Shorts & flip flops

Any organization that wants to build confidence of its members doesn't have its bosses walking around in shorts and flips flops. Unless those bosses of TWU Local 100 are at the beach then there should be no place for flip flops and shorts at this organization. If at the beach then certainly flip flops and shorts is appropriate - where one can lay, roll around the warm sands, build sand castles, and enjoy the ebb and flow of the waves with their crashing sounds on the sands.

If we want to build confidence among the membership dressing down with shorts shows a lack of care on the bosses end when approaching its members. How can a boss be professional with the membership if they are dressed in shorts and flip flops. Membership rely on those bosses at 1700 Broadway - the membership deserve to see their bosses dressed in appropriate attire. In addition bosses should be responsible for running the affairs that benefit the membership rather than spending most of the time on breaks. 

At any successful organization employees report to work at 9AM then are dismissed at 5PM, in between that time frame employees are entitled to lunch time. However that is not the case in our TWU Local 100 where those bosses hang around the cafeteria for most of the day. Are those bosses keeping the membership on their mind and what benefits the membership by being in the cafeteria all day? Our president John Samuelsen should remind those bosses who hang all day in the cafeteria that they are only harming the membership by not focusing on TWU Local 100.

It is also understandable that those successful organizations have a day for dressing down maybe once every three months. However we in the MTA have never had a day for dressing down - we the members have high expectations of those bosses. However their shorts, flip flops, and hanging around the cafeteria all day is turning TWU Local 100 into a klatch cafe. The klatch cafe that exists in the TWU Local 100 at 1700 Broadway does not instill confidence in the membership especially in our unfinished struggle with the MTA.

Working conditions

If the MTA continues to intensify the pace of our work while denying us the workers a meaningful say in how the work is done - where a worker is physically and emotionally tested - our bosses in TWU Local 100 should not hesitate to deal with the workplace problems directly as they have often done in the past. We here in why did you join the union say the bosses must deal with workplace problems and they should stop telling workers to file grievances.

Grievances are sort of an illusion to the worker power as the old idiom states - that things to change, the more they stay the same. Based on that idiom we have to reevaluate our relationship with our bosses in TWU Local 100 to be held accountable to promises that were never delivered.

TWU Local 100 bosses have ceded control over workplace to the management - we the members want better working conditions which are critical to the memberships well being. Those bosses led us down the primrose path with their promises however our working conditions pace are intensifying making our workplace unsafe. It gives an impression that our employer the MTA is operating as if it is a private entity such as a corporate in pursuit of profits. From that principle of social order as we are aware is that maximum profits requires maximum corporate control of our workplace which in turn means that management must be free to control us. 

We here in why did you join the union believe we the membership must be able to interfere with this management control. The bosses of TWU Local 100 have clearly ceded that control, we aim to retake it back.

Arrested

If those four MTA employees who were arrested for fraudulent licenses are members of TWU Local 100 then we believe they should get a second chance.

Lets assume that those four individuals have been on good behavior for the last 10 years or rehabilitated their behavior in a manner to become good members of society (which is the guiding principle of justice and corrections). There are many examples of people who rehabilitated thus becoming productive members of society, infact they have ascended the throne, i.e. U.S. Senator Edward M. ‘Ted’ Kennedy. Mary Jo Kopechne who died in a car accident on Chappaquidick Island, Massachusetts on July 18, 1969, was a passenger in a car being driven by U.S. Senator Edward M. ‘Ted’ Kennedy. The 43rd United States President George W. Bush in December 1966 (age 20) was arrested for disorderly conduct after he and some friends had "a few beers" and stole a Christmas wreath from a hotel. The charges were later dropped. On September 4, 1976 (age 30), Bush was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol near his family's summer home in Kennebunkport, Maine. He admitted his guilt, was fined $150, and had his driving license in the state suspended for two years.

Clearly in those above examples they received more than second chances thus we here in why did you join the union believe those four are entitled to a second chance. They should not be dismissed but rather should be demoted to titles that does not interact with the public or their safety.

We can give many examples or cite numerous high profile individuals but we are not interested in that - what we are interested in is protecting our members of TWU Local 100. Many of you are aware of how youthful indiscretions are many that come to be regretted when they mature - the point is if those four have been rehabilitated for a period of time they should get a second chance.

Lets review the fraudulent licenses issue is it considered a crime of high seriousness? We wonder what the standard for measurement is and to what degree the crime affects others or society - we find it pales to those above examples. 

Now coming back do those four deserve the penalty to be dismissed? We here in why did you join the union believe that the punishment should fit the crime definitely. Those four deserve a second chance we believe our TWU Local 100 president John Samuelsen should work tirelessly to preserve those members.

96 & 2

Many of you have heard about the bus accident on 96 street and second avenue there have been many rumors however we will focus our attention on the eyewitness descriptions they reveal a lot so one can reconstruct the events much clearly based on their narrative - as we know the justice system depends on this pillar of witnesses version to render a verdict.

We in the TWU Local 100 have to be prudent here for protecting our fellow co worker we believe he/she is innocent of any wrong doing we here in why did you join the union believe that our TWU Local 100 president John Samuelsen uses that yardstick. 

Now lets go to the eyewitness account - in NY Daily News - ‘The car swerved in front of the bus. The bus tried to avoid accident’  

NY1 - Investigators believe the man was riding his bicycle south on Second Avenue when he fell and was run over by the rear wheel of a bus

It is an accident pure and simple that resulted in fatality - we in the TWU Local 100 are expressing our sympathy for the loss of life. 

Representatives

As we are preparing to head to Albany, it is very important for everyone to call their elected representative assemblyman/woman. State senators let them know that you are going to Albany and are interested to meet them to discuss transportation issues - especially the issues that concern TWU Local 100.

We encourage all the members to call your representative the week prior to going to Albany to make an appointment to meet your representative. Please do your homework by going over the TWU Local 100 2011 Legislative Agenda. Prepare yourself in the event you meet your representative by sticking to issues that benefit TWU Local 100.

We would also remind the membership this is not an event for a photo opportunity or to go to Albany so we can get inebriated - we can do those things after we meet the representatives and convey our message. If you do not know your representatives - the links below will assist you in knowing them. Please do initiate to contact your representative.

Assembly members http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/

State Senator  http://www.nysenate.gov/senators

Enclosed is the 2011 Legislative Agenda

Assaulted

If it is accurate what we have learned then it is a low point for TWU Local 100 that three of its members who are bus operators were physically assaulted. Those members let it go instead of seeking their rightful healing process whether it is mentally, emotionally or physically to recuperate for their well being.

It is a disgrace for those who talk tough during the monthly meetings - clearly those three bus operators have no confidence in their capability. Those bosses duty is to protect the membership. We here in why did you join the union believe that TWU Local 100 should do better in protecting our own. 

No member of TWU Local 100 who is physically assaulted should feel that they do not have the support of the TWU Local 100 - we will support you by any means necessary. We must focus our energy to build cohesion, morale and provide emotional support - we here in why did you join the union would recommend that to our president John Samuelsen.

Our union should be based on the model of down to top. However we cannot have members having no confidence in TWU Local 100 thus they have to let it go in the event when they are physically assaulted. No member should feel that TWU Local 100 acts like a business or private entity - TWU Local 100 is not Goldman Sachs where the orders emanating from the top are carried below. If its the board of directors who decide that the corporation is going to do a certain thing then there is no way that the employees can bring about change in the corporation’s hierarchy to reverse course. It may have been in past practice that TWU Local 100 operated as a private entity but we recommend our president John Samuelsen to enhance cohesiveness by building members confidence. 

Separate

The bosses claim that they have to conduct a simple matter of membership concerns into a secret meeting instead of holding mass or small group meetings, thus hindering the membership greatly. Unions are collective organizations and as such require regular meetings to work effectively and democratically. At meetings not only can a member hear what the union has done and what it can do they also learn the basic foundations of democratic organization in the open not in secrecy. As a result the members can gain confidence in their struggle with the management.

We here in why did you join the union say no to those bosses who always allege ‘whatever we discuss here the management will know in five minutes’ ‘I will speak to you personally’ ‘I will talk with you later’ this kind of demagoguery must be crushed. It goes against the fundamentals of a democratic organization - we abhor such views from those bosses. It just reveals that the bosses are useless by trying to plant a seed of discord among the membership.

We would care less if the management knew what we are thinking or planning to do. Who cares if the management shakes in their boots, or trembles. Regardless whether they lose their sleep, or sweat in apprehension - we would care less what the management thinks.

We cannot allow those bosses to act as Johnny Friendly who want the membership to be ‘D and D’ (deaf and dumb). We here in why did you join the union will confront that behavior our TWU Local 100 is a democratic organization and we have nothing to hide. We resent the bosses cowardly secrets, this is not the Waterfront or some third world country with a nincompoop dictator - we are the brave members of TWU Local 100. If the bosses intention is to demoralize the membership by using secrecy then we will eradicate this secret sickness of the bosses.

Solidarity

We must show solidarity with our brethren TWU Local 252 of the Long Island Bus - bus operators and maintainers with the threat of privatization (as all of you are aware the privatization is not a solution to public mass transportation). There are three events - the first and the second are rallies outside of John Cranford Adam Playhouse one rally will be before MTA public hearing the second one while the hearing is going on. It is expected that TWU Local 100 members show support to our fellow brothers/sisters in the TWU Local 252 of the Long Island Bus - it is our backyard.

As members of TWU Local 100 you are the leaders you represent the crown of the labor movement in the country and now is the time to set an example. Here are ways for you to participate: (1) if you are on Regular Days Off (RDO) - we expect you to show up, (2) Change of Assignment (COA) - get it approved at the bottom of the slip write ‘Local 100 function’, (3) Change of Day (COD) - get it approved at the bottom of the slip write ‘Local 100 function’, (4) Mutual Swap - find a fellow co-worker who is willing to cover your work in return for you to cover his work, (5) if you clear your tour of duty by 2:00 PM 1400 we expect you to show up (6) the last option which you all are aware of - ‘at least one hour before the commencement of his/her scheduled tour of duty for that day, cause notice of the...’

You members of TWU Local 100 have those options as mentioned above available to you. Now it is encouraged for all members that we should set the tone - for anybody who wants to know who we are by telling everyone that we are the union, we are TWU Local 100, the mighty mighty union. We will take care, and protect our fellow brothers/sisters in TWU Local 252 in our backyard. 

Where:            John Cranford Adam Playhouse

                      118 Hofstra University

                      Hempstead, NY 11549-1180

When:             Wednesday March 23, 2011

Subject I&II:    Rally

                      Outside of the John Cranford Adam Playhouse

Time:              Rally I  Starts 2:30 PM - 1430     Ends 3:00 PM - 1500

                      Rally II Starts 6:00 PM - 1800     Ends 6:30 PM - 1830

Subject III:      Public hearing - MTA board

Time:              Starts  3:00 PM - 1500

                      Ends    9:00 PM - 2100

Good standing

Every member must pay their dues without any further delay - any member who is in bad standing must pay their dues to bring themselves up to good standing. We cannot allow any one among us to be in bad standing.

The excuse that the former president of TWU Local 100 Roger Toussaint was the reason to be in bad standing was not a valid excuse then, and is not a valid excuse now  to not pay your dues - we are aware of those who peddled that version. We hate so many things however we have to pay up - we hate to pay taxes, Con Edison etc. However for the common good, survival and the continuity of the TWU Local 100 everyone must pay their dues by bringing themselves out of bad standing. The bosses are sending a wrong message to the members who are in good standing by simply telling the member in bad standing you are entitled to all the benefits that are conferred to the member in good standing.

The only scenario that is allowed for a member to not pay his dues is clearly stated in the Transport Workers Union of America AFL - CIO Constitution under Article XVII. Finances  Section 4. (a) Any member who is prevented by illness, injury, or lay-off from earning any wages in a calendar month shall be excused from paying dues for such month and such nonpayment shall not affect his good standing. Clearly those members who are in bad standing do not qualify as stated by the above criteria.

If a member does not pay his dues, does not participate in monthly meetings and does not participate in union functions or activity has this member disqualified himself from the membership or there are other issues that need to be discussed? We here in why did you join the union would pose the question - why do the bosses go along with such behavior for so long.

White flag

The bosses cannot raise a white flag of surrender before the war begins - most of you have heard numerous excuses of the bosses who are declaring we will lose in this contract year. We here in why did you join the union do not appreciate the bosses self defeating tone. We the members of TWU Local 100 have high expectations in this contract, we expect to rise to the occasion and set an example for the rest of the country.

The bosses have to pick their choice either they have to stand up or stand opposed. We the membership do not ride on their coattails - we the membership are used to vigorous debate over the contract. The contract definitely will spur vigorous debate and the ratification process.

The contract is one of our most valued rights thus this is not a matter for an abbreviated process that disenfranchises the membership. Any of the bosses who say we will lose are giving up on the membership.

We will win the contract provisions that secure the existence, continuity and funding of the TWU Local 100 our union security clauses, we will curtail the management rights especially the unilateral rights, the essence of management control will be diminished by this contract - we will win the right to strike over safety issues - every labor-saving technology will obliterated.

We in the TWU Local 100 must avenge for the workers in Wisconsin, Ohio and the rest of the country. We are the crown of the labor struggle in the country therefore we must set an example and we should lead. Based on the above we expect to get the best contract ever that will provide a fair wage, provide cost-of-living allowances, worker protection, well provided pension and the best health coverage in existence. We are TWU Local 100 we protect our own, we take care of our own and we lead the way.

Out of work

It is a duty of the bosses to protect any member that is a governing principle. We here in why did you join the union are distressed when we learn that our fellow member is out of work for a period of close to three years without remuneration. It is clear that the bosses are unable to get this member back to work. We demand from our TWU Local 100 president John Samuelsen to hand us those bosses to our adhoc grilling for failing to get the member back to work.

Lets discuss the member went out on Injury On Duty the management intends to get any member back work thru their so called Independent Medical Examiner (who generally rates everyone as fit for duty after six month regardless of their condition). However this member since going out has not received emolument. As per our background the member has been given lip service from the bosses regarding the salary in addition to getting back to work.

This case clearly demonstrates how the management are getting back at this member -what is ironic is the bosses give the appearance of going along. Thus we demand from TWU Local 100 and the executive board to enact a by-law ‘in the event that a member is out on Injury On Duty does not receive pay then the TWU Local 100 will withhold the salary of those bosses until the member receives their salary’.

This member is struggling to make ends meet in their daily life, has maxed out all the credit cards with debt, has eroded all the savings and is almost at the door of bankruptcy. This is a clear example of how ineffective the bosses are. Thus we demand to our president Samuelsen to serve to protect this member because clearly the bosses are useless. How can they justify that a member who is on IOD without pay will have the ability to cover the bills for six months let alone almost three years? Where will this member find that financial cushion? 

Can those bosses just imagine how hard times has befallen this member who is on IOD? Don't they believe this member needs cash cushion in reserve to pay bills, to buy food etc.?

Incident

It is not clear whether the bus operator drove over the foam mattress intentionally, however there are many variables that it is impossible to be certain. By peddling the management’s view those bosses by assigning the blame onto the bus operator are not protecting the member. There are many variables that a bus operator encounters on the road and has to deal with, scientifically there is limited brain power for a human being to consume visual images at a certain time. Based on that lets review some variables that should be used in the future to protect the members. As you are aware there are many hazards on the road: work zones, pavement drop offs, foreign objects, off ramps/on ramps, delivery trucks, taxis, doubled parked cars, pedestrians, bicyclists, children, ice cream trucks, disabled vehicles, accidents - passing drivers tend to slow and look be nosey instead of paying attention to the road, shoppers, confused drivers, slow drivers, drivers in a hurry, impaired drivers. The bottom line is that the bus operator is not like a train operator who is under the dark tunnel with no hazards, no visual, no seeing to the sides and rear, or with challenges of managing space ahead, behind, above, below or tight maneuvers. Based on the above the bus operator has the presumptuousness of innocence - we believe the TWU Local 100 without any reservation.

We here in why did you join the union abhor such views - we side with the bus operator on the presumption of innocence till proven guilty not based on the management innuendos and theories. Now going back to the incident once the bus operator was alerted of a foam mattress under the bus, the bus operator stopped the bus did a under the vehicle inspection and could not find anything which was proper. Then reported to the management - which was proper, and the management instructed the bus operator to keep it in service while the foam mattress was sucked inside the engine later on causing sparks then fire. With the end result of the NYFD coming to the scene to extinguish the fire which resulted in the destruction of the bus.

We do not appreciate in the bosses tone of indicating that they went to great length to preserve the job of this bus operator thus the bus operator should accept with open heart the arbitrator ruling of thirty days suspension. We here in why did you join the union say no, it clear that those bosses were ineffective in adjudicating this matter thus they try to pressure the bus operator to accept this severe ruling. It is their duty to protect the member by making sure the member does not lose a penny - the management instructed the bus operator to keep it in service. Therefore it is incomprehensible that management wants to penalize this bus operator with the cost of the destroyed bus.

This public humiliation of this bus operator should not go unpunished we demand from our TWU Local 100 president John Samuelsen to address Zerega Training facility to seize peddling this story to every bus operator who goes there in the name of training  with the implication that the bus operator was negligent. Otherwise they should pay royalty to the bus operator.   

Cheap buses

We have discussed this phenomenon on February 4, 2011, we heralded the enacting of stricter regulations towards the cheap buses due to the fact that they pose a danger to the membership of TWU Local 100-especially the bus operators. We argued then that TWU Local 100 has a major stake in this issue since it affects the membership directly however John Samuelsen was and is still still asleep at the switch.

We believe everyone is aware of the catastrophic accident that happened on the Bronx, where I-95 meets Hutchinson River Parkway - we here in why did you join the union and on behalf of the TWU Local 100 membership are expressing our sympathy for the loss of life including those who were maimed or had minor injuries. We wish all of them a speedy physical and emotional recovery.

In our last junket to Washington DC on April 27, 2010 to rally support for the failed Public Transportation Act - which did not produce any fruits to the benefit of TWU Local 100 membership. No heads were brought forward to be held responsible or at the minimum to be handed to our adhoc grilling with president Samuelsen playing the role of the umpire for waste of membership resources. It is clear failure after failure is the norm, however they are rewarded with junket to Portugal. It has become a hall mark of his leadership, we intend to change that.

In that junket the same cheap bus company was contracted to chauffeur the TWU Local 100 membership from New York to Washington DC and back, then we were informed that one of the buses hit a flying duck on the way back to New York on the front windshield that splattered into the membership. While we are on the road back we advised the membership to report the incident to the proper authorities (we believed then that we were in New Jersey state) as well as seek medical attention inaddition to file personal injury lawsuit against the cheap bus company. Here is where it got ironic since the TWU Local 100 bosses objected to our reasoning - their objective was to get the membership back so they could make their trains home, they relayed their instructions to the bus captains to advise the cheap bus driver to keep on driving. We cannot point the finger here to Samuelsen because it is unclear if those bosses had a tacit approval from him. However we are not happy with that behavior - we wish those bosses were handed to us for an adhoc grilling with the president Samuelsen playing the role of the referee for not caring about the membership wellbeing.

Now we will head to Albany for Lobby day on tuesday March 29, 2011 - if we have contracted the same cheap bus company to chauffeur TWU Local 100 membership then in the event we have an incident as mentioned above we advise the membership to immediately call 911, report it to the proper authority, seek medical attention and file a personal injury lawsuit against the cheap bus company.

Low turn out

On Thursday march 10, 2011 TWU Local 100 organized a town hall meeting at a very prestigious Riverdside Church in Manhattanville, New York under the moniker of is transportation a civil right? It was widely publicized. Now the analysis - first the attendees were mostly TWU Local 100 unionhall staff (Samuelsen yes men) with a handful of Local 100 who attended. Now the question is why did the membership not turn out to fill the venerable Riverside Church?

Two there were a handful of member from the general public - you can note that they were staffers to organizations who were speakers on the podium. Now the question is do those staffers as an audience represent the general public? The simple answer is no. Three Riverside Church is centrally located and it is accessible by public transportation and it is in Manhattanville. 

Four TBOU lackey quipped (Samuelsen yes men) ‘I have extensive experience in these matters - I blame it on the rain’. Wow this TBOU lackey is blaming almighty god for low turn out (we believe this lackey will peddle this view to Samuelsen). Five majority of those unionhall staff (Samuelsen yes men) started to abandon ship in just after less than fifteen minutes - you wonder why they did not adhere to the Yankees fan principle of waiting till the seventh-inning stretch at Yankee Stadium where the renowned Irish tenor Ronan Tynan or Kate Smith sing ‘God Bless America’ then leave. It is obvious they have other important issues or maybe they have the pre approval from Samuelsen just to show face then leave or they do not believe in this event. 

Six it is not clear whether those invited participants organizations are influential or are able to make a positive change in the governor office or the MTA to the benefit of the TWU Local 100 membership - perhaps you can chalk it to being out of touch or out of date acting in a manner of we are on our way out. Seven John Samuelsen must put all options on the table, especially the proven old way methods of confrontation.

In assessment of the above you realize that there is no mutuality of interest with the general public where they will come to aid us in our fight for our livelihood. Maybe in a Samuelsen Utopia society the other side of the equation is possible. However there is no benefit in cooperating with the MTA which is why the membership shunned this event.

We support you

The building workers, members of the 32BJ Service Employee International Union - you the Bronx building superintendents, janitors and garbage handlers we support in your rally to demand for a fair work contract that protects your wages and benefits. We here in why did you join the union and on behalf of members of TWU Local 100 side with you against the Bronx Realty Advisory Board.

You are courageous - if you would go on strike so that you shut down those buildings you serve - we could just imagine those tenants who live in top floors who will have to use stairs instead of elevators. They will also have to remove their trash and garbage from their dwellings in addition to the maintenance of the buildings.

We side with you, you have a right to decent wages and benefits, you live in our communities, and you have families to support. We are against those fat cat landlords who have asked you to reduce your standard of living at the worst possible time. We hope you do not take a pay cut that is demanded by the BRAB, we here in why did you join the union say no to givebacks - it is outrageous. We wish you to lead the charge in the labor struggle by striking to set an example for those in Wisconsin, Ohio and elsewhere where the economic downturn is being used to strip workers of their rights. If you are forced to go on strike to earn a living wage then so be it.

Labor-management cooperation

We are reposting this article that was posted on December 13, 2010 - this is labor - management cooperation - we disapprove it then - definitely we will never embrace it now however John Samuelsen TBOU lackeys still call it major victory - simplistic this is labor - management cooperation by definition.

If Darlyne Lawson the former chair of stations was around she would not have accepted  the current agreement of redeployment of the laid off station agents that was reached between the MTA and Local 100.

The current elected officials of the station department are Maurice Jenkins vice president, Derrick Echevarria chair, Harold Crawford vice chair collecting agents, Joe Bermudez vice chair CTAs, Anthony Atria vice chair station agents, Paul R. King vice chair supply logistics, Christine Williams recording secretary, and executive board members Annie Hallahan, Michael Morales, Paul Piazza, and Kathryn Taylor-Davidson. 

They happen to talk big and are drama queens, we would remind them that President Barack Hussein Obama dislikes drama queens. On his administration no drama is allowed and he wants people who can deliver. However in our station department we have drama. They have delivered sesame seeds to the membership and the membership can not live on sesame seeds.

It is obvious that they have been outflanked by the MTA. We here in why did you join the union demand the head or heads who approved this agreement. We reject theories - yes in theory the drama queens of the station’s department claimed it is a major victory and we will get all our people back. However the membership’s livelihood should not be based on theory but on facts and practicality.

This agreement is a self inflicting wound and a precedent setting that will harm all other titles. Why accept to numerous screening tools that may harm the membership? The MTA used a simple strategy to deal with the station department in reaching this agreement which is the carrot and stick principle.  Our drama queens from the station department took the carrot and forgot the stick, and now the MTA stick will haunt all future titles with these screening tools.

Traditionally there are titles that do not undergo medical examinations, laboratory assessments, drug and alcohol screenings. How does a company decide who to hire? From the employers perspective a pool of applicants competes for the job opening. The decision of which worker to hire is not based on a consideration of who will work for the lowest wage but rather who is most trainable. Because our employer by this agreement is uncertain about which applicant can be trained at the least cost, (as Walder has indicated in numerous settings) they will screen or sort the laid off station agents into a queue from the highest expected productivity to lowest based on each workers signals and indices. We here in why did you join the union believe this screening will harm the membership. Lets assume for argument’s sake that all the laid off will pass those screening tools in flying colors then this agreement works. But what if one member failed to overcome those screening hurdles then this agreement would be harmful to the membership. It is obvious the drama queens of the station department did not think this through and obviously they do not adhere to the principal ‘an injury to one is an injury to all’. We demand from our president John Samuelsen to be a referee and he should hand us those drama queens to our adhoc grilling.

Corporate agenda

There is no question John Samuelsen with his TBOU team are unable to confront Jay H Walder’s ‘corporate agenda’ while the MTA is beating up workers. Samuelsen is preaching labor-management cooperation while the MTA is engaged in a no-holds-barred class war. It would be great if Samuelsen offers a vision of a better society for the membership or strengthen the membership power on the job.

We cannot have weaknesses often a knee-jerk reverence for Communist states, or corruption in the union. We cannot have conflict between members or even creating an illusion or impression of classes between members - bosses as one - rank and file as the other. We hope he adheres to the objective of ‘to protect, maintain and advance the interests of working people’.

We hope that the Samuelsen promise that the compensation of the staff and the officers that such compensation shall not exceed the maximum bi weekly wage paid to the membership. We hope he will fulfill that promise to make sure that the officers stay close to the members and identify with them. 

It is important that those officers do not forget their main function is to serve the membership not dictate. They have also to be reminded they are employed by the membership not the other way around. We cannot have officers and staff who were anointed who believe they are ruling as ‘one-party states’.

We cannot allow this ‘corporate agenda’ ‘corporate-political alliance’ in any way shape or form or any acronym to sweep away most of the safety nets that have been afforded to the membership in the previous contracts to protect us in the inevitable occurrences of failing health, old age, and workplace injuries, our defined traditional benefit pensions plans which guarantee a predictable monthly income upon retirement. The false notion that is forced on the membership to consider a house as an asset that always rises in value is another big joke, one made at the expense of the membership - we can say the membership have lost ground economically.

Assault

On Saturday February 26, 2010 there were two assaults on M60. 

One bus operator got physically assaulted when he reached the end of the line when a customer did not want to alight. The other incident the bus operator got spat on at Lenox Avenue. These two incidents happened within a span of less than 10 hours.

Management’s view is this a set up job, that those operators brought the accomplices so they can get on the Injured On Duty (IOD) - getting paid while they are not working. We here in why did you join the union abhor that view, and believe in our fellow co workers without any reservation.

It is incomprehensible that John Samuelsen would leave his membership not standing by their side during their time of need but rather he would fly first class to Madison, Wisconsin. We can hear his TBOU lackeys excuse ‘no one informed us’ - well John Samuelsen’s responsibility is towards the TWU Local 100 membership not Madison, Winsconsin - however we in the buses will protect our own, we will take care of our own.

Billionaires, millionaires who rule us

It is incomprehensible that we should overlook who rule us who act similarly to clear cut dictators of third world countries that who rule on the principle of it is their way or the highway. We here in TWU Local 100 can observe these wealthy individuals who  believe their prosperity is above all. We here in why did you join the union reject that idea or concept - we believe labor rights should outweigh those wealthy individuals (especially during this sorry state of the economy) desire for more wealth at the expense of blue collar. We have to note our phony union leaders who have aided and abetted these wealthy individuals by making infinite concessions that does not satisfy their greedy apetite. There are many examples that can be illustrated however we will limit it to our own experience - we here in why did you join the union say no give backs,  no concessions to Michael Bloomberg and Jay H Walder. 

Here we have New York City billionaire Mayor Michael Bloomberg (in 2001 his net worth was estimated at $5 billion, and since becoming a mayor his wealth has surpassed $20 billion benchmark it has moved him up on the Forbes list of world’s billionaires from the bottom to one of the top ten currently ranked as number eight) who has taken TWU Local 100 as his favorable target. Clearly these wealthy individuals believe that we do not matter that the labor rights should be trampled and frowned on. However for this behavior to be understood we have to look on the other side of the equation which is our phony union leaders whose policies are short sighted coupled with lack of leadership (who appease the management, who go along with management, who act like management - ‘when we see a bird that walks like a duck and swims like a duck and quacks like a duck, we call that bird a duck’) who are satisfied with the status quo or lets keep what we have got that is a sure sign of trouble in TWU Local 100. If unions are so good, why do so few American workers belong to them? In 2010 unionized workforce was 11.9 percent, down from 12.3 percent a year earlier - we have to be sincere in examining this fact. We have to shed a microscope on many failings and shortcomings of John Samuelsen with his TBOU team of leadership - especially those who are desperate for any kind of attention - we will never respect this internal failings of TWU Local 100.

John Samuelsen ‘we are satisfied with what we have’ or ‘keep what we have gained’ strategies reveal short sighted policies and utter lack of leadership. Now is the time to shift to a new direction due to his failure linked with Samuelsen fatigue displayed by the membership - clearly Jay H Walder would be gloating ‘look how I have reduced John Samuelsen to nothing, he cannot dare ask for anything, he is retreating, he would be lucky if I don't pulverize him in this upcoming contract’. If Michael Bloomberg wants more wealth, we members of TWU Local 100 want more raise, Bloomberg’s desire should not supersede our desires ‘all men are created equal’. 

We here in why did you join the union will send a loud and clear message to the New York City billionaire Mayor Michael Bloomberg that we demand our rightfully deserved raise of five percent annually in the contract of 2012. We demand an increase in the longevity pay to be $2,400 per annum, we demand no cap on any medical procedure on our medical insurance - no more reduced health benefits but full health coverage, we demand increase in the accidental death benefit to $250,000, we demand ordinary death benefit of $100,000, we demand Cost-of-Living Allowance for the current employees and the retirees, no downsizing, no depot closing, no service cuts, no more line cutting, no farming out of work, no more layoffs - John Samuelsen and Jay H Walder can you hear us now? 

Kevin Malusson

We here in why did you join union would like to say few words about Kevin Malusson 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.

Building

Since the mirage of the purchase of the property at 350 Schemerhorn is dead, nothing has been revealed by John Samuelsen. It is his duty to communicate all the costs that were incurred to the membership. The past excuse that there was no one in the financial secretary-treasurer position is no longer valid to withhold that information to the membership. The confidentiality clause would not suffice either thus the report must come at the earnest. We are not interested in the content of the reports, however, we are interested in how much those reports cost us since John Samuelsen with his TBOU will claim there is a confidentiality clause.

Lets discuss the confidentiality clause which is intended to protect the seller in the event that the content of those reports were released to the public and if they cause harm to the seller properties then he would seek to be made whole. However that does not give the seller the right to deny the membership of TWU Local 100 to know how much those reports cost. So John Samuelsen cannot use the confidentiality clause excuse infinitely and should reveal the numbers without any further delay.

The cost of those assessment test reports, engineering reports, asbestos test reports and numerous other test reports including the air quality test reports did not come freely - the numbers must be revealed. If those numbers are not revealed how much money of our hard earned dues was spent, and which companies or agencies performed those tests?

Whether there were legal charges, they too must be revealed - we are also aware that those figures may fall outside of purview of the current appointed financial secretary -treasurer. However as required by the bylaws of the Transport Workers Union of Greater New York Local 100, AFL-CIO article VI Financial Secretary-Treasurer‘...He shall deliver the original receipt...He shall report...to the Executive Board the monies received and paid out and the balance remaining on deposit... this matter is serious enough for John Samuelsen to furnish those numbers promptly. There is no way around it - clearly for some period there was a vacant financial secretary-treasurer position that excuse is no longer valid now.

We will honor the excuse of the confidentiality clause which covers the content of the reports as related to the purchase the property. However that confidentiality does not cover how much those reports cost the membership - we would care less what was the content of those useless reports however we would like to know how much those reports cost us. Thus an accounting must be brought forward - we cannot move forward while the cost of those reports are not revealed - it only raises a huge red flag of misappropriating membership funds.

Grand vizier Steve Downs

Last year in April 2010 grand vizier Steve Downs and his puppet Kevin Harrington wanted to settle an old score by trying to kick out Ms. Terry Adams from her elected position - they maneuvered by creating shameless phony causes.

Now one of their train operators Chris Tobin has publicly congratulated Jay H Walder for his reappointment, extended an olive branch and let Walder know that he has friends in the rapid transit operations department. Now the question is why grand vizier Steve Downs with his puppet Kevin Harrington are quiet - is it a preferential treatment? Or are they protecting one of their own?

Is their silence a sign of acquiescence that they too congratulate Jay H Walder for his reappointment or maybe they condone Chris Tobin’s views? There is also cause for concern that the rapid transit operation department may be suffering from questionable leadership. The rapid transit operations department earns an ‘F’ in leadership. This score reveals how Steve Downs with his puppet Kevin Harrington are embracing Walder  through Chris Tobin. 

Grand vizier Steve Downs with his puppet Kevin Harrington through their silence show their lack of concern towards the laid off members. Their inability to condemn Chris Tobin’s views shows a double standard that is being applied in the rapid transit operations department. This silence may rise to deception - why they have not publicly condemned Chris Tobin views of embracing Jay H Walder. 

Why is there preferential treatment towards train operator Chris Tobin that was not afforded to Ms. Terry Adams who was treated unfavorably by Steve Downs with puppet Kevin Harrington. Could it be that birds of feather flock together?

Chris Tobin 2

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

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

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

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

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