Latest news with #Samuelsen
Forbes
3 days ago
- Politics
- Forbes
Mamdani Defies His Party Just as Donald Trump Did, a union leader says
Zohran Mamdani takes the subway betweenr campaign events on May 27. (Photo by Andrew ... More Lichtenstein/Corbis) Corbis via Getty Images A top New York City labor leader says mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani is succeeding for the same reason President Donald Trump has succeeded: 'In the eyes of working people, he is the antidote to what has plagued his party." This is according to John Samuelsen, president of the Transport Workers Union and former president of TWU Local 100, the historic local that represents New York City subway and bus workers. 'This is about working people with establishment fatigue, exhausted with same old, same old, corporate Democrats and Republicans catering to corporate interests,' Samuelsen told me in an interview. 'Zohran smashed establishment Democrats,' Samuelsen said. 'He talks about economic security and affordability for working people. He focused on economics. Trump did the same thing in 2016: Now it's ten years later and Democrats still have not learned the lesson. Imagine how desolate the Democrats are that a Democrat running on affordability is an anti-establishment Democrat. That's nuts. But Zohran learned the lesson.' TWU has not endorsed Mamdani. However, Samuelsen backs Mamdani's plan for free bus service. 'I've spoken to him at length about his positions on public transit, as far back as four years ago,' Samuelsen said. 'His discussions with TWU have shaped his vision for public transit. That separates him from the crowd: he has the humility to come and speak with the union.' Mamdani was elected to the state assembly in 2020. He championed a 2023 pilot program to test free busses on five NYC routes. Unlike TWU, the New York City Central Labor Council, a coalition of over 300 unions, endorsed Mamdani on June 30 following his victory in the June 25th Democratic primary. 'As a coalition of more than 300 unions representing over one million workers, the NYC CLC's endorsement carries the collective strength of the city's labor movement and reaffirms our shared commitment to electing leaders who will fight alongside working people,' the council said in a press release. Regarding a TWU endorsement, Samuelsen noted that he has relationships with all three mayor candidates. TWU has about 48,000 members in New York City, including 42,000 members of Local 100 and about 6,000 flight attendants at JetBlue. Nationally, TWU has about 161,000 members and is the largest airline union, with members at American, JetBlue, Southwest and others. First elected president of Local 100 in 2009, Samuelsen served two terms before being elected TWU international president in 2017. He has ongoing relationships with Mayor Eric Adams and former Governor Andrew Cuomo. On Tuesday, Adams won the backing of a dozen city unions – nearly all the city police, corrections and sanitation unions, but not the Police Benovolent Association, the largest police union. Adams 'is a working-class guy from the streets of New York who has support among our membership,' Samuelsen said. 'He took crime in the transit system, subway and bus, very seriously. There is a level of appreciation from our membership and from the officers of the TWU. He's not perfect. Nobody's perfect.' Adams' website cites significant economic and public safety improvements during his term. They include a record number of city jobs, contracts with 100% of the city's uniformed workforce, a 7.3% drop in homicides and 6.8% drop in shootings in 2024 and the removal of more than 20,000 illegal guns from city streets. Cuomo said Monday that he will run as a third-party candidate. Samuelsen said Cuomo betrayed TWU workers when he committed to a bill that includes overtime earnings in pension calculations, then vetoed it. In a video released Monday, Cuomo told supporters, 'I am truly sorry I let you down.' He noted that 'Only 13% of New Yorkers voted in the June primary,' cited economic issues he wanted to focus on, and said he would listen more to city residents. He also added that Mamdani offers slick slogans without practical solutions. Union workers may disagree. Samuelsen said that, like Adams, Mamdani has support within Local 100. In upcoming subway contract talks, 'We don't bargain with the city, but I think he would be supportive of the TWU in our contract fight and our fight to keep conductors on the trains,' Samuelsen said. Other unions appear similiarly swayed by the upcoming Democrat. The United Auto Workers released a statement in June saying: 'We were proud to be the first union to endorse Zohran because it's time for a political movement that puts the working class first. Our members spoke out and turned out in a big way — and we're just getting started.' Likewise, the UAW praised the Trump administration in March for addressing the 'harmful economic framework that has devastated the working class.' While responses to the tariff negotiations are ongoing, it's clear that many unions see policies that impact wages and cost of living as an urgent priority. In contrast, the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA issued a statement in March claiming the Trump administration was attacking workers' rights, but that particular union has not been as vocal about the New York City mayoral election so far. Mamdani still has the opportunity to win endorsements from even more unions related to transportation. 'He is focused on affordability," Samuelsen said. "If he effectuates his campaign agenda, it will look great for Democrats in the rest of the country. But on the policing side, if New York spins out of control, that negates the affordability.'
New York Post
16-06-2025
- Business
- New York Post
Transit union boss touts Zohran Mamdani's free bus fare plan at campaign rally
The head of the national union representing 41,000 New York transit workers is giving a boost to lefty mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani — by touting the democratic socialist's proposed fare-free bus program. Transport Workers Union president John Samuelsen insisted his surprise presence at a Mamdani rally Saturday night is not an official endorsement of his campaign — just a nod to the Astoria assemblyman's free bus plan. Still, his presence at the campaign event, which also included official Mamdani backers Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and state Sen. John Liu, did not go unnoticed. Advertisement 4 Transport Workers Union president John Samuelsen has backed mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani's plan for free bus fare. REUTERS 4 Mamdani speaking at a Manhattan rally that Samuelsen attended on June 14, 2025. William Miller 'Zohran has collaborated with me on the fare-free bus initiative. He advanced the union's position of fare-free buses,' Samuelsen told The Post, when asked about attending the Mamdani rally. Advertisement 'Fare-free businesses should be the future. It would drive up bus and subway ridership and be an economic engine,' said Samuelsen, who headed TWU Local 100 before becoming the national TWU president. Without the disputes over fare beating, free bus service would dramatically reduce assaults on bus drivers, he added. However, the mayor does not set fare policy. The state-run Metropolitan Transportation Authority does, though the mayor appoints some members to the MTA board. 4 The union boss said that Mamdani's plan would 'drive up bus and subway ridership and be an economic engine.' Stephen Yang Advertisement The governor exerts more control over the MTA through more appointments, including the chairman/CEO. Mamdani's campaign said it'd cost at least $630 million a year to replace the fare revenue brought in from the city's bus riders. He claims the city could cover the loss in fare revenue through a 2% tax hike on city residents making $1 million or more a year, which would require approval from the state Legislature in Albany. 4 Samuelsen insisted that his presence at the rally was not an endorsement of Mamdani's campaign. Kyle Stevens/Shutterstock Advertisement The Mamdani campaign estimates the tax package would bring in $10 billion a year. TWU Local 100 has not endorsed in the Democratic primary for mayor. In 2021, the union endorsed Mayor Eric Adams, and Samuelsen noted Adams has supporters within the TWU Local 100. Adams skipped the Democratic primary and is running on an independent ballot line in the general election.
Forbes
02-04-2025
- Business
- Forbes
At Delta Air Lines, A Labor Union Gets A Foot In The Door
Delta Air Lines has long been successful at battling labor unions, but the Transport Workers Union is nibbling around the edges. The union, which has about 65,000 airline industry workers, said last week that it had organized about 100 bus operators and supervisors who provide shuttle services for Delta at John F. Kennedy International Airport. The workers are not employed by Delta, but rather by Atlanta-based Unifi, the country's largest ground handling and aviation services company. Delta owns 48% of Unifi. "Delta is definitely the economic employer, even though they own about half of the entity,' said TWU President John Samuelsen, in an interview. 'They make all the economic decisions; they pull the economic purse strings. "The contract negotiation might not be against Delta, but the contract fight will be with Delta," Samuelsen said. A Delta spokesman declined to comment for this story. A Unifi spokeswoman said, 'Unifi has a diverse workforce, including both union and non-union employees. We are committed to supporting and advocating for our entire team. Our focus remains on elevating all our employees and fostering a productive and respectful work environment.' She did not comment on when contract talks would begin. Samuelsen said the workers will join TWU Local 100, a historic local with about 43,000 members including 40,000 bus and subway workers. 'On our end we're still taking steps to prepare for bargaining,' he said. 'The rank and file will be the nucleus of the bargaining committee. 'I'm looking forward to engaging Delta,' he said. 'If they don't come to terms, Delta is going to be in for the biggest strategic campaign of their existence if they don't settle.' An recent story in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, was headlined, '100 Years (Mostly) Union-free: Delta Is Still Striving to Stay 'Different.'' The story noted that about 20% of Delta's 100,000 workforce is unionized, compared with 87% at American and 82% at United and Southwest. Only pilots, flight dispatchers, and flight attendants at subsidiary regional carrier Endeavor Air are union members. In the past 20 years, twelve votes by four unions have failed at Delta, the newspaper said. Currently, the Association of Flight Attendants is seeking to organize flight attendants, while the International Association of Machinists is seeking to organize ramp and cargo workers. Delta recently celebrated its 100th anniversary, while TWU Local 100 celebrated the 99th anniversary of the day its co-founder, Mike Quill, arrived in New York from Ireland. On March 2, 1925, the world's first aerial crop-dusting company and largest privately-owned aircraft fleet in the U.S. incorporated as Huff Daland Dusters began carrying mail. It evolved into Delta. On March 17, 1926, Quill arrived in New York from Ireland. He went to work as a night gate security man for the IRT, then an independent subway line. He started Local 100 in 1934. Perhaps the two vibrant, historic, highly visible institutions -- one the most successful U.S. airline, the other among the most successful labor union locals – are due for a fight.
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Yahoo
These undersea tunnels connect remote islands halfway between Iceland and Scotland
In the Faroe Islands, wild, unpredictable weather — fierce winds and rain, and thick fog that settles like a curtain — can sometimes make travel by car or ferry problematic. No wonder the Faroese love their tunnels. They've built 17 of them on land and four subsea — including the world's only subsea tunnel with a roundabout that's underwater. The network makes for easier navigation of the self-governing island nation within the Kingdom of Denmark 'Though we are 18 islands, we often joke that (because of the tunnels) we defy the fact that we are islands,' says Súsanna Sørensen, marketing manager of Visit Faroe Islands. Located in the North Atlantic halfway between Iceland and Scotland, the volcanic islands' unspoiled scenery wows visitors. The two latest subsea tunnels are statement makers, too. 'These are our Eiffel Tower or Big Ben,' says Teitur Samuelsen, CEO of Eystur-og Sandoyartunlar, the company operating the tunnels, 'with people, especially tourists, driving through them just to see the art.' Art? Yes, indeed. A stunning marriage of art and engineering. Every day, more than 6,000 vehicles travel through the nearly seven-mile (11-kilometer) subsea tunnel connecting Streymoy, the largest of the Faroe Islands and home to Tórshavn (one of the world's smallest capitals), with Eysturoy, the archipelago's next biggest island. In addition to its stunning natural landscapes, Eysturoy is home to the G! Festival, an outstanding local and international musical event held each July in the waterfront village of Syðrugøta. Construction of the Eysturoy Tunnel took about four years, opening in December 2020. These subsea tunnels are created by using the drill and blast method: drilling holes in the basalt — a strong, igneous rock — and then packing the holes with dynamite. At its lowest point, the tunnel is about 614 feet (187 meters) below sea level. And though having the North Atlantic over your head might provoke anxiety, you can feel confident in its construction, says Samuelsen. 'The tunnels are designed by the world's leading engineers and geologists, so safety with regards to the Atlantic above is not an issue,' he says. Actually, the drive is kind of magical, with the highlight being a sculptural roundabout with shifting colors that is so striking, some compare it to the Aurora borealis or jellyfish glowing in the sunlight. 'The roundabout — nicknamed 'the jellyfish' — is certainly a tourist attraction,' says Sørensen. Many take several turns around the roundabout to soak up the mesmerizing scene. Revered Faroese artist Tróndur Patursson was commissioned to create this vibrant installation. But why spend time and money putting art in subsea tunnels? 'We have a lot of good art in the Faroes, and we'd like to support our artists. In addition, it breaks up the monotony in a long, dark tunnel, so it's good for driving safety,' says Samuelsen. When this tunnel was created, a natural central basalt column was left standing for the roundabout where the tunnel branches off toward Strendur and Rókin, located on either side of a fjord on Eysturoy. The central column, radiating clouds of color, is ringed at its base by a striking steel sculpture. Drivers gaze at a steel ring of silhouettes, life-size people holding hands around the pillar and looking inward at the ever-changing lights. Patursson has said his intent was to represent how the Faroese, despite living in a rugged environment, are resilient, united in their accomplishments by working together. But for many, the circle of interlinked figures is evocative of the traditional Faroese chain dance that you'll observe if you visit the Faroes for Ólavsøka, National Day, on July 29. Beyond the visuals, the tunnel is also saturated with auditory art. Musician Jens L. Thomsen composed the ethereal soundscape that you can listen to by tuning into FM97 when driving through. The experience was created by 'recording the sounds of the construction as well as the silence in the tunnel,' says Thomsen. Instead of using conventional instruments, 'this technique allowed me to find the voice of the tunnel,' adds Thomsen. The Eysturoy Tunnel isn't the only dazzling undersea experience. Since December 2023, Streymoy and the wee island of Sandoy have been connected by the latest subsea tunnel, the Sandoy Tunnel. About 1,000 vehicles a day navigate the approximately six-and-a-half-mile stretch that at its nadir is 508 feet (155 meters) below the North Atlantic. You'll find the visual and auditory art enthralling here as well. Along the rough basalt walls, almost a dozen glowing images reference some of the characters in Faroese folklore, such as a bishop wielding a battle ax, an old witch and a seal woman. This is the creation of Edward Fuglø, a prominent Faroese artist, who put a contemporary take on ancient cave paintings. He also depicts birds as an homage to the self-taught, 19th-century bird painter Díðrikur á Skarvanesi, the first known visual artist in the Faroes. Sunleif Rasmussen, a renowned Faroese composer, created the acoustic landscape. 'I had a dream of the melody,' says Rasmussen. He relied on some of the sounds of the tunnel, including water dripping during the construction, as well as music by the lead singer of the pop group Snowflakes to produce this inventive electroacoustic work. This creates a surreal experience for those drivers tuning into FM100 while navigating this tunnel to Sandoy, where white, sandy beaches, tall sand dunes — the only ones in this archipelago — and an expansive lake that's perfect for kayaking await. 'With all the well-developed tunnel infrastructure, it's easy for our guests to move around the country,' says Sørensen. With the roundabout tunnel, the driving time from the capital city Tórshavn to the island of Eysturoy was cut from about 60 minutes to about 15 minutes. It's also easier to visit other islands. 'You can now drive from Tórshavn to Klaksvik, the second largest city (located on Borðoy), in just 45 minutes versus 75 minutes,' adds Sørensen. The Sandoy Tunnel has been especially life-changing. 'More and more people are now moving to Sandoy from Tórshavn. In one village where 145 people live, 10 apartments are under construction. This is a lot for us,' says resident Barbara av Skardi, who would never have considered moving to Sandoy if it wasn't for the tunnel. 'During winter, the ferry sometimes could be canceled for days' because of gusty winds and unpredictable currents, she says. New businesses are opening, and others are seeing an uptick in visitors. 'Because of the tunnel, my wife, Barbara, and I both moved back to Sandoy and opened Cafe Retro,' says business co-owner Dávur Jacobsen. And according to Ólavur Jøkladal, director of the Sandur Art Museum, 'The number of visitors has more than doubled since the tunnel opened.' These inventive undersea creations blend art and technology and mark a new era of connectedness for these remote islands.
