News from TWU Local 100

Secretary Treasurer Earl Phillips Addresses PEF Leadership Conference

Local 100 Secretary Treasurer Earl Phillips delivered a message of support and solidarity from TWU to the Region 10 Public Employees Federation (PEF) Leadership Conference on June 7, 2014.

Region 10 covers thousands of state workers in Manhattan and the Bronx. PEF represents 54,000 employees in 12 regions across New York State.

The conference drew scores of local PEF leaders, executive board members, stewards, and statewide officers including PEF President Susan Kent.

Region 10 Director Jennifer Faucher had requested that Phillips present details on the recently concluded Local 100 contract campaign with the MTA. PEF is preparing to go into negotiations on a new contract with the State of New York.

In his remarks, Phillips outlined the key strategy moves during TWU’s two-plus years of negotiations with the MTA. He discussed the union’s two major public campaigns in 2012 – MTA Can Pay and MTA, Money Thrown Away – that utilized free media to get the union’s message out.

Jimmy Willis campaigning on the morning of 9/11

Union Mourns Conductor Jimmy Willis, 59, WTC Responder and Special Assistant to the President

The Local 100 union family is mourning the untimely death of retired Conductor Jimmy Willis, who may be the first transit worker to suffer a service-related death resulting from the World Trade Center disaster. His wife of 15 years, Christy, reported that Jimmy had a fatal heart attack on Tuesday, June 24^th. She posted on Facebook: “He was the most wonderful man and my soul mate. I am kinda lost at the moment but I am so thankful for my daughters who are helping me manage.” TWU Director of the Training and Upgrading Fund Hector Ramirez, who worked closely with Willis in the aftermath of the WTC disaster, called him “passionate, relentless, always working for the members.”

Jimmy had 18 years of service to New York City Transit when he retired. He was a former President of the NYC Transit Emerald Society and also served as the union’s coordinator for heritage events.

His greatest contribution to Local 100 came after the WTC attack. He had spent the morning of September 11^th in Astoria, campaigning with the union’s political action team for City Council candidate Arthur Cheliotes. The next day, he headed to Ground Zero to render whatever help he could and to help in the search for his cousins, Firefighter Michael Roberts of Ladder 35, and FDNY Chief of the Special Operations Command, Ray Downey. He later told the Local 100 Express: “I had hope on Wednesday night, but when I went back Friday, it looked like the gates of hell, like Dresden or Hiroshima, and I thought, I’m not going to see my cousins again.”

Espaillat, with City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, refuses to concede in Hamilton Heights

Espaillat, Not Conceding, Facing Uphill Fight to Count Absentee Ballots

After the polls closed last night in Hamilton Heights, State Senator Adriano Espaillat gave a defiant speech saying he would not concede to longtime Congressman Charles Rangel until all the ballots were counted. The New York Times reported: "With 100 percent of precincts reporting after 1 a.m., Mr. Rangel led by just over 1,800 votes, or 47.4 percent to 43.6 percent." But there are 2,834 absentee ballots outstanding, which still must be counted. Unlikely as a reversal would be, those ballots could still swing the race for Espaillat. TWU Local 100's Political Action Committee helped shave Rangel's victory margin. The smart money had Rangel up by ten points in late polling, but his final percentage spread over Espaillat was less than half that.

The Union's PAC team phonebanked our members heavily and distributed over 20,000 pieces of literature. We estimated that phone calls alone added 300 votes to Espaillat's total, which only counts direct conversations with members. Messages left and literature distributed likely brought in hundreds more. TWU Local 100 President John Samuelsen and Secretary-Treasurer Earl Phillips campaigned with Espaillat, and Brother Philllips was present at the 809 Restaurant on Dyckman Street in Hamilton Heights where supporters gathered to await the outcome of the vote. Local 100 pushed Mr. Espaillat's record in defending mass transit against cuts and supporting union jobs as our main argument for why he should succeed Rangel in Congress.

NLRB Moving on TWU's Petition for Representation at NYC Bike Share

Last Friday, June 20, TWU Local 100 presented 85 cards signed by employees of the New York City Bike Share (aka Citibike) for union representation to the National Labor Relations Board. Several days earlier, a delegation of 25 workers walked into the boss's office and asked that management voluntarily recognize our union as their representative. When management didn’t respond (claiming they didn’t have the authority locally to do so), we filed with the National Labor Relations Board. The NLRB acted quickly, scheduling a conference for this week and a hearing this coming Friday. TWU Local 100’s objective is to quickly schedule a representation election – in which the members of NYC Bike Share will have a chance to cast ballots for or against representation by the TWU. We’re confident that representation by Local 100 – the largest transit union in New York State – will give workers at NYC Bike Share the tools to successfully achieve better wages and working conditions, while strengthening the Bike Share program in New York City. The NYC Bike Share is a valuable and environmentally beneficial mass-transit alternative, and we are looking forward to supporting everyone who works for NYC Bike Share as members of TWU Local 100.

$469K in past medical claims won for members

When the TA moved our health coverage from GHI to Empire in 2011, our contract said they had to keep our benefits the same or better. But, some parts of our coverage were not the same. One by one, Local 100 has been fighting to ensure our full benefits are maintained — and we’re winning.

An important win is coverage for clinic visits. We had always been covered for care in a hospital clinic. Under Empire, however, claims for clinic visits had been denied.

As a result of a contract grievance brought last year by Local 100, the TA has instructed Empire to cover services provided at clinics and to reprocess all previous claims which were previously denied for this reason. They have also provided the Union with a full report.

The bottom line? 655 members have been saved bills totaling $469 thousand. Did you have a claim for clinic service denied by Empire BC/BS? If so, has it been reprocessed and covered by Empire? If not, contact the Union’s Member Services Department at 347-643-8065.

Need NYCT/MaBSTOA Test Prep? TUF's the Place to Go

Did you know? The TWU Local 100/NYCT Training & Upgrading Fund prepares union members for upcoming civil service exams for jobs at NYCT and MaBSTOA. If there are at least ten members interested, TUF will organize a test prep class for your upcoming exam. Test prep will generally take place at the union hall at 195 Montague Street, 4th floor, but some will also happen off-site. If you're studying or want to prepare for an upcoming NYCT/MaBSTOA exam, contact TUF through its website or call TUF at 718-780-8700.

In court before the brief hearing, (l-r), standing, William Pena's widow, Nancy Rodriguez, MTA CTO Stephen Vidal, OA VP Brian Clarke, and OA Div 1 Chair Richard Davis

Pena Court Date Postponed to July 14; Transit Workers Frustrated by Slow Pace of Prosecution

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18 -- TWU members showed up in force to Part 32 of New York County Criminal Court only to find yet another delay in the Peoples' case against Dominic Whilby, who killed Bus Operator William Pena in the early morning hours of February 12th when he drove a delivery truck into Pena's M14 crosstown bus.

TWU Local 100 Recording Secretary LaTonya Crisp Sauray expressed the union's anger at the slow pace of the proceedings to the Assistant District Attorney in charge of the case. In a conversation with Sister Crisp-Sauray and OA Division 1 Chair Richard Davis, the ADA said that he expected matters to be sorted out by the next court date, July 14th. He also said that there were questions as to whether Whilby's crime would bear the weight of his most serious charge -- murder in the second degree. If the court determined that the evidence does not support that charge, in that Whilby did not intend to kill Pena when he drove his truck in a drunken stupor into the bus, the lead count would be aggravated vehicular manslaughter, which carries with it a sentence of between eight and two thirds and 20 years in jail.

There are multiple additional charges pending against Whilby as well, along with a civil suit which seeks damages from the adults and establishments which contributed to the drunken joyride that ended William Pena's life. Brother Davis told the District Attorney's office that both the union and management are united in seeking the harshest penalty and a swift prosecution for Pena's killer. The MTA sent Stephen Vidal, the Authority's Chief Transportation Officer (CTO) to the court hearing. Like the many TWU officers and rank and file who showed up, Vidal waited in court until Judge Gregory Carro granted the request for postponement until July 14 and then left the courtroom.

Retail Politics in El Barrio as Samuelsen Campaigns with Adriano Espaillat

SATURDAY, JUNE 14 -- TWU Local 100 President John Samuelsen and Sec-Treasurer Earl Phillips campaigned today with transit workers and unionists from RWDSU and LIUNA Local 78 to support State Senator Adriano Espaillat in his run for Congress. Espaillat, who has always been front and center for transit workers, faces longtime Harlem power broker Charlie Rangel in the Democratic Primary on June 24th. We're mobilizing our 1,800 members in New York's 13th Congressional District to get out and vote. TWU Local 100 has set up a storefront office for Espaillat at 118th Street and First Avenue. All members are asked to check in and volunteer. If elected, Espaillat will be a major advocate for more mass transit funding on Capitol Hill.

In Photos: 2014 National Puerto Rican Day Parade

Backed by a large float with a powerful DJ, TWU Local 100 marched up Fifth Avenue in Manhattan’s largest parade celebrating Puerto Rican Day. Director of Grievance & Discipline Richie Rivera waved to the crowd along with TUF Director Hector Ramirez, both of Puerto Rican descent. Great food was provided for members before the parade began by Liz Wilson of the TWU Women’s Committee, along with RTO Officer Erica Guerrido and Nancy Martinez of CED. Enjoy the slide show!

2014 Family Day in Photos

Enjoy these photos from TWU Local 100’s annual Family Day – our third outing at MCU Park in Coney Island. On June 7, former Mets Pitcher Dwight “Doc” Gooden was on hand to share the fun, as well as our own International President Harry Lombardo along with Local 100 top officers and of course, thousands of the rank and file. Food, beverages, barbecue, baseball, and good times for all! See you next year!