News from TWU Local 100

All Out for Diana Richardson in Central Brooklyn!

TWU Local 100 is enthusiastically endorsing Diana Richardson for New York State Assembly in the May 5th Special Election in Central Brooklyn. Sister Richardson's District includes Crown Heights, Lefferts Gardens, Wingate, and East Flatbush. Diana is a strong supporter of mass transit in her district and will fight to create more routes and a new depot in Brooklyn to serve riders and empower workers. We hosted a "meet and greet" event on Franklin Avenue on April 13th. Here's a video of Ms. Richardson explaining why she deserves our vote. You can read more about her on her official website.

Organizer Dexter Victory and GO NY Members

Union Win at Go New York Tours

Drivers and Guides from Go New York Tours, a double-decker bus sightseeing company here in town, have just voted to be represented by New York's most powerful transit union -- TWU Local 100. The vote, 64-3 out of a field of 90 eligible employees, came after a Union organizing campaign spearheaded by organizer Frank McCann, who had just returned from a trip to South Carolina where union members confronted the management of Global Contact Services, which holds the contract for the MTA's Access-A-Ride Call Center, another recently-organized TWU Local 100 Shop. New members at Go New York Tours voted for better wages, better benefits, respect on the job, and real job security. Next time you pass a Go New York tour bus, give them a warm welcome to the TWU family.

ATS System May Have Made Overpayments

The Transit Authority has informed the union that a glitch in its ATS Timekeeping System may have resulted in overpayment for some workers in MOW, CED, and Stations for the pay period ending April 4, 2015. Management said they noticed the problem too late to correct it before issuing checks.

The Authority promises that it will advise all members who may have received overpayment on how the situation will be remedied.

Local 100 Secretary Treasurer Earl Phillips advises all members in the affected Departments to carefully review their checks for this pay period. Questions on the issue should be directed toward the individual’s timekeeping unit.

Train Operator, Conductor interviewed on Evacuation at 14th Street

At about 7PM Wednesday night, red signals halted an uptown #1 train just outside 14th Street on the IRT 7th Avenue line. A massive watermain had broken, sending water cascading down into the station. As police responded, Train Operator Beniquez and Conductor Askew evacuated their train, which was filled with rush hour passengers, without incident. It took DEP about two hours to stop the water, and then TWU Local 100’s signal maintainers, track workers, and ventilation and drainage crews went into action, to restore the station by the morning rush. In this video, the Train Operator and Conductor describe the evacuation.

Train Operator, Conductor, Evacuate Train As Water Main Break Paralyzes Service

APRIL 9 -- Train Operator Johnny Beniquez and his Conductor, Sheron Askew, halted their uptown #1 train at 14th Street last night as water poured in to the station via the ceiling after a massive water main break which took place at approximately 7pm. As Con Ed and DEP crews responded and police halted access to the station, the TWU Local 100 members evacuated their train, which was filled with rush hour commuters. Everyone proceeded to the front car and exited via the last door onto the platform. The professional evacuation was another proof as to the value of two-person train operation. Signal Maintainers and Power Distribution Maintainers as well as Track Workers also responded, along with Ventilation and Drainage personnel. They got the station pumped out and all signals replaced and tested by the morning rush.

TA Surface Division Chair Willie Rivera with Bus Operator Francisco DeJesus

DA Takes DeJesus Case Off Court Calendar

Bus Operator Francisco DeJesus, a 30-year veteran with a good record, was arrested under the Vision Zero law on February 13th for "failure to yield" in an accident which injured a 15-year-old girl in Williamsburg. Today, his case was taken off the court calendar pending further discussions between the Union, the lawyer representing Mr. DeJesus, and the Brooklyn District Attorney. TWU Local 100 contends that Brother DeJesus should not have been arrested at the scene. We believe that this practice criminalizes Bus Operators who do their jobs professionally but nevertheless get into accidents.

JP Patafio, Vice President of TA Surface, addressed a room full of Bus Operators who gathered to support DeJesus. On hand were most of the Union's top officials in the leadership of the two Bus Departments, TA Surface and MaBSTOA, representing some 10,000 bus operators. Patafio noted that TWU Local 100 currently is closing in on a majority in the City Council needed to amend the Vision Zero law so as not to mandate arrests of Bus Operators at accident scenes. DeJesus thanked the operators for showing up, saying that their support was a great lift to his spirits. Operator Felix Lopez, who had DeJesus as an instructor, stood to ask the room to stand for a moment of silence for DeJesus's mother, who had just passed. It was a moment that spoke volumes about the solidarity we feel for each other in the TWU.

Mocker Takes a Turn on the "Zero Vision" Simulator

WPIX Transit Reporter Greg Mocker took a turn on NYCT's bus simulator recently, and found it quite challenging. He reported on the additional training being mandated in the wake of the Vision Zero law. TWU Local 100 is working to amend the law so as to de-criminalize bus operation by removing mandatory arrests which are called for after accidents even if there is no evidence of recklessness.

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Albany Legislators Pledge Support to End Bus Operator Arrests

More than 1,300 Local 100 members who attended Lobby Day on March 24, 2015 heard key Albany legislators line up behind the union’s legislative initiative to end the arrest of Bus Operators under Vision Zero. Assemblyman Walter Mosley’s bill (A6048) to decriminalize Vision Zero as it relates to Bus Operators got a huge boost as a result of our lobbying efforts. Sen. Martin Malave Dilan pledged to introduce companion legislation on the Senate side in his address to the Lobby Day assembly.

TWU Tells Albany: #WEARENOTCRIMINALS

Capturing the anger of Bus Operators over the Vision Zero law that has criminalized their profession, Local 100 President John Samuelsen speaks to members who thronged the Empire State Plaza concourse for the Union’s Lobby Day event. Overturning the law – which has put Bus Operators under arrest even where no reckless or unlawful behavior has occurred – is a major objective of the Union for this legislative session both in Albany and at the New York City Council.