LCLAA, Westchester County Honor Catherine Rivera

The Westchester County Board of Legislators, along with State Sen. Shelley B. Mayer and the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA), honored Local 100 member Catherine Rivera and her late husband, Nelson Rivera, a long time TWU officer, for their activism and community involvement.  The awards were presented at the annual meeting of the Westchester Chapter of LCLAA earlier this month.
 

Misleading Story on Public Pensions is Not Accurate

A misleading story in the New York Daily News about public pensions being defrauded by Allianz, Inc. has caused unwarranted concern among some transit workers and other public sector workers here and across the country.
 
Local 100 wants you to know that your pension benefits HAVE NOT BEEN NEGATIVELY AFFECTED IN ANY WAY. 

Union Bus Operators Call for Action on Assaults

There was a huge media presence outside the Kingsbridge Bus Depot Wednesday, May 18, 2022, as TWU Local 100 held a press conference calling attention to assaults against Bus Operators all across the city.

Bus Operators described their ordeals to the assembled media: at least eight television stations, plus print and broadcast outlets, were on hand.  MaBSTOA 1 Division

Chair Donald Yates and Vice Chair Sean Battaglia, meanwhile, called on riders, transit officials, and government leaders to take specific actions to increase safety.

WANTED FOR ASSAULTING A MEMBER

On Sunday, May 15, 2022 at approximately 1:45 a.m., inside the Exchange Place and Broad Street Subway Station in the confines of the 1 Precinct in Manhattan, the perpetrator pictured above smashed a glass bottle on a Conductor's head causing him multiple lacerations.
Call: 1800-577-8477 (TIPS)

Reward up to $3,500 payable by Crime Stoppers upon arrest and indictment of the person(s) responsible for the above listed crime. Open Wanted Poster
 

Union's Statement in Reaction to Mass Shooting in Buffalo, NY

President Tony Utano issued this statement in reaction to the mass shooting in Buffalo, New York:

TWU Local 100 mourns the victims killed by a racist hate-filled gunman in Buffalo, and we pray for their grieving families and loved ones. Racism is a cancer that we can not ignore or tolerate - ever.

Discounted Pet Insurance for Local 100 Members

UnitedHealthcare and Figo have teamed up to offer an exclusive discount for TWU Local 100.

Members can customize a plan that works for them and their pets.

Learn More

Healthfair Highlights Wellness at Kingsbridge Depot

MAY 12 -- Operating a Bus is very stressful -- and so Local 100 hosted a health and wellness fair along with NYCT at Kingsbridge Depot, featuring an array of healthcare providers, healthy eats, and lifestyle enhancements such as yoga. The event is part of an ongoing series bringing wellness to transit locations systemwide. On hand from the union was MABSTOA VP Richard Davis, officers and chairs. Look for the next health fair near you -- and check out website for more information on how to stay healthy as we continue to move New York.

Union Honors Those Killed on the Job on Workers' Memorial Day

TWU Local 100 honored those who have died on the job while serving in the line of duty -- 17 transit workers over the last 20 years. They were memorialized in a video presentation from President Tony Utano which also paid tribute to the 125 Union members who died of COVID-19, also in the line of duty while serving the public.

In a luncheon at the Hall to mark the occasion, top officers were joined by City Councilwoman Lynn Schulman (D-Queens) and OSA President Bob Croghan.

Union Payment Platform Set up for Donations to Help Ukraine

TWU Local 100 is pleased to announce that we have set up an account to help members donate to the people of Ukraine most in need. Many TWU members have indicated that they would like to help, but want to make sure that their donations are used for the intended purpose.

In response, the union has set up the account, called the “TWU Local 100 Ukraine Account,” where members’ donations will be held safely, and ultimately forwarded to one or more reputable organizations delivering international relief to displaced Ukrainians. 

Upon approval by the Local 100 Executive Committee, the Union will make an appropriate donation to the fund.

CTA’s Get Their Due from Gov. Hochul: Honored for Sunset Park Incident Actions

APRIL 27 – CTA Charlene Gardner, who was at 36^th Street in Sunset Park when shots were fired aboard a Manhattan-bound N train, and CTA Angel Oquendo, who was at 25^th Street on the R line, were honored by NYS Governor Kathy Hochul and MTA brass as part of a group of NYCT employees who responded to the April 12 incident.

Stations VP Robert Kelley was also on hand as the CTA’s had their names read out and were handed proclamations by Governor Hochul and MTA CEO Janno Lieber. They gave accounts of what happened to the Union.

In addition, N and R train crews were also honored at the event, along with Staff Analysts represented by TWU Local 100 and working in the MTA's digital communications unit.

Charlene Gardner said, “I was working overtime, doing my job, scrapping and pulling [a broom]. I was in the middle of the southbound platform. I heard a commotion. I turned and saw customers taking pictures of smoke coming out of the front end of a train. I proceeded to make my way in, with my scrap pan and broom.

“As I made it to the staircase, cops, and MTA officials with vests came running down both staircases. They were saying, we want to evacuate immediately. A cop said, “Do you work here?” I told her I did. She said, “Whatever you need to do, get out of here now, this is an emergency.” I did what she said.

“I secured my equipment, ran up the stairs, and saw the clerk leaving the booth. The mezzanine had a few blood spots on it. People had scattered. For those who didn’t have directions, who were in panic mode, I told them, “You guys need to leave the station.”

“There were guys coming into the station. I said, Guys, you need to get out of here.” I got to the top of the staircase. Police hadn’t barricaded it off yet. Guys were saying I’m missing my train, I said, “no, the station’s closed,” and that was it until they barricaded it.  It was a long day.

Angel Oquendo arrived at the 25^th Street station just after the incident occurred. He recalls that “There was a big crowd coming up the stairs. Cops were pushing people out of the way. They asked me if I could get some of that caution tape, and I did. I got it and I started directing customers to alternate transportation, to go 5^th Avenue and take the bus. “

Staff Analysts Praised by Governor for Professionalism During Sunset Park Shooting Incident

APRIL 27 – NYS Governor Kathy Hochul praised the work of TWU Local 100 represented Staff Analysts – communications professionals who are usually behind the scenes and not seen by the public, for their roles after the shooting aboard an N Train in Sunset Park.

Our members – pictured here with their Union Rep, Executive Board Member Denise Wellington – were part of a group of 18 MTA employees who were recognized with official proclamations presented by Hochul alongside MTA CEO Janno Lieber at MTA Headquarters.

They were honored alongside the N and R train crews who have already been the subject of much media attention. Also honored were our CTA's, who have also not seen much media attention to date.

Staff Analysts Tanyia Brand-Jones and Annie Morrison, both part of the digital communications team at NYC Transit, worked quickly to give transit riders vital information in the wake of the shooting aboard the N Train in Sunset Park, Brooklyn on April 12th.

Departmental Manager Tyler Schow gave this account of what transpired at the Rail Control Center, where they work:

“Immediately it was obvious something more severe than a usual incident was coming over. Staff rushed over to the area to start getting everyone to safety, determining what was going on, and then me and Tanyia and Annie were working together to determine what was the impact to train service. Obviously there was going to be some sort of disruption.

“How can we make sure what kind alternative routes do people have available, how can we get that out to as many as possible? So the RCC is just a lot of collaboration -- everyone working together to make sure that everyone was safe, and that everyone could get to where they needed to go.”

Signal Helper Struck on F Line

APRIL 25 -- A 64 year-old Signal Helper assigned to auxiliary flagging duties came into contact with a train on the F line this morning and suffered injuries that include a broken arm and fractured ribs, MOW Vice President John Chiarello and Line Equipment/Signals Division Chair Chris Canty said.

The member is in stable condition at a local hospital. He has been on the job for three years. The incident is under investigation to determine the cause or causes of the accident.

Sunset Park Train, Bus Crews Honored at City Hall

GOOD FRIDAY, APRIL 15 -- Mayor Adams on Friday honored our Heroes of Sunset Park: transit workers who helped riders escape after a gunman opened fire on an N-train Tuesday morning.

"I want to thank you for your service to the city and your bravery on that morning," said Adams, who presided over the City Hall ceremony virtually while isolating after testing positive for COVID-19. "... You stayed calm. You stayed focused, and you saved lives."

Secretary-Treasurer Earl Phillips further described the roles Train Operators and Conductors played during the emergency. “This was an active shooter situation, and Conductors and Train Operators were taking charge, doing what was necessary to get riders out of danger,” Phillips said.  “At any given minute, they were either directing passengers, making announcements, moving their trains, taking police into the tunnel to look for the shooter, or communicating with the Rail Control Center and emergency responders. Our Bus Operators, meanwhile, filled the void, picking up riders along the N line, including those rushing out of 36th St.”

Deputy Mayor Lorraine Grillo presented city Proclamations to: N-Train Operator David Artis and Conductor Raven Haynes; R-Train Operator Joseph Franchi and Conductor Dayron Williams; and B37 Bus Operator Parla Mejia. R-Train Operator Michael Catalano and Conductor Willy Sanchez couldn’t attend but will receive Proclamations too.

To further highlight the roles transit workers play in emergencies, TWU Local 100 arranged a press conference on the steps of City Hall for the workers to describe their experiences and actions Tuesday morning, drawing more than 2 dozen television, radio, and print reporters and camera operators.

Here are some of the clips. Click on the image above to see stills of the event.

Hero MTA Workers Speak Out After NYC Shooting Rampage

After Bullets Flew, NYC Subway Workers Kept Their Cool
 

Union Endorses Kathy Hochul for Governor of New York State

APRIL 11 -- Hundreds of union members and officers joined TWU Local 100 President Tony Utano at the Union Hall on Monday to give the union’s endorsement to Gov. Kathy Hochul for a full four-year term. Hochul, the daughter and granddaughter of union steelworkers, was greeted with enthusiastic chants of “Kathy! Kathy!” and workers bearing “Labor for Kathy” signs as she entered with President Utano.

Utano praised Hochul for facing tough challenges with common-sense and tenacity since taking over from scandal-plagued Andrew Cuomo, who resigned earlier this year. “She has partnered with the Mayor of New York to fight back against the triple crises of crime, homelessness and mental illness that are most manifested in this City in our transit system,” Utano said. “I believe that her actions so far are enormous steps in the right direction for transit workers and transit riders.”

Hochul vowed to “fight like hell” for transit workers. “Because for far too long, and Tony and I have talked about this, there’s not been the respect and the admiration that people gave to a lot of front-line workers,” Hochul sad. “Well, how did the front-line workers get to their jobs as front-line workers if it wasn’t for all of you showing up during the pandemic? You are the essential workers to the essential workers, which puts you in a very special place.”

The Governor’s budget includes first-time improvements to the Tier 6 pension plan since the state legislature enacted it in response to the 2010 fiscal crisis, including halving the required time on the job to be vested from a decade to five years.  President Utano called this "an important first step," in the ongoing fight for pension equity.

Union Mourns Connail Friel, 87, Retired MaBSTOA Division 2 Chair

TWU Local 100 is mourning the passing of retired MaBSTOA Division 2 Chair Connail “Connie” Friel.  His family said that he died peacefully at home surrounded by family on April 9, 2022.  He was 87 and had been retired from union service since 2003.

Brother Friel was born on April 9, 1934 in Mount Charles Co. Donegal, Ireland. He emigrated to the US at the age of 18 and was married to the love of his life, Theresa Friel (nee Sammon) for 62 years.

He started with NYCT as a Bus Operator, and became Chairman of the old Coliseum Depot before moving to Kingsbridge Depot where he served for 30 years prior to retirement. He then became a member of the TWU Retirees Association.

Local 100 President Tony Utano said, “Connie was a loyal TWU member and effected officer of this union for many years.  He served his members at Kingsbridge Depot and MaBSTOA Division 2 with great dedication. Our union owes him a great debt of gratitude. We all send our deepest sympathies to his family here and in Ireland.”

He is survived by a son, Connail Friel, Jr. and daughter, Eileen Stivale (nee Friel), five grandchildren, five great grandchildren, four brothers and sisters, and a number of nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife, Theresa, and son, Eamon.

Visitation will be held, today, Wednesday, April 13th 2PM-5PM at Williams Funeral Home at 5628m Broadway (232nd Street), Bronx, NY 10463. A private burial service for family and close friends will be held at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Valhalla, NY by invitation only.