Samuelsen has surely spent a lot of time and energy trying to nail Toussaint and the previous Executive Board for mishandling the Union's funds. He made a report to the "AM New York" newspaper about Toussaint spending $2M on the 2009 Family Day event. Is $2M too much to spend for due paying members to have quality time with their families and co-workers? As a proud member of The Mike Quill Club I say NO!! Your opinion may differ. I respect that. Why not ask the members who attended the Family Day their opinions.
But Samuelsen,if he's serious,should go after the $9M the members in bad standing owe TWU.But is he willing to? He's extremely quiet on this and there's a reason or reasons for this . After TWU lost the automatic due check off,Samuelsen led the Charge encouraging members not to pay dues(burn the village). As Commander-in-Chief, Samuelsen did not only led the "Don't pay the Dues Campaign",aside from putting out flyers edging members on not to pay dues ,he also appeared before the Executive Board, on several occasions, defending non due paying members. In other words, he was the defender of excuses why members should not pay dues.
What Samuelsen should do, along with Tony Utano,VP MoW,is man up and take full responsibility for the $9M unpaid Union dues . He along with Utano,the second(2nd) in command, proudly led the Campaign,"Don't pay your dues Unless...."Do you remember that Campaign John? Tony do you remember the part you played in that campaign?
Now, I implore Samuelsen, to go after his friends-the" Dues Dodgers "to recoup the arrears($9M).This may create some problems for Shameless John Samuelsen since he has on Union's payroll an alarming number of "Due Dodgers"-To name a few, Marvin Holland(Director of Political Action Committee),David Francis(Chair of Elections Committee),Charles Jenkins(Director of Organizing) and Keith Cummings(TWU Safety)If Shameless John Samuelsen is serious about the Financial Health of TWU and have any respect for the majority of us who stood up to our responsibilities,and heed the call when our Union needed us most and paid our dues as real proud union brothers and sisters he would not have employed the likes of Holland, Francis, Cummings and Jenkins( Jenkins was overheard on the shop floor telling members not to pay dues). I urge every member in good standing to let your voices be heard and demand Shameless John return the "Dues Dodgers " to their tools.
I'll further suggest to Shameless John to form a team, spear- headed by his "dues dodging friends," Holland, Francis, Jenkins and Cummings to go into the field and vigorously collect from their "dues dodging friends" dues arrears. After all the "dues dodgers" were listening to Samuelsen, Utano and company battle cry"Don't pay your dues Unless..."Now that Shameless John has removed the "Unless"there should be no problems collecting the back dues($9M) Remember the old adage, "it takes a thief to catch a thief"-translates,"it takes a due dodger to collect from a due dodger". The monies collected can be used to pay the salaries of Holland, Francis, Cummings and Jenkins. Don't worry these guys are great at persuasion; they will be successful guys
