Chris Tobin 2

It is a surprise that there is a member in TWU Local 100 who would congratulate Jay H Walder on his reappointment considering Walder is responsible for driving over 1000 members to the lay off in 2010 - still almost half of those laid off members have not come back. It is incomprehensible, illogical and unfathomable that one of us would congratulate Walder for his reappointment. In addition it is rumored that now in 2011 Walder is intending to lay off some members however that must be seen before any conclusions can be made.

Maybe train operator Chris Tobin will call Jay H Walder and congratulate him for intending to lay off more members in 2011. We wonder what kind of an olive branch he extended to Walder. It would be great if Chris Tobin shows us the scars of battles that he has undertook with Walder. However whether this train operator has ever been an opponent to Walder - we do not recall.

It is not clear if this behavior is prevalent in the rapid transit operations department or whether his views were condoned by his chair Steve Downs. We wonder what sort of change this train operator can bring about to the livelihood of those laid off members  who are still struggling in their daily life to make ends meet.

It is a low point for the rapid transit operations department that one of their members would publicly congratulate, extend an olive branch and let Walder know that he has friends in rapid transit operations. Now train operators division chair Steve Downs owes an explanation to the membership - he is masterful in finding excuses for his train operators now he must stand up look in the eyes of the laid off members and provide a coherent explanation. We believe Chris Tobin did not speak on behalf of the rapid transit operations.

We in the buses are holding the line and we will never appease or befriend Jay H Walder. We also believe that there are good people in the rapid transit operations who do not condone Chris Tobin’s view.

Chris Tobin

MTA approved the release of its regular board meeting minutes of January 26, 2011 on February 23, 2011. While you review the minutes you find two members of TWU Local 100 were public speakers, Benita Johnson and Chris Tobin. Specifically upon further scrutiny on page seven under section two - public comment period.

You find Benita Johnson commented on the response to the December blizzard. We here in why did you join the union felt it would have been great if she commented or even challenged the board on their unanimously approving resolutions on page five such as (i) amendments of provisions of the Mabstoa pension plan, (ii) ...  increase in mandatory retirement age 62 to age 65 (iii) ...and conditions of the new Tier 5... (iv) an amendment of the Mabstoa plan to allow post-retirement loan repayments (v) amendments to provide that the retirement benefits of retirees of the Mabstoa plan...clearly she was out of her league on the bread and butter issues that concern TWU Local 100. Or maybe she was dozing off - you will find her in a non sequitur foreclosure. 

Then you come to Chris Tobin - the minutes indicate, ‘stated that he looks forward to reaching out and working with chairman Walder’. He owes an explanation to the membership of what his intention of working with chairman Walder is.

We cannot have a fellow co worker or a member among us seeking to reach out or work with chairman Walder since our employment relationship is limited in scope. We here in why did you join the union reject the idea or concept of reaching out and working with chairman Walder due to the fact that our fellow co workers are still laid off. Chairman Walder is anathema to the members of TWU Local 100, it is incomprehensible that one of us is willing to reach out and work with him - Chris Tobin owes an explanation to the membership.