Cause and effect

If cause and effect is the guiding principle or whether trial and error then the outcome we desire may probably be on the positive side. However we cannot utilize a medium without extracting something that would benefit TWU Local 100. On Tuesday August 9, 2011 John E Samuelsen, president of TWU Local 100 - Take Backward Our Union - TBOU appeared on the NY1’s Inside City Hall program. It was not clear whether the New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo was observing the program or whether John E Sameulsen president of TWU Local 100 was asking for something or conveying a message. As a result no assumptions can be made.

Lets hypothesize that Governor Andrew Cuomo may ask his advisers what the gentleman from the TWU Local 100 want? We believe he may get blank stares from his advisers. As the old idiom states be careful what you ask for since you might get it. However not asking may lead to a missed opportunity. Therefore we should ask for what we need.

First we should ask to be consulted by the search committee on the selection of the future MTA leader. We are aware that it is Governor Andrew Cuomo’s call. Second we should push for a presence in the search committee on the selection of the future MTA leader so we can have first hand of his views, visions and ideas. Thus it would be appropriate to have a good relation from the start. We are not interested in a leader who will come with excuses of the dollar has been devalued, the economy is in a downward spiral. Since that leader will be working with us - TWU Local 100 we prefer a new leader to be sensitive to New Yorkers in their need for first class mass transportation system in the world. We believe everyone has learned from the mistake of Jay H Walder which was a high pressure combative style from day one that did not produce anything except headache. Third we could convey our preferences of who we would like to be the future MTA head. Then maybe Governor Andrew Cuomo may grant us our wish.

We have to recalibrate our approach especially with the selection of the new leader - we cannot rely exclusively on these two - first Vincent Alvarez, President, New York City Central Labor Council and Denis Hughes, President, New York State AFL-CIO who have embraced Governor George E Pataki at the AFL-CIO convention on December 4, 2001. At the end of the day those two have not operated a bus or train. TWU Local 100 should convey our choices clearly of a new leader which is a major concern for TWU Local 100 before he or she is installed. It is clear John E Samuelsen was not prepared or has no strategy to face the sudden departure of Jay H Walder. Therefore we demand from John E Samuelsen president of TWU Local 100 - Take Backward Our Union - TBOU to utilize any medium he prefers. However the message must benefit TWU Local 100 memberships rights and benefits. The following statement of ‘the last person in the room’ are poor words of choice that convey a negative tone. We would prefer a prudent approach to elicit approval in addition to cooperation from the New York State Governor Andrew M Cuomo. Maybe if we ask for we might be granted our wish or choice.