BLOGGER FOR PRESIDENT

Hit a Nerve

Whoever you are that write this blog, you must have hit a nerve.
 I laughed this morning when I read the Daily News about "TWU big suing Google".

 Is this the same man over 12 months ago was always talking negative about Toussaint Administration?
The same one that called Toussaint a thief.
He also said "the members have a right to voice their outrage without being penalized".


Now because you raised some interesting points he wants to sue to find out who you are.

After looking at your blog I see that it has more accurate information than the crap the Union sends out in emails.

Keep it Up

Tsk, Tsk, Tsk....

John don't we have enough problems with the MTA. Now you go and pick a fight with Google.


Newsflash.....

Googles' pockets are deep, just like the MTA's. You are the only one who has shallow pockets. This lawsuit can be tied up in court for a very long time and can be very costly.

Are you using the Rank & files Union Resources and Union paid Attorney for your feelings getting hurt? If so, cut our loses now.

Stop your pouting. Remember don't hit someone and don't expect to get hit back.



Dollars and Sense

INVISIBLE MARVIN HOLLAND

Why haven't we heard Marvin speaking on any of the issues concerning the CTAs. He is the Section Vice Chair elected by his department.


He hasn't addressed the changes going on in the cleaners dept. They have created new titles for the Managers appointed to oversee the cleaners. The new title is Station Environmental Program. Why did we see this in a MTA Bulletin?

There is a TB scare and he is awfully quite. What is being done to address this health concern? All of the elected Officers representing the CTAs should be out there explaining what’s going on. Maybe they are afraid of catching this contagious illness or maybe they just don't give a damn.

Marvin when you were unelected you were visible, now that you are elected you are invisible. Why should we expect anything different from you? You did the same thing when you were an elected Officer (2) Administrations before this one.

             -Looking for Answers-

INCOMPETENT LEADER

JANUARY: TAKE OFFICE.


 CANCEL MASS MEMBERSHIP MEETING NEVER EXPRESSESED A PLAN.

FEBRUARY: NEVER MEET WITH WALDER THE DECISION MAKER.

 ONLY MEET WITH PENDERGRASS THE REPORTER. MTA GAVE RAISES, JOHN NEVER TAKE VICE PRESIDENTS AND LAWYERS TO DISCUSS IMPLEMENTATION OF CONTRACT.

MARCH: PENDERGRASS TOLD SAMUELSSON OF LAYOFF OF STATION AGENTS IN MAY.

 NEVER NEGOTIATE TO PUT THEM ELSEWHERE, ONLY SEEN IN THE MEDIA.

APRIL: PENDERGRASS GAVE SAMUELSSON 60 DAYS LAYOFF NOTICES.

 VICE PRESIDENTS AND MEMBERS NEVER KNOW UNTIL TWO WEEKS BEFORE LAY OFF DATE IN JUNE. (NO FIGHT BACK).

MAY: ANNOUNCED OF MASS MEMBERSHIP MEETING.

 CANCEL MASS MEMBERSHIP MEETING, NO PLAN, AND NO FIGHT FOR LAYOFFS, AND NEVER SEEN PRESIDENT IN THE FIELD.

JUNE: MEMBERS GOT LAIDOFF.

 NOT ONCE MEET WITH MANAGEMENT WITH HIS VICE PRESIDENTS, NO STAFF MEETING TO STRATEGIZE, NEVER ASK THE MEMBERS WHAT THEY WANT TO DO TO STOP OR PREVENT THE LAYOFFS. SAMUELSEN ASK PENDERGRASS TO PUT MEMBERS ELSEWHERE, HE SAID “TOO LATE TO HAVE THIS DISCUSSION, YOU SHOULD HAVE ASKED IN MARCH”.

JULY: VOTE FOR $5

 FIRST TIME IN THE FIELD SAMUELSEN ASKED MEMBERS FOR $5 AS A FIGHT FOR LAYOFF MEMBERS, IS THIS THE PLAN AS TWU PRESIDENT?

SAMUELSEN MUST GO:              NO VISION

Vote of No Confidence

When Local 100 wanted to take care of the Widows and Orphans of our brother’s and sisters who have died in the line of duty a Fund was created.


When Local 100 needed more money in COPE, a cope drive was established.

But! When Local 100 wanted to help the members who have been laid off, Samuelsen took the money.

If Samuelsen thought the members were behind him all he had to do was ask.

Samuelsen showed us all he has no confidence in us, he has made it clear to us all that only his way matters, no matter how pathetic it is.

Ask yourself then ask Samuelsen;

Why couldn’t members give voluntarily?

How does Union staff pay (they don’t get TA pay checks)?

How long the vote would have gone just to get the yes number up?


- could be any member-

Incompetence Abounds

    Well, now that we have experienced the most resented referendum in TWU history, what does Samuelsen/Downs/Utano have planned for an encore?

    The score proves two things. The majority of members didn't know about the vote and half of those who did don't want it. Less than 10% of the membership is mandating the other 90% pay a Samuelsen Tax to try to disguise his failed leadership.

    To add insult to injury they extended the vote by 10 hours when they didn't get the result they wanted. How pathetic is that?

    Before you flush the members’ money down the toilet Samuelsen, please come to your senses,

    Fire JP, Charlie Jenkins and Harry Wills then come up with a plan that the members can get behind.

                   Anonymous and Angry

PAID ENDORSEMENTS

    Piazza, Steve Downs, and now former President Curtis Tate, give me a break with these used up car salesmen.


    How far will Samuelsen go to sell his tax?

    No one has yet put into print how this will be safe guarded against providing a benefit for non dues paying members that are laid off.

    I ask again “why couldn’t this be on a volunteer basis?” Could it be because Samuelsen can’t mobilize the members?

    These paid endorsements by Samuelsen staff are a joke, this is in no way leadership.

    Why couldn’t this be explained in a Mass Membership meeting, why didn't he come around and explain it the way Roger always did?

    The vote will come back ‘no thank you for your tax Samuelsen ‘ and when that happens resign in time for us to get a real leader before the contract negotiation starts.

                            NO TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION!!!!!!!!!!

    Remember as Tate says Walder is looking.

Who's Family?

We understand that 90 percent of those in attendance were non members.


Not only was this discounted benefit provided to members in bad standing from the strike, but dozens of buses were provided for anyone, even for individuals walking in from the street, to buy and resell tickets at a
profit.

Amazing.

Some went to "friends" who got the word and the inside track. Business enterprises like this are supposed to file special forms with the IRS.

How Many will Benefit?

I read in the Chief that VP Maurice Jenkins is pushing for the Rank and File to give up $10 bi-weekly in support of healthcare (COBRA) for those laid off.


Chairman from other departments are pushing that we support the $10 bi-weekly donation.

The Exec. Board voted to bring this to the membership for a vote. Everyone elected is voicing that this should be passed.



I find it odd that they are leaving out a KEY fact. You must be in Good Standing to benefit from this. Of the 266 members laid off in Station, the Div. Chair stated at June's Div. Meeting that over 100 of them were in bad standing.

What are the numbers in other departments?

HOW MANY WILL BENEFIT from this fund that’s being set up, or should we ask WHO WILL BENEFIT from this?



According to the Constitution only those in good standing can benefit from the $10 contributed by all of the members (good and bad standing).



Before you vote on this, they need to inform us of:

How many will be benefit from this?

Approx. how much will be collected?

Who will be in charge of this fund?



Oh, it was also quoted that this only amounts to lunch for a week. Can someone please tell me who spends only $10 a week on lunch?



Skeptical Dues paying member

John and Tony Rob the members

   I had heard that the Samuelsen / Utano gang was planning to raise the dues by $5.00 over each pay period but I was wrong! It’s even worse than that!


   The Samuelsen Utano gang is planning to increase the bi- weekly dues by $10.00!

   That’s $20.00 more per month that those of us who are still working will have to pay.

   These thieves have no shame - First they let members get laid off and then they rob the ones that are still left!

   I wonder if Izzy Rivera, who is supposed to be the number 2, the money man, was even consulted about this - probably not.

   Like everything else this was probably a scheme cooked up by Samuelsen and Utano alone.



     Stop these crooks!   Stop the dues increase!   Call the Police, FBI, or whoever will help!

John Gets Bashed Again

   Someone recently came up with a great idea for a cartoon that sums up the reality of what is going down at TWU Local 100. I wish I had the skill to draw it up but I don't - maybe somebody who can draw can produce it and get it around widely. Anyway please forward this message to as many of your contacts as possible!

Frame 1: Samuelsen and Walder are facing each other. Samulsen has a hammer on his shoulder Walder says, "Hand me that hammer John."

Frame 2: Walder takes the hammer and uses it to bash Samulsen over the head. Birds, stars etc. fly around Samusen's head.

Frame 3: Walder hands the hammer back to Samulsen and says, "Hold this for me until I need it again John."


-proudCTA-

Where's the Compassion?

An email was sent out that a Hotline was setup for those who are laid off to call for updates. They call it the Help Desk. This is supposed to be in place for you to get a compassionate human being to answer your questions/concerns.


That is if you anyone answers the phone, which they don’t, I know because I have called it.

The person answering the Hotline extension is Sabrina Greenwood.

She is a reclassified Station Supervisor who wrote up Brothers and Sisters in the Station Department. She was sent back because an Agent wrote her up.

At the Special Meetings for those facing layoffs and at the Station Div. Meetings she is very rude and nasty. She still has that management way of dealing with us.

Samuelsen, you were at that Special Meeting when she got into the verbal fight with a member facing lay off. It would have been physical had security not stepped in.

You need to look into getting someone else for that job.

Members in Station Department are outraged about your choice.

S/A in Good Standings

LIFT UP YOUR VOICES

It’s been 5 months and all I have seen is the MTA taking, taking, and taking.


The new Leadership first put the blame on Roger, now it’s the rank and file's fault for not getting involved in the fight.

First of all Samuelsen never put up a fight. Where is that militancy that Samuelsen said they were going to bring?

TBOU stood for Take Back Our Union didn't it?

The MTA is the one that has Taken Back Our Union.

-They took back 266 jobs from our members (layoffs and more to come)

-STEP graduates stopped from advancing to skilled titles they were trained to do (at the MTAs expense).

-The backbone of the elected Officers (if they ever had any)

NEWS FLASH ---- Samuelsen, you are are supposed to represent the Rank and File.

We, as the Rank and File have to decide how much more we are going to let the MTA take back.

The new administration obviously doesn’t give a damn.

If they are not bringing the information to us then let’s go and get it from them.

It’s time we remember we as the Rank and File voted them in as a voice for us, but it's the Rank and File that lets them know what we need and what we want.



Ex-TBOU Supporter

COURT CASE WON, NOW WHAT

The judge has ruled in the favor of Local 100, now what does Samuelsen do?

In our most recent court case Local 100 has a win but how do we get our members back and stop the rest of the layoffs.

By the way this should have been presented to a judge as soon as transit mentioned layoffs.

Last week Samuelsen called a special meeting for ideas because he doesn't have a clue about the next step.

Don't be surprised if our members don't return, Samuelsen knows these are not his supporters and if there is one thing he does work hard at its punishing the members that don't agree with him.

Why wasn't there a meeting called inviting all of the members that were laid off?

Samuelsen should spend some time explaining what was going on and what the next step is for them.

Here's an idea for you Samuelsen, instead of collecting resumes for some non-existing green jobs how about establishing a hot line for laid off members or members that are in jobs are being threatened.

ONE STEP BACKWARDS

First of all congratulations to all of the step participants who completed the 6 month STEP program.


I am embarrassed to be part of a union that would take such a giant step backwards,

Samuelsen has not made any secret of the fact that he wants to end any program the prior administration created, but to purposely send the STEP graduates back to their old titles is an attack on the entire membership.

There has never been a STEP class that didn't go directly into the apprenticeship program, until now.

If you calculate the cost of going back to their old titles it is more costly to Transit.
In the titles of Bus Operator or Train Operator there will always be built in overtime unlike the title of apprentice where there is virtually none.

Where is the cost savings?

Transit wasn't hiring anyone to replace them.

Where is the fight or even the argument to have these members move on?

Tony Utano and John Samuelsen never wanted any apprentices in MOW and they are now spear heading this attack.

TAKE IT UP WITH YOUR UNION

   Today I got an email from Local 100. The title of it is called the "Union stops clock on booth closings".     When I opened it the title of the article was "The layoff of 475 temporarily Halted". I am one of the agents that will be made extra when the clock starts again on the booth closings. Keeping us in the booths should have been settled at 2 Bway. Why did it take the going to court?
   Why did it take the MTA disrespecting our pick rights to temporarily stop the layoffs? The MTA is walking all over us. When Supervision called us and told us you are being made extra as of May 7 we were shocked. The biggest shock was when we said "we have pick rights and you can't make me extra" the Supervisor replied “take it up with your union".
   Those of us that still had some faith in the union called them. Their reply was managements rights is how they were able to make us extra, not only extra, the bottom of the list extra. I am glad I got a few more days to mentally prepare myself for being extra, because of the court injunction.
   If Samuelsen pulls off us staying in our picked job until the pick changes, you better wonder what he gave up.

   I wouldn't be surprised if he comes and asks us to give up something just to stay in our jobs.



     -Violated SCA-

“SHIP OF FOOLS”

   John Samuelsen has proven to be a wooden leader. He has no idea how to run and move Local 100 forward. He leaves his staff in the dark thus we the membership have no idea what the union is doing.
   We read about our union in the daily newspapers instead of elected officials coming out into the field updating us. Our union has become the new ship of fools run by Captain Ahab in search of the elusive white whale.

   Averting the layoffs of station agents at this stage of the game is a sad commentary on where Local 100 is at.
   A year ago we were at the vanguard of the labor movement in the city and nationally. Now we are wusses who have let the MTA punk us, to the highest level of punk - ability. John and his men ( Utano, Jenkins) who stare menacingly at the MTA as though the MTA were goats need to quit and turn the Local over to the members so that we can vote people in who know how to lead us in these turbulent times.
   We need some kick ass leadership not kiss ass leadership!

And for my Next Trick

   I can’t believe we’re going through this. This week I had the talk with my family about the layoffs definitely going through. Now in the last moment we are told it is going to be held off.


   Don’t get me wrong I thank god for this but I don’t like to have my life played with. Samuelsen has performed like a deer stuck in the headlights and now layoffs are averted? I saw the look on his face at Monday’s meeting and he couldn’t have known the layoffs would be averted, unless he is the world’s biggest liar.

   I just hope we weren’t used as pawns so he could look good giving back our contract, again let me say I am grateful to be keeping my job but I will be looking elsewhere until I am satisfied my job is safe.

   I am hearing through the grapevine that Toussaint made some phone calls, if that is true bless you Roger,  and Samuelsen should thank you too.

       -Thankful S/A