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We Celebrate Russian Heritage in Brighton Beach

TWU Local 100 leadership joined hundreds of our Brothers and Sisters of Russian heritage at our annual celebratory banquet and night of entertainment at Tatiana's in Brighton Beach. As you can see from the photos, the evening did not disappoint!

Westchester County Executive Latimer Signs Historic Sick Leave Bill Backed by TWU

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 12 --  TWU Local 100 President Tony Utano released the following statement after Westchester County Executive George Latimer signed the Earned Paid Sick Leave Law:

"This a big win for TWU Local 100 members working in Westchester. The Earned Paid Sick Time Law mandates companies to provide workers with paid sick time off – for up to 40 hours a year (as long as they have worked the required amount of time during the year.)  Under the law, employees earn one hour of paid sick time off for every 30 hours worked. After working 150 hours, for example, an employee would be eligible to get paid for 5 hours of sick time. After working 240 hours, an employee would be able to call in sick and get paid for an 8-hour shift. The employer can’t require scheduling such time off days in advance. What this means for you is that the terms of the law will be implemented during the next contract with your employer.

"TWU Local 100, however, retains the right to bargain other benefit(s) during negotiations – on terms that benefit TWU’s membership.  As new contracts are negotiated, the benefits of this law will be taken into account. Some Local 100 contracts already have paid days off that workers can take without advance notice or scheduling (sick day, floating holiday, etc). The new law says that unscheduled paid time off counts towards the earned sick leave requirement. Local 100 fought hard for the passage of this law. It will help working people throughout Westchester County, not just TWU members.  This new law is another example of how the TWU’s commitment to working people extends beyond Local 100’s membership and helps those who may become our members in the future."

Union Wins Sick Time Restoration for Transit 9/11 Responders

In a decision reached on October 5, transit managers acted to restore sick time to Bus Operator Anthony Tousius, who became sick with a 9/11 related illness in 2011 and had to use his own sick time to recover. Brother Tousius was granted restoration of 56 days of sick time pursuant to recently-passed legislation, codified in NY General Municipal Law Section 92-d, which says state agencies, authorities, and municipalities outside of New York City must honor sick time requests as non-chargeable by employees who have verified 9/11 related ailments.

As this article in the Chief-Leader shows, Brother Tousius initially was denied restoration of sick leave until TWU Local 100 took up his case, first filing a grievance under the direction of TA Surface VP JP Patafio, and then handing off final negotiations to Local 100 President Tony Utano.

On hearing of the decision on October 5, brother Tousius wrote this letter to Brother Utano:

"Dear Sir, I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to you and your steadfast efforts to secure my sick time in a timely fashion. Your faith in my campaign helped sustain me in my own struggle to get this done. My thanks also to J Patafio for being the direct liaison between management and myself. A special thanks goes to James Manzella for being the one who encouraged me from the very beginning. All of you were there for me and I will never forget this as long as I live.

Sir, I fervently hope that all others in all titles throughout civil service will be afforded the same expert help and advice in their quest for recognition in the face of the law. Thank you all. God bless the TWU and all involved. Sincerely Yours, Anthony Tousius. B/O. NYCTA."

The decision in the Tousius case means that other TWU Local 100 members who are in a similar situation can also have their sick time restored if it was improperly withheld.

Click here for the Chief article.

President Utano giving interviews to the media after Andre Chandler's request for a bail reduction was denied by the judge.

TWU Packs Courtroom for Arraignment of Bus Attacker

OCTOBER 4, 2018 -- TWU Local 100 packed a Brooklyn courtroom for the arraignment of a man who sprayed a mace-like liquid at a B15 Bus Operator – and then released pepper spray on another B15 bus hours later. Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Martin Murphy took notice of the large Local 100 contingent in his courtroom Thursday morning.

“We have a full audience here today, mostly from the Transport Workers Union,” Murphy noted. He then refused to lower Andrew Chandler’s $30,000 cash or bond bail.

Local 100 President Tony Utano then addressed reporters waiting in the hallway for comment. “I don’t have any sympathy for anybody that attacks a transit worker,” Utano said. “We come here to do a job and go home safe to our family. We don’t come here to do a job and go to the hospital.” Utano said Local 100 would press the NYPD to pay attention to buses and provide a police presence to serve as a deterrent. Local 100 also will continue to distribute its Most Wanted posters, he said. “If you assault a transit worker, we’re coming after you,” Utano said.

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez summarized Chandler’s crimes in a press release: On August 23, 2018, at approximately 4 a.m., Chandler boarded a B15 bus without paying the fare. The Bus Operator allowed him to remain on the bus, and Chandler requested a stop near the corner of Rockaway and Hageman Aves. in Brownsville.

The Bus Operator observed construction in the way and advised Chandler that he would have to pull up a little further up the street. Chandler then allegedly pulled out a canister and sprayed the partition with a noxious substance, causing the Bus Operator to choke and suffer burning to his eyes.
A passenger who attempted to board the bus also started choking and tearing up. Chandler fled. The driver was treated at Brookdale Hospital.
Later that day, at about 4:30 p.m., Chandler allegedly boarded another B15 bus. At the corner of East 98thSt. and Blake Ave. in Brownsville, he allegedly pulled out a pepper spray canister and started spraying the bus, causing passengers to exit as they coughed and teared up. Chandler fled, and the driver pursued him while calling 911. The Bus Operator observed Chandler throw the canister in a garbage can before returning to tend to the passengers. A police officer later found a can of Counter Assault Bear Deterrent, a type ofpepper spray, in the garbage can.

A Brooklyn grand jury indicted Chandler on assault, reckless endangerment and other charges. He faces up to seven years if convicted of the top felony count, prosecutors said. "Transit workers provide invaluable services to our city and I am fully committed to protecting them,” Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said in the press release.