Members Rebuilding TWU

Watch Out!!!

Soon you will see people, who you never seen or you know but haven’t been around to do anything productive for your department,

WHY SO VISIBLE NOW WELL IT’S ELECTION TIME

Well let me shed some light on what you need to know about those running:

John Samuelsen although I don’t have to tell you about what’s wrong with John especially if you have been working here for the past three years but let me recap on how tragic is John

Allowed laid off without a fight, manipulated an illegal solidarity fund that MEMBERS Rebuilding TWU interceded with the help of many members and hired an attorney to pressure John into give back most of the members money, FAILED on his promises, for example, what happened to the universal passes, prevailing wages, there is NO union presence in the field, he used union money for personal use and did not return funds until he got caught. The most scandals ever in TWU history! The list goes on!

Now there’s Joe Campbell, and I’ll tell you about him

He allowed the members in his department to broadband, incase you don’t know what I mean let me explain. At a time when the Structure maintainers were taken out of their jobs and being placed in the Track Department Joe Campbell and his VP (Nelson Rivers from CED) were allowing people in their department to do the work that the Structure Maintainers who were being removed should had been doing (Attached is a report from Renee English and Gregg McDonald, former officers). Thanks to Renee English, Greg McDonald and Charles Ayala they were able to stop them and get Structure Maintainers to do the work. Once Charles Ayala started to get Ironworkers to start doing Ironwork in CED department Nelson Rivers wrote a letter to Management and cc Roger Toussaint, see attach, and Roger Toussaint had them removed. A person who looks to take work away from union brothers and sisters surely does not know the meaning of TRADE Unionism, he has never been in or has no experience on fighting against management. Another Roger “Puppet ”A VOTE FOR JOE CAMPBELL IS A VOTE FOR TOUSSAINT TO RUN OUR UNION!!!!!!!

Members have been voicing that we need new reps, we should get rid of all these reps that really don’t care about us, all they care about is using our dues money to take trips and for personal gain.

A new name A new face: Mike Cordero. Let me tell you what I now about Mike Cordero: He has 19 years on the job, was a track worker for 9 years, work for 3 years at TWU and has 3 years in his present title CED. He worked for Roger until Roger fired him. He tells me what we already know about Roger, if you don’t agree with Roger you get fired or get sent back to your tools.

Well he’s someone whose head and heart is in the right place and with the right support will be a good president. Why? Because he doesn’t have the bad habits that John and the previous presidents had. I believe we all would like to see real change and the only way to see change is to make change. DON’T VOTE for the SAME, REPS that do the same thing and get nothing accomplished.

VOTE FOR CHANGE

Vote for Mike Cordero

Its

The CHANGE we need!

From: Roger Toussaint
Sent: Wednesday, May 13, 2009 10:41 PM
To: Nelson Rivera; vchaircis@yahoo.com; Charles Ayala
Cc: Curtis Tate
Subject: RE: MOW in CED

Get the paper work to me tomorrow by mid day. Recent bids. And copies of the job bids as they have appeared on the CED pick. Both should include the official job description to the extent available. Go into MOW and get what paperwork they have. If Ayala is not in, he is to have Benjamin come to the hall tomorrow morning.

From: Nelson Rivera
Sent: Wednesday, May 13, 2009 9:49 PM
To: Roger Toussaint
Subject: RE: MOW in CED

to weld and do sheetmetal work,they put out bids for jobs in specific R.C.'s in Coney island and 207st were we have welder's and sheetmetal worker's. also bids went out for jobs in 207st. electric bench. The m.o.w. employees are at this location for a week now. Yes i have copies.

P.S. Ayala called me last week to find out if i was aware of his guys being in 207st. apparently he was called by one of the member's that bidded in. An issue of them working with c.e.d worker's together.

From: Roger Toussaint
Sent: Wed 5/13/2009 9:30 PM
To: Nelson Rivera
Cc: Curtis Tate
Subject: RE: MOW in CED

To do exactly what work?? What bids? Got a copy?

From: Nelson Rivera
Sent: Wednesday, May 13, 2009 8:49 PM
To: Roger Toussaint
Subject: RE: MOW in CED

Bids went out to M.O.W employees to work in locations inside of both overhaul shops. Work that is traditionally our's, it violates seniority. At no time was this discussed to bring M.O.W employees into C.E.D. or agreed to. This would be political suicide.

From: Roger Toussaint
Sent: Wed 5/13/2009 8:02 PM
To: Nelson Rivera
Subject: MOW in CED

Could you give me the short version of the specific issues asap.

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To: Charles Ayala

Cc: Julio Rivera, Toney Earl

From: Greg McDonald

Date: 4/11/06

Re: Out of title work at 240^th St. Barn

At 9am on Monday (4/11/06) I received a report from Pete Foley that car inspectors at the 240^th St. Barn were renovating Supt. Davitt’s office. I called the union office at 240^th St. Barn and spoke with Rob Davenport (Chairman) and shop steward Tom Doherty and both confirmed that car inspectors have been working out of title renovating offices for Supt. Davitt. I then notified Toney Earl and Structure Chairman Charles Ayala about the out of title work being performed at the barn. Toney Earl stated that I should check with Julio Rivera before proceeding. I called Charles Ayala back and he stated that Julio Rivera gave the okay to investigate.

I met Toney Earl at the 240^th St. barn at approximately 10:15am. We went up to Supt. Davitt’s office and noticed the obvious “out of title” work being performed in the office adjacent to his office. Below is a list of tools and materials we saw in what was a job in progress:

Kohler shower modules being installed

AO Promax water heater being installed/connected

Istronic electric faucets being installed

oak shelving /maple plywood being installed

new vinyl windows being installed

plastic wall channels for wiring being installed

Armstrong standard wall base being installed

Halo recessed lighting being installed

three new wood doors being installed

plumbing lines being installed

2x4 ceiling tiles being installed

sheetrocking/framing out of walls

buckets of joint compound and rolls of tape

new electrical connection boxes/breakers

bags of dash patch

sheets of backer board for tiling

We spoke with Supt. Davitt about the out of title work being performed and he stated that no one was working in the office at this time. This was an obvious lie due to the fact that there were tool pouches, Hilti Sawzalls, Skill saws, bags of plumbing fittings, solder, cordless drills, and torches (MAPP gas) laying all over the place. I asked him if he had any work orders for the work being performed and he said no. Toney Earl photographed the area and then had to leave due to a fire at Triboro Coach. I waited outside for a while to see if anyone returned to work in the area. After about a half hour Joseph DeMarco (C/I apprentice) pass # 212005and John Pavlik (C/I) pass # 714101 came into the area and I asked them if they were working on the office and they said “maybe”. I then spoke with Barn chairman Rob Davenport and Structure Chairman Charles Ayala and updated them on the situation.

At approximately 12:45 I left the 240^th St. barn and headed to 207^th St. on the “A” line to investigate another report about “out of title” work was being performed in the pick room at 207^th St. I arrived at the 207^th St. pick room about 1pm and found Mr. Bowen, pass # 088417 and Mr. Caracciolo, pass # 131434 packing up their tools after just painting the pick room. I asked both of them which department they were from and neither of them would respond. I asked Mr. Bowen who his supervisor is and he stated he gets his orders from Dennis Olrich (347-643-7773). I asked again which department they were from and I got no response. When they left the area I called Mr. Olrich and was told that he is on vacation and that Gen. Supt. McGuinness was covering for him. I asked to speak to him and was told he was unavailable.

A few weeks ago Gen. Supt. McGuinness was also on duty when RTO employees were installing cabinets in this same pick room. At that time a safety dispute resolution form was filled out. The SDRF stated that the emergency lights were not working and there were no working fire extinguishers available, along with other violations. As of today the exit light above the main door is still not working and the fire extinguishers present in the room have no seals/pins and no inspection stickers.

At approximately 2pm I returned to the 240^th St. barn and found car inspector apprentice Joseph DeMarco working on the new plumbing line that was connected to the water heater while John Pavlik was wrapping up the tools that were used to perform the “out of title” work. I asked Supt. Davitt who assigned the men to do this, and he stated he did not know. I asked him who DeMarco’s supervisor is and he said Gregory Usesorowich, (pass # 912776). I spoke to MSI Usesorowich and he stated he did not assign the men to renovate the office. I asked him who ordered all the materials and he stated that he did not know. I asked him what job he assigned to DeMarco and Pavlik and he stated they clock in and go up to Supt. Davitt’s office. I asked him who ordered the materials for the out of title work and he stated he does not know. Earlier I also asked Supt. Davitt who ordered the materials and he stated he did not know.

I requested the training records for DeMarco and Pavlik, I requested paperwork on the work orders pertaining to the renovation. I requested information on how DeMarco and Pavlik are being carried for payroll purposes while doing out of title work. I requested receipts for the materials that were ordered for the renovation. Neither Supt. Davitt nor MSI Usesorwich could supply any paperwork concerning the “out of title” work for the ongoing renovation.

Greg McDonald

Report of June 28, 2012 Executive Board meeting

Steve Downs T/O

This is NOT an official record or report of the meeting. It is based solely on my own notes

President's Report

The OA supervisor who licked the face of a female B/O, and is accused of inappropriate conduct by several other women B/Os, has been suspended. He has been written up for dismissal and is appealing. This action by management comes as Local 100 has filed actions in state and federal courts accusing the MTA of failing to enforce their own policies against sexual harassment. Local 100 has also filed a complaint with the Public Employment Safety and Health office.

In July, Local 100 will begin filing in Small Claims court to collect back dues from people who took promotions to supervision while still owing dues to the Local.

The MTA's Business Services Center opens next week. Meetings between Local 100 officers and the MTA produced some improvements in the MTA's plans. We will be watching closely to make sure our members benefits and pay are protected.

Reps in Surface and Stations have been working closely with groups in the community to push for the restoration of service cut and booths closed in 2010. This is beginning to bear fruit. Some bus service has been restored and the MTA is openly talking about their intention to restore more service.

The MTA continues to refuse to renegotiate interest rate swaps that provide windfall profits to Wall St. banks. Local 100 will be stepping up activity on this issue and working with other unions and groups to make the money currently going to Wall St available for service restoration, wages and benefits.

Rules for the Local election this fall will be presented at the July or August meeting.

The US Senate is poised to adopt a surface transportation bill which contains significant incentives to privatize transit jobs.

The processing of refunds from the Solidarity Fund is beginning. Postcards to confirm addresses are being mailed out in early July to everyone who paid into the fund. Instructions for confirming addresses will be on the card. The refund checks should be issued in late August.

Main table contract talks are scheduled for Friday, June 29.

A memo will be issued to all Local 100 staff with the rules for campaigning that they must follow during the coming election campaign. The rules will mirror those issued in previous elections.

Financial Report

May's financial report was accepted 27 yes, 2 no, 3 abstentions

The COPE report for the second quarter was accepted 26 yes, 2 no, 3 abstentions

Members at Ardsley Bus are voting on a proposed agreement on 6/29.

Members at Baumann Bus approved their proposed agreement by 122 yes, 0 no.

Executive Board voting

The vote by the Executive Board to send the Ardsley contract to the members for ratification was conducted early last week via an email poll. (The text of the agreement was emailed, members could send in comments or ask questions, and anyone on the Board could participate in the discussion via email.) This was because of the very small window available to post the notice of the vote and have it take place before the workers at Ardsley finished work for the summer.

In early 2010, the Board had voted not to hold votes by phone poll because it did not allow for discussion or an exchange of ideas. Some current Board members felt that the email vote violated the spirit of the vote barring phone voting. Others just thought it was a bad idea and an emergency board meeting could have been called. Samuelsen pointed out that this was an exceptional situation, and the fact that this is the first time in 2.5 years that it has happened is proof that it was not done lightly.

Ed Benjamin (Structure) made a motion that the Executive Board must meet in person to conduct votes. After considerable discussion, the motion was voted down -- 8 yes, 24 no, 4 abstentions

The motion to adjourn was made after that vote.

--
Steve Downs

Chair, T/O Division

TWU Local 100

Members Rebuilding TWU

Saturday, September 29, 2012

Friday, June 29, 2012