Failed lawsuit of train conductor John T Landers V John E Samuelsen, Earl Phillips, Benita Johnson

Benita Johnson

Ms. Benita Johnson got it wrong looking at it in anyway as an officer addressing any member. However TBOU are in the habit of not acknowledging their errors or at least trying to ameliorate their errors due to the fact that they are angels. Generally in any venue people are given the benefit of doubt not erroneous call coupled with nastiness. 

For example in athletics - specifically in baseball the umpire gives the benefit of doubt to the runner reaching the base by calling him safe unless the ball reaches the base before the runner does then he is called out. Whether that is in domestic or international bush, little, rookie, A, AA, AAA or major league even in the educational setting NJCAA or NCAA - this rule was clearly portrayed on June 2, 2010 when the Detroit, Tigers pitcher Armando Galarraga was on the cusp of throwing a perfect game when the first-base umpire Jim Joyce, called the Cleveland Indians’ Jason Donald safe at first base. Many had different views but the Umpire’s call was right since the rules give the benefit of doubt to the runner in a close call which was also seconded by the baseball commissioner.

Another example - The Judgment of Solomon refers to Judge Solomon who ruled between two women both claiming to be the mother of a child. It has become a metaphor referring to a wise judge who uses a stratagem to determine the truth, tricking the parties into revealing their true feelings. Specifically, the judge pretends that he will destroy the subject matter of a dispute, rather than allowing either disputing party to win at the expense of the other.

Clearly as indicated in those above examples you must give the benefit of doubt - to the one who shows or demonstrates hard work, persistence and determination.

Now Benita Johnson ‘recording secretary’ of TWU Local 100 - we do not know which principle or guidance she adhered to - our guess is TBOU’s principle of ‘bash the members one way or the other’. TBOU’s other principles as seen in the past was when they were saying not to pay your dues when Roger Toussaint was the president. We also remember many things that were said about Roger Toussaint whether about the 2009-2011contract or the 2005 strike. Maybe it would be great if we refresh their memories - we are not going to remake their history - those TBOU principles cannot be changed or forgotten now.

Coming to the nasty letter the facts are clear for everyone to see - first the dates have been altered that is obvious to the naked eye (no need for a microscope or Sherlock Holmes). Second the meeting was cancelled due to the relocation from 80 West End to 1700 Broadway - any judge would have given the benefit of doubt to the member for showing the effort that he was participating in meetings during the winter (instead of heading to his loved ones in the evening like many do) which results in the well being of his TWU Local 100 - that should be encouraged not persecuted. In addition TBOU is rallying around the flag - looking at this issue objectively rather than subjectively - it is unjust now Ms. Benita Johnson with TBOU must eat crow on this letter.

Say it ain’t so, Benita!

Back in March, Ms. Benita Johnson, the ‘recording secretary’ for the politically motivated John Samuelsen TBOU clique which has hijacked TWU Local 100, wrote a particularly nasty letter to a steward. It is morally reprehensible to address a fellow co worker in that manner - we believe she owes an apology to the co worker. It is awful behavior how she has utilized the union credit card for personal nature. It is obvious membership dues are not for her pleasure maybe she should be reminded of that daily. We here in why did you join the union upon reviewing her behavior found that it reminds us of the ex state senator Pedro Espada Jr. the poster boy for Albany corruption.

When she is not bashing fellow co workers she is missing in action from the main duties  - that is her bread and butter which is attending all executive board meetings. She has missed half a dozen of executive board meetings, she does not write or record by hand anything so what is her use for receiving $118,062 per annum? Maybe Ms. Benita Johnson is not aware that it is her job to live up to the standards of the TWU Local 100 members. Her coarse language projects a negative image of TWU Local 100 - sitting on the chair and breathing the air is not worth $118,062. You have to do the work of the recording secretary - meaning recording (hand writing all the discussions - so in the event when members or anyone wants to refer or check on the issues there is a paper trail which is missing as indicated in the auditors interim report). It is abominable that there is not documentation of the executive board meetings/executive committee meetings since handwritten documents are also part of the history of the TWU Local 100.

Maybe she will claim when she holds the pen on her hand to write she feels pain, numbness, or tingling in the hand or wrist. Or maybe the pen gives her increased pain with increased use of the hand. Those excuses are unacceptable maybe she will tell John Samuelsen writing is not part of her duties if TWU Local 100 needs a scribe then they should employ one - what a shame. We say Ms. Benita Johnson must be present and record all the meetings, with hand written notes to justify the $118,062 per annum. We demand from John Samuelsen that he should not allow her to skip her work and go on travel junkets because that does not benefit the membership but rather furthers neglecting her primary duties.

Now it is up to John Samuelsen to make it clear that she must live up to the standards of the recording secretary position in the TWU Local 100. After all as a recording secretary’s report card that looks at the opinion of the staff and the officers, she has already earned an ‘F’ grade from the majority of the staff and officers. They simply don't trust her. Her unrefined language could make things worse.

And it is true that Ms. Benita Johnson has been making efforts to patch up her rocky relationship with John Samuelsen but this effort is severely undermined due to the nature of her inability to do her primary duty. Specifically that which is to be present at all the meetings, and to write down all the discussions by hand. 

We criticize John Samuelsen with his TBOU leadership cronies not from malice or disloyalty, but because our love and support for our membership and the great institution that was once TWU Local 100 is total and unconditional. So Ms. Benita Johnson we support the membership and TWU Local 100 by demanding a union built on high standards with respect for their duties and the truth. Unlike the quisling TBOU that so blindly accepts the Vichy-style rule coming from the Tweed Courthouse.