A thousand TWU Local 100 rank and file members came to the Jacob Javits Center Saturday to hear President John Samuelsen and Secretary-Treasurer Earl Phillips give reports on the year's accomplishments. President Samuelsen pushed hard on organizing new properties, telling the rank and file that "if it moves in New York City, it's our work," signaling a new determination on the part of the union to bring unorganized transit properties and affiliated business into the fold. Just a few hours later, the Local 100 organizing team would report a major victory: organizing 550 new members at Global Contact Services in Queens.
Members also heard, via video, from four political leaders who won primary challenges with Local 100's strong support in the field: Brooklyn's Jesse Hamilton, Latoya Joyner, Latrice Walker, and Rodneyse Bichotte, all of whom are expected to win general election challenges in November and take seats in the New York State legislature. They heard good news as well from Secretary-Treasurer Earl Phillips, who reported that Local 100 has brought another nine thousand members into good standing since the beginning of the Samuelsen administration. The Local's Widows and Orphans Fund, supported by member contributions has raised the level of support for the education of children of those who have died in the line of duty to $10,000 per year. For more news on the meeting, see the upcoming issue of the Transport Workers Bulletin in the mail soon.
