New Directions (ND)

UDR Story

• Opposition wins in TWU Local 100

  An insurgent slate won control of Transport Workers Union Local 100, the 37,000-member union of New York City subway and bus workers. John Samuelsen, heading the opposition Take Back Our Union slate, was elected president, defeating Curtis Tate, the incumbent. TBOU took all four of the top citywide officers, four of the seven vice presidencies, and a majority of the incoming executive board.

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• Democracy runs express in NYC Transit election

  As ballots were counted on December 13, under the watchful eyes of both challengers and incumbents, it became clear that the opposition caucus, New Directions, was on its way to a massive victory in the election of officers of Transport Workers Local 100, the union which represents over 33,000 New York City subway and bus workers. Most are public employees on the payroll of the Metropolitan Transit Authority; some work for private bus companies.

• In the Transit and Transport unions

  Amalgamated Transit Union

  Local 241, Chicago: Never a dull moment in this 6,700-member local of city bus drivers. Lamont Coleman and Marcus Scott continue their campaign to open up the union, for the right of members to free discussion in break rooms, for information on side agreements with management, and for rescheduling membership meetings at a more convenient time for members. Now a second group sought to file charges against the local president, accusing him of agreeing to contract memos without membership approval and of adding his wife to the union payroll to campaign for Obama. According to Coleman, a vote of 75% at a membership meeting is required before charges can be processed for trial. But 75% of what? This turns out to be an odd 75%. Here, he reports, is how it worked out: