TBOU Action Alert-Wednesday September 2,2009 at MTA Headquarters

On Wednesday September 2 ,2009 at 4:30PM the MTA will be holding its Capital Budget Hearing at its Headquarters located at 347 Madison avenue (between 44 & 45 street) in Manhattan.The Take Back Our Union(TBOU)Movement is organizing scores of rank and file transit workers to appear and speak out about the subway booth closings.

Over 100 subway booths will be closings on Sunday September 20 making our mass transit system less safe and secure.The Capital Budget Hearing offers our last and best chance to keep our subway system safe. We are calling on anyone and everyone who rides the NY transit system to not only come out to the MTA HQ Wednesday September 2 but to speak out on keeping subway booths open registration to speak closes at 6:00PM and everyone is allow to sign up and speak. So join TBOU and community activists on Wednesday September 2 as we Take Back the New York Transit System.For more info contact Marvin Holland at 347-804-6982.Please pass the word and post widely.Thank for your support from Take Back Our Union(TBOU).

SUPPORT STELLA D'ORO STRUGGLE TODAY AT NOON

KEEP STELLA D'ORO OPEN!

Celebrate One Year of Struggle at Stella D'oro! Rally with Workers and Supporters at the Stella D'oro Plant Saturday, August 15, 12PM-2PM 237th Street & Broadway
(#1 Train to 238 St)
IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE RALLY !Live Music, Poetry, Food, Drink & Conversation
Kingsbridge Heights Community Center
3101 Kingsbridge Terrace
(#3 Bus to Heath Ave & Ft. Independence OR a short walk from the factory--cars also available for transport)

It's one year since Stella D'Oro workers walked off the job against unfair concessions and launched a now internationally famous struggle for the labor movement.

Let's celebrate the victories achieved so far, but also send a message to Brynwood Partners that we are united behind the workers at Stella D'oro and will not rest until their jobs -- good union jobs -- have been secured.

Community & Labor support
helped sustain the workers during the bitter strike
successfully fought off a bid by Lance, Inc. to buy the company and relocate production
is critical for the battles ahead to:
KEEP STELLA D'ORO in the BRONX: NO LAYOFFS, CONCESSIONS or CLOSURE!

TBOU Action Wednesday-Help Keep Subway Booths Open August 12 at Franklin Avenue on the C train

On Wednesday August 12 from 4:15 PM to 5:45 PM at the Franklin Avenue stop on the C train the Take Back Our Union (TBOU) movement continues the struggle to keep subway booths open.This Wednesday August 12 we come to Brooklyn to leaflet the public and educate them on the dangers to their safety and security if the MTA gets its way and closes subway booths. So please join the only organize fight of transit riders and workers to stop the MTA service cuts 'the MTA is going the wrong way charging you more money but giving you less service.Next Wednesday August 19 2009 TBOU will be in Queens at the 74 Street Station on 7 line at 5:00PM.

After the leafleting on Wednesday August 12 many members of the TBOU movement will be going to 16 East 34 street in Manhattan for the Cornell open house see information below.

You are invited to an OPEN HOUSE for the Cornell ILR/CUNY Undergraduate Joint Certificate in Labor Relations on Wednesday, August 12th, 6pm, at the Cornell Conference Center,
16 East 34th Street, 6th floor, Room A.

This 16-credit Undergraduate Certificate Program is offered through an educational partnership between two of the nation's leading institutions for the study of labor: Cornell University's School of Industrial and Labor Relations and CUNY's Joseph S. Murphy Institute for Workers Education and Labor Studies. The program is designed to provide students with an understanding of employment relations, labor law, and unions.

The weekday evening classes begin the first week in September and include Collective Bargaining (4 credits), Labor and Employment Law (4 credits), Unions and Labor Relations (4 credits), Work, Culture and Politics in New York City (4 credits) and Labor History (4 credits).
To find out more about the program, please call 212-340-2847 or visit our website: http://cts.vresp.com/c/?CornellILRLaborProgr/3e047a7584/2c146a81cb/4e2a650dc9.
I hope you can join us!
In solidarity,
Pam Whitefield Cornell ILR/CUNY Murphy Institute Joint Certificate in Labor Relations

TWU Contract Update :Where is Our Contract by Christine Willimas

As most of us know TWU has a stations message board on Yahoo called station-to-station: this message board is supposed to be about stations members discussing issues and asking questions.

Here is a recent exchange between some members and either Div. Chair Chisolm or VP Andreeva Pinder. All the members want to know is where is our contract? A good frigging question if you ask me.

This is directly from the Station-to-Station message board:
The member asks this question: WHERE IS OUR NEW CONTRACT?
It's now Friday, July 31, 2009. I would like to know why we still haven't seen or heard anything about the arbitrator's decision on our contract, someone please tell me what are they waiting for? Are they holding this announcement until December when they open up the ballots to see who the new president will be? I hope not, I just read in the Chief that a group is trying to have the ballots opened and counted in September rather than in December. This is a great idea and I hope it's done. A question from a concerned station agent. And this is the response from our union elected officials,- Why are you asking ? If it had been up to you and the rest of the dead beats there would have been no union to negotiate a contract. (A.G. PINDER)

This is word for word. And it has Pinder's name on it, but it was posted by Jamel..
Nice right? This is what we have come to expect from this group in the Union Hall now.
Thank God they will be leaving in December.
Ask a simple question, A question you as a member have every right to ask and get shouted down...and called names....This is not Unionism.

The discussion goes into high gear:

Re: WHERE IS OUR NEW CONTRACT? From:( hhay637694 3b. )
Re: WHERE IS OUR NEW CONTRACT? From: (JW 3c).
Re: WHERE IS OUR NEW CONTRACT? From:(sauceyrose2000)

Here are 3 replies from our members: -
How about answering the question. Not everybody is a dead beat.

(The member opens the second round with a stinging jab) Who is writing this? Is this AG Pinder or Chisholm. Every member has a right to ask this question, May I remind you that you are on the union payroll, which the members pay into which pays your salary so stop the name calling which is disrespectful and try to answer the question. I can only imagine how you were in the booth towards customers if you treat your union brothers and sisters this way you should not hold a position in the union.

(the member bangs to the body with powerful, devastating blows) This revenue collecting agent spent two cold day/nights on the picket line in 2005, she paid her dues on time each and every month when she was asked to by her union and when election time came around, she made sure she marked her two ballots in complete support of TAKE BACK OUR UNION. Now Andreeva Pinder you're referring to me and others as deadbeats? I know my obligations to the union are and were fulfilled, what about YOURS? It sounds like you're upset at your defeat, maybe we can sum it up by saying it looks like you're just a sore loser !

(left hook to the head, right hand to the jaw, it's over ladies and gentlemen...... a knockout.)

All joking aside, this group on the Union Hall now still must work for the members, they still must respect the members, they still have to remember to do their jobs.
These people do not realize that the reason they lost the delegate election (and most likely the general election) is they no longer have the confidence & respect of the membership.

If you have the time contact station to station I think it's at Yahoogroups.com and ask to join: then ask them a simple question: WHERE IS OUR CONTRACT?
Also why did TWU spend all kinds of money on a TV & radio ad and NOT mention 1 thing about booth closings?
Why is Kendra Hill (united invisible VP candidate) on the TV ad and NOT talking about the 100 booths that will be closing in a few weeks and the over 200 jobs we lost ?

Stations is now on rise again....and we'll remember who helped us and who didn't the time is now for change inside of TWU Local 100 join the movement and take back our union.

"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.

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/

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/

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.

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

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

Take Back Our Union (TBOU) Elecetion Update-Send Your Ballots Back Now

Brothers and Sisters, If you haven't sent your ballots in yet (remember, there are 2 ballots, one for convention delegates and the other for Local officers, Executive Board, and Division officers), don't wait any longer. The ballots have to be received by 8:30 AM on Monday, 6/22. Pick them up off the table where you left them, mark your choices for the Take Back Our Union Slate, and send them back now.

If you haven't received your ballots yet, and your back dues were all paid up on June 1, call the American Arbitration Association at 1-800-529-5218 and ask them to send you ballots. Tell them you need both of the ballots. Don't wait any longer. Call now for more information on the TWU Local 100 Election go to www.tbou2009.org

TBOU ACTION UPDATE :Meet the Author of "Embedded with Organized Labor" Steve Early this Thursday June 18 2009

Meet the author of: Embedded with Organized Labor:Journalistic Reflections on the Class War at Home A new book by Steve Early, Labor journalist, lawyer, and former CWA organizer

Speaking at: Brooklyn College Graduate Center For Worker Education,
CUNY 25 Broadway (7th Floor Auditorium), Manhattan (across from Bowling Green)

Thursday, June 18 6:00 to 8:00 P.M.

Find Out More About:· Workers and the economic crisis· The fight for health care reform· The fate of “Employee Free Choice”· Current struggles for union democracy and rank-and-file control· The future of national labor federations like Change to Win and AFL-CIO

Sponsored by: Monthly Review Press, Working USA, Labor Notes, New Labor Forum, N.Y. Taxi Workers Alliance, the Brecht Forum, ROC-United, and CWA Local 1180

Refreshments will be served. For more information, call: 617-930-7327
To order the book online, visit: http://www.monthlyreview.org=for/ all the latest news in Labor and unions always visit http://www.takebackourunion.org/

TBOU Action Alert-Take Back WBAI Demonstration Wednesday June 17, 2009

DEMONSTRATION: Come OUT... YOU need to join us!... STAND UP AGAINST THE PURGE!
Take Back WBAI ! Undo the Coup !
Wednesday June 17, 2009 from 5PM - 8 PM
In front of WBAI, 120 Wall St. (corner of South St. ), Trains: 2, 3, 4, 5 to Wall St .
Download demonstration flyer: Front. and Back

Next Meeting: Coalition to Take Back WBAI
Tuesday, June 16, 6:30-10:00 PM
District Council 1707 75 Varick St. (north of Canal St. ), 14th floor, Manhattan (A or 1 train to Canal St .).

IT IS URGENT THAT YOU JOIN THE STATION BY JUNE 30
(by donating $25 or more or 3 hours of volunteer work) so that you have the right to vote in this summer's board election and for the recall of destructive board members.
Pledge online at http://www.wbai.org.

What do we do about this? Join our discussion or Interested in more details about the struggle?

Take Back Our Union (TBOU) Elecetion Update-Message from John Samuelsen

A Message from John Samuelsen

Thank you for your support. With it we will change Local 100 and make it a strong union again. In this campaign I have met and talked with thousands of Local 100 members and it is clear – they want change. They are tired of the old union politics. They want a new, revitalized Local 100. The membership needs and deserves it.

If you have not yet voted, please do so today. Put an “X” three times in the slate boxes for Take Back Our Union. Put the ballots in the mail so you don’t forget to send them back in time to be counted.

If you have not received a ballot by now but paid your dues and came into good standing on or before June 1, 2009, call (800) 529-5218 and ask the American Arbitration Association to send you a ballot.

We have gotten a few reports that United Invincible supporters are asking people to give them their ballots. If true, that’s cheating. It violates the election rules and federal law. Don’t do it. It’s your vote in a secret ballot election. No one will know how you voted unless you tell them.
United Invincible’s campaign of lies has fallen apart. People see through it. Their campaign of personal attacks against me and trying to divide one group of members against another has not worked and couldn’t. Local 100 members know that only by working together in one union can we all do better.

The Truth about the Sale of the Building

One of the questions I have been asked many times has to do with finding out the facts about the sale of our Union’s building. The truth is the current leadership of this union attempted to sell the union hall two weeks before the expiration of our contract in 2005. Prior to selling it, Roger Toussaint and Ed Watt were strongly advised by the Local 100 Executive Board committee established to look at the building sale issue, that the deal didn’t make sense.

Toussaint Fires me for Opposing the Sale

On December 3, 2006, several elected Maintenance of Way officers, including myself issued a public statement to Toussaint urging him to delay the sale of the building until after the contract fight - and subsequent strike - was over. I and another elected Track Division officer were then fired from the Union for taking that position.

Why the Sale was Wrong

In the summer of 2008, I used the rights I had under federal law and demanded to review documents related to the sale and resale of our Union Hall. Contrary to the current leadership's assertions that there was nothing wrong with the building sale, the deal was riddled with problems.

*Three dummy corporations were established for the purposes of purchasing our Union Hall. Still to this day, the names of the owners of those corporations have not been fully revealed.

*The whereabouts of the cash assets resulting from the sale was never fully explained to the union’s executive board or to the members of this union. As a result of my review of the records I found out that much of the money was invested in a mysterious corporation called Land of America. It was not, as Tate and Toussaint have said, initially invested solely in Treasury Bonds.

*The investment in Land of America Corp. was done to avoid Local 100 having to pay the capital gains tax on the profit made from the sale.

*Due to complete incompetence on the part of Watt, (Toussaint’s right hand man and Tate’s advisor) the Land of America scheme failed and we had to pay $8,000,000 in capital gains tax to the federal government.

*Toussaint claims he got top dollar for the building when he sold it for $60 million. It was sold at nearly the height of the Manhattan real estate market.

*A little more then a year later, the secret owners of the building "flipped " it for $90 million, making a quick $30,000,000 profit on our Union Hall. The second $90 million sale was accomplished, in my opinion, in a weaker real estate market.
Today we are paying rent on a building which we once owned. We went from earning millions of dollars in rent to paying millions of dollars in rent. Yet, Tate, Watt and the rest of the current leadership insists that the sale of the building was great for Local 100.

The Real Difference

In many ways, what happened to the building shows the real difference between me and Tate and the people running on our respective slates. I stood up to Toussaint when he was doing something wrong. I supported him when he was doing something right, but when the interests of the membership were at stake, I demonstrated I am willing to pay the personal price of doing what I know is right.

By contrast, a vote for Tate is a vote for Toussaint. Tate and the rest of his slate never stood up to Toussaint about selling the building or anything else. If United Invincible never could stand up for the members inside our union, how can they be expected to stand up for the members to management and others outside our union? The truth is most of the members know they can’t be trusted.

I have the proven experience of organizing workers to successfully stand-up to management. Please stand with me and thousands of your Union Sisters and Brothers and cast your vote for the entire Take Back Our Union slate. Vote today before it is too late.

Vote for Change

During the campaign, President Barrack Obama said: “Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.” President Obama is right. And your time is now.

Again, on behalf of every member running for 175 spots in this election on the Take Back Our Union slate, I thank you for putting your trust in change. You will not be disappointed.
John Samuelsen -To visit our campaign web site: http://www.tbou2009.org.