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Local 100 Members Shine During Blackout

I want to thank the TWU Local 100 membership for again demonstrating professionalism and dedication during an emergency.

The Daily News hit the nail on the head on Sunday. “When the lights went out across the West Side of Manhattan Saturday night, MTA crews went to work,”

You got nearly 3,000 riders who were stuck on trains between stations safely to the nearest platforms even though the signals were out.

You managed crowds at dark stations, kept buses rolling without street and traffic lights, and restored subway service as quickly as possible when signal power was restored.

You probably won’t get many, if any, thanks on the job today but you should know that City Council Speaker Corey Johnson did single you out for praise on Twitter.

I’m proud to be a TWU Local 100 member and your president.

- Tony Utano


Corey Johnson on Twitter

MTA UPDATE: ALL EFFECTED SUBWAY LINES are now able to run with passengers! (except 24th Street/Hudson Yards) Thanks to the great leadership at the MTA and to the women and men of @TWULocal100!

Utano Blasts Latest Media Attacks on Transit Workers

TWU Local 100 President Tony Utano issued the following statement concerning the latest attacks on transit workers by the MTA and the media.

“The media’s open season on transit workers continued today with new attacks in the NY Post and on Fox 5 TV. The latest public abuse came in the form of a regurgitation of a 2018 investigation by the MTA Inspector General. Fox doubled down on the Post report by grandstanding outside Quill depot lamenting ‘an infuriating picture of overtime abuse inside the MTA,’ that, by the way, has nothing to do with rank-and-file transit workers.

"Most of the outrage against transit workers is being fueled by the MTA’s new media-hungry Inspector General Carolyn Pokorny, who continues to foment the ridiculous scenario that all 70,000 MTA workers are getting paid for not working. So be it. We’re used to the MTA assaulting its own workforce.

“This is all a repetitive pattern of smearing transit workers during periods, like now, when TWU is negotiating a new contract.

“I want to assure this membership that nothing will stop us from achieving a fair contract that protects our health benefits, our safety on the job and our financial security. We will continue to stand strong against whatever they throw at us.”

Union Wins First Contract at Trans Express; Vote in Favor 96 to 8

JULY 8 -- Trans Express members, newly represented by TWU Local 100 since November of 2017, have won a first contract with substantial raises for all. The contract ratification was announced by President Tony Utano who credited the dedicated efforts of Frank McCann, Director of Organizing, Division Chair Carlos Bernabel, Organizer Dexter Victory, and union attorneys Edward Kennedy and Jade Morrison. The agreement, which expires in December of 2022, sets wages and other terms for approximately 200 Drivers and Matrons who bring passengers to far-flung properties in New York City and environs, including Pepsico Headquarters, Ikea, Hornblower (the ferry service), Resorts World, and Arch Care. During the struggle leading up to the agreement an arbitrator found that a wrongfully dismissed employee who worked with Local 100 was due back wages of $20,000, attesting to the hard-fought nature of our campaign.

 


New Spots Praise Transit Workers During Mets, Yanks Home Games

 

If you tune in on the radio for Mets and Yankees home games, you’ll hear President Tony Utano praising transit for their efforts to get thousands of fans to the games and back home safely. “Where would New York be without its transit workers,” says Utano in the 15-second spots carried pre and post-game and once during the contests.

Construction Flagger Louis Gray
Construction Flagger Louis Gray

Union Issues Statements in Wake of NTSB Report on 2016 Flagging Fatality

TWU Local 100 released the following statements Wednesday about the National Transportation Safety Board report on the November 2016 subway accident that killed Local 100 member Louis Gray and seriously injured  co-worker and Local 100 member Jeffrey Fleming as they were setting up flagging.

TWU Local 100 President Tony Utano said: "Louis Gray was a good man and a good employee, and MTA management failed to protect him. Louis died, and Jeffrey was badly injured, because of poor planning and a total lack of communication that night. The MTA needs to adopt the NTSB recommendations to prevent another tragedy like this from ever happening again. People don’t fully understand just how dangerous it is working in the subway or appreciate what transit workers do on a daily basis.  They should.

Jack Blazejewicz, TWU Local 100 representative on the Track Safety Task Force, said: "100 has fought tooth and nail to increase roadway worker protection particularly when setting up and removing flags.  Due to our pressure, NYCT has instituted a pilot program for a worker to notify the train operator face to face that there are workers on the roadbed setting up flagging.  The pilot has been working great with zero train delays.  NYCT should adopt the NTSB recommendations and expand the pilot program system wide to ensure another tragedy like Louis Gray never happens again."

The report can be found here:

Pride Parade Salutes LGBTQ Freedom

Pride 2019

Transit workers who identify as LGBTQ, their friends and family members were part of the massive World Pride parade on June 30. Here are some photos of the TWU's contingent, which included a city bus provided by NYCT.

Westchester Family Day Brings Hundreds to FDR Park

Westchester Family Day

Hundreds of rank and file transit workers who operate and maintain school buses in Westchester as well as the Liberty Line/Bee Line System gathered for a day of fun and food with their union brothers and sisters. The annual Local 100 event at FDR Park in Yorktown Heights was a time to relax and enjoy with friends and family. Local 100 President Tony Utano,  Admin VP Nelson RIvera, and top officers from our Private Lines Department were on hand for the good times on June 29 as were local leaders including State Sen. Shelley Mayer (37th District). Click on the right bracket to see all the photos!

Family Day 2019 -- in Pictures!

Family Day 2019

JUNE 15 -- Eight thousand transit workers and their families turned out on a gorgeous day to enjoy softball, festive eats, vendor give-aways, face-painting and rides for the kids, and a chance to enjoy bar-b-que with their union brothers and sisters. President Tony Utano and the union's entire leadership team were on hand. NBA Player Albert King (Nets, Knicks) was our special guest. We were also joined by Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez. Enjoy the photos!

CED VP Shirley Martin Honored by NYS Comptroller Tom DiNapoli

JUNE 19 -- Shirley Martin -- a Jamaican born machinist and Vice President of TWU Local 100's Car Equipment Department -- was honored by New York State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli at a festive celebration of Caribbean Heritage Month in Brooklyn. Sister Martin gave brief remarks at the event which acknowledged her historic achievements both in Jamaica and here in New York City.

Governor Cuomo's Announcement Deploying an Additional 500 Police to Transit to Deter Assaults, Fare Evasion

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