We reject pay freeze

It is wrong of the republicans to threaten severe changes directed towards the blue collar workers. This is not a proper way to move forward in 2011 with pay freeze, furlough and layoffs. We here in why did you join the union have seen that similar pattern from our boss with his severe service cuts which inflicted hardship for the average New Yorkers who rely on mass public transportation.

Blue collar workers have a paycheck to rely on and that is a limited income that is being assailed by the skyrocket prices, uncontrollable and unadjusted cost of living thus making the livelihood of the blue collar workers difficult. However we do not see the executives slashing their own salaries, taking pay freezes or giving themselves a worse retirement deal however they shove those down on the blue collar workers while they rely on luxurious retirement packages.

Since the republicans have revealed their intentions before even getting sworn in and even taking their seats in the house, we believe the founding fathers did not envision what the republicans have in mind. The founding fathers vision was the house has to legislate in the benefit and well being of society for the common good of the citizenry.  However the republicans are clearly on the side of the executives and against the blue collar workers. We here in why did you join the union reject in whole this rhetoric of financial difficulties to be only directed towards the blue collar while sparing the white collar and providing them with the luxurious pay and retirement deals. It is either we are in the same ship where the pain must spread across from the top to the bottom not the pain solely directed towards the blue collar who are already at the bottom of the earning pyramid.

If the republicans want to return to the adversarial days of labor conflict the blue collar workers of the 21st century will not be pushed around. We remember a company with  a considerable amount of labor conflict such as Eastern Airlines. Other examples also include the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization (PATCO) where strikes were broken by president Ronald Reagan, signaling his favoritism towards business and union busting rather than the blue collar workers. However we have learned our lesson this time around and the blue collar workers will have the last laugh and the republicans victory will not last long.

We support you

We here in why did you join the union and on behalf of the members of the TWU Local 100 support the American Postal Workers Union AFL-CIO (APWU) and National Rural Letter Carriers’ Association (NRLCA). We are with you in seeking a just contract for the benefit of the membership.

It is always the blue collar workers who get the short end of the stick and we here in why did you join the union see the similarity of your situation with ours. We both have executives who have secured send away golden parachutes coupled with unimaginable and unfathomable benefits, while the blue collar workers have to fight to get a 2% or 4% raise. The blue collar workers are living from paycheck to paycheck and have to make ends meet while the prices are soaring upwards. It is a real privilege in siding with our fellow brethren APWU & NRLCA in this day and age when unions are challenged like never before by the executives and republicans who run amok.

We here in why did you join the union and on behalf of the members of the TWU Local 100 believe in you, and we know and have heard the executives when they utilize rhetoric of the dire financial status in the hope of denying the blue collar workers their rightfully and deserved raise. We the blue collar workers have serious different points of view from the executives with regard to our pay, work rules, health benefit, pension and numerous other issues.

We here in why did you join the union and all other unions couldn’t tolerate the thought of being denied the right to ask for a raise. Since we the blue collar cannot earn the luxurious pay coupled with the golden parachutes that the management earn we will not be deterred until the day when the ratio of compensation between a blue collar worker and the executive is balanced. We here in why did you join the union do not agree with the current discriminatory compensation method that views the management compensation as quasi-fixed cost and the blue collar worker as a variable cost. We refuse to be paid on an hourly basis, whereas the white collar receive monthly salaries.

Medal of freedom

We here in why did you join the union were excited when the son of a bus operator was awarded the presidential medal of freedom. It recognizes those individuals who have made "an especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, cultural or other significant public or private endeavors." 

We are proud that president Obama is awarding a medal of freedom to the son of a bus operator who worked in the Bronx. John J. Sweeney is the current President Emeritus of the AFL-CIO. We are proud of all members of Local 100 and especially during these challenges that unions are facing from the republicans.

There is no question that John J Sweeney has earned the medal through hard work, and clearly nothing is impossible for the members of Local 100. If you set your aim on a target with hard work you can achieve success. Now it is your turn to carry the torch forward and strive for success. Whether you are a cleaner, station agent, conductor, maintainer, train operator, track worker or bus operator nothing is impossible.

We here in why did you join the union believe that medal should be at the entrance of the Local 100 where every member of the Local 100 can see it and know nothing is impossible. Maybe for next year’s mass membership meeting he should be invited and welcomed. 

Thanksgiving

Edwin Thomas memorial

We wish you a happy holiday season, as you are enjoying this holiday with your family and loved ones we would like you to remember our fellow co workers who passed away while working.

Edwin Thomas our fellow co worker who was a bus operator on December 1, 2008 was murdered while doing his work, and as we are enjoying this holiday season the most important gift to his family would be to show up for his memorial. 

Edwin Thomas memorial 

December 1, 2010

Wednesday 

Time 12 Noon

At - Flatbush Depot 

4901 Fillmore Ave. 

Brooklyn, NY 11234

Travel Directions by Subway

Take #2

To the last stop - Flatbush Avenue

Take Bus  B41 LTD Kings Plaza via Flatbush

5 stops

We must show solidarity to the family of the late bus operator Edwin Thomas - who has paid ultimate sacrifice while doing his work.

Million dollar gift

NYC Economic Development Corporation handed $1 million to a professor all the way from Irvine, California to write an opinion about the Kingsbridge Armory in the Bronx. We here in why did you join the union were shocked at the brain drain in New York City and especially that no one could be found to write an opinion from here about the Bronx.

The late owner of the New York Yankees George Steinbrenner would definitely have said that there is something wrong with the decision maker who had to overlook everyone in New York and only land in Irvine, California to find a whacky professor. This professor happens to agree with mayor Bloomberg’s point of view that the workers should make only $7.25 an hour instead of $10.

We here in why did you join the union believe that we could have written an opinion paper cheaply for the benefit of the mayor. We would have taken half of the million and eat cheese and drink wine and hobnob with the crowd who tour the museums of the fine arts on fifth avenue. But we would not do that because we stand behind the blue collar workers.

The obvious conclusion is that this professor will do mayor Bloomberg’s bidding at the detriment of the blue collar workers.

Edwin Thomas memorial

We wish you a happy holiday season, as you are enjoying this holiday with your family and loved ones we would like you to remember our fellow co workers who passed away while working.

Edwin Thomas our fellow co worker who was a bus operator on December 1, 2008 was murdered while doing his work, and as we are enjoying this holiday season the most important gift to his family would be to show up for his memorial. 

Edwin Thomas memorial 

December 1, 2010

Wednesday 

Time 12 Noon

At  - Flatbush Depot 

4901 Fillmore Ave. 

Brooklyn, NY 11234

Travel Directions by Subway

Take #2

To the last stop - Flatbush Avenue

Take Bus  B41 LTD Kings Plaza via Flatbush

5 stops

We must show solidarity to the family of the late bus operator Edwin Thomas - who has paid ultimate sacrifice while doing his work.

High-speed rail

It is clear that there is a concerted effort from the republicans against the high speed rail.  Why because it will create jobs for the blue collar workers. New Jersey Governor Christie throws his weight around and killed the ARC project. Now a new governor elect from Wisconsin is planning to do the same.

Wisconsin governor-elect Scott Walker who is republican has vowed to stop the high-speed rail. One wonders why there is no coherent answer you can get from the republican side about job creation. All there is to except is demagoguery, rants about deficit reductions, spending cuts and small government.

Their small government rhetoric means that bridges will be left without necessary repairs until they fall like the bridge in Minneapolis in August 2, 2007. In addition the levee system that was suppose to protect New Orleans from Katrina in 2005 was left to rot. Those appear to be man made decisions of leaving things to rot which were not in good working condition, this vitriol against blue collar jobs should in the name of spending cuts is wrong. Job creation is a must and the high speed rail is a great project that should be set into motion.

We salute democrats for approving labor union contracts in Wisconsin, due to the fact the governor-elect Scott Walker republican has indicated he would not approve them, he has not set foot in the governor office and he is already against the labor union contracts

Divide and conquer

An adjunct, not even a full fledged professor from Indiana policy review foundation urges the new republican majority at the statehouse to use their legislative muscle to vanquish the public sector unions.

The premise of the paper is the difference between the private and the public sector employees. It states that the public sector unions have unlimited resources in tax dollars from tax payers whereas the private unions are hindered with limited resources and thus are not well compensated. We find that to be not accurate because private corporations put the blue collar at the bottom of the earning pyramid.

This adjunct is full of erroneous premises he intentionally ignore the private corporations earning pyramid is as follows: the top earners are the executive, then the top tier management, then the share holders, then the white collar and lastly the blue collar who are at the bottom of that pyramid. We were appalled that he could not see how the share holders and blue collar are taken advantage of by those on the executive level. Those at the executive level earn an unimaginable ratio of compensation compared to the blue collar, while their corporations have to ask for bailout money from the tax payers that did not irk him, only the public sector unions do what a shame.

This adjunct his sole point is that the public sector unions are connected to the politicians and they get what they want but we find that theory to be flawed. His example that he used in his paper is based on In Bell, Calif. (population 37,000) where the residents were furious to learn that the city manager had compensation of $1.5 million and that many other municipal employees had outrageous salaries. Those happen to be white collar and not blue collar workers. We believe he would be relieved to know that mayor Bloomberg earns a dollar for a year however his private company value has grown at an incredible level after becoming a mayor - while the blue collar salaries have seen no raises, that fact alone contradicts his claims, inaddition he completely ignores the to indicate the constant rise of the prices and the cost of living. This adjunct wants those republicans in Indiana to flex their muscle against all the blue collar workers which is not right. We hope they do not listen to him.

Integrity

We here in why did you join the union believe that the membership of Local 100 are full of pride and they do not falsify records. It is incomprehensible that the Local 100 would go along with management. In these quarters we were disturbed that the article implies that ‘workers‘ are the culprit we are hesitant and reluctant to believe these outrageous charges. 

We are not pleased and we do not want to believe that our fellow members are to be blamed solely. It appears that the blue collar would end up as scape goats since the report is not yet finished we are withholding our opinion. This is our preliminary view however whether this is a tactic or strategy from Jay H Walder to save his job we should be wary of this report and why it was not released earlier? Why now? We would bet Walder would like to save his job and use with this report to snag the new governor approval.

In the event that the blue collar are used as scape goats, and if any member of Local 100 is accused of falsifying the records we must act forcefully. The management must feel the wrath of Local 100 because we believe in our fellow co-workers who are exemplary, honest and hard working. If it is the managers (white collar) who are the ones falsifying those records then they should not lump the blue collar along.

It is obvious Walder has received indication from the governor elect to pack his bags, thus now came the release of this safety report. He has been a boss for over a year and there was nothing and all of sudden before the holiday season he drops this safety report. It reminds us of Tom Ridge the former secretary of homeland security who would elevate the status of the threat levels and color codes during the holiday season. Now Walder appears to imitate Ridge’s style. It will be outrageous if it is found out that the management have been falsifying the safety records while Walder was the boss. It will be reprehensible if Walder sat on those records for over a year only to release them now to save his job.

Thumbs down on lawsuit

Dale Carnegie in his book 'How to win friends & influence people' states you can't win an argument and we agree. We here in why did you join the union do not support Samuelsen’s efforts to silence a fellow co worker in the guise that those opinions posted in insidelocal100.blogspot.com are undermining his ability to run Local 100.

There are thousands of our co workers who hold the same views does that mean Samuelsen will silence all of them by filing lawsuits against them. We here in why did you join the union are concerned that this anti-first amendment effort to silence a fellow co worker will only perpetuate the infighting which Samuelsen said needs to end. Therefore the lawsuit contradicts his rhetoric.

If the intention of the lawsuit is to unmask the blogger then it does not hold water. Once unmasked what will that bring about? Will it create harmony or will it change the blogger’s opinion about Samuelsen? As Dale Carnegie said you can't win an argument. We believe Samuelsen should adhere to that advice because there are 38000 arguments and surely Samuelsen cannot win them all.

First, Samuelsen should adhere to the Code of Federal Regulations 29 CFR 458.2 Bill of rights of members of labor organizations subsection (a)(2)...to express any views, arguments or opinions.... it is clear our fellow co worker has that right. We here in why did you join the union are surprised at the waste of resources that could be directed to the well being of the membership. If our fellow co worker has no moral courage to back his opinions publicly then we will remind Samuelsen of those anonymous hurtful outbursts from the crowd directed towards the laid off members in the solidarity fund town hall meeting at the Jacob Javits Center. Do we like them? no but we have to tolerate them.

Second, American Civil Liberties Union provides legal assistance in cases in which it considers civil liberties to be at risk. ACLU position has been to defend the first amendment right to full freedom of speech. We would advice our morally defunct fellow co worker to seek out ACLU assistance.

Third, our courage less co worker has a defense as a qualified privilege regarding the matter of Haiti money and meeting Walder which has been discussed in monthly meetings. Fourth, Samuelsen as a public figure, gives our morally corrupt fellow co worker a way out as a defense. John Samuelsen is not a private individual thus it is a total waste of energy and resources towards a fruitless endeavor.

We hope you read our opinions and enjoy them, we hope that even on occasion we get you angry and upset, we want you to share our passion to better Local 100 and the well being of the membership. It is your choice to agree or disagree with us. It is this kind of biting commentary that has won us our fellow co workers and occasionally made enemies. But our track record shows that we are right a lot more often than we are wrong. We here in why did you join the union work very hard to bring in different points of view as well as true discussion & debate. Therefore it's always worthwhile to learn some of the issues. On this issue we side with our courage less co worker, he has a right to his opinions. We remind Samuelsen that in America we have a right to express our opinions.

Don't count on it

350 Schemerhorn, Brooklyn is the prospective new location that will house the Local 100. We have heard the description of the property which will be two buildings and a parking lot. We were informed that the property will require an extensive renovation and that those renovations may take more than a year or two. Also that the property has tenants and rent will offset the mortgage payments. Lastly that there is prospect of developing the parking lot into a commercial entity. Those tasks are not a joke they will require a lot of attention, energy and resources. We remind Samuelsen that he should not lose sight of what is important and dear to the membership and that is the contract of 2012.

It is obvious 350 Schemerhorn will have twists and turns which may be unpleasant unlike the portrayal of huge returns with an easy road. Let's face the simple reality that those who have believed in the easy road have been disappointed and we cannot predict the future. If we have reasonable expectations we will know that even some people who have had long term investments almost got zero profit. We may have no idea of the risk, hidden cost, and cost overrun. A cost overrun also known as a cost increase or budget overrun, is an unexpected cost incurred in excess of a budgeted amount, cost escalation, which is used to express an anticipated growth in a budgeted cost due to factors such as inflation. Cost overrun has plagued building projects and has created issues that require a lot of work.

Portrayal of the huge return may be completely off thus we have to take rational steps and we need not run behind the dreams of glory. If we look back at the Local 100 properties history they have been bought and sold for one reason or the other whether justified or not. One thing we know for a fact is that it has left a sour taste among the membership. Our energy should be focused primarily towards the contract of 2012 since it will be a glory for the rank and file.

For arguments sake let's assume we have got the best property but a lousy contract of 2012. We need not lose sight of what is important to the livelihood of the membership which is the contract of 2012. We caution Samuelsen that there is too much at stake and we would like to remind him not to let the property issue be more important or rank above the contract of 2012. It is known that 'No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other' that would be a powder keg among the membership and would add fuel to the flames of infighting which means we all lose. We don't want to lose sight of the contract.

Healthcare

The National Labor Relations Board issued its ruling on November 5, 2010, Case 7–CA–52106  Comau, Inc. and Automated Systems Workers Local 1123, A Division of Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters, United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America. The case is an obvious precedent setting and we are very happy and relieved in this wise decision for the benefit to the employees.

We find this case has some similarity to our current healthcare change coverage from one insurance company to the other. We wonder whether this change will affect the hospitalization, medical, dental, and vision care benefits of the employees? Also whether this change of the healthcare insurance was done unilaterally by the employer without the consent of Local 100.

Was this switch consented by the Local 100? Whether the cost (premium) to the employees will stay the same - since the new insurance company as demonstrated in the above case kept changing the trailing cost from $183,000 to $240,000 till $440,000.

The case illustrated how the employees (blue collar)made every concession to the employer who could not be satisfied. That was a European automotive company which is coming to the USA to gain foothold but their practices are unfair towards the blue collar workers. They went to the extent of urging the Union to reach a new collective-bargaining agreement and tried to motivate the Union by stating that a new contract would nullify the decertification effort. 

In our case we have a contract which was ratified and thus is a binding contract while in effect. However the Comau case the switch was done during the contract negotiation period. Our contract is somewhat silent and it gives the impression that the employer has the exclusive right to switch insurance companies and we don't like that. In the future it may lead to the detriment of the blue collar workers. Therefore this issue of switching insurance companies must be addressed properly and to the benefit of the blue collar in the contract of 2012.

The wording in contract in the 4. Health Benefits ...The Union will be informed of and have input into any administrative changes that may impact upon those receiving benefits. The above wording is unacceptable and we propose the following instead ‘In the event that the employer wants to switch insurance companies, whether in the manner of cost neutrality or cost savings that change will not affect the memberships’ hospitalization, medical, dental, and vision care benefits while in the preliminary stage the employer must seek union consent and approval for the switch’. 

In the above case the employer wished to increase the employees cost (premium) anywhere from $57.28 to $453.05 per month. The employees could also pay an additional $321.04 to $507.26 per month to obtain coverage for a child between 19 and 25 years of age. It is obvious this employer is wrong and we are pleased with NLRB with its ruling in correcting this wrong. We were excited that NLRB told the employer to learn the meaning of the word ‘implement’ from Webster’s Dictionary that was beautiful. Imagine how much a blue collar workers’ paycheck would be after the deduction of those exorbitant amounts.

We hope Samuelsen pays attention to the employers switch of the insurance companies and the disadvantage that it has on Blue collar workers.

Encouraging

Connecticut governor elect Daniel P Malloy gave an encouraging sign when forming his transition team with the aim of creating jobs and moving his state out of the last position for no job creation. Left by his predecessor who was a republican that was anti labor, we here in why did you join the union believe that is a positive and encouraging sign on Malloy’s part and should be applauded.

Blue collar workers need jobs without a question and they must be created. We have enough with this non sense rhetoric coming from the republicans of small government, deficit reduction and suspending spending it is obvious they don't care for the blue collar workers. We are not going to agree to their point of view, we want jobs creation.

New Jersey governor Chris Christie who is a republican has killed the Access to the Region’s Core tunnel project and should be voted out of office in the next election cycle. It is true he is throwing his hefty weight around as was said by previous governor Jon Corzine. We would like to remind the Local 100 membership who reside in the Garden state that they should reject his policies which are only aimed at hurting the blue collar workers and labor. With his empty rhetoric of suspending spending and reducing deficit, it would be great if he came openly to say that he is against blue collar and labor. We encourage the Local 100 membership to move out of garden state and cross the Henry Hudson river and move into New York where they would be spared the commuting paying tolls, gas, insurance, and maintenance of their cars well being and time. 

We here in the Empire state are encouraged by the governor elect Andrew Mark Cuomo and his transition team which composes a committee on economic development and labor. We are happy with the transition team members selected due to the fact that they will have the blue collar jobs in mind. That is a step towards the right direction. 

We here in why did you join the union believe that Jay H Walder will get the boot. Governor elect transition team may not allow New Yorkers to be punished by Walder’s manipulations of the service cuts. It is an encouraging sign that new leadership is looking towards creating blue collar jobs and that is what we need.

Mass membership meeting

In any general mass membership meeting the objectives and goals are as follows: first the leadership conveys their aims for the future, second the membership acquiesces to those aims and affirms them and third is getting the membership in one large tent for harmony and well being.

The TWU Local 100 mass membership meeting of November 6, 2010 at the Jacob Javits Center was well orchestrated. It reflected the amount of time put into planning the event, and we here in the why did you join the union say it was a good job.

The day started early with the initial steward assembly which was informative. That was also beneficial to the stewards because by renewing their loyalty to the leadership it was a good indicator for Local 100.

Then the solidarity fund town hall meeting followed with the leadership opening themselves to Q & A from the membership. It was a positive step in the right direction and it was also evident that whenever you put two human beings together they will never see anything the same way. That is understandable however the rancor that was directed to the laid off member was a disgrace. It was shameful and hurtful there were an outburst among the crowd directed to the laid off member. Where is chivalry - we abide by a principle of an ‘injury to one is an injury to all’ - it is appropriate to dissent on the issues and we should take a hard look at ourselves rather than the cowardice that was directed towards the laid off member. We owe the laid off member an apology.

The general assembly was the culmination of the day which presented our loved ones with bus operator Larry Hanley. With his age he has earned wisdom, with his wisdom comes respect, and with respect comes honor. Also reporter Juan Gonzalez who knows what the blue collar workers endure in their livelihood. Those two giants can do no wrong in the eyes of the blue collar workers and their advice was well placed. They were a balsam for the town hall gall with their forward looking ideas and they did an excellent job.

The leadership aims for the future were portrayed exclusively by Samuelsen and so much was presented. Maybe all those ideas may not be accomplished and they are a tall order but time will tell. The membership acquiesced by their silence thus accomplishing the last objective of getting together.

Still when you organize a gathering there will be simpletons who are aimless and who harbor resentment based on racial prejudices, and we here in why did you join the union will address those in 2011. It’s not about Samuelsen’s ethnicity or race but about if he can accomplish those goals for the benefit of the membership and he should be given a chance. Those empty suit imbeciles should be shown the door, it is the right time to rearrange the house with a new blood infusion.

Worker

Probably the most important feature of the labor market that distinguishes it from all other markets is that the item being exchanged is embodied in a human being. The ownership and possession of a commodity such as wheat is completely transferable between buyer and seller and thus neither party has any interest in the personal characteristics of the other (for instance age, sex, color, personality, or even eating habits) the only interest of each party is to secure the most advantageous price possible. Likewise the wheat since it is an inert commodity does not care or have preference as to where and to whom it is sold.

The same conditions are not true in the labor market. Labor as a service is inseparable from the person providing it and thus the worker supplying the labor and the employer buying it must have a direct personal relationship with each other this would be ideal however not in our case. 

This and the fact that human beings have definite preferences with respect to the conditions they work under causes the exchange in the labor market to be determined not only by the price of labor but also by a host of non economic factors that are absent in commodity markets. These non economic factors are partly physical in nature, such as the risk of injury on the job or the pleasantness of the work environment and partly social in nature such as the prestige of the job the race or gender of workmates and the attitude of the management. We the blue collar are faced with hostility all around and we pay the ultimate price in sacrifice in the name of labor.

The importance of these factors for labor economics is that the decision of workers concerning for whom to work and the decision of the employer regarding whom to hire are based on package of considerations including not only the wage but all the advantages and disadvantages associated with the job or worker. Whether this relationship is beneficial to the worker or the employer, or we have reached the status of a commodity.

Hostile

Recently in the New York Times a hostile economist claimed that the labor law is broken. It could have been great if he came out and said he was an opponent of the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) alternately called the Wagner Act and that he is bitter towards unions.

The Wagner Act is the basis for the current US labor law embodying the twin principles of a unions right to organize and the employers’ obligation to bargain collectively with them on hours, wages, and other terms and conditions of employment. The NLRA also established the National Labor Relations Board by which the provisions of the Act could be enforced both through cease and desist orders and the circuit courts. For the first time in US history the federal government revealed favorable attitudes toward labor passage of the NLRA and they showed that they had a willingness to form a partnership with labor. For all it's restrictive amendments and watering down since becoming law in July 1935, the NLRA remains the constitution of American labor.

One wonders what is next and without some form of protection to the blue collar this hostile economist would prefer non union workers underbid in hours, wages, and other terms and conditions of employment. Therefore we wonder with these skyrocket prices and the shortage of job opportunities thanks to NLRA in preventing downward pressure, unregulated markets and bidding downwards of the wages?

Opponents of the NLRA such as this economist have increased recently. There are many who are bent on depressing wages for the blue collar workers and increasing profits for the corporate shareholders however they do not ridicule management compensations practices. This approach seems to contribute to the toxic environment in the relationship of the employer and employee.

Yes you can criticize your superiors

The National Labor Relations Board has come with the decision that yes you can criticize your superiors whether it be your supervisor, manager or boss. It is also ok to do it thru the 21st century medium of the Internet. This is a wonderful decision because now we blue collar workers can say what is on our mind without the fear of retribution.

This is a great tool in the hands of the blue collar workers because from now onward they can vent without the fear of reprisal. The decision was based on the American Medical Response of Connecticut, Inc., when it terminated an employee for her postings on Facebook. We were puzzled with this New England company and wonder why it acted in a manner that could have been associated with southern states where the superiors are petty and abusive and could care less about the well being of the blue collar workers.

This is a major win for the blue collar workers because usually they had no protection when they wanted to criticize their superiors and they had to be in deep cover out of fear of reprisal from their petty abusive superiors. Now they do not need to fear the management because  a new era has come where you can use the internet to criticize those superiors. Now the floodgates are open and let the thrash talking be directed towards the superiors. Blue collar workers now do not need to get permission from their company to post on the internet or worry about violating company internet policies. 

Even though the case is scheduled for a hearing on January 25, 2011 we here in the why did you join the union consider this as an empowerment for the blue collar workers. We are upon the holiday season and what a beautiful decision that would be for us workers.

Appointments to positions; Assignment to work

Our employer’s rules and regulations should be haggled in the contract of 2012. Specifically rule 1 which is about the manner to preserve the employee work practices starting from the date of original appointment rather than the date on the new title.

Employees tend to move, relocate, transfer, promoted, cross over or even prefer certain working hours however this rule has been frustrating many. Although many may not like this rule it is still a rule that all have to abide with. However the employer may claim that they have to abide with the Civil Service Laws and the Public Authorities Law of the State of New York and the Rules and Regulations of the City Personnel Director but we still say nothing is impossible and if we are not going to haggle we may never gain. Thus it should be on the table.

To prove the point the recent rehired members who were laid off were restored to their original work practices based on their initial appointment date. Therefore it should be set as  precedent and must be memorialized for the future in the contract of 2012. The other side of the equation is that the employees who have either transferred or crossed over from one department to the other whether intentionally or not should have their work practices based on the original date of appointment and they too should benefit. It should not be a one time thing and it should be available to all employees all the time.

Work practices should not be based on the date on the new title rather it should be based on the date of the original appointment that would be equitable to the employees. That would be wise to pursue and have it memorialized in the contract of 2012. Employees work practices did not suffer due to a lay off (as in the case of the current rehired members and were restored to their work practices), however the employees who have cross over, promotion or otherwise their work practices are affected. Employers need to control the manpower however that should not outweigh the employee work practices.

Wages and inflation

What is the relationship between wages and inflation? does those two go together? The rate of wage change as the two rise and fall together over the business cycle. Do rising wages push up prices or do rising prices pull up wages? often times it is not easy to tell as wages and prices chase each other.

The growth in real wages over time. The real wage measures the actual amount of goods and services that the money wage can buy, the growth in the real wages is the  difference between the percentage change in money wage and the level of prices.

Real wages grow an average 2 percent a year, it will need 50 years to doubling the real income whereas the prices double in a mere 30 days, so we can see on the other hand the growth rate of real wages are slowing significantly and wages are actually declining.

Inflation is defined as a sustained rise in the overall level of prices in the economy. An analysis of price changes in an individual market such as wheat or automobiles. Has the inflation pattern been broken? no we have been under mild or low inflation with prices rising? when was the last time in a span of five years that the prices of goods have been at standstill? never.

It is clear that inflation usually has its origins outside the labor market, however when management claims that that rising wages and the role of unions and collective bargaining is causing the inflation, it is rhetoric without empirical evidence.

Jay H Walder 7

Dear Andrew Mark Cuomo

Congratulations for becoming the 56th New York State Governor 

Before you begin your first day in office we write as members of the blue collar workers from main street and we wish for you to consider our view point. Our view as average New Yorkers of the MTA CEO and chairman Jay H Walder is that he should no longer hold his position of leadership in public service.

Jay H Walder’s proposals indicate that there would be no enhancement or improvement of service for New Yorkers. However New Yorkers are faced with a Walder myth or a ploy to squeeze Albany for money. If not then he has mastered the art of punishing average New Yorkers with severe service cuts, fare increases, and toll increases. With your new administration you would not want to send a message to New Yorkers that you care less and you approve of Walder’s manipulations which are endemic.

Jay H Walder has threatened the society with his service cuts which have hurt students, the disabled, the elderly and night workers who rely on transportation to get around and accomplish their daily lives. Since you have been elected as a new governor those Walder threats would be counter productive to your ambitions and wishes for New Yorkers therefore you must not stand for them.

Jay H Walder has laid off over one thousand of our fellow co-workers who are exemplary and hard working employees in the nation. His financial rhetoric is as bogus as a three dollar bill. Now he has embarked on employing new employees with the expenses for training contradicting the financial status that he claims is available. Why not rehire the laid off employees and save the training costs of the new employees. This is not the financial wizardry that your new administration wants to convey to New Yorkers.

Jay H Walder recently has claimed that there will be no more service cuts on his watch. However Walder has left the executive and management quite intact and those at the aristocratic level are still enjoying their $20,000 fresh sushi. We find that troubling and he is known as a master of not providing any specifics. As a result that leads to an obvious collision course with the labor organization of the TWU Local 100 especially in  the areas regarding the blue collar pensions, health benefits and work practices. That is why we believe this is not the message your new administration would want to convey.

Jay H Walder reduced services that have converted a premier world transportation system to a troubled third world transportation system. He has reduced the work force of the blue collar workers which has created a toxic environment in the relationship between the employer and employee. He has increased fares and tolls which have caused everyone to be upset and now he realizes that he has nowhere to go which is why he has promised no more service cuts, however we are not going to hold our breath and his credibility has been shattered, Walder has no place in your future administration. We hope you can be just like your father former New York state 52nd Governor Mario Matthew Cuomo who strived in the basic well being of the individuals and the society.

Jay H Walder 6

Dear Andrew Mark Cuomo

Congratulations for becoming the 56th New York State Governor 

Before you begin your first day in office we write as members of the blue collar workers from main street and we wish for you to consider our view point. Our view as average New Yorkers of the MTA CEO and chairman Jay H Walder is that he should no longer hold his position of leadership in public service.

Jay H Walder has laid off more than one thousand of our co-workers. These workers are exemplary employees who were working hard to do their jobs day and night. As the holiday season is upon us, we would like you to remember those co workers who were laid off and the hard times they are going through as a result of it. 

We feel Walder’s decision of laying off our fellow co-workers was wrong and is wrong. As you are preparing to shape up your administration you should pay close attention to Jay H Walder. His decisions are all based on money and are not based on enhancing the service. Those decisions are ruining a world premier transportation system and reducing it to a third world transportation system and in order to correct those Walder decisions he should not be part of the future of the MTA.

Jay H Walder 5

Dear Andrew Mark Cuomo

Congratulations for becoming the 56th New York State Governor 

Before you begin your first day in office we write as members of the blue collar workers from main street and we wish for you to consider our view point. Our view as average New Yorkers of the MTA CEO and chairman Jay H Walder is that he should no longer hold his position of leadership in public service.

New York City is a 24 hour city and the buses and trains run around the clock. Average New Yorkers who rely on these buses to get them around during the late night are being thwarted by Jay H Walder’s decision of service cuts.

Jay H Walder frustrates average New Yorkers who depend on transportation because now they have to wait longer for buses and trains. Once the buses and trains do arrive they are filled to capacity which causes their commute to be longer and New Yorkers are forced to arrive late to their work or homes. The technology advancement that Walder claims is present is useless because there are fewer buses and trains due to the service cuts.

It is obvious Jay H Walder wants to turn a world premier transportation system into a third world transportation system. That is the message that New Yorkers are getting about transportation in New York City based on Walder’s service cuts. 

Jay H Walder 4

Dear Candidates for the New York State Governor 

Before you begin your first day in office we write to you as members of the blue collar workers from main street and we wish for you to consider our view point. Our view as average New Yorkers of the MTA CEO and chairman Jay H Walder is that he should no longer hold his position of leadership in public service.

Jay H Walder made a decision to eliminate student metro cards. One wonders what a kindergartener, first grader, second grader, or high school student did wrong to Jay H Walder? Those students rely on transportation to get to school and all they wish for is to succeed in their education. 

Minors especially students who are just blossoming in their lives should not have to face an obstacle placed by Jay H Walder by denying them the student metro card. Public service is self explanatory and it is apparent that Walder cares only for money.

Why would a holder of a public service officer make a decision to create a hurdle for students? Dear candidate we believe you would not tolerate a public service office holder as Jay H Walder to stay a day in office because it is morally reprehensible.

Jay H Walder 3

Dear Candidates for the New York State Governor 

Before you begin your first day in office we write to you as members of the blue collar workers from main street and we wish for you to consider our view point. Our view as average New Yorkers of the MTA CEO and chairman Jay H Walder is that he should no longer hold his position of leadership.

His moral compass has lost its bearings by cutting the bus service for the disabled. His move was condemned from every quarter of society because it was a wrong move. Service to New Yorkers should not be based on money. The disabled rely on the bus service to help them get around, however Walder could care less for their well being.

This behavior of caring less for the disabled from Walder is not a mere venial sin but rises to the level of a mortal sin. As you will pledge the oath of office by placing your hand on the bible, we would like you to remember those disabled who were hurt and harmed by Walder’s decision.

Jay H Walder has no place in public service and would be better suited in Wall Street where money ranks on top of everything, and where morals do not count when one makes a decision. We believe he will not be tolerated by your administration.