Action Alert-TBOU and NYfST Join Forces to Keep Subway Booths Open Wednesday July 8,2009 4:30PM to 6:00PM at the 14 Street Union Square Station

TAKE BACK OUR UNION (TBOU) JOINS NEW YORKERS FOR SAFE TRANSIT
Transit Workers and Riders Come Together To Keep Subway Booths Open
On Wednesady July 8, 2009 At The 14 street Union Square Station 4:30PM to 6:00PM

In an effort to prevent the MTA from shutting down over 150 subway booths in this fall, Take Back Our Union (TBOU), a rank and file movement within the Transportation Workers Union (TWU) local 100, has become a member of New Yorkers for Safe Transit (NYfST) – the only NYC Coalition dedicated to eliminating harassment and assaults, particularly gender or discrimination based, on New York City's public transit system.

On Wednesday, July 8th, NYfST will kick off their Keep Booths Open campaign by leafleting and educating transit riders, at the Union Square Station, about the MTA's plan to shut down subway booths in the fall.

On March 25th, 2009, the MTA Board voted 12-1 to adopt a budget which increased fares, reduces service and lays off workers. .Part of the plan to reduce service includes laying off over 800 Station Agent in July, and closing down subway booths in September. Despite receiving bailout money from state officials to stem service cuts and fare increases, the MTA still plans to close down over 150 subway booth beginning this fall. Closures are expected to happen at the West Village, East Harlem, and numerous other subway stations city-wide. “Studies show that 10% of riders have been assaulted in the subways. Women, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender people already experience violence on a daily basis. If these booths are closed who will step in when a rider is being attacked,” says Doyin Ola, coordinator of NYfST. “This will severely limit access for people living with disabilities and the elderly,” says Christine Williams, a station agent, “every day I provide assistance so that these folks are able get into the station. When there's no one in the booth, how will people who need assistance be able to access the subway?”

Take Back Our Union (TBOU) was founded in 2008 by small group of Station workers inside of TWU Local 100 and has grown into a union wide rank and file movement. In addition to building networks of activists in every division inside of the largest transportation union in the country – TWU Local 100, TBOU also led the fight against the MTA to stop fare hikes and service cuts. After winning a substantial number of slots in the recent delegates’ election, TBOU appears poised to take over the leadership role of Local 100 in 2010.

NYfST was founded in 2007 by several New York City groups working on and organizing around transportation safety issues, after working with Manhattan Borough President, Scott Stringer, to publish a report that indicated alarmingly high number of riders had been harassed or assaulted on the New York subways. The Coalition collaborated with the Manhattan Borough President office and got the MTA to put up 2,000 safety awareness posters in some 300 subway cars. In 2009, this program was replicated and now includes safety public service announcements throughout the subway system.

The Coalition, which consists of Girls for Gender Equity, Hollaback NYC, National Organization of Women – NYC, RightRides for Women's Safety, and Take Back Our Union, is calling for the MTA to re-open all previously closed token booth, and maintain current staffing especially on the off hours. They will be leafleting to educate riders at the Union Square station from 4:30pm to 6:30pm, on Wednesday, July 8th please come and join us as we build a coalition to keep subway booths. For this and all your labor news visit our website http://www.takebackourunion.org/ and our blog at http://www.tbou.org/

TBOU Election Update - UI wins convention seats, but they've lost the Local by Steve Downs

It's been more than a week since the ballots were counted in the election for convention delegates and the Local still hasn't posted the results. But United Invincible has a leaflet out claiming victory. They're working hard to spin the outcome without showing the numbers. Just one more example of their disrespect for the membership.

UI did win a majority of the delegates. They did so because they disqualified members in good standing from running. To win seats to the convention, they did everything they could to deny Local 100 members a choice. If the Toussaint Team had respected the membership's right to a real election, Take Back Our Union would have 62 delegates to 51 for UI. The United for Change slate in TA Surface Operators and Surface Maintenance won 5.When the numbers are finally posted you'll see that incumbent VPs Stephan Thomas, Enzo Sinnona and Andreeva Pinder were all defeated in the delegate election. Acting VP William Wyatt was almost eliminated, winning his seat by only 2 votes.

You'll also see that TBOU won a clear majority of votes in Track, Line Equipment/Signals, Power, Stations, Train Operators, Conductor/Tower Operators, MTA Bus, and Private Line Operations. UI won a majority of the delegates in TA Surface, but only a minority of the votes. United for Change candidates soundly defeated UI in TA Surface Maintenance. The only divisions UI won were MaBSTOA, MaBSTOA Maintenance, Structure, School Bus and Paratransit, and Car Equipment.

UI won seats to the convention, but they've lost the local.--

Steve DownsChair, T/O Division of TWU 100

TBOU Action Alert-DOMESTIC WORKERS APPRECIATION DAY

Take Back Our Union (TBOU) Action Alert :DOMESTIC WORKERS APPRECIATION DAY this Thursday July 2nd , Please make some time and show support for our sisters struggle and help get the Domestic Worker Bill of Rights passed !

Recognizing the Work that Makes All Other Work Possible With
Gloria Steinem and Barbara Ehrenreich

Thursday, July 2, 2009 11:00 am - 11:00 pm -
Governor Paterson's Office Third Avenue and 41st Street

Twelve Hour Appreciation Vigil Press Conference Launch
- 11:00 AM -12:00 NOON- With programs from :
1:00 PM - 3:00PM ** 5:00 PM-8:00 PM * * & 10:00 PM -11:00 PM
Certificates to be presented throughout the vigil

From 11:00 am to 11:00 pm on Thursday, July 2, domestic workers will converge at the Governor's Office to receive Certificates of Appreciation, for their many contributions to the economy, families and homes in New York State. Joined by prominent leaders and writers Barbara Ehrenreich and Gloria Steinem, as well as labor leaders such as Stuart Appelbaum, domestic workers will call upon the Governor and the legislature to pass the Domestic Workers Bill of Rights, providing a set of basic rights and benefits, bringing respect to the work, and breaking the isolation of this vulnerable workforce. Solidarity vigils will occur across the country, as supporters of the National Domestic Workers Alliance come together to appreciate and celebrate domestic work.

For more information please call :
Domestic Workers United
1201 Broadway Suite 907-908 New York, NY 10001
http://www.domesticworkersunited.org/
phone (212) 481-5747

Take Back Our Union (TBOU) Election Update- TBOU Stuns Toussanit and company in Delegates Election

Take Back Our Union Stuns Toussaint in Delegates Election
Transit union leader Roger Toussaint & Co. suffer a series of defeats
BY Pete Donohue DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER Thursday, June 25th 2009,

Transit union leader Roger Toussaint, who led the 2005 Christmastime strike that crippled the bus and subway system has lost his ironclad grip on Transport Workers Union Local 100. A faction of Toussaint loyalists suffered a series of stunning defeats Monday when ballots for delegates to the international's convention were counted.

The loyalist "United Invincible" faction won dozens of uncontested races - but lost about 40 of 67 of the
Head-to-head contests against the anti-Toussaint "Take Back Our Union" camp, sources said Tuesday.

That doesn't bode well for Toussaint and his handpicked successor, acting Local 100 President Curtis Tate, who heads the United Invincible slate. Toussaint stepped down after taking a promotion to the international organization.Ballots for president, secretary-treasurer and other Local 100 leadership posts were mailed out this month ,but haven't been counted.

"If I was a betting man, I'd say John (Samuelsen) is going to win," J.P. Patafio, a high-ranking union official, said of the Take Back Our Union presidential candidate.Samuelsen's campaign has claimed Toussaint, Tate and the current union administration have been too
accommodating to Metropolitan Transportation Authority management since the strike. Toussaint and Tate have said they've won safety and other improvements through cooperation after the walkout. A Tate spokesman declined to comment.The union hasn't officially released the results of the delegates' races.Ballots for delegate seats and local leadership posts were mailed out this month to transit workers.The American Arbitration Association will not count the presidential race ballots until December under an unusual schedule adopted by the union's executive board, which said combining some aspects of two elections would save money.
pdonohue@nydailynews.com

Thank you; From the Entire TBOU Slate we appreciate your support,You had the Courage to Vote for Change and, that change starts now: TBOU Stations is seeking membership input this summer before the TWU Convention so we can create the members agenda as part of the platform at the TWU Convention in Las Vegas this fall on:

Thursday July 16th from 4:00 PM to 7:00PM
North Star Fund in Mid-town Manhattan
520 8th avenue 22nd floor bet (36 &37) street
Take A , C or E Train to 34 street

Visit our website at http://www.tbou.org/ daily for all your TWU convention news, events and receive live reports via web during the 2009 TWU Convention this fall from TBOU. Be part of the Rebuilding of TWU Local Join the Movement ,Take Back Our Union the Change is here now !

TBOU Coalition Building-New Yorkers for a Safe Transit meeting Wednesday July 1

Take Back Our Union (TBOU) is working with other organizations to keep Mass Transit Safe New Yorkers for Safe Transit is such an organization and raising the correct questions riders:

What kinds of violence do you see on NYC’s public transit system?
How can communities intervene? Respond?
What should the MTA do to curb/eliminate sexual harassment, assaults and hate violence?
What should perpetrator accountability look like?

New Yorkers for Safe Transit invites you to our next general meeting to:

· Learn about and evaluate how communities outside NYC address violence in public transit.
· Share your insights on how to pressure the MTA on this very issue.

Wednesday, July 1st @ 5:30 – 7p.
Location: Brecht Forum, 451 West St. (b/w Bank & Bethune streets), Manhattan.
For more info or to RSVP, email newyorkersforsafetransit@gmail.com
or call (718) 522.0822

New Yorkers for Safe Transit (NYfST) is a collection of organizations and advocates dedicated to eliminating harassment and assaults—particularly gender or discrimination based—on public transportation in New York City. The coalition focuses on raising public awareness, community building, and facilitating changes that ensure New Yorkers can get from one location to another safely and securely. For more information please call (718) 522-0822 or email newyorkersforsafetransit@gmail.com.
Check us out at http://nyersforsafetransit.wordpress.com/.

TBOU Media Alert-Take Back Our Union Members to be live on WBAI Tonight 99.5 FM 7-8PM

Tonight Monday June 22, from 7-8PM: Building Bridges Three (3)Topics:
1) Peoples’ Voices on the International Economic Crisis--
2) Bloomberg Gotta Go: Workers Protest 2600 School Layoffs at City Hall Rally
3) Oh No! They’re Not Thinking Of Closing Subway Booths Again?

Oh No! They’re Not Thinking Of Closing Subway Booths Again? with:
Marvin Holland, Founder, Take Back Our Union (TBOU) Movement
Christine Williams, Chair Woman’s Initiative Committee,TBOU
Maurice Jenkins, Vice Presidential Candidate Stations, TBOU

The MTA has received bailout money from Albany but still plans to close over 150 subway booths even as subway crime is on the rise. There was an attempted murder and robbery of transit employees on May 9, 2009, and just two weeks later, on May 24, a woman was trapped and robbed in the Hi-exit wheel at the Halsey Street station. Despite these serious incidents, the MTA has already begun to stop staffing many subway booths around the city.Join us on WBAI tonight as we build a coalition of Transit workers,riders and activists to keep mass transit safe and then at our Labor Round Table this Wednesday June 24 at the North Star Fund 520 8th avenue on the 22nd floor in (mid-town Manhattan) from 5PM to 7PM.


Peoples’ Voices on the International Economic Crisis. Jana Silverman, Coordinator of Campaigns of Social Watch, an NGO network monitoring poverty eradication & gender equality, headquartered in Montevideo, Uruguay .
Gemma Adaba, Representative,UN, International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), NY
Milena Kadieva, Legal Advisor& Project Coordinator, Bulgarian Gender Research Foundation, Plavdiv, Bulgaria
Beverly Keene, Latin American Coordinator, Jubilee South Network, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Responses to the current global economic crisis have been inadequate and fail to fully address the myriad of related global crises, such as food security and climate change. An international coalition of ‘working’ people directly impacted by these crises, and civil society organizations, met in a public forum Saturday to deliver this message to world leaders in advance of this week’s UN Conference on the economic crisis being organized by Miguel D’Escoto Brockmann, the current President of the UN General Assembly (and a Sandinista liberation theology priest)

Bloomberg Gotta Go: Workers Protest 2600 School Layoffs at City Hall Rally More than a thousand members of Board of Education Employees, Local 372, DC37 representing 26,000 NYC school workers, rallied at City Hall to stop the proposed layoffs of 2,600 school employees, including drug counselors, school aides, family counselors and hall monitors. They cheered union speakers and elected officials from the City government including Comptroller Bill Thompson, while jeering the Mayor, calling on him and the City Council to "Cut waste, not jobs!" by eliminating costly private contracts.

Produced & Hosted by Mimi Rosenberg & Ken Nash
Building Bridges is regularly broadcast live over WBAI, 99.5 FM in the N.Y.C Metropolitan area on Mondays from 7-8pm EST and is streamed, archived and pod cast at http://www.wbai.org/ Our website is http://www.buildingbridgesradio.org/

TBOU Action Update-Wednesday June 24 ,2009 Labor Round Table Topic "Keeping Mass Transit Safe"

This Wednesday, June 24th, the Take Back Our Union (TBOU) Movement will bring together transit riders, workers, advocates and activists to build a coalition to keep mass transit safe.The MTA has received bailout money from the legislation in Albany to stop the service cuts but still plans to close over 100 subway booths this summer, despite lingering safety concerns. On May 9, 2009, there was an attempted murder and robbery of two transit employees at the Winthrop street station on the 2 line. Just two weeks later a woman was trapped inside of an exit wheel and robbed at the Hasley street station on the L line. Despite these highly serious incidents (as well the many crimes that go unreported), and the fact that 2/3 of transit riders want the subway booths open, the MTA is already begun the process of closing them. Help us keep Mass Transit safe for all New Yorkers by joining us :

Date: Wednesday, June 24

Time: 5:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M.

Location: North Star Fund (Midtown Manhattan)

520 8th avenue 22nd floor(bet 36 and 37) street

Directions: A, C, or E train to 34 street

This round table will be sponsored by the TBOU Women's Initiative Committee and TBOU Stations Division. To find out more about TBOU visit our website at www.takebackourunion.org