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Questions & Answers on the Proposed Contract

Here are definitive answers to several questions about the proposed contract for TA/OA members. It is also available as a flyer for print.

The William Pena Swing Room is Dedicated as a Permanent Memorial to Our Fallen Brother

April 30 -- TWU Local 100 and the MTA came together to honor the memory of Bus Operator William Pena by dedicating the Swing Room at the Michael J. Quill bus depot on Manhattan’s West Side in his memory. With Brother Pena’s family in attendance, Union President John Samuelsen, Secretary-Treasurer Earl Phillips, Recording Secretary LaTonya Crisp-Sauray, and other top officers including OA Division 1 Chair Richie Davis joined MTA brass including NYCT President Carmen Bianco and Buses Senior VP Darryl Irick unveiled a plaque with a his likeness that will permanently grace the swing room wall. The plaque reads: "Dedicated to the Memory of Bus Operator William Pena, Who Lost His Life While Serving the People of New York City. Run 3 M14. February 12, 2014. You will always be in our thoughts and prayers -- Members of TWU Local 100."

Additional Legislators Joining in Support of Veteran Pension Credit Bill

APRIL 29 -- TWU Local 100 veterans stormed the State Capitol in coalition with NYC Teachers and Firefighters to keep momentum building for passage of A.6974/S.4714, which would allow service veterans, as defined by the federal government, to buy back up to three years time served in the military for pensionable service credit within their pension systems. The bill, estimated to cost the state $6 million, is being strongly championed by sponsors Amy Paulin (in red) in the Assembly and William Larkin in the Senate.Other supporters include longtime TWU allies Felix Ortiz from Brooklyn, Shelly Mayer from Yonkers, Adriano Espaillat from the Bronx, and many others. TWU Local 100's Political Action Director Marvin Holland's team, working with RTO Vice President Kevin Harrington, have been bringing TWU service vets to Albany as well as to local politician's offices to make the case for the bill. The response has been overwhelmingly positive, and we are optimistic that the bill will clear the legislative hurdles and wind up on the Governor's desk. In the mean time, we are continuing the campaign. Please contact the Political Action Department to get involved and help us go the extra yards needed.

Mile Square Workers Vote for Strike Authorization

APRIL 28 -- School Bus drivers, monitors, and mechanics working for Mile Square Bus in Yonkers today voted unanimously to authorize a strike should negotiations with company owner Harry Rodriguez fail to make progress. Over 120 members crammed into the union’s new offices at 347 Saw Mill River Road for the tally. The vote was called by TWU Local 100 Administrative Vice President Angel Giboyeaux with the approval of the school bus negotiating committee including rank and file members. Mile Square workers have been without a contract for years. Opposition to management’s demands intensified when they told Local 100 that they planned to bring in new workers at a lower pay rate. Other sticking points besides a general wage increase include a stalled grievance procedure and a 42-week guarantee of employment. No date for a strike was given. The strike vote authorization must now be approved by the entire TWU Local 100 Executive Board.

Danny Boggs Remembered

April 25th marked the 7th Anniversary of the death of Track Worker Danny Boggs, who was killed by an Express No 2 train at the Columbus Circle Station in 2007. TWU Local 100 Senior Director of Operations Curtis Tate joined Chief MTA Chaplain Rabbi Harry Berkowitz, and Danny’s widow, Bernadette Boggs, in remembering him and pledging continued vigilance on safety for all union workers.

Samuelsen: Q&A at Quill, Part 2

Samuelsen Takes on the Critics: Answers Questions, Explains Contract, Discusses LIRR Situation, at MJ Quill Depot in Manhattan

In a wide-ranging discussion, TWU Local 100 President John Samuelsen addressed the key issues of the contract to a room full of Bus Operators at the Michael J. Quill Depot in Manhattan. This is the first part of a two-part question and answer session.

Local 100 Executive Board 'Strongly Recommends' Contract Approval to Union Membership, 33-0; Releases Contract Highlights and Wage Scales

FRIDAY, APRIL 18 -- At a meeting of TWU Local 100's Executive Board called by President John Samuelsen yesterday, the Board voted to "strongly recommend" to the Union membership, approval of the five-year agreement signed off on earlier in the day by Samuelsen and MTA CEO Tom Prendergast. The vote was 33 in favor, with none opposed and 2 abstaining. Before the vote, President Samuelsen went over the agreement and took questions, reviewing the 8-page memorandum of understanding negotiated by the parties. This memorandum will be sent to every member in good standing along with a ratification ballot so that everyone can see the complete details of the agreement. The Union has also put together a cost-out of what the prospective raises will mean in dollars and cents for every year of the agreement. The first two and a half years of raises will be retroactive, so a retro check will go out to every member after ratification of the agreement. A detailed chart breaking down the retro money for every title will be out soon.

The Agreement in Brief

Wages: The Agreement provides for compounded raises of 1, 1, 2, 2, and 2 percent over five years, retroactive to January 16, 2012. This is a cumulative raise of 8.25%, which equals an approximate raise of $6,000 for the average transit worker. Click here for a wage progression chart for our titles.

First Time Ever "Universal” Railroad Pass: TWU Local 100 members living outside the five boroughs will receive railroad passes allowing them to use either Metro North or the LIRR to go back and forth to work for free, depending on where they live. This is a tremendous economic win for our members living on Long Island or north of the City. Monthly passes on the railroads routinely cost $300 per month or more. That's a $3,000 to $4,000 annual economic benefit for thousands of Local 100 members. We will be able to ride SIRTOA for free now as well with our EPIC Pass.

Teamwork in Westchester

TWU's PAC Department works with School Bus Drivers and Monitors to push a bill that would give them due process in disciplinary situations.

TWU Local 100 Political Action Staffer Raybblin Vargas with Ramona and Sen. Latimer

Legislators Line Up Behind School Bus Fair Discipline Bill

APRIL 14 -- State Senator George Latimer (D-Westchester) threw his support behind a bill that would give school bus drivers working for private employers the right to a hearing in the event of discipline preferred by a school district. Right now, school districts can order the dismissal of a driver or matron for any reason or no reason, and the employee and his or her union have no right of due process, because the contractual relationship exists between the bus company and the employee, not the school board. Senator Latimer heard the story of Ramona, who was disqualified by the Yonkers School District and then terminated from Mile Square. She was fired for not driving down a street without clearance for her bus. An insistent driver who demanded that she drive nevertheless turned out to be the spouse of a school board official, who ordered her termination without a hearing. Senator Latimer was also joined in support by Senator Tony Avella (D-Queens), who also said he felt the current situation was unjust and that employees "deserve their day in court."