Observer » Transport Workers Union of America

Hiring: Scott Stringer, Unions

Azi Paybarah — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 13:33:06 -0400

Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer is looking for a director of community affairs.

He's also hiring a director of communications.

The Transport Workers Union, which is fighting the effects of penalties levied against it for an illegal strike, wants to hire a political assistant.

Local 32BJ is hiring a director of communications.

The US-Ukraine Foundation needs a political analyst in D.C.

A private contractor in D.C. needs a writer to help the “Army’s Asymmetric Warfare Office.”

And campaign staffers are needed immediately in D.C. $15 an hour. No experience necessary.

Transit Politics

Mon, 18 Sep 2006 16:03:40 -0400

And now, news from another kind of campaign...

A reader familiar with transportation politics adds a little background to that story about Transport Workers Union Local 100 President Roger Toussaint's re-election challenge.

Heading the opposition to Toussaint is Barry Roberts, a bus driver aligned with the former TWU president Sonny Hall.

Hall and Roberts were part of TWU Local 100's old guard, which Toussaint's political apparatus, New Directions, challenged. Joining the opposition to Toussaint is one of his former allies, John Samuelsen, who was once described as one of Toussaint's "yes men" but was later fired for criticizing Toussaint's handling of last year's contract negotiations with the MTA.

This may be a sign of two opposing factions (Hall's old guard and part of New Directions) coming together to oppose Toussaint, my source said.

But as the picture above shows, Toussaint still has some notable allies. Also, Chuck Bennett has emails from some Amalgamated Transit Union members who like how Toussaint handled the contract negotiations...they got raises and a pension refund.

The election takes place in December.

-- Azi Paybarah

Tuesday: Toussaint, Hot 97, and a Soprano

Tue, 02 May 2006 09:10:00 -0400

Having just completed his truncated jail sentence, Roger Toussaint is fired up once again. The Transport Workers Union is suing the MTA for not accepting the contract the two feuding sides worked out after the strike. Well, it should be noted that the TWU had voted against this contract, before voting for it. Peter Kalikow now says it's off the table. (The New York Post)

About 500 surveillance cameras are about to be installed throughout the city. First stop: Hot 97's Hudson Street building. Even with yet another shooting, the radio statio still has a lease until 2012. (Daily News)

Sopranos star and lad mag pin-up Jamie-Lynn Sigler has just signed a contract for a Tribeca loft that's a bit under $3 million. Alas, she decided against the Urban Glass House. (New York)

-Michael Calderone

Toussaint talks …

Tue, 18 Apr 2006 17:28:38 -0400

It has been a big day in MTA-world. First the Transit Workers Union Local voted to approve the contract they nixed in a January vote -- though it is not clear whether the MTA will accept the re-vote. And now we find out that transit union leader Roger Toussaint will be appearing on "Inside City Hall" tonight -- and making some big claims. Among the juiciest? That Governor George Pataki had a hand in his jail sentence:

"I would say there was political interference," he tells Dominic Carter. "Political pressure was applied to the courts, the process was predetermined."

So grab your popcorn, kids. It's going to be a fun night.

-- Lizzy Ratner