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President Utano at Brooklyn Celebration for Incoming Councilmember

JANUARY 21 – TWU Local 100 President Tony Utano attended the inauguration of incoming City Councilmember Justin Brannan, who won a tight race with the full-throated backing of the union. The former Chief of Staff to Councilmember Vincent Gentile, Brannan was praised as an enthusiastic, hands-on political leader who excels in constituent service. Prominent politicians including the city’s top three elected officials, including Mayor de Blasio, Comptroller Scott Stringer, and Public Advocate Tish James also attended. Stringer said that Brannan will be Chair of the Council’s Contracts Committee, that has oversight into City procurement.

City Council Speaker Corey Johnson gave a speech lauding Brannan, and stopped briefly to chat with President Utano. Also touching base with Local 100’s new President were longtime legislative allies, including State Senator Diane Savino, Assemblyman Peter Abbate, and Councilmembers Mark Levine and Mark Treyger. Brannan, standing next to his wife, Leigh, was sworn in by former Councilman Gentile. After the formal ceremony, Brannan stood with President Utano, TA Surface VP JP Patafio, and Bus Operator Rocky Veltri for a photo. IB Image

Blood Drive Set for February 22nd at 207th Street Shop

Our next blood drive in cooperation with NYCT is set for February 22. Read our flyer here. The blood drive is in the cafeteria at the 207th Street Shop from 8AM to 2PM. The drive will provide The drive will provide much needed blood to NY area hospitals. Please give!

Big Win at Big Bus

JANUARY 17 -- Drivers and Tour Guides at Big Bus New York, represented by TWU Local 100, voted decisively to approve their first contract with their employer. The vote was 114 to 13 -- an approval percentage of 90%. The new contract covers approximately 200 Drivers and Tour Guides. It provides for immediate raises for every member of between $4 and $1 per hour, depending on time in service. Members with at least two years of service go from $18 per hour to $22 per hour -- an increase of 19%. The contract includes improvements in medical insurance, a 25% matching 401 (k) after five years of service, more paid time off, and two new additional holidays for all employees. It provides for picks based on seniority. In perhaps the biggest win for our Drivers and Tour Guides, the agreement puts in place full due process discipline and grievance rights. Now, under a union contract, Big Bus Drivers and Tour Guides are no longer "at will" employees. Local 100 President Tony Utano called the contract vote "a big win for big bus, and for the tens of thousands of tourists who rely on the professionalism of our Drivers and Tour Guides." Big Bus has consistently high ratings among consumers, with 54% rating the service as "excellent" on Trip Advisor.

IB Image Photo at left shows our negotiating committee with President Utano. At right is Division Chair Carlos Bernabel. The Committee was led by TWU Local 100 Director of Organizing Frank McCann.

On 1010 WINS, President Utano Thanks our Members for Their Work in the Bitter Cold

In his second series of radio spots, TWU Local 100 President Tony Utano thanks transit workers for their efforts in cold and bitter weather that hit New York in the beginning of this New Year. The spots are playing this week and next on 1010 WINS.

(from left to right): Nick Naber, Yonkers Teacher; Dennis Hanratty, from Mt. Vernon United Tenants, Yrlenny Amparo , TWU Local 100 Bus Matron, Cathrine Boriga, Westchester Legislator, Dr. Allen Beals, former Public Heath Commissioner of Putnam County, Donna Dolan, of the New York State Paid Family Leave Coalition, Sherry Leiwant, from A Better Balance - The Work and Family Legal Center, and Joe Mayhew, Vice President of the Westchester-Putnam Central Labor Body

Westchester Town Hall Advances TWU Sick Leave Bill

TWU Local 100 took part in a Town Hall meeting in Yonkers on legislation that would mandate thousands of workers in Westchester, including school bus drivers and matrons, be allowed to take up to five paid sick days a year. Approximately 130,000 Westchester workers are now compelled to work when sick because their employers will not pay them unless they punch the clock. School Bus Matron and Local 100 member Yrlenny Amparo was the labor representative on the panel, which also included a small business owner, a member of the Westchester County Board of Legislators, a public health professional, a tenants’ group leader and a public school teacher.

“Everybody deserves to have sick days,” Amparo said at the Tuesday night meeting at the Riverfront Library. “It’s very hard going to work when you have a headache and are sneezing and coughing. Sometimes your body has to rest.”

The People’s Town Hall was called to educate and activate Westchester workers and residents in support of the Employee Earned Sick Time bill, which is pending before the Westchester Board of Legislators. TWU Local 100 has been a leading member of the campaign to get the legislation enacted. The bill would enable employees to earn up to 5 paid sick days. For every 30 hours worked, an employee would earn one hour of paid sick time off. The law would apply to employers with five or more employees.

Without paid sick days, workers who are ill go to work and wind up infecting others. Parents who can’t afford to lose a day’s worth of wages send their sick kids to school where they come in contact with other students and teachers. “Allowing that student to stay home with a parent who can get a paid sick day can make all the difference,” Nick Naber, a Yonkers social studies teacher and chairman of the Tuckahoe Democratic Party, said. “As an educator I think this idea is long overdue.” The legislation could come up for a vote in the next two months, supporters said.

Bus Operator Susan Guzman (at right) and her daughter, Suchari Guzman. Both were killed at gunpoint.

TWU Mourns Bus Operator Susan Guzman; Arrangements Set

TWU Local 100 mourns the untimely passing of Bus Operator Susan Guzman, who died at the hands of her estranged boyfriend in the Bronx on Wednesday. Susan worked at the Eastchester Depot for MTA Bus. There will be a service on Wednesday, January 17, at 3pm at the Ortiz Funeral Home, 2121 Westchester Avenue, in the Bronx. We will update our site with more information when it becomes available. Here is the Facebook link to the memorial service: https://www.facebook.com/events/157028481602009/

From Private Lines Vice President Pete Rosconi: "I would like to say to the family and friends of Susan Guzman, "Right now your friends and co-workers from Eastchester Depot and all of MTA-Bus mourn for you and your daughter Suchari. As we sit with emptiness in our hearts, thinking if anything could be done to ease the pain. We pray for you both to be happy and together in heaven. To lose a co-worker and friend is heart-wrenching for all."

Recognizing Transit Workers: President Utano Invites the Media to Coney Island Yard

Watch News 12's coverage available below:

Crews work to clear MTA switches of snow

Posted: Saturday, January 6, 2018 1:36 PM EST Updated: Saturday, January 6, 2018 8:35 PM EST Transit workers were out across New York City Saturday clearing switches and elevated tracks of snow. The MTA yard on Shell Road in Gravesend saw high snow drifts due to the wind, and employees made sure none of the workers clearing the snow were affected by the freezing temperatures.

Executive Board Names Carlos Albert Track Division Chair

DECEMBER 28, 2017 -- The Local 100 Executive Board today unanimously elevated Carlos Albert to Chair of the Track Division. The veteran officer and activist replaces current Chair Paul Navarro, who earlier resigned his office to concentrate full time on his role as the Local 100 Director of Safety for the Subway Divisions. Albert joined New York City Transit in 1993 as a Track Worker. He served as a Track Shop Steward for a number of years prior to being elected to the union’s Executive Board in 2003. He was elected Chair of the Division in 2006. In 2010, Albert was named a full time member of the Track Safety Task Force. In accepting his assignment, Albert said that he will aggressively represent the workers against management abuse, and vigorously enforce all safety regulations to insure a secure work environment. Photo, from the left: President Tony Utano, Recording Secretary LaTonya Crisp-Sauray, new Track Chair Carlos Albert, and MOW Vice President John Chiarello.

Utano Visits New Titled Customer Service Ambassadors

Local 100 President Tony Utano checked in with two veteran Station Agents working in the new title, Customer Service Ambassador (Wayfinders) at the busy Atlantic Terminal/Barclays Center complex. Utano was accompanied by Vice President Derick Ecchevaria, Division Chair Joe Bermudez and union liaison for the new program, Ellton Perez. Utano told Station Agents Chen and Peoples, who said they were generally happy with their new assignments of helping passengers navigate the subway system, that the union is committed to making the new pilot program work long term for Station Agents. “We want to stay ahead of technology,” Utano said, referring to the MTA’s future plans for “contactless” fair collection. “We can’t let technology get ahead of us. I’m all about protecting our members’ jobs,” said Utano.

In the photo, SA Chen, in his new role as a Customer Service Ambassador (Wayfinder) assists passenger with directions at the Atlantic Terminal complex.

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TWU Local 100/M3 Tech Scholarships Grant $66,000 to Children of Transit Workers

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DECEMBER 21 -- A roomful of proud parents applauded as TWU Local 100 President Tony Utano, along with John Pescitelli of M3 Technology, gave out $66,000 in scholarships to college students, the children of TWU Local 100 members, along with a few members who are in college part-time while on active duty. Four of the 50 winners got $5,000 scholarships, with the rest receiving $1,000 each. Members are drawn by lottery, and can win in more than one year.

President Utano, congratulating the students, said it was possible that one of them might discover a cure for cancer. He urged them not to forget where they came from, sustained by the support of their parents and TWU Local 100. He noted that the union's scholarship program with M3, which supplies life, disability, and other insurance products to members on a voluntary basis, has been in place since 2010. Each year, the amount of scholarship monies have increased, with a total of $245,000 awarded to date.

IB Image Anila Williams, one of the $5,000 winners, is a student at the Florida Institute of Technology, working towards a degree in electrical engineering. Standing with her father, Albert, who works as an EMD in MOW/LES, Anila said that she wanted to "get a taste of everything" before she settles down to a career after graduation. Her immediate plans include an internship on the electrical maintenance team at SUNY, and possibly an application to NYCT.