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...
ammunition contract deal decided decision hopes order poison pour provide seems sink state voted
What the MTA has decided to do is pour poison on the deal in order to provide ammunition to the opposition, in hopes of having the contract voted down. It seems as if a decision was made by the state to sink the contract.
bargaining beginning contract faith force good lousy threats
They're not going to force a lousy contract down our throats. We have told them from the beginning that this contract will be negotiated by bargaining in good faith and not by threats and not by intimidation.
agreement fear resolved
An agreement will never ever, ever, ever be resolved by fear and intimidation.
demands pension
If the pension demands ... come off the table, that would go a long way to us resuming the negotiations and resolving the strike.
course difficult entire equally few local members past people perseverance riders spent supporting thank time york
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.
lots resolve
still lots of opportunities to resolve the issues.
jail
I'll go in. Jail is not a problem.
chairman remarks
The remarks by Chairman Kalikow are very unfortunate and do not bode well for these negotiations.
benefits came deal doubt key members
The members came to doubt that the key benefits of the deal would be forthcoming.
bus city depends insult subway transit workers
That is an insult to transit workers and an insult to every person in this city who depends on our bus and subway system.
benefit coverage decent dignity erosion eventual fight hard hard-work health people respect rewarded whether work
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.
binding possible
We, of course, will do everything possible to keep it out of binding arbitration.
pensions saving
What they'd be saving on pensions is a pittance.
answers approval area confident health meet package urgent
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.