Samuelsen made the comments Friday afternoon while shop-gating in the “swing room” of the Michael J. Quill Depot in the heart of Manhattan with Local 100 President JohnChiarello.

Samuelsen told the packed crowd, comprised mainly of Local 100 Bus Operators and Mechanics, that the MTA may want to cut costs by eliminating positions and introducing part-time work.

“Let them try and screw with us,” Samuelsen said. “Let them try to take the Conductors off our trains. Let them try to implement part-time Bus Operators. You will see the TWU in full bloom, industrial trade union organizing at its best, because when they move against us, bus workers and subway workers will lock arms, and we will stick it up their arses like they’ve never seen stuck up before.”

Local 100’s contract with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority expires next year. Industrial-trade unionism refers to the organization of all workers at a company or authority into one union. This gives workers more strength than being splintered into smaller groups by job title or craft. Industrial organizing equals worker power.

Chiarello told the large gathering that unity and member action will be necessary to secure a good contract.

“A fight has to be brought to the MTA, and to MTA CEO Janno Lieber,” he said. “There’s going to be a call to arms, a call to fight for a fair contract, and it begins with everybody.”