This is a classic case of “sleeping with the enemy”. John Samuelsen, TWU’s local 100 President has been nominated by Governor Cuomo for the vacant spot on the MTA board, which must now be approved by the state senate. 

Cuomo, no fan of giving transit workers a raise that will help them keep up with the rising costs in the city in which they live and work, will now be the official puppet master of John Samuelsen. Samuelsen, a man who has proven time and time again to have no backbone to stand up against Gov. Cuomo nor MTA, will now be in bed with them.

John Samuelsen, the man responsible for the mass layoffs in 2012, increasing healthcare costs to 2%, happily accepting tier 6, not doing anything about the excessive discipline of transit workers and many other things, will now be putting workers livelihoods at risk even more. Members who may not be informed, will probably see this as a great thing for our union President to be on the inside, but when you look at Samuelsen’s history, he doesn’t possess a resistant or fighting bone in his body.

Transit workers, already lacking behind in cost of living increases, wages and health care benefits compared to LIRR, Metro North and other uniformed city agencies, will take a huge hit if this goes through.  During the ratification of the last contract presented to transit workers in 2014, Samuelsen was quoted as saying, “The MTA is a vital part of this city and I am pleased to present a contract to the membership that recognizes their hard work, dedication, and service. I commend the hand of partnership extended by Governor Cuomo and I appreciate his leadership in helping bridge the divide and bring us to this contract agreement.”

The last contract didn’t nearly represent the hard work or dedication transit workers continuously provide. Many workers whom have to wait at least 10 years before having weekends off and 15  years before getting a summer vacation were disappointed with the last contract. One worker was quoted as saying “where is the money?” when this article was being published.

Samuelsen has a habit of lying to people who doesn’t know any better, and will never fetch questions from the members directly, especially in an open forum. Samuelsen has showed TWU local 100 members time and time again that he has a better alliance with Gov. Cuomo, than the members he was elected to represent. I guess the saying is true, “if you can’t beat em, join em”.  The rank and file of local 100 is in serious trouble.

– Tramell Thompson

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