Holding office only since January, John Samuelsen, the new President of TWU's largest Local, finds himself locked in a public battle with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority over proposed service cuts, fare hikes and layoffs. A former Track Worker, the Local 100 chief has never shied away from a fight with the MTA over the safety of his members. Now, he's speaking up for the rights of the riding public as well.

The local is currently mobilizing members for a massive demonstration outside an MTA hearing March 4 at the Fashion Institute of Technology in Manhattan.

At an earlier press conference outside MTA headquarters, Samuelsen called the cuts "reductions that will create totally unnecessary hardships - including overcrowding, much longer waiting times and safety concerns - for millions of New Yorkers, especially on weekends." In addition to the service cuts, the MTA has announced plans to lay off as many as 1,000 transit workers.

The Local has forged a coalition of leading politicians, rider advocates and other unionists to call on the MTA to use available capital funds and federal stimulus money for operating expenses. Samuelsen was joined at the press conference by NYC Councilman James Vacca, Chairman of the Transportation Committee, and Gene Russianoff of the Straphangers Campaign, as well as rank and file members of Local 100, who were preparing to testify against the service cuts to the MTA Board.

Public Advocate Bill de Blasio and City Council President Christine Quinn joined the campaign against cuts at a Local 100 rally February 4 to protest MTA plans to eliminate the M subway line.

Samuelsen is critical of the MTA's decision to divert money from its operating budget into the capital budget, and for failing to pursue some $90 million in stimulus funds that are available for operating expenses. Local 100 says the MTA insists on using the funds for expensive "mega-projects" rather than serving the riding public.

The Local says that the new jobs bill going before Congress could result in reversing all the planned service cuts, while saving the jobs of close to 1,000 transit workers. Samuelsen has challenged MTA Chairman Jay Walder to join him in Washington to lobby for New York's share of the funds.

Samuelsen, who grew up in a working class union home, is especially critical of the MTA's decision to balance its books on the backs of New York school children by doing away with student discounts. "It's a world turned upside down," Samuelsen added. "The MTA is funding huge, unnecessary capital projects and kids are being forced to pay fares to get to school. It's absurd on the face of it."

Samuelsen took his case to Albany last month when he testified before the State Legislature. The Local also rallied public support by sponsoring Black History Month programming on radio station WINS1010.

The coalition fighting to prevent transit cuts is set to launch a new website, www.notgoingyourway.com. The site will give riders, union members, and advocates powerful tools to reach public officials.