Roger Toussaint
Roger Toussaint
Roger Toussaintwas the President of Transport Workers UnionLocal 100, the union of New York City Transit Authority employees in New York City and former Vice President of Strategic Planning for the parent union, an international organization...
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I'd like to thank all the members of Local 100 for their unerring supporting and perseverance in the course of these very difficult past few weeks. We'd also like to thank the riders and working people of New York for their patience, forbearance and understanding, for the equally difficult time spent by this entire city.
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We have no progress to report. That's not good because we have precious little time before the deadline approaches.
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There will be nothing happening in the next few days. It is too early to say what happens now. This will take some time to figure out.
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Despite the fact that there is limited time left, ... we still expect that our contract will be resolved well before midnight tonight.
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We are very confident that this package will meet with the approval of the members, ... It answers many of their needs, many of their urgent pleas, especially in the area of health coverage.
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These comments don't sound like the Chairman Kalikow I know. We can only conclude that this is from the governor of New York to the people of New York City from his fund-raiser in New Hampshire.
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The struggle and defiance and unfortunately sacrifice will be required and will occur and judges need to understand that, the courts need to understand that and the lawmakers need to understand that.
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I stand here today because a judge has found me guilty of contempt of court. The truth of the matter is that I have nothing but contempt for a system that gives employers free rein to abuse workers.
believe burden demands forth pension
That would go a long way to us resuming the negotiations. We believe that the pension demands put forth by the MTA are illegal, and burden the negotiations.
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We do not appreciate being threatened on public television nonetheless and in front of our children. Even if the governor needs this to appear to be tough to the nation for his own political ambitions, it's inappropriate.
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We got the major items that were important to our members with respect to lifetime medical coverage and with respect to a pension rebate worth a lot of money. We made a concession in respect to the health benefits ... We consider that to be an appropriate and fair resolution to the strike.
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We are not thugs. It points to the problem at the MTA that is shared by the city fathers and the state fathers. ... We find it extremely regrettable.
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New Yorkers, this is a fight over whether hard work will be rewarded with a decent retirement, a fight over the erosion or eventual elimination of health benefit coverage for the working people of New York, it is a fight over dignity and respect on the job.
pensions saving
What they'd be saving on pensions is a pittance.