News from TWU Local 100

RTO VP Eric Loegel and Conductor Kisha Hutchinson

Update on Union's Pregnancy Accommodation Lawsuit

OCTOBER 28 -- TWU Local 100 last week filed a lawsuit against the MTA for refusing to provide a pregnant subway conductor with a desk job during the final months of her pregnancy.
The MTA refused to provide Kisha Hutchinson this “reasonable accommodation” even though her obstetrician reported she has been suffering from shortness of breath, can only walk short distances and can only stand for short periods of time. Hutchinson also has anemia and must use the restroom frequently, according to legal papers filed by lawyers Arthur Schwartz and Laine Armstrong.

"The MTA’s claim that it can’t find suitable positions for pregnant workers is ridiculous,” TWU Local 100 President Tony Utano said. “They just don’t care enough to figure something out. That’s why we hauled them into court. Let them try to justify this to a judge and jury.”

The MTA has only offered Hutchinson a platform conductor’s post, which would require her to be on her feet all day. She is not getting paid as she has exhausted her sick days and vacation time. “It’s been rough,” she said. “I work for a reason. I need to work.” The lawsuit claims the MTA is violating city and state Human Rights laws by failing to make a “reasonable accommodation” for Hutchinson.

“We took this to court to compel Transit to do the right thing — in this case, to provide reasonable accommodation to C/R Hutchinson,” Rapid Transit Operations VP Eric Loegel said. “It’s crazy we should have to drag them to court, but Transit has consistently refused to do the right thing.” A Manhattan Supreme Court judge has scheduled a Nov. 7th hearing on the case.

Union Celebrates Italian Heritage in High Style

Led by our first Italian-American elected President of TWU Local 100, officers and rank and file members enjoyed a festive evening celebrating their heritage, the achievements of Italian-American transit workers, and Sal Montanino, a Car Inspector of Italian heritage who retired this year after serving 61 years as a New York City Transit employee and proudly carrying the Union banner through three citywide strikes. The evening was helmed by John V. Chiarello, VP of Maintenance of Way. View the photos by clicking on the handles to the right and left.

Union Officers Blast MTA Chairman Foye at Public Meeting

OCTOBER 23 -- Union Vice Presidents including John Chiarello of MOW, Pete Rosconi of Private Lines, Lynwood Whichard of Stations, Eric Loegel of RTO, and JP Patafio of TA Surface, joined by Recording Secretary LaTonya Crisp, blasted MTA Chairman Pat Foye over his Columbus Day weekend email to President Tony Utano which attacked him using anti-Italian stereotypes. Chairman Foye walked out during Mr. Rosconi's remarks. Ms. Crisp addressed the issue of the MTA's lack of reasonable accommodations for female transit workers.

Union Rocks Bronx Walk for Breast Cancer Awareness; Nearly $20K Raised

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 20 -- TWU Local 100 leaders including President Tony Utano, Recording Secretary LaTonya Crisp, and Administrative VP Nelson Rivera turned out at Orchard Beach in the Bronx on Sunday to participate with rank and file members and hundreds of others to make strides against breast cancer. The event was emotional for many, with a survivor's tent set up to celebrate those who had successfully battled the disease. President Utano walked for his mother, Gina, and Nelson Rivera shared his cancer diagnosis. Our members have raised nearly $20,000 for the American Cancer Society. President Utano cut the ribbon to start the march. You can see all the photos by scrolling using the handles at right and left.

Introducing our New Website: www.trashtrain.net

NYCT has cut 79 Cleaner positions -- not by layoff, but by attrition. The result? Subway cars are getting dirtier as ridership increases. So we have started a contest, to get New Yorkers involved, and to tell the MTA to reverse course. Visitors to the site can upload their photos of the worst trash that they have seen subway cars -- and we'll put the photos to a vote. The winner gets $500 on November 30. Read the contest rules here.

If the MTA wants to save money, they should cut consultants, not service.

Utano Calls for MTA Chairman Pat Foye to Step Aside from Contract Negotiations

MTA Chairman Pat Foye is a bigot and a liar.

After portraying transit workers as time and overtime cheats, and posting cops in the work place like jail guards, multi-millionaire Foye has used ugly anti-Italian stereotypes - and more lies - to accuse Local 100 President Tony Utano of fraud. This latest attack came in an email that Foye sent to Utano over the Columbus Day weekend and was later leaked to the press.

It was a despicable attempt to weaken the union and dirty the reputations of the Local 100 president, the union and our membership during contract negotiations. Utano is calling on Foye to step aside and recuse himself from contract negotiations. His actions suggest he has become unhinged and is incapable of reaching a fair agreement for transit workers. TWU Local is now releasing Utano's email response to Foye:

Chairman Foye,

Have you completely lost your mind? I've been involved in contract negotiations with the MTA as a union officer for more than 30 years, and I've never - ever - seen anything like the email you sent me over the weekend. It's so packed with lies, so slanderous, so devoid of reality and so bizarre that it appears you have become unhinged and are cracking under pressure. I question your ability to negotiate a fair contract for transit workers.

It's clearly no coincidence that you accuse me of somehow being involved in a corrupt "scam" in an email sent on Columbus Day weekend, and that you end your screed with the line, "Have a peaceful Columbus Day." I'm the proud son of Italian immigrants. I'm all too familiar with ugly, anti-Italian stereotypes. You should be ashamed of yourself for going down that road. I want to make it crystal clear to you that we will never agree to any proposal that undermines the health benefits transit workers are entitled to, and no amount of lies and distortions you come up with will change that.

As you well know, PayerMatrix came to MTA headquarters at your invitation to make an informational presentation. At the meeting you convened, the company explained how it could achieve significant prescription drug savings without diminishing the health benefits of transit workers. The concept is based on raw numbers and has nothing to do with race or immigration. The means test, as you well know, covers 100 percent of the hourly employees, based on 40 hours. The few who earn above that amount by grueling hours of overtime are automatically covered by the current plan. There is nothing racist, or corrupt or anti-immigrant about it. It is math.You are simply lying when you describe the company as "highly compensated, out of town Local 100 consultants." And describing this routine informational presentation as "The Utano Specialty Drug Scam," is outrageous, despicable and bizarre.

We remain committed to negotiating with management a fair contract for our members. You, however, should remove your self from the situation and send someone else to the negotiating table. You do not seem up to the task. By the way, you can send this letter to the Inspector General too.

Tony Utano, President, Transport Workers Union Local 100

Hundreds of Chinese-American Transit Workers Celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival in Sunset Park

OCTOBER 11 -- Chinese-American transit workers crowded a venue in Sunset Park for our fifth annual Mid-Autumn Festival celebrating Chinese culture and heritage. Amid many courses of excellent food, union officers and rank and file were treated to an evening of traditional dancing capped off by karaoke, at which our members excel. On hand to enjoy the evening were political leaders including State Senator John Liu, Assemblyman Peter Abbate, and District Leader Nancy Tong. Scroll through the photos by clicking on the handles at right and left.

We March at the Korean Parade and Festival 2019

OCTOBER 5 -- Our Union leadership proudly marched with over a hundred Korean-American transit workers at the annual Korean Parade and Festival in midtown. View the photos by clicking on the handles.

Russian Day Celebrated in Brighton Beach

OCTOBER 6 -- Russian-American transit workers crowded Tatiana's Restaurant on the Brighton Beach boardwalk in an exuberant celebration with plenty of food, drink, and entertainment. President Utano and top leadership including Admin VP Nelson Rivera and CED VP Shirley Martin -- whose department has hundreds of Russian-American workers -- RTO VP Eric Loegel, MOW VP John V. Chiarello, and TAS VP JP Patafio. Political leaders who attended included Assemblymembers Mathylde Frontus, Steven Cymbrowitz, and Peter Abbate. Also on hand were Councilmember Mark Treyger, who pledged to stand with the TWU in our contract fight, and Ari Kagan, representing City Comptroller Scott Stringer. To see all the photos, just click on the handles to the right and left.

Union Expands Contract Campaign to ESPN Radio

Local 100 began running 60-second spots on ESPN radio, 98.7 FM on October 3rd, blasting the MTA for its do-nothing attitude toward worker assaults; its plans to cut jobs and service, and its bloated outside consultants spending. The spot also urges transit workers to turn out for the union's October 30th rally outside 2 Broadway at 5:00pm. The spots are running throughout the day on all ESPN's popular shows, including Golic & Wingo; Chris Canty and Rick DiPietro; the Stephen A. Smith Show, and the Michael Kay show. Here is an aircheck of the spot from yesterday. The union's media campaign also includes spots on 1010 WINS, 880 CBS, WBLS, and cable news television stations.