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.
I actually suggested to Lee Ireland, Chairman of Conductor Tower Division of RTO, to look into the legalities of renting space from TUF @ 80 WEA. It is my contention that we should keep any rental fees paid in house. However, because TUF is a joint MTA-TWU endeavor, I felt it may have needed a legal investigation to find out if it was allowed under the contract.
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