RedTrackWorker
20th April 2014, 00:55
https://www.facebook.com/StopSamuelsensSelloutContract
Initial statement:
Vote NO on Samuelsen's Sellout Contract!
Right now, virtually all city and transit unions are working without contracts. They should be presenting a united front to demand retroactive pay raises that protect us from the rising cost of living. But President Samuelsen wants us to break ranks with our brothers and sisters. He wants us to agree to a deal that will hang other public workers out to dry and leave us with a real wage cut, higher healthcare costs and more division than ever, given worse conditions for new hires.
His proposed contract features 1% "raises" for two years (with retroactive pay), then 2%, 2% & 2% for a total five-year contract. This is below inflation -- that is, it's really a pay cut. He proposes to raise our healthcare deduction to 2% (from 1.5%). Worse, he proposes a special sell-out for new hires, making them work for five years to reach top pay.
This deal sets a terrible precedent for other unions: for example, the government mediation panel for Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) recommended 2.8% yearly raises for workers there and this deal will put more pressure on them to accept less. A TWU lawyer is even quoted in the April 16 New York Times saying this deal will help Governor Cuomo avoid a LIRR strike.
The media is playing up the claim that the deal won’t raise fares, setting us up to be the villains if we fight for a better deal. But the union could turn that around by fighting to stop fare increases as part of its contract fight; and by organizing our contract fight as part of a broader struggle to defend the living standards of all workers.
Transit workers need to challenge every union official and everyone that aspires to office to prepare to vote it down. Executive Board members in particular must be challenged to take a stand, as they have to approve it first. Vote no and send a message that we stand for working-class unity, not divide-and-conquer! Vote no and let's prepare to win a contract that protects our standard of living and strengthens our union!
Other info:
The Executive Board passed it that same night--haven't had any confirmed stories but second-hand info of rushed vote (I mean, the meeting was called after the agreement which was done in the afternoon so it had to be somewhat rushed) so the 'none against' may be partly a result of that.
A LIRR union official already (anonymously) complained that this deal stabs them in the back:
http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2014/04/18/lirr-union-official-blasts-tentative-mta-deal-with-nyc-transit-workers-talks-resume-monday/
Daily News editorial has already pointed out that this will help De Blasio negotiate against the city unions.
They promised to post the agreement but haven't yet. A leaked copy contains a provision worse than what they announced--but it's possible it's not the final, official agreement and that provision (2% medical only coming from 40 hours instead of also overtime) could have been removed later.
Initial statement:
Vote NO on Samuelsen's Sellout Contract!
Right now, virtually all city and transit unions are working without contracts. They should be presenting a united front to demand retroactive pay raises that protect us from the rising cost of living. But President Samuelsen wants us to break ranks with our brothers and sisters. He wants us to agree to a deal that will hang other public workers out to dry and leave us with a real wage cut, higher healthcare costs and more division than ever, given worse conditions for new hires.
His proposed contract features 1% "raises" for two years (with retroactive pay), then 2%, 2% & 2% for a total five-year contract. This is below inflation -- that is, it's really a pay cut. He proposes to raise our healthcare deduction to 2% (from 1.5%). Worse, he proposes a special sell-out for new hires, making them work for five years to reach top pay.
This deal sets a terrible precedent for other unions: for example, the government mediation panel for Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) recommended 2.8% yearly raises for workers there and this deal will put more pressure on them to accept less. A TWU lawyer is even quoted in the April 16 New York Times saying this deal will help Governor Cuomo avoid a LIRR strike.
The media is playing up the claim that the deal won’t raise fares, setting us up to be the villains if we fight for a better deal. But the union could turn that around by fighting to stop fare increases as part of its contract fight; and by organizing our contract fight as part of a broader struggle to defend the living standards of all workers.
Transit workers need to challenge every union official and everyone that aspires to office to prepare to vote it down. Executive Board members in particular must be challenged to take a stand, as they have to approve it first. Vote no and send a message that we stand for working-class unity, not divide-and-conquer! Vote no and let's prepare to win a contract that protects our standard of living and strengthens our union!
Other info:
The Executive Board passed it that same night--haven't had any confirmed stories but second-hand info of rushed vote (I mean, the meeting was called after the agreement which was done in the afternoon so it had to be somewhat rushed) so the 'none against' may be partly a result of that.
A LIRR union official already (anonymously) complained that this deal stabs them in the back:
http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2014/04/18/lirr-union-official-blasts-tentative-mta-deal-with-nyc-transit-workers-talks-resume-monday/
Daily News editorial has already pointed out that this will help De Blasio negotiate against the city unions.
They promised to post the agreement but haven't yet. A leaked copy contains a provision worse than what they announced--but it's possible it's not the final, official agreement and that provision (2% medical only coming from 40 hours instead of also overtime) could have been removed later.