News from TWU Local 100

TWU Local 100 President Utano Blasts Nixon's "Lies In The Subway" show.

NEW YORK, JULY 20 -- Transport Workers Union Local 100 President Tony Utano released the following statement regarding Cynthia Nixon's subway remarks: 

"TWU Transit workers are sick and tired of Cynthia Nixon's new show, "Lies in the Subway."

"The subway is safe for riders. Our men and women are in the tunnels and on the tracks working night and day. There's an unprecedented amount of maintenance and repair work taking place, thanks in large part to the additional funding Gov. Cuomo has secured. Nixon popped up and made another appearance in the subway on Thursday and claimed  'Gov. Cuomo's continuing refusal to fund and fix the NYC subway is putting New Yorkers in danger.' Someone needs to fact-check her scripts.
 
"No governor has taken on the challenges and problems of the 114-year-old system like Gov. Cuomo. He increased state funding for the capital plan by billions and billions of dollars. He immediately pledged more than $400 million for the first part of the MTA's Subway Action Plan. He has repeatedly stepped up to the plate on behalf of the subway system, and its riders and workers, while Nixon's buddy, Mayor Bill de Blasio, has had to be dragged kicking and screaming off the bench."

New Radio Spot Features Conductor Sujatha Gidla

1010 WINS is now airing the second in a series of TWU Local 100 produced radio spots highlighting how transit workers are moving New York. Last month, President Tony Utano introduced the series by talking about the hazards faced by transit workers every day. This month, Conductor Sujatha Gidla, who has achieved acclaim as a writer. speaks about her immigrant roots and the power and camaraderie she feels as a transit worker. You can hear the spots on 1010 WINS throughout the day and also right here.

Tony Utano in Today's Daily News: Citi Bike, Not Dockless Chaos

JULY 13 -- In an Opinion piece in the New York Daily News, TWU Local 100 President Tony Utano argues the case for why Citi Bike must be the bikeshare system of choice in New York City -- one system, that prevents chaos among competing interests:

"Citi Bike is a huge success — but Mayor de Blasio could be throwing a monkey wrench into the works.

Users of the citywide bike-sharing network, which debuted in 2013, now take more than 70,000 rides a day, pedaling to work, parks, stores and many other destinations. It’s an established part of our larger transit system, filling gaps and making it easier for New Yorkers to get around. It’s contributing to a healthier and less-polluting city.

Read the entire Opinion piece:

Citi Bike, not dockless chaos: The city is expanding bike-share the wrong way - NY Daily News

Citi Bike is a huge success - but Mayor de Blasio could be throwing a monkey wrench into the works. Users of the citywide bike-sharing network, which debuted in 2013, now take more than 70,000 rides a day, pedaling to work, parks, stores and many other destinations.

New Member: Big Bus Las Vegas Tour Guide Tricia Payne
New Member: Big Bus Las Vegas Tour Guide Tricia Payne

TWU Local 100 Organizes Tour Bus Workers in Three More Cities

JUNE 29, NEW YORK CITY -- Hundreds of new union members – from Chicago, Las Vegas, and San Francisco – have joined Transport Workers Union Local 100. These newly organized Bus Drivers and Tour Guides, all working for Big Bus Tours, expand TWU’s presence in the tour bus industry to six cities, as the new members join Drivers and Tour Guides already represented by the union in New York, Washington, DC, and Miami. With the new members, TWU now represents 500 Big Bus Tours employees. The company is the largest operator of open top sightseeing tours in the world.

An overwhelming majority of the Drivers and Tour Guides signed cards to indicate their desire for a union, said TWU Local 100 Director of Organizing Frank McCann. The American Arbitration Association certified the cards as constituting majorities of each group of employees on June 25th. The TWU has an agreement with Big Bus Tours that the company will not contest organizing efforts at their properties.

Big Bus employees saw Local 100’s gains for workers in New York as big incentives to go union. These gains included better pay for work on holidays, across the board wage increases, better medical coverage, and improved 401 (k) employer contributions.

Just last month, Local 100 organized 500 more MTA employees, predominantly in Staff Analyst titles.

“TWU Local 100’s message to transit workers in every branch of the industry is the same,” said Local 100 President Tony Utano. “We will aggressively fight to increase your wages and benefits and protect your job as you do the important work of serving the public.”

Union Victory on Sleep Apnea Rules

Many Members will no longer be forced into unnecessarily aggressive treatment for sleep apnea. TWU Local 100 President Tony Utano has negotiated a settlement to an "et al" grievance the Union filed on behalf of hundreds of members forced into an unnecessarily aggressive treatment protocol designed for those with "moderate" or "severe" sleep apnea, even though they had only been diagnosed with a "mild" AHI reading.

For the full story, click here.

Statement from Transport Workers Union Local 100 President Tony Utano on Supreme Court Janus Decision.

"The Supreme Court majority is nothing but a bunch of Pinkertons in black robes. As expected, they are helping right-wing politicians and greedy corporate executives who want to bust unions and silence workers. Unions are nothing more than workingmen and working women advocating for fair wages, affordable healthcare and solid pensions so they don’t wind up paupers in their old age, all of which reduces revenues and profits.

Still, we are cautiously optimistic this putrid ruling will have a minimal impact on TWU Local 100. We are a very active, aggressive and growing union. We are always ready and willing to fight the bosses. Transit workers know that, and know how important it is to support their union so they don’t become doormats for the MTA or other employers.

Transit workers also know that the TWU has been and will continue to be an important pathway to the middle class for new immigrants to our city."

President Utano's remarks on the Janus decision to MTA Employees:

Family Day Conquers Coney Island

Family Day 2018

JUNE 23 — TWU Local 100's annual Family Day played host to thousands of transit workers who enjoyed seasonal temperatures and good weather (it didn't rain) in and around the MCU stadium just off the boardwalk and a few blocks south of Nathan's.

Games for the kids, music for all ages, and all the food you could eat —complete with two ice cream trucks— made for an enjoyable day as many friends re-united and families enjoyed the offerings. New this year, a video game van gave older kids something to do while the younger ones enjoyed face painting and a bouncy house. Each TWU Department catered their own affairs within the park. There was basketball, dancing, and a visit from pro football star Bart Scott, who signed autographs and posed for pictures. Also visiting were politicians who are special friends of Local 100, including Assemblyman Peter Abbate and Assemblywoman Latrice Walker. Enjoy the photos!

New Stewards Graduate in Westchester

JUNE 20 -- TWU Local 100 President Tony Utano presided over a graduation ceremony Wednesday for 22 Westchester members and officers who completed shop steward training.  The graduates, who attended training sessions by veteran labor educator Robert Wechsler, received their certificates at the Local 100 satellite office in Yonkers from President Utano, School Bus/Paratransit Division Chairman Gus Moghrabi, Private Lines V.P. Peter Rosconi and Senior Organizing Director Frank McCann.

 

Utano told the newly minted stewards during the ceremony not to be timid. “You are equal to management,” Utano said. “Don’t let management fool you. Sometimes you have to stand up to these bosses and let them know, ‘You need to respect me. I’m the union.’  Utano added: “I’ll tell you, you will have the support of Local 100. You will have our backing.” 

 

This was the first class of a revived and revamped shop steward training program, Utano said. Its members came from five different school bus companies in Yonkers. The training covered a range of topics, including: how to connect and communicate effectively with members; how to file a grievance; the right to organize; and the core goals of a union.

 

One particularly important point Wechsler stressed was the need to educate members about their right under the law to have a union member present in meetings with management that could entail or lead to disciplinary action by the employer. A union representative can ask questions, ask for documentation and even halt the meeting to talk privately with the member.  “It’s in their interest to have the union in there,” Wechsler said.


Viviana Guzman, a bus driver for First Mile Square for 10 years, said she wanted to become a shop steward “to learn the rights of workers and to make sure they are protected.” This was echoed by Yiri Collado, a driver for Royal Coach for 5 years. “I wanted to work in TWU to be more prepared to help members,” Collado said.

Union Offers Tactics to Counter Assaults

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 20 -- In the wake of two more assaults on MTA Conductors on consecutive days, TWU Local 100 President Tony Utano has called on the MTA to launch a voluntary pilot program that would have Train Crews wearing outward-facing body cameras, or cameras in the cab facing platforms, to capture images of these criminals who attack our members.

“This will help authorities identify, arrest and prosecute those who are responsible for these attacks,”Utano said. Utano also is demanding prosecutors charge these criminals with felonies and impose real punishment. Utano said he will expedite discussions with the MTA to implement the pilot program as soon as possible. “Cameras must only be used as a deterrent to criminal assaults and for evidence gathering when an assault occurs and never for worker surveillance,” Utano said.

TWU Scores Big Win in Albany on Tier 6

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 20 – Late last night, TWU Local 100-supported legislation to lift the Overtime Cap on the Tier 6 Pension for transit workers passed the State Assembly less than 24 hours after it passed the State Senate in a display of TWU political might as the legislative session is scheduled to adjourn today.

Local 100 President Tony Utano called the Legislature’s action “a major breakthrough for Tier 6 members and an enormous step forward to full pension equity.”

Assemblyman Peter Abbate, the main sponsor of the bill in the Assembly, said the process for final enactment by the Governor could take until the end of the year.

For details on the legislation and what it means, click here.

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