Monday, August 21, 2017

TWU LOCAL 100 BLASTS DE BLASIO IN ADS

I sometimes compare Transit Workers Local 100 to the UFT because TWU Local 100 still operates as a labor union, for the most part, defending its members and holding the powerful accountable. The UFT, on the other hand, has become a weak appendage of the often discredited Democratic Party.

UFT usually tells members and chapters under attack to fight behind the scenes instead of out in public since the Union wouldn't want to embarrass the mayor or chancellor. As a result, we are so weak now as people in schools see their friends who've been harassed transfer instead of being able to stand up to powerful administrators.

TWU has put some money where their mouths are with a series of ads blasting the mayor. The piece below is taken right from their website. Notice the direct attack on the mayor.

Could the UFT start a similar campaign to try to get education funds sent to the classroom? You better believe we could.

The NYC-MTA Funding Dispute: Why is Local 100 in this Fight?
In the 1990s, the MTA agreed to take over the job of providing specialized transportation for New York City's disabled and senior citizens who have difficulty walking. It took on this burden at the request of NYC government. Since then, the demand for paratransit service, known as Access-A-Ride, has soared.

Similarly, the MTA provides massive subsidies for student transportation in the city. It gives the city Department of Education valuable student MetroCards for school kids to ride buses and subway trains specifically to get to class and then back home. Essentially, the MTA acts as a complex yellow school bus apparatus on behalf of New York City.
These two programs are clearly outside the core mission of the MTA, yet the money to cover the cost comes right out of the MTA's Operating and Maintenance Budget. Providing these services to NYC residents is undeniably the responsibility of NYC government. But City Hall only reimburses the MTA for a small percentage of the costs to provide these necessary services to its residents. It is de Blasio's obligation, but transit riders and transit workers are getting stuck footing the bill. 
Not reimbursing the MTA for these services, which NYC asked to be provided, is the equivalent of hiring a contractor to perform work for you - and then refusing to pay for it.
There's a name to describe this. It's called theft of service. And right now, the de Blasio administration is stiffing the MTA for more than $530 million a year by refusing to pay up for services that NYC has requested.
That's more than $530 million that annually could be used to help pay for real solutions to the subway crisis, which would improve the riders' experience - and our work lives. 
TWU International President Samuelsen explains how de Blasio is pulling money out of the MTA Operating and Maintenance Budget in this CBS news story by Marcia Kramer: (just click on the image to get to the story).
IB Image

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

TWU takes out ads in the paper and has no problems going on strike. They got balls. The UFT is a paper tiger.

RBE said...

TWU 100 is allied with Andrew Cuomo and is taking out those anti-de Blasio ads as a proxy for him. The union leadership has become an appendage of the Cuomo/state Dem apparatus.

See here for another example of TWU 100 doing Cuomo's dirty work:

http://www.twulocal100.org/sites/twulocal100.org/files/politico.pdf

Anonymous said...

At least TWU usually gets what it wants from the city. What has the UFT done for us lately?

RBE said...

Not defending the UFT. Am pointing out why the TWU 100 leadership is full of shit.

TWU 100 negotiates with the MTA, not the city.

Cuomo controls the MTA because he nominates the largest share of the board.

TWU 100 leadership does Cuomo's bidding (John Samuelson is known as "Cuomo's lapdog") as payback for contracts.

I'll give them this: At least they get something for being lapdogs to Cuomo (unlike the UFT, which gets little for lapdogging de Blasio and Farina.)

But don't mistake the TWU 100 lapdog act against de Blasio as anything other than cynical quid pro quo politics with Cuomo.

Now if they start taking out ads against Cuomo for stealing money from the MTA for his bridge projects (which he has done), well, then we can call that an act of bravery, TWU standing up against the politicians, etc.

Anonymous said...


TWU 100 leadership does Cuomo's bidding (John Samuelson is known as "Cuomo's lapdog") as payback for contracts.

I'll give them this: At least they get something for being lapdogs to Cuomo (unlike the UFT, which gets little for lapdogging de Blasio and Farina.)

We're pretty much Cuomo lapdogs too and what do we get?

Anonymous said...

RBE, Could you see the UFT doing a story like this for a fallen comrade?

Arrangements for Station Agent Darryl Goodwin
Here are the arrangements for Station Agent Darryl Goodwin, who passed on August 15th. Goodwin, a 27-year veteran Station Agent with an excellent record, was accused by police of hindering access to the station at Columbus Circle on May 16th. Arrested on what the Union considers trumped up charges, Goodwin was suspended by New York City Transit for 60 days, then had to work overtime in an attempt to recoup his lost earnings while he maintained his innocence. His court proceedings were pending at the time of his death.

Date & Time: Brother Goodwin will be waked on Monday, August 21st from 5 to 7 pm.

Location: the Greater Faith Temple Church of the Living God, at 4214A White Plains Road, Bronx, NY 10466 between 233rd and 234th Streets in the Bronx.

The funeral service will take place at 7 pm at the same location.

Anonymous said...

Teachers, now a days, would never vote for for a strike even if their life depended on it. WEAK!

Anonymous said...

Makes perfect sense if you understand that Mulgrew is double dipping.
He collects an income from members forced pay-up of dues and he is paid under the table by DiBLAHsio to be his little lap dog.

Anonymous said...

Carmen controls Mulgrew, not Bill. The day after Bill wins the election he starts running for president and whoever is chancellor is in charge of the schools. Mulgrew will also be transitioning for the AFT presidency and really doesn't give a shit about any UFT members that may opt out of paying dues - it becomes LeRoy's problem then and they got the building refinanced so they'll be plenty of quail and filet mignon. In other words, just in case you haven't figures it out for yourself - you're fucked and on your own - plan accordingly.

Anonymous said...

HA HA- My plan is one and done!

James Eterno said...

ICE blog officially opposes Cuomo and de Blasio Reality Based Educator. Your points are well taken. TWU is not perfect by any means.

Anonymous said...

Disagree @ 8:30PM. This is Mulgrew's last stop. Once he's no longer UFT president, back to the classroom like everybody else.

Moncler outlet said...

This piece of writing is actually a good one it helps new internet visitors, who are wishing in favor of blogging. My article: Moncler outlet

James Eterno said...

8: 30 the chances of Mulgrew going back to the classroom are about as great as you hitting the lotto mega-millions while you are simultaneously being hit by lightning during a full solar eclipse. Anything is possible but all of that sucking up to the powers that be means he will be given a golden parachute if the UFT falls.