Ray Rosario

We here in why did you join union would like to say few words about Ray Rosario since most of us knew him in some capacity or other. His family remembers him as a compassionate and caring person and the more venerable among us in the TWU Local 100 knew that side of his as well. Also we remember a fellow co worker who has given everything and who can forget that lovely smile. The point is that our fellow co worker was a special person and we should keep that memory alive.

Mixed messages

John Samuelsen, president of TWU Local 100 claimed that there is no money in Albany, thus we must head to Washington DC. However now there is a new TWU Local 100 Labor day on Tuesday, March 29, 2011 where we should head to Albany. Why Albany now if it is to impress the new governor it may backfire?

What a surprise with the change from Washington DC to Albany with this sort of knee jerk short sighted policies of Samuelsen. That does not show or demonstrate clearly what could be accomplished by this Labor Day. Maybe he can explain why there is new money he found laying around in Albany? It is incomprehensible, probably raising to the level of negligence. There is no coherent or plausible explanation what would the membership of the Local 100 would benefit?

We cannot send mixed messages from TWU Local 100 because that will only cast doubt on the membership’s future. Clearly the membership is dissatisfied with Samuelsen and are apprehensive of the oncoming contract of 2012. However the membership will be heard with their response in 2012 election.

Almost as sad as the utter leadership’s failure that the TWU Local 100 has become, is the failure of president John Samuelsen to recognize it as such and join the effort to save it. Instead, he has become an autocrat who is now discredited with the stewardship of the TWU Local 100. His embrace of enemies of the membership folks like Ms. Christine Quinn and the Straphangers Campaign must be having a great laugh, having won a bloodless victory to depriving our TWU Local 100 membership the fruit of their hard fought accomplishment.

We will not try to salvage the reputation of any troubled organization by lying about it.

We warned Samuelsen who is woefully under-qualified to lead the TWU Local 100 however now all of our fears have come to pass. At the time when we raised criticism, Samuelsen’s buddies complained that we weren't fair. Now he has, as predicted clearly failed, but still Samuelsen’s buddies are signing him praises like the band on the sinking Titanic. Meanwhile TWU Local 100 has been plagued with cancer like policies that threatens the membership’s wellbeing. As a result a reason for many not to seek employment or join the TWU Local 100 and for others the impetus to retire. We anticipate that John Samuelsen with his spin machine of passing the buck will say that it is our criticism, not the reality on which we report that is destroying the well being of the membership.

Refund

Since TWU Local 100 has claimed "Mission Accomplished" it reminded us of the other banner titled "Mission Accomplished" that was displayed on the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln during a televised address by United States President George W Bush on May 1, 2003 and the controversy that followed.

The executive committee approved ending the so called poisonous John Samuelsen solidarity fund contribution. Now the other promise of the TWU Local 100 president John Samuelsen is that the monies collected would be refunded if not used. We are not holding our breath to that. 

Since the fund has reached the level needed to fulfill its mission, we are concerned that ‘Fund will continue for several months to pay for medical benefits for our laid-off brothers and sisters’ is not acceptable. This is loophole where a bus could drive thru. In addition the numbers as of January 19, 2011 showed that the balance is $2,702,172.37. There is no detailed numbers breakdown of the benefits paid. The $361,232.36 that was paid indicates that only 125 members received benefits. Thus indicating that on  average each member received a benefit of $2,889.85.

Since Local 100 doesn’t have neither a treasurer nor a temporary treasurer - except a fox guarding a henhouse since October 2010. ‘The several months’ is not acceptable due to the fact that the benefits paid could dramatically be inflated, therefore gnawing at the balance. 

If President George W Bush has inspired president John Samuelsen as well as the executive committee to copy GOP tactics blindly. The republican party has controlled the white House for 28 of the past 40 years. The Republican Revolution controlled the House of Representatives from 1995-2006, and the GOP had control of the Senate for most of the 14 years. Former Senator Phil Gramm, a Republican from Texas, deserves particular credit/blame for the current crisis. Within a year of becoming Chairman of the Senate Banking Commission in 1999, Chairman Gramm pushed through legislation gutting the New Deal banking insurance and securities laws. The Gramm Leach Act created the Wild West deregulatory environment that fostered the derivative industry that collapsed the financial world. Just like the public had enough with the republicans by kicking them out of the house, senate and the White House the TWU Local 100 will respond in the same manner to Samuelsen’s republican inspired money grabbing schemes by sending him back to work. 

Samuelsen’s friends celebrate

Gene Russianoff, head of the Straphangers Campaign, voiced his support for the move this afternoon. “Governor Andrew Cuomo did the right thing keeping Jay Walder – a transit professional – MTA Chairman and CEO,” he said in a statement. “Hopefully, this positive signal will be followed by positive actions, including Governor Cuomo’s not raiding dedicated transit funds, as well as coming up with the billions needed to repair our aging transit system.”

We are impressed with the above statement of support by the Straphangers Campaign (John Samuelsen’s friends) for Jay H Walder. That nexus cannot be refuted by Samuelsen and his leadership team that they are unaware of the Straphangers Campaign statement. As per John Samuelsen friends consider this a positive signal for keeping Jay H Walder but TWU Local 100 members who are still laid off know otherwise. Maybe Samuelsen went to party with his friends for Jay H Walder getting the nod from the governor.

Now Samuelsen will unleash his spin machine to doctor his friends’ support of Jay H Walder just like how the Straphangers Campaign symbols are affixed at the bottom of the TWU Local 100 website. In opposition of the membership’s desires and objections clearly Samuelsen tells the membership it is his way or the highway. However this autocrat is out of touch as an old idiom says every book has its last page. Clearly 2012 may be the last days of Samuelsen’s presidency at TWU Local 100 he will head back to work 8 hours fixing, repairing those tracks or maybe Straphangers Campaign may retain him in some capacity sparing him to work.

We can predict Samuelsen spin machine will claim you have to read the whole report, they are good, you will see - however we can see that Straphangers Campaign is a staunch supporter of Jay H Walder for as long as we can remember - Samuelsen thumbing on membership desire and objections not embrace Straphangers Campaign further leads one to conclude he cares less on membership well being thus the membership reaction will be heard in the upcoming election of 2012  due to the Samuelsen fatigue.

Richard Ravitch

John Samuelsen president of TWU Local 100 after the election of Andrew Cuomo as the governor of New York State claimed that Richard Ravitch will be appointed as the head of the MTA, and that Jay H Walder would be gone. Every member of TWU Local 100 was excited for the news. However recently we have come to find out that governor Andrew Cuomo has decided to keep Jay H Walder as the MTA chairman and chief executive officer.

We hope John Samuelsen will suddenly find a religion as the wreckage of the TWU Local 100 lies at his feet. As a result he may come to discover what an awful bunch of creeps his colleagues are. Never mind that he portrayed himself as a powerful president of TWU Local 100, forget that he was part of every key decision made since he came into office, and the very short period that the TWU Local 100 was without a treasurer. Not a discouraging word was heard from him during those times back then.

Forget that the Local 100 of which he was a key leader is mired in scandal and that he knows nothing of that since of course it’s always the other guy’s fault. Never mind that his rubber stamp executive board has grossly overspent and rewarded themselves with junkets to Europe, South America and other around the world trips(with your hard-earned dues). As Samuelsen dispensed grants for all sorts of nice, but superfluous and self-serving things like classes at Universities the TWU Local 100 members were getting laid off left with no jobs and sinking into bankruptcy.

Still some members are left without any work and are forced to struggle due to their losses, which can be largely laid at his feet. John Samuelsen funneled the money in New Jersey breaking the promise that TWU will no longer contribute monies to politicians.

Not that we mind. TWU Local 100 is better served with a divided leadership rather than with the insanity and irresponsibility that Samuelsen’s leadership has brought us. Now that Jay H Walder is staying, he will be emboldened by the vote of confidence that he got from the governor. As we are all aware what Walder wants is to tear apart our jobs and that we should make sacrifices by probably increasing our contribution towards health and pension. Thank Samuelsen since he is the leader of TWU Local 100. Well maybe now he is burning through your hard-earned dues.

The one glimmer of hope is that the membership are showing signs of Samuelsen fatigue, and perhaps we can lose John Samuelsen as president of TWU Local 100. Our membership is divided. We need to remember that moment when John Samuelsen was peddling Ravitch’s appointment as the head of the MTA. 

Incidents

There was an incident that happened on January 14, 2011. Where a woman was smoking inside of a B35 bus on Nostrand Avenue, Brooklyn. Other passengers were complaining about this woman smoking. This woman appears to be mentally unstable she does not adhere to the bus operator as well as other fellow passengers requests to extinguish the cigarette she kept smoking. The law is clear that there is NO SMOKING in the bus. Clearly she violated that law.

Mayor Bloomberg says that smoking is unhealthy as well and numerous laws have been enacted. Especially in the confines of a bus where there are other passengers who will be exposed to secondhand smoke. This bus operator was trying to get this woman to stop smoking but she would not listen therefore he proceeded to shove her out of the bus. His intention of getting her to stop was good but the way that he handled the situation was not. 

We are only human and as humans we are bound to make mistakes. Therefore this bus operator should be given the opportunity to work with the MTA not as a bus operator that deals with customers but in some other area. If this bus operator gets fired, or demoted to such an extent that he is forced to quit then John Samuelsen president of TWU Local 100 did not fight to protect this member. This member had horrible behavior and should be penalized but not fired. 

Another issue that occurred was that a bus driver was caught with a cellphone and was immediately fired. This driver under New York State law should not be using his cellphone while driving a bus. This driver clearly violated the law, however he should not lose his job due to that. He should instead be heavily penalized for not following the law. John Samuelsen as president should do what is best for his membership even if they commit acts as the above. He should stand by these bus operators not for what they have done but by keeping them as members of TWU Local 100. They should still be apart of the MTA but not with the same titles as they had. They messed up and should be demoted to different titles as a result of that.

What are you insinuating?

John Samuelsen wonders why the membership are not angry or directing their fire towards the management in the contract year but rather at him. That was a good question and we believe he could find an answer easily if he took a few seconds to lament on the membership’s misery. It is clear he is out of touch with the membership pulse.

Over one thousand members were laid off without a proper response or a strike which was a huge letdown for the membership. Does the solidarity fund ring a bell? It is his creation that went against the wishes of the membership. His promise is that none of the executive board members would be given staff positions and that promise was broken. As a result those elected officers instead of being responsible to the membership were focused on him. All of them being on union payroll meant a large pay increase and the obvious benefit of not having to work under a dirty job under sometimes petty and abusive supervisors, causes them to tailor their votes to avoid offending the person who could fire them from the union staff.

Samuelsen embraced the well known anti-labor group such as the Straphanger Campaign whom love to label crosstown buses as Schellepies and ridicule them. In addition City Council Speaker Ms. Christine Quinn who blocked the labor backed bill of paid sick days last year was also embraced. 

Samuelsen denies the membership to rally or stage a protest since he has reasoned that few members come out to the rallies. However that contradicts his rushing in front of the cameras, lights, action, he works the cameras more than the mayor of New York City thus neglecting the membership.

Samuelsen passing the buck spin machine, the inability to take any responsibility and acknowledging his fallibility in the property purchase fiasco with the leasing of 1700 Broadway (which is unfriendly to the membership). There is no question that the membership are showing the signs of Samuelsen fatigue and frustration early on which is a great indicator that there will be a shift to a new direction. As a result that would be good for TWU local 100 and the membership.

Rent

In early spring of 2010 John Samuelsen and his propaganda machine went out of their way to claim that the rent was ‘exorbitant’ for 80 West End Avenue therefore harming the membership. Thus John Samuelsen claimed that he will save the membership by purchasing the property, and many of the membership believed that he was the savior or messiah.

Samuelsen’s propaganda machine down played the issue of rent for the temporary quarters at 1700 Broadway (which is unfriendly towards the membership). What was failed to be seen is that if we are paying even a penny as rent then that is harming the membership. However the figures will be public with the annual filling of ‘The Form LM-3, Labor Organization Annual Report, which discloses financial information (such as assets, liabilities, receipts and disbursements) about labor organizations’. As we know numbers do not lie.

It is unfathomable that an organization such as TWU Local 100 did not have the assessment or expectation that 1700 Broadway would be unfriendly towards the membership. Especially since the membership has to fork their dues for a place where they are not welcomed. Here clearly Samuelsen is neither a savior nor a messiah rather an incompetent president who has short sighted policies. Thus revealing that he does not take into account what is in the interest of the membership.

Currently there is a rumor that John Samuelsen is trying to relocate to another site in Brooklyn, at Atlantic Avenue to relocate from 1700 Broadway. Just like the old story of the blind man who wished to see once and when he was granted his wish he saw a ship and from then on he compared everything to that ship. Our blind man wishes to only see Brooklyn but not the other boroughs (Manhattan, The Bronx, Queens & Staten Island) you did not make the list. How will this irrational knee jerk relocation affect the membership and as usual who will face the huge risks? The membership.

Hurricane Katrina

Hurricane Katrina of 2005 was the deadliest hurricane in the history of the United States which revealed how incompetent the leadership was since the poor citizens had to suffer up to this day. It demonstrated the lack of preparation on all levels specifically on the impact area, the aftermath economic effect, environmental effect, looting and violence and so forth. The public criticized the government response and the country moved in a different direction which was good.

TWU Local 100 is facing its own form of hurricane Katrina due to John Samuelsen and his leadership team. They continue to perpetuate the blame game for every issue whether minor or herculean by ‘passing the buck’ instead of assuming responsibility. For example, in an address at the National War College on December 19, 1952 Mr. Truman said, "You know, it's easy for the Monday morning quarterback to say what the coach should have done, after the game is over. But when the decision is up before you -- and on my desk I have a motto which says The Buck Stops Here' -- the decision has to be made."

Now lets look at Samuelsen and his team, no one has assumed any responsibility for the current blunders whether minor or gigantic or any failures in any proportion. The signing of the lease of 1700 Broadway (which is unfriendly towards the membership) clearly shows that  no one was reprimanded for this error. However Samuelsen’s spin machine with passing the buck has claimed that it is the TWU International that harmed the local membership.

If the phones and faxes were not working then Samuelsen’s spin machine blames the phone company. No one assumed the responsibility or maybe they have been rebuked. Either way this leads to one conclusion, Samuelsen is unable to execute the responsibilities and supervise which raises a huge flag of cronyism.

Local website vanished during Martin Luther King Jr day and this website is supported by the membership dues. Samuelsen’s inability to respect the membership to provide them with a coherent explanation on why the website vanished or who were the culprit for this conduct shows lack of leadership. You guessed it right Samuelsen passed the buck by blaming the website host.

Members case folders went missing, were misplaced or simply lost due to the relocation from 80 West End Avenue during the early spring 2010 when Samuelsen claimed that the administrative vice president will handle the relocation process flawlessly. Time has proven Samuelsen wrong because the relocation is not smooth at all. However it has put the membership at harms way because passing the buck is the hall mark of Samuelsen and the current leadership. However the good signs are emerging that the membership are fed up with Samuelsen’s failures and his current leadership. We believe we are seeing the signs of new leadership emerging in response and we believe TWU Local 100 will head in a different direction which is good.

Website

TWU Local 100 website completely vanishes. The question is whether there was maintenance for the website or whether the hosting fees weren’t paid for the website? In either case that is a bad omen and how come the website vanished on Martin Luther King Jr day?

Why did you join the union will be up and running all the time. We here in why did you join the union question Samuelsen why the website is down? Maybe Samuelsen will blame Roger Toussaint for the vanishing website or better yet he will blame the membership. Either way we have had enough with the blame game.

Samuelsen should have the moral courage to accept the failures of his subordinates. Samuelsen has a duty to the membership to inform them of this mishap.

Martin Luther King's Final Campaign Remembered

Exploitation

Ms. Christine Quinn has revealed that she favors business over the blue collar in her pursuit for mayor office. As many of you are aware day laborers are being exploited daily in New York region for either one reason or the other. Therefore as members of TWU Local 100 we abhor such practices especially by those who condone such practices for the sake of profit. 

As we are about to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. day on Monday January 17, 2011 we must not forget his message about labor workers which was clear in the labor dispute fight for the Memphis sanitation workers. There was a 65 day strike leading to his death in 1968. Those workers as stated by Martin Luther King Jr. deserved improved wages, working conditions and union recognition. However those morally right demands were denied to them by the Memphis mayor Henry Loeb III as well as his sympathizers.

It is troubling for TWU Local 100 that we would embrace people who favor business and profit over improved wages, working conditions and union recognition for day laborers. Clearly John Samuelsen and his leadership team support those who are against the blue collar. In addition there has been a gulf of understanding as union officials promise to protect their members literally and figuratively which means siding with other laborers in New York region.

This is not a minor error that John Samuelsen committed. However is it one that can not be overlooked? No but it goes against the grain of the union principles and core beliefs of improved wages, working conditions and union recognition. Which is why it is incomprehensible that Samuelsen would embrace Ms. Quinn. Samuelsen may endorse her in her pursuit for the mayor office. Similar to in 1968 when Memphis mayor Henry Loeb III sympathizers and admirers were egging him on while everyone else knew it was wrong.

We remind John Samuelsen president of TWU Local 100 of Martin Luther King Jr.’s message of improved wages, working conditions and union recognition for the day laborers. Samuelsen should never embrace those who favor profit. Samuelsen cannot claim he is not familiar with Ms. Quinn’s positions when he embraced her because that would add insult to injury. We hope in 2011 that he would move prudently and wisely in adhering to Martin Luther King Jr.’s messages.

Bids and picks in RTO

The memos released in RTO announcing a bid for vacation slots and a general pick in the A Div.  

The bid for vacation weeks is the result of a grievance filed by union officers in RTO when the TA cut the number of weeks available for vacations in June, July and August.  The picking for vacations for 2011 was done last fall.  We reached a settlement with the TA that requires them to raise the number of slots available for vacation in the summer and, in order to fill those slots, the bid is being conducted.  There is supposed to be a second bid in the fall to fill vacation slots that become open as a result of the first bid.

 

The A div pick that will begin in mid Feb (and go into effect in late June) is for jobs, holidays and RDOs.  It is not for vacations.  After the A Div finishes picking, the B Div will pick for jobs, holidays and RDOs.


Steve Downs

Surprise of the century

It appears now that City Council Speaker Christine Quinn intends to block the $10 minimum wage from city-subsidized projects because she wants to burnish her small business credentials in her potential 2013 run for mayor of office. Last year she rejected a labor-backed bill and paid sick-days bill however our president of TWU Local 100 embraced her. Just like he aligned the Local 100 with the Straphangers Campaign which also happened to be against blue collar workers. Now the question is why would Samuelsen embrace them?

It is illogical that we should seek to please those who are against the blue collar. Clearly Samuelsen has faulty leadership skills. Maybe Samuelsen will find excuses for Ms. Quinn’s position of anti labor and explain that it was wrong. Even then it is still wrong to embrace anyone who is anti labor.

Maybe Samuelsen can call Ms. Quinn and try to change her mind to approve of the $10 minimum wage bill. But don't hold your breath because Samuelsen might claim that we didn’t embrace her, however here is a picture and video to refresh his memory. The blue collar who have an expectation of getting the $10 bill may not find solace in Samuelsen’s embrace of Quinn.

Snow

If there is a blizzard or snowstorm then stay at home relax and enjoy a day with your family and you will still get paid. However there are three requirements that must be met before you can get to stay home. The first requirement is that none of the NYCT buses or trains are operating. The second requirement is that you have to reside within the confines of NYCT (sorry for suburbanites & out of state members), and the third requirement is that you have to report to your nearest NYCT location if possible.

We have heard stories recently regarding the snowstorm of December 26, 2010 and that those who were unable to report for duty were designated as having an unauthorized absence by management. We here in why did you join the union believe that by following the rules and regulations it will render the management useless and powerless.

Currently the management has designated any member who did not report for duty on December 26, 2010 as having an unauthorized absence which is wrong. So how can a member correct that error and get their pay? That is simple since you must fulfill the above three requirements and in addition you must file a disciplinary grievance to remove that unauthorized absence from your file (as proactive measure - if you neglect correcting that error it may harm you in the future). To do so you must first contact your union representative to file the to and from memorandum specifically providing details that you were absent on the snow blizzard on December 26, 2010 due to there was not  NYCT buses and trains. Also provide your name, your home address (must be within the confines of NYCT) and the grievance must be filed within 30 days from the incident thus the deadline is on January 25, 2011.

The management has tried to take a vacation day in exchange for you to get paid

for your inability to report for duty. However you can get your pay, your vacation day and removal of that unauthorized absence designation from your file. You the member have that power to render the management powerless by following the above advisory and adhering to the rules below.

As per Rules and Regulations - governing employees of MTA New York City Transit, Manhattan and Bronx Surface Transit Operating Authority and South Brooklyn Railway - reporting for duty - Rule 5(a)....except for such emergencies...other substantiated unforeseeable occurrences.

Treasurer

Since New York City District Council of Carpenters was placed under supervision due to their leadership were charged with racketeering. TWU Local 100 must move fast to appoint a treasurer since the position has been vacant since October 2010. That alone gives validity that TWU Local 100 is troubled.

We recommended then that the treasurer position should be filled immediately however that advice was ignored by John Samuelsen our president. It was incomprehensible why he did not appoint anyone. Samuelsen can not be president and try to take care of the treasurer duties because that would be wearing two hats at the same time. Thus giving validity to the old idiom of a fox guarding a henhouse.

It is rumored now that a known lackey of Samuelsen who is his yes man will get the position. We here in why did you join the union are concerned about the yes man’s lack of credentials. We here in why did you join the union are skeptical that the yes man does not have the right kind of experience. Despite John Samuelsen’s praise of his yes man coupled with the rubber stamp of approval from the executive board. We believe the membership overwhelmingly will be unconvinced. We are aware John Samuelsen will deploy his spin machine which will shift into high gear to get his yes man as treasurer.

Do we the membership of TWU Local 100 approve of the Samuelsen yes man appointment to as the secretary treasurer? No the membership says. Since John Samuelsen’s performance in office for 2010 got a no grade it would appear he will put in someone who is a crony.

Samuelsen’s yes man will cause the membership to worry that our Local 100 may follow in the foot steps of New York City District Council of Carpenters. We here in why did you join the union will not use a wait-and-see approach but rather would be proactive. We would recommend to John Samuelsen that the selection process should let the membership have a voice in choosing who should oversee their financials.

We would recommend to John Samuelsen to create a membership search committee that is devoid of the executive board members and unionhall staff. The search committee should be composed of fifteen members: two from each department and the last one from the laid off brethren. Specifically one member as a non voting in the search committee matters from the executive board as a support liaison, and  one member as a non voting in the search committee matters from the retirees as support liaison.

Recommendation two - there should be no less than seven potential candidates that the search committee has to review. In addition those potential candidates should be invited to spend a day with the search committee and meet with the membership whom they will serve.

Recommendation three - a progress report should be posted about how those potential candidates are doing till we get a final selection. Everyone in the TWU Local 100 should be invited to meet the finalists. The touchstones of the search process should be thoroughness both in building a broad and diverse pool of candidates as well as transparency and inclusiveness.

We hope Samuelsen will make the membership apart of the process when it comes to finding the treasurer for Local 100. We hope Samuelsen will make us a better union with the best person for treasurer.

Psychological war games

Most of you have seen our employers’ ‘Zero Tolerance’ posters which have been placed all over. Specifically at conspicuous places where notices to employees are customarily posted in addition to the top of the private vending machines, stairwells, and hallways. Those posters have been maintained since December 15, 2010.

Banning talking on a cell phone while driving in New York went into effect on 

November 1, 2001. As the law is stated under New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law Section 1225c it is very clear that no operator is allowed to use a portable device while driving. Most of you are aware that the fines associated with cell phone use or ‘talking while driving’ is up to $100 if caught talking on a hand held cell phone. However our employer wants to go one step further by terminating an employee for the first incident.

Texting while driving was banned by legislation in New York on November 1, 2009. As the law is stated under New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law Section 1225d the texting while driving law is a secondary law which means that law enforcement can pull a driver over only if they have committed another offense such as speeding or disobeying a traffic signal. Drivers who violate this portion of the law can result in a fine of up to $150. However our employer went one step further by terminating an employee for the first incident.

As all of you are aware every law has exceptions and there are New York exceptions to the cell phone law that exists. Talking on a cell phone is allowed if the sole purpose of the call is regarding an emergency situation. This may include talking to a dispatcher, a hospital, physician’s office or health clinic, ambulance company, fire department, police department or any person associated with any of the above. Hands free phones are exempt from New York cell phone laws.

It is not clear what our president of the TWU Local 100 John Samuelsen has accomplished by presenting a different view to our employer about this new policy which will take effect on January 12, 2011. Maybe Samuelsen is asleep at the switch leaving the membership to fend for themselves.

Health insurance

We have heard numerous stories from members who had to miss their dental appointments due to the fact that their dentists declined to accept their Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance cards. Some of those members wonder why those dental cards were not mailed in December of last year so that they could be activated at the beginning of the new year.

Others felt that they had anticipated to get their dental work done within these few days however until now they have not received their dental cards. When they ask they are informed that the cards are in the mail. Members felt it is like when one does not want to pay up his debt they will hand out a check and claim the check is good or maybe the check is in the mail.

Others until now have not received their children’s prescription cards and they wonder is it really this hard to print those cards? Numerous other members who have their children in college have endured the past year without any health insurance coverage for their children even though the health care bill was signed on March 23, 2010 by President Obama. They wonder why nothing has changed even with the Affordable Care Act which was supposed to begin on or after September 23, 2010. Maybe Samuelsen and the current leadership will demand reimbursement or a refund for those who had to fork monies out of their pocket for their children.

The other question is was the MTA stone walling this policy? Does it raise to the level of violation or intentional negligence? In either case the obvious is that the membership adult children were entitled to healthcare insurance on or after September 23, 2010. The other side of the coin is whether those members will receive monetary refunds from the MTA or the Insurance company. We here in why did you join the union believe it is the MTA due to the fact that those insurance companies were serving the MTA.

In either case do not hold your breath. Samuelsen cared for the laid off membership’s health however your adult children do not interest him.

YMCA

If Mother Jones was around and she heard that TWU Local 100 may rent a space at the YMCA can you imagine what her response would be? Maybe she may take the money back and tell us to hold the meetings at a school just like she told the miners.

She may wonder why Samuelsen and the current leadership moved to 1700 Broadway, a place that is unfriendly towards the membership. Maybe she may recommend Central Park to hold the meetings just as she recommended to the field miners.

Maybe Samuelsen will use his haggling skills to get a space at 1700 Broadway. However what about the monthly membership meetings? Lets give him the benefit of doubt, he probably wasn't aware that the membership needs to conduct monthly meetings when he signed the sublease agreement. Maybe he will issue an executive order to suspend the monthly meetings until further notice. However that will not help to enhance our unity if monthly meetings are not held.

There is no question the rush to sign the sublease agreement has overlooked the membership’s well being. The TWU of America, AFL-CIO Constitution, article XIV section 6 states that ...each Local Union shall hold monthly regular membership meetings. Maybe Samuelsen and the current leadership will claim that it is not possible. However monthly meetings are required and should be held to keep the membership united.

BY-LAWS of the Transport Workers Union of Greater New York Local 100, AFL-CIO article XIII Meetings section (b) Each Section or Division shall meet at least once each month,... Samuelsen may claim that the bylaws and the constitution are silent and they do not indicate where the meetings should be conducted. He can throw a dart on the board and wherever it lands that is where the meeting will be conducted for this month. Then for another month he will throw another dart on the board and wherever it lands is where we will conduct the meetings.

Clearly the membership is entitled to their monthly meetings as specified by the constitution and the by laws. The question is when Samuelsen signed the sublease did he account for that? It does not seem plausible.

1700 Broadway

Why sublease the space from the TWU International? It is obvious that it is unfriendly towards the membership. This was a short sighted policy from Samuelsen to sublease the space that was occupied by the TWU International. It is clear that the membership is harmed by this policy.

The membership cannot conduct their meetings or social activities at this location because this building is considered a high security building. Why this building? There are many buildings in New York City that are people friendly. In addition why not stay at 80 West End Avenue where members had access to their officers? 

We are a trade union that has maintainers, cleaners as well as many different titles. Thus everyone should feel welcomed when they head into their unionhall but 1700 Broadway is denying the membership from getting together. The membership needs the ability to assemble to discuss their grievances and vent. Therefore it will be a disadvantage for the membership to move to this new location.

This location will only add resentment among the brethren. This points out that Samuelsen did not take into consideration the cons of moving to this new location. We wonder why there was no discussion with the membership about moving to this location? Samuelsen should have picked a location that is friendly to the membership. However this new location contradicts the claims he purports of democracy and openness.

Short sighted policies

It is incomprehensible that John Samuelsen would announce to the membership the purchase of the property at 350 Schemershorn Avenue without consulting or even getting a tentative approval from the TWU International. We here in why did you join the union will play the the devils advocate, Samuelsen as president of Local 100 should have initially consulted as well as sought advisory from the TWU International in regards to the purchase of the property. 

Lets assume for argument’s sake that the TWU International felt slighted that one of its local did not seek advice but rather gave an order and demanded for their approval of the property purchase. Without prior consultation or discussion they definitely would reject the concept of the property purchase.

Secondly property purchase should be a physical building not an imaginary one. Here we would use an old story where a farmer had a chicken and the chicken laid a dozen eggs. The farmer collected the eggs put them in one basket and started to walk towards the market with the aim of selling the eggs. While walking he was imagining that he would sale the eggs in order to buy a cow and that the cow would be giving milk and then he would sell the milk to buy so and so. As he was dreaming big while walking he tripped and fell to the ground thus breaking all the eggs. The point is 350 Schemerhorn Avenue is an imaginary dream.

Thirdly we do not believe that James Little or Roger Toussaint put the stop towards the purchase of the property at 350 Schemerhorn Avenue. Mainly because the said property had so many questionable characteristics and issues. It is not credible that Toussaint is interested in coming back to the Local 100 for its prestige as the current mouthpiece as is being claimed.

Fourth the real estate market has gone down. So it is a mystery how? Previously when Roger Toussaint was interested in purchasing the same property he got it at a price of 60 million. Now Samuelsen got the property at a price of 30 million. Clearly Samuelsen would use that to gloat infinitely.

Fifth the membership should be allowed to be apart of the process in going to see the new property. However in the purchase 350 Schemerhorn Avenue the membership were left out.

Sixth it is not clear what the status is of the deposit monies for the purchase of the property at 350 Schemerhorn Avenue. We should take a hard look at ourselves and ask the hard questions. Why did we not consult or seek advisory from the TWU International to get a tentative approval? Anyone who is interested in purchasing a property before looking gets an approval for the mortgage from the bank. Why did we skip that process? Can you imagine NYC archbishop Timothy M Dolan not consulting and seeking approval from Pope Benedict XVI and the Vatican?

Seventh licking of the wound with the current propaganda that the TWU International considers Local 100 as a weak organization because they don't have a treasurer.  The point is why can’t Samuelsen appoint a temporary treasurer. That alone creates a negative impression and gives validity that the TWU Local 100 is a troubled organization.

Eight there is no question the membership is mad at Samuelsen with his solidarity fund due to nature it has created animosity between brethren. That is also another credible sign of faulty leadership by not seeking discussion with the membership about the solidarity fund. Instead it was enforced onto the membership who had to accept it without any say so.

Ninth that there will be a mass membership meeting to seek an ‘aye’ vote with the a raise of hand to approve the purchase of the property. Clearly this would be challenged in courts for a lengthy period of time thus a waste of time resources and energy.

We here why did you join the union advice Samuelsen to move on and start fresh with cooperation, consultation respect hierarchy and chain of command of the TWU International. In seeking to purchase a property this time around before depositing any penny for the purchase of any property (the property must be physical not imaginary) we must secure a tentative approval from the TWU International beforehand. Then after it will be just following the formalities. Now we must do it the right way - like anyone who is interested in purchasing real estate they must get a mortgage approval from the bank before depositing any monies.

2010

Leadership has been described as the “process of social influence in which one person can enlist the aid and support of others in the accomplishment of a common task”. The most common example used to describe this phenomenon is how a group of lions pursue prey for the common good. Also being known as the king of the jungle due to it’s leadership qualities.

When John Samuelsen was elected president of TWU Local 100 the year started with huge fanfare with the membership showing their goodwill. They had high expectations from the new leadership. However as the year progressed it led to disappointment and resentment of Samuelsen and his leadership. The membership was stunned by the layoff of over one thousand our fellow co workers and were dismayed at the response to this critical issue from John Samuelsen and the leadership. From there onward Samuelsen and the leadership were unable to get out of the hole.

We have heard many stories during the year however we will give John Samuelsen a no grade for 2010. That would be fair since it has been claimed to be a transitional year for Samuelsen. That may be so however from now onward whether good, bad or ugly it will be his.

Solidarity fund has left a sour taste and has poisoned the atmosphere among the membership. Family day to the theme park in New Jersey added insult to the injury due to the nature it was not inclusive for all. The empty treasurer position raises a huge red flag of corruption, we should never have let the fox guard the henhouse. The losing of the deposit of the monies towards the purchase of the property at 350 Schemerhorn Avenue was not good. Also moving to 1700 Broadway a building that is unfriendly towards the membership is not a wise decision.

One positive was the mass membership meeting even though it had its shortcomings. A single microphone was restricted from the opposing views in the general assembly, and it was limited to known lackeys.

One of the low point that we found troubling is that calendars whether wall or pocket book were not presented for all of the membership to feel excited about their TWU Local 100. If in the event that we are elected we will promise that every member will receive a wall calendar and pocket book calendar. As a sign of solidarity a T shirt will be given to every member whether they are in good standing or bad standing. We will make one uniform T shirt for everyone showing equality and unity. 

For 2010 there is no grade for John Samuelsen. However it is not clear whether he demonstrates that he can solve problems and explain solutions or whether he builds ideas off others in conversations.