The papers say that the economy is bouncing back and the country will pull through the recession. My question is will Local 100 survive? Will Local 100 pull through? John Samuelsen and his dumber than dumb crew are running local 100 into the ground at a lightning speed even superman could not achieve. The MTA managers have said they are doing anything that they want( to the union) because no one is there to stop them. They are not afraid of John nor do they respect him. In fact we don't even respect our selves. MOW lighting division managers are being driven around by Local 100 members to give pink slips to other members. That is the ultimate insult.
At last month's E-Board meeting they proposed that we give $10 per pay period to fund health care for all members who where laid off. A very noble gesture but how long will we pay into the fund? Who controls the fund? What happens to the surplus monies when the fund is discontinued? To many unanswered questions for us to allow John and his band of miscreants to have control of the fund. Some members say that contributions should be on a volunteer basis and no direct deduction from our pay checks. Many members feel that there are already government programs in place that deal with health care for unemployed workers. Why should we have to subsidize them? If this matter is put to a vote by the membership we need to say no, no, no!!!
Local 100 is in a dog fight with the MTA and we have weak leadership. In six months we went from being the van-guard of the labor movement in New York City to being the door mat. The membership is floundering and the MTA is in full frontal assault mode. Instead of trying to fleece the membership John and his merry band of misfits need to organize the members by coming up with a working set of strategies to combat the MTA. We have the power. Now we need to focus and use our power to combat the MTA. Now is the time to man up John and lead us to victory and if you can't then step aside.
