Local 100 President Tony spoke out today against the assault on a Conductor at the 125th Street IRT station on the 4 line this morning. He talked to 1010 WINS about the right of our members to defend themselves against assault.
The MaBSTOA Emerald Society honored Local 100 President Tony Utano at its 57th Anniversary Dinner-Dance on Friday evening, March 1, 2019. Emerald Society President John Mullane presented Utano with the organization’s ‘Man of the Year’ award. Also honored was Quill Depot Chair Sukhy Singh for his steadfast support for the organization over the years. On the management side, Don Martin, Assistant General Manager of the Baisley Park Depot, was named ‘Irishman of the Year.” Utano told a packed house at the Villa Barone in the Bronx that MaBSTOA – which was established by the New York Legislature 57 years ago after a bruising 29-day strike against the Fifth Avenue Coach, Omnibus and Surface Transit Bus companies – has always served as a bulwark of support for a unified TWU. He said that a unified TWU would be needed once again as the union prepares for contract negotiations with the MTA. “I know I can count on you,” said Utano, “and I know that you in MaBSTOA will provide the backbone of support for this effort, as you always have in the past.”
photos: From left, President Utano, Emerald Society President John Mullane, Local 100 Organizing Director and previous honoree, Frank McCann. Group photo of some of the well-wishers at the MaBSTOA Emerald dinner. President Utano with attendees from the School Bus Division. Quill Depot chair Sukhy Singh with President Utano and other depot officers.
The final economic piece of the union’s 2017 contractual agreement with the MTA – a $500 lump sum bonus – will be paid in members’ checks in the March 20th and 21st pay period.
The contract provided a 2.5 percent across-the-board increase on Jan. 16, 2017; a 2.5 percent increase on Feb. 16, 2018, and now the $500 lump sum bonus.
The union’s agreement with the MTA expires on May 16, 2019.
Local 100 President Tony Utano said that the lump sum payment, minus taxes, will be paid in the employee’s regular check.
Local 100 has chalked up an important win in an arbitration to reverse the Authority’s attempt to shortchange members on the amount of payment of the Longevity Bonus as outlined in the union’s collective bargaining agreement.
According to the contract, the Longevity bonus is to be paid in the following amounts: $750 after 30 years of service; $550 after $20 years, and $450 after 15 years. However, the Authority shortchanged that payment, because they omitted a two-month period between November 2017 to January 2018 as part of their calculation. The union said that the Authority’s fuzzy math violated the intent of the parties when the contract was signed. Local 100 President Tony Utano and General Counsel Denis Engel presented the case before arbitrator Howard Edelman, Esq.
Edelman agreed with the union. As a result, members who received longevity payments will be getting an additional $37 dollars in an upcoming check. President Utano said that, while the actual per member amount may be modest, the principle of the case was paramount. “We are here as a check on the MTA to make sure that our members receive what they are entitled to. In this case, management did not live up to the intent and spirit of the agreement. We challenged them on it and we were vindicated at arbitration.”
Announcing the full schedule of meetings at MTA facilities to take advantage of the MTA Deferred Compensation Program by meeting with a retirement education counselor, to help you get to your next step on your personal financial wellness journey. Download the flyer with the schedule here or log on to prudential.com/mta and take the financial wellness self-assessment. You can also call 877-PLN-4MTA.
TWU Local 100 President Tony Utano denounced a letter the MTA circulated among employees warning of a possible reduction in workforce unless the Authority secures new funding to close budget shortfalls in the next few years.
“To be talking about layoffs of any job title is ridiculous and outrageous," he stated. "Transit workers have been pushing non-stop to improve service, rebuild tracks, signals and structures, and in general to bring our system back to a state of reliability for the riding public. Threatening layoffs is carelessly destructive to workforce morale at a time when the MTA should be thanking its workers for doubling down on bettering the system.”
These TWU Local 100 members are on a new career track.
A group of 30 cleaners, property protection agents and traffic checkers started training Monday to become plumbers, masons and carpenters – higher paid, skill-based titles in the Structures Department.
This is the third – and largest – class of Local 100 members to participate in the union’s Upward Advancement Program at The Apex Technical School in Long Island City, Queens. “I’m proud to be standing here and I’m proud of this program,” Local 100 President Tony Utano told the students in an opening ceremony. “This program is worth gold. You are going to learn a trade, and a lot of people don’t get this opportunity.”
For six months, the students will attend class full time at Apex while receiving their regular pay. As part of their training, they will build a small replica of a house, complete with a foundation, brick masonry, electricity and plumbing. After completing the program, they will be assigned to work in the field alongside skilled tradespersons at NYC Transit.
"The road ahead is long,” Charles Jenkins, acting director of Local 100’s Training and Upgrade Fund. “It will be challenging and exciting, but most of all, it will be rewarding.” Participants are selected by a joint union-management committee using criteria that includes their grades following completion of a math and reading comprehension course, and their disciplinary and attendance records at NYC Transit, Jenkins said. After working as a cleaner, CTA Sakina Brown, 37, said she was looking to advance economically. “I want to provide a better life for my kids,” she said. “I started as a cleaner. The pay is okay. It keeps you above water. I just want better.”
Utano was joined at the opening ceremony by Local 100 Secretary-Treasurer Earl Phillips, Car Equipment Vice President Shirely Martin, MOW Vice President John Chiarello and Structure’s Executive Board member and Division Chair Richie Rocco.
FEBRUARY 26 -- President Tony Utano administered the TWU Oath of Office to a group of newly elected union officers today. The ceremony took place before the regularly scheduled meeting of the TWU Local 100 Executive Board.
Union members and families packed the hall on February 21 to celebrate Black History and the contributions of African-Americans to transit. Food was provided by Melba's of Harlem, and Melba received an award from the union. If you weren't able to make it -- check out our video!
