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In the Swingroom, Politicians and Local 100 Make Common Cause on Vision Zero

Rangel, Wright, Dickens Join TWU in Swingroom to Oppose Bus Operator Sanctions Under Vision Zero Law

APRIL 20 -- TWU Local 100 President John Samuelsen and top leadership visited the swingroom at Mother Clara Hale Depot in Harlem, bringing the community's most prominent local political leaders with him. Congressman Charles Rangel took the opportunity to weigh in against Mayor de Blasio's Vision Zero law which has repeatedly criminalized Bus Operators when involved in accidents occurring through no fault of their own. "Right now, we should be calling the Mayor [about the Vision Zero law] and telling him, don't embarrass yourself," Rangel said. "Anybody can make a mistake, and this is just one big damn mistake... Common sense would indicate, that when [the lawmakers] were thinking about this, the last thing they were thinking about is that a bus driver, doing their duty, would be arrested."

Councilwoman Dickens proudly said that she was number three to sign on an amendment to Vision Zero, Intro 663, that would exempt Bus Operators from the law's provisions. They would still be subject to the rigorous accident investigation procedures now in place and possible discipline by the MTA. State Assemblyman Keith Wright was also outspoken in his support for the Amendment and against the criminalization of Bus Operators under Vision Zero.

In other news today, TWU Local 100 has sued the Mayor and the City of New York over the Vision Zero law, claiming that, when applied to motor vehicle operators, it is "so vague that it does not give a person of ordinary intelligence a reasonable opportunity to know what is prohibited." The 24-page lawsuit cites numerous precedents which argue against the reasoning behind the Vision Zero law, including the fact that there is no "mens rea" requirement, meaning a requirement that the operator has any intent to act recklessly or violate a law. You can read the Daily News story about the lawsuit here.

Assemblyman Keith Wright (D-Harlem)

Wright, Walker at Union Hall as Clergy Breakfast Showcases TWU's Commitment to Our Community

APRIL 14 -- TWU Local 100's second annual Faith-Based Breakfast brought out leading religious leaders to the Union Hall to share strategies and insights for community empowerment. Assemblymembers Keith Wright (D-Harlem) and Latrice Walker (D-Brownsville/East NY) welcomed faith leaders along with TWU Local 100's top leadership, including President Samuelsen, Secretary-Treasurer Earl Phillips, and Recording Secretary LaTonya Crisp-Sauray. The morning was highlighted by the presence of the Rev. Karim Camara, who Governor Cuomo recently appointed to head up his $50 million Faith Based Community Development Office in Albany.

President Samuelsen discussed the Union's campaign against the criminalization of Bus Operators under the new "Vision Zero" law which has seen union members arrested at accident scenes even when not operating recklessly. He also touched on the Union's longstanding ambition to find a way, partnering with local churches and other religious institutions, to guide youth into good jobs in transit.

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All Out for Diana Richardson in Central Brooklyn!

TWU Local 100 is enthusiastically endorsing Diana Richardson for New York State Assembly in the May 5th Special Election in Central Brooklyn. Sister Richardson's District includes Crown Heights, Lefferts Gardens, Wingate, and East Flatbush. Diana is a strong supporter of mass transit in her district and will fight to create more routes and a new depot in Brooklyn to serve riders and empower workers. We hosted a "meet and greet" event on Franklin Avenue on April 13th. Here's a video of Ms. Richardson explaining why she deserves our vote. You can read more about her on her official website.

Organizer Dexter Victory and GO NY Members

Union Win at Go New York Tours

Drivers and Guides from Go New York Tours, a double-decker bus sightseeing company here in town, have just voted to be represented by New York's most powerful transit union -- TWU Local 100. The vote, 64-3 out of a field of 90 eligible employees, came after a Union organizing campaign spearheaded by organizer Frank McCann, who had just returned from a trip to South Carolina where union members confronted the management of Global Contact Services, which holds the contract for the MTA's Access-A-Ride Call Center, another recently-organized TWU Local 100 Shop. New members at Go New York Tours voted for better wages, better benefits, respect on the job, and real job security. Next time you pass a Go New York tour bus, give them a warm welcome to the TWU family.

ATS System May Have Made Overpayments

The Transit Authority has informed the union that a glitch in its ATS Timekeeping System may have resulted in overpayment for some workers in MOW, CED, and Stations for the pay period ending April 4, 2015. Management said they noticed the problem too late to correct it before issuing checks.

The Authority promises that it will advise all members who may have received overpayment on how the situation will be remedied.

Local 100 Secretary Treasurer Earl Phillips advises all members in the affected Departments to carefully review their checks for this pay period. Questions on the issue should be directed toward the individual’s timekeeping unit.

Train Operator, Conductor interviewed on Evacuation at 14th Street

At about 7PM Wednesday night, red signals halted an uptown #1 train just outside 14th Street on the IRT 7th Avenue line. A massive watermain had broken, sending water cascading down into the station. As police responded, Train Operator Beniquez and Conductor Askew evacuated their train, which was filled with rush hour passengers, without incident. It took DEP about two hours to stop the water, and then TWU Local 100’s signal maintainers, track workers, and ventilation and drainage crews went into action, to restore the station by the morning rush. In this video, the Train Operator and Conductor describe the evacuation.

Train Operator, Conductor, Evacuate Train As Water Main Break Paralyzes Service

APRIL 9 -- Train Operator Johnny Beniquez and his Conductor, Sheron Askew, halted their uptown #1 train at 14th Street last night as water poured in to the station via the ceiling after a massive water main break which took place at approximately 7pm. As Con Ed and DEP crews responded and police halted access to the station, the TWU Local 100 members evacuated their train, which was filled with rush hour commuters. Everyone proceeded to the front car and exited via the last door onto the platform. The professional evacuation was another proof as to the value of two-person train operation. Signal Maintainers and Power Distribution Maintainers as well as Track Workers also responded, along with Ventilation and Drainage personnel. They got the station pumped out and all signals replaced and tested by the morning rush.

TA Surface Division Chair Willie Rivera with Bus Operator Francisco DeJesus

DA Takes DeJesus Case Off Court Calendar

Bus Operator Francisco DeJesus, a 30-year veteran with a good record, was arrested under the Vision Zero law on February 13th for "failure to yield" in an accident which injured a 15-year-old girl in Williamsburg. Today, his case was taken off the court calendar pending further discussions between the Union, the lawyer representing Mr. DeJesus, and the Brooklyn District Attorney. TWU Local 100 contends that Brother DeJesus should not have been arrested at the scene. We believe that this practice criminalizes Bus Operators who do their jobs professionally but nevertheless get into accidents.

JP Patafio, Vice President of TA Surface, addressed a room full of Bus Operators who gathered to support DeJesus. On hand were most of the Union's top officials in the leadership of the two Bus Departments, TA Surface and MaBSTOA, representing some 10,000 bus operators. Patafio noted that TWU Local 100 currently is closing in on a majority in the City Council needed to amend the Vision Zero law so as not to mandate arrests of Bus Operators at accident scenes. DeJesus thanked the operators for showing up, saying that their support was a great lift to his spirits. Operator Felix Lopez, who had DeJesus as an instructor, stood to ask the room to stand for a moment of silence for DeJesus's mother, who had just passed. It was a moment that spoke volumes about the solidarity we feel for each other in the TWU.

Mocker Takes a Turn on the "Zero Vision" Simulator

WPIX Transit Reporter Greg Mocker took a turn on NYCT's bus simulator recently, and found it quite challenging. He reported on the additional training being mandated in the wake of the Vision Zero law. TWU Local 100 is working to amend the law so as to de-criminalize bus operation by removing mandatory arrests which are called for after accidents even if there is no evidence of recklessness.

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