Sunday, July 26, 2009

"TBOU ANNOUNCES ACTION WEDNESDAYS "KEEP THE SUBWAY BOOTHS OPEN EVENING LEAFLETING



Starting from Wednesday August 5 2009 and every Wednesday there after until Wednesday September 16 2009 the Take Back Our Union (TBOU) movement will be leafleting the pubic on the dangers of subway booth closings. This Wednesday August 5 from 5:00PM to 6:30PM the TBOU movement will be in the Bronx at the 161 street Yankee Stadium station on the 4 and D lines.Please refer to Schedule below for times and locations of Actions Wednesdays leafleting that will be sponsored by the TBOU movement to educate the riders on the serious crimes that occur in subway stations almost every day. This plan from the MTA calls for the closings of over 100 subway booths on september 20, even after they got money from our state officals to stop there doomsday budget and service cuts. The mayor and MTA board countiue to cry broke but give sweet heart deals to rich and bonus and raises to MTA mangers yet will make taking the subway almost impoosible for the elderly and the disabled with these subway booth closings.TBOU is calling on all TWU Local 100 members to help keep booths open for more information call (646) 321-5213 or email us at tboustations@yahoo.com .Visit our blog at tbou.org. daily for your up to the minute transit news.

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

TBOU Information Picket For Wednesday July 22nd At TWU Headquarters Canceled

TWU Local 100 has finally certified the delegates for the 2009 convention so Take Back Our Union (TBOU) is calling off the information picket for tomorrow July 22 , 2009 at the TWU Local 100 headquarters located at 80 West End Avenue.TBOU can now focus 100% of its energy on the MTA and keeping subway booths open.But we could not allow the Local 100 leadership to disrespect the over 10,000 members who voted in the election so TBOU forced the issue and got the union to certify the delegates and give up on these fake protests and re-counts of the convention election.Therefore TBOU has canceled our picket for tomorrow and would once again like to thank all of the members who voted for TBOU. To stay informed always visit http://www.tbou.org/

Sunday, July 19, 2009

TBOU Action Alert -Post The Election Results Already! Information Picket this Wednesday July 22 at TWU Local 100 Headquarters

Take Back Our Union (TBOU) is calling all members, supporters, and anyone who believes in democracy to join us Wednesday, July 22nd, starting 5:30PM at the TWU Local 100 Headquarters at 80 West End Avenue (At 64th Street. By subway, take the 1 to the 66th Street stop). TBOU demands Election Results be posted now! Over 10,000 TWU Local 100 members voted for convention delegates a month ago, but TWU Local 100 still hasn't posted the results.


United Invincible, however, has a leaflet claiming victory and has posted on the TWU Local 100 website, claiming that the only reason they haven't posted the results is that they are awaiting a AAA re-count of some divisions by hand. This is an outright lie, as AAA has no knowledge of a recount, and the TWU election committee hasn't asked for one. Enough with this circus! Post the results now.

What TBOU demands is simple:

· TBOU demands the election results be made known and the delegates be certified.

· TBOU demands that the Executive Board rescind the bylaw that states General Election votes won't be counted until December 2009. Count all the votes now -- the members have a right to know whom they voted for.

· TBOU demands all Information about Current Contract be available to the members. Put an end to secrecy in TWU Local 100

· TBOU calls for an end to politics and for TWU to join the fight to keep Subway booths open.

TBOU Information Picket: 80 West End Avenue TWU Headquarters
Wednesday July 22th 2009, 5:30PM
With TBOU presidential candidate John Samuelsen and the TBOU Convention Delegates


Call the election committee (212)873-6000 ext.2089 or (212) 873-6000 ext.2059,or send an email to elections2009@twulocal100.org or districtleader@msn.com and demand to have your Vote Counted Now !

Don’t let them hold your Union & your vote hostage! For more information, go to http://www.tbou.org/

Monday, July 13, 2009

TBOU Election Update -TBOU Convention Delegates Invites all TWU Members to Labor Round Table Thursday July 16 ,2009

Are you concerned about the future of our union ? Do you feel the leadership of Local 100 and our national union TWU are doing enough to address your issues ? Now is the time for all TWU Local 100 members to stand together in solidarity and make the changes we need.Take Back Our Union (TBOU) invites you to our Labor Round Table:

Date: Thursday July 16, 2009
Time: 4:00 P.M. - 7:00 P.M.
Place: North Star Fund (Mid-Town Manhattan)
520 8th avenue 22nd floor (Between 36 & 37) street


This round table will be sponsored by TBOU Stations, to show our appreciation for those who have supported and help TBOU grow into a true rank and file movement. With the elections over (at least until the end of the year) we can put politics aside and work this summer with the current officers to fight to keep the booths open and staffed. On Thursday, July 16, TBOU Stations will bring together TWU 2009 Convention delegates to meet with TWU Local 100 rank and file members to discuss the State of our union and what demands the members of Stations want to make on the TWU National leadership. Join us! TBOU Stations is looking for your input on how to rebuild our union. The only way the Stations Department will ever change its status in our union is to come together in solidarity and work on behalf of its members to end second class citizenship inside local 100 once and for all.

Sunday, July 12, 2009

Take Back Our Union (TBOU) Elecetion Update- Post the Election Results

Post the Election Results!

It's been more than two weeks since the ballots were counted in the election for convention delegates and Local 100 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. This is just one more example of their disrespect for the members.

When the numbers are finally posted, you'll see that:
Take Back Our Union won in 40 of 67 head to head contests. United Invincible won mostly races where no one ran against them.

• Incumbent VPs Andreeva Pinder , Stephan Thomas, and Enzo Sinnona ,running on the United Invincible slate, were all defeated in the delegate election.

• Acting VP William Wyatt, also running on the United Invincible slate, was almost eliminated, winning his seat by only 2 votes.You'll also see that:

Take Back Our Union won a clear majority of votes in Stations ,Track, Line Equipment/Signals, Power, , Train Operators, Conductor/Tower Operators, MTA Bus, and Private Line Operations.• Most of the members in TA Surface voted for either Take Back Our Union or United for Change. United Invincible won a majority of the delegates,but a minority of the votes

• United for Change candidates soundly defeated United Invincible in TA Surface Maintenance.

• The only divisions United Invincible won were MaBSTOA, MaBSTOA Maintenance, Structure, School Bus and Paratransit, and Car Equipment.United Invincible won seats to the convention, but they've lost the confidence of the members.They won a majority of the delegates only because they did everything they could to deny members a choice, by disqualifying members in good standing from running.

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 United Invincible.

It’s Time to TAKE BACK OUR UNION ! come JOIN THE MOVEMENT this Thursday JULY, 16TH from 4PM to 7 PM @ the North Star Fund located in Mid- town Manhattan 520 8th avenue 22nd floor (between 36 and 37 street) any train to 34 Street Penn Station

Monday, July 6, 2009

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/

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

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