Overseas trips

We are aware that John E Sameulsen president of TWU Local 100 Take Backward Our Union TBOU schedule is filled up with infinite meetings, and he presides over other duties that are associated with the office of the presidency. However in the course of his busy schedule will the president pause to consider the desperately needed contract demands which combine with the attitude from the former MTA Chairman and CEO Jay H Walder. Who had the scrooge like cuts and his lack of concern of the plight of New Yorkers reliance on their premier mass transportation system in the world. In addition with his complete lack of concern in the well being of the blue collar in the MTA.

We would like to point out to Samuelsen that all these sort of factors may lead to zero growth in the contract of 2012 and the membership are not going to accept that. Sameulsen must demonstrate to the membership three key elements - first, how we will be successful - second, we are not going along with any cuts on service in the future - third, that there are increases in service in the future based on the demand. 

The membership are looking for a better future, hope and chance in prosperity. We believe Samuelsen should not back out of his responsibility now - especially in increasing or building up on the benefits that have been accrued and that have been previously accepted. On the matter of benefits there will be no difference on which side one stands on in the importance of those benefits to the wellbeing of the TWU Local 100 membership. We believe Samuelsen does not hate to get the membership better benefits. However we are not prepared to accept winter of discontent, gloom, pessimism, or defeat since we believe that is gone. We do not want to hear bogus excuses from him that he was unable to put the benefit of the membership first but rather his trips overseas are important. We say he should put the membership’s benefit first. It is obvious he may kill the hopes and dreams of so many families who rely on that TWU Local member, he may say he put the membership first but his action says he puts himself first thus putting the membership last.

What Samuelsen wants is to work without a contract and the membership says never. We say no alternative but the contract demands that we have come forward with must be won. We have noticed no compassion from the management side on how the membership are treated - we notice the stench of appeasement in the air from the current leadership. We know he likes to set his agenda and policies according to the prevailing wind but is not quite sure which way its blowing, he resorts to his usual tactics  of undertaking trips overseas therefore ignoring what the membership needs.