 

27 Kevin Harrington Yes

  28 Lee Ireland Yes 

29 Maurice Jenkins Yes 

30 Benita Johnson Yes 

31 Tom Lenane Yes 

33 Cleveland Manley Yes 

34 Shirley Martin Yes 

35 Dennis McCormick Yes

38 Gwendolina Peebles Yes 

40 Paul Piazza Yes

41 Nelson Rivera Yes 

44 John H. Spicer, Jr Yes 

45 Robert H. Stahl Yes 

46 K.Taylor‐Davidson Yes 

48 Tony Utano Yes 

49 Brander White Yes 

50 Christine Williams Yes 

52 Michael Morales Yes 

53 Joe Sclafani Yes

# Keypad Name Response

7 If allowed by the TWU International Union, Israel Rivera, Jr. shall be barred from holding the position of TWU LOCAL 100 Secretary Treasurer for life

1 Terry Adams No 

2 Tony Aiken No 

3 Brussard Alston Abstain

5 Frank Austin Abstain 

6 Edwin Benjamin Yes 

7 Jack Blazejewicz Abstain 

8 Dennis Boyd No 

10 John V Chiarello Abstain 

11 Eze Chisolm Abstain 

12 Brian Clarke No 

13 Tommy Creegan No  

15 Richard Davis No 

18 Grigory Dunichev No 

19 Jolly Eapen No 

20 Derrick Echevarria No 

22 Pete Foley No 

23 Mario Galvet No 

24 Angel Giboyeaux Abstain 

25 Jerry Greenhaus No 

26 Annie Hallahan Yes 

27 Kevin Harrington Yes

  28 Lee Ireland No 

29 Maurice Jenkins Yes 

30 Benita Johnson Abstain 

31 Tom Lenane Yes 

33 Cleveland Manley Abstain 

34 Shirley Martin Yes 

35 Dennis McCormick Abstain

38 Gwendolina Peebles Yes 

40 Paul Piazza Yes

41 Nelson Rivera No

44 John H. Spicer, Jr Abstain 

45 Robert H. Stahl Abstain 

46 K.Taylor‐Davidson No 

48 Tony Utano Abstain 

49 Brander White Yes 

50 Christine Williams Abstain 

52 Michael Morales No 

53 Joe Sclafani No

Vote Summary

# Question Total Votes Yes No: Abstain

1 Motion to vote Israel Rivera Jr guilty on 43 35 5 3

charge #1 

2 Motion to vote Israel Rivera, Jr. Guilty of the 42 39 1 2

allegations in Charge #2

3 Motion to vote Israel Rivera, Jr. guilty of the 39 37 1 1    

allegations in Charge #3 

4 Motion to vote Israel Rivera, Jr guilty of the 39 37 2

Charge #4

5 Having found Israel Rivera, Jr guilty 39 38 1

on the allegations under charges 1 ‐ 4 

brought by John Samuelsen, 

the board votes to immediately 

remove him from office of Secretary Treasurer

6 Israel Rivera, Jr shall be ineligible to hold any 38 37 1 

office or appointive position in the local or 

international union for a period of (3) 

Three Years, the maximum allowable 

under the constitution of TWU

7 If allowed by the TWU International Union, 39 9 17 13

Israel Rivera, Jr. shall be barred from 

holding the position of TWU LOCAL 100 

Secretary Treasurer for life