MTA Board Members Say Bus Operators Treated Unfairly Under Vision Zero

Bus operators are being treated unfairly under a controversial Vision Zero law - and the MTA shouldn’t sit quietly on the sidelines, two Metropolitan Transportation Authority board members said Monday morning. “I think the inequitable treatment of the bus drivers is something that does need to be addressed,” board member Jonathan Ballan said at the monthly NYC Transit committee meeting in Manhattan.

Board member Allen Cappelli said: “I do think bus drivers have been treated inequitably in this situation and, as their employer, we do need to in fact weigh in on these issues as we put these men and women out on the streets everyday.”

Six MTA bus operators and dozens of other motorists have been arrested under the “Right of Way” law that Mayor de Blasio signed last year. It directs police to arrest drivers if a pedestrian is hit in a crosswalk - even without evidence of recklessness like speeding. Transport Workers Union Local 100 has argued that drivers are set up for failure because buses have “blind spots” created by the placement of drivers’ side mirrors obstructing views of the street from behind the steering wheel. The city Department of Transportation’s signal system directs pedestrians into crosswalks at the same time buses are making left turns.

Local 100 has demanded that the MTA fix the “blind spots” with different bus designs and the city install left-turn only signals at dangerous intersections. “I think the alternate solutions that have been set forth by the union are something that we need to discuss at the board level,” Ballan said. Councilman Daneek Miller, a former bus driver, has introduced legislation that would prevent the arrest of non-reckless drivers after pedestrian accidents. Cappelli called the proposal “meritorious.” A similar bill is pending in the state Legislature.

“I’d like to know where the MTA stands as an institution on this issue and look forward to a discussion on it,” Cappelli said. Committee Chairman Fernando Ferrer, the former Bronx borough president, indicated the issue might in fact be discussed at a full meeting of the board when MTA Chairman Tom Prendergast is present. The next meeting is Wednesday. 

Union Scholarships Application Period Extended

The union announced that our application period for scholarships for college students has been extended until June 30. These scholarships are for members, children of members, grandchildren of members, or retirees or their children or grand-children who are attending or accepted by an accredited two or four year college. Each scholarship is worth $1,000, and 50 will be awarded in a random drawing. You can download and fill out the application here. The scholarship program is sponsored by M3 Technology, the union's guaranteed acceptance voluntary benefit administrator. Good luck!

A New Column: Pete Donohue's Perspective on Transit

Noted transit reporter Pete Donohue – for 16 years at the Daily News the authority on NYC mass transit – has now joined the Union’s staff. In welcoming Pete, we’re proud to announce a regular column especially for our members and the riding public. You used to read Pete in the Daily News. Now, you can catch him only on the TWU Local 100 website. Enjoy Pete’s first column here, and check back weekly for more. 

An American Union Story

When the mine whistle sounded in Dickson City, Pa., everyone in the small blue-collar town momentarily froze with fear. The sound was an ominous announcement that there had been a serious accident underground. Elementary school and high school students waited anxiously until their lunch hour when they would hustle home. Some wouldn’t be at their desks when class resumed.  

“That’s how you knew whose father was killed or injured," my mother, Marlene, recalled. “Their desks would be empty.”

Her father, Frank Ceci, worked the mines for decades. He started in the early 1900s at approximately 13 years old.  At first, he worked above ground as a “breaker boy” picking out unwanted slate from the coal. He joined the men going into the "hole" a few years later. One of his earliest work memories was of men dying during cave-ins. The mining company would have the dead man carried home.

"They'd leave the body on the porch," my mother said.

TWU Local 100 at the 2015 National Puerto Rican Day Parade

Dozens of TWU Local members from all over the transit system proudly marched down 5th Avenue at the annual Puerto Rican Day parade, an exuberant celebration which is reflected in these great photos by our very own Noah Rodriguez. Enjoy!

Labor Movement Unites Behind TWU Local 100 to Amend Vision Zero Law

New York's most influential labor unions, representing some 3 million members in the State and City of New York, have signed on to a joint letter to the New York City Council, urging an amendment to the Vision Zero law which has resulted in the needless arrests of Bus Operators. Read the complete letter  here.

Family Day 2015 in Photos

A Message from John Samuelsen:

I want to thank everyone who contributed to the incredible, unprecedented  success of our annual Family Day. The wonderful families that make TWU Local 100 such an amazing institution were on full display. The sun was shining (for the most part), and the aroma of grilled meat and fish was floating all over Coney Island. Our Family Day has now developed its own unique style of awesome divisional tailgating, with all kinds of great food and "interesting" beverages.

Video: Highlights of the Edwin Thomas Street Co-Naming Ceremony

Almost seven years after his death in the line of duty, NYCT Bus Operator Edwin Thomas is honored in a formal street naming by his union brothers and sisters and political leaders.

Edwin Thomas street co-naming draws politicians, 300 Bus Operators, and Union leadership

TWU Local 100 and the MTA turned out on a beautiful day to pay tribute to one of our own, Bus Operator Edwin Thomas, who was tragically killed by a passenger on his B46 bus seven years ago. The event marked the first official commemoration of a Bus Operator killed in the line of duty by the City Council, which voted to rename East 49th Street adjacent to the Flatbush Depot. Local 100 President John Samuelsen officiated at the event, which featured the unveiling of a plaque featuring the likeness of Brother Thomas on the side of the depot, and the uncovering of the street name. Also on hand were Thomas’s children and his mother. See our slide show featuring key moments from the event.

President Samuelsen Honored with Labor Award from Brooklyn Democrats for Change

MAY 27 -- TWU Local 100 President John Samuelsen received the Labor Leader of the Year award from Brooklyn's Democrats for Change political club in their ninth annual dinner event in Bay Ridge. Speaking to political leaders including Kings County Democratic Chair Frank Seddio, John took the podium to discuss the Union's issues with Mayor de Blasio's vision zero law, and the criminalization of Bus Operators who are involved in accidents through no fault of their own. He described the blind spots and engineering defects in buses and traffic right-of-ways that have given rise to accidents which have resulted in the arrests of Bus Operators, and called on members of the political club to stand with the union in fighting to amend  the Vision Zero law in the City Council.

Uncuff 'em, Mr. Mayor!

TWU Local 100 releases our third ad bringing attention to the unfair arrests of Bus Operators under the Vision Zero law in the Daily News tomorrow, May 27th. The ad depicts New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, who wears the mantle of a political progressive, in the act of handcuffing one of the pillars of New York City's working class, an NYCT/MTA Bus Operator. The Daily News promoted the ad in a copyrighted article which you can read here. The ad urges the Mayor to stop this unfair policy. TWU Local 100's position is that reckless or dangerous acts by any motorist -- including  Bus Operators -- should be punishable offenses, but that arresting responsible Bus Operators at accident scenes is an unwarranted criminalization of professional drivers before the facts of the case are known. The fact that an accident has occurred is not proof of culpability on the part of the driver, or proof that the driver has not exercised "due regard" when operating in the intersection. Bringing added muscle to our ad campaign, TWU Local 100 has filed suit in NYS Supreme Court to have the section of the law that provides for misdemeanor penalties against drivers who infringe on the "right of way" and cause injuries voided. Our reasoning: the law does not contain a definition of what "due regard" actually means. Short of clear evidence that the driver ignored safety rules or was operating under the influence, that's for trained accident investigators to determine -- not for officers on the scene to engage in a rush to judgement. View/download the complete ad here.

It's a matter of fairness. Drivers and Monitors should have the right to an impartial hearing.

School Bus Grievance Process Bill Gaining Support in Albany

Our Political Action Department is making gains on a crucial bill to improve the lives of school bus drivers in Westchester. PAC's Viviana Guzman, a Monitor from Mile Square on union release, is pounding the pavement in Albany, getting more and more legislators to sign on to A.2781 - S.3474, the School Bus Grievance Process Bill. Just this week, State Senators Gustavo Rivera and Jesse Hamilton signed on, as well as Assemblyman Marcos Crespo. That makes the total 16 in the Assembly, and 8 in the Senate. This bill costs the State nothing -- but would make a big difference in the right to due process that's guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution but is often in short supply in the workplace.

Here's the issue: School Bus Drivers and Monitors working for companies that have contracts with school districts -- like Mile Square, Supertrans, White Plains, and Royal Coach -- can be suspended or struck from a company roster by a school district without any recourse. In a recent case, one driver was ordered by a teacher to park his bus in the middle of a block next to a row of double-parked cars. He said that wasn't safe (in fact, prohibited by State regs), and drove his bus further down the block to get curbside so the kids would be safe. This resulted in the teacher's calling the school district for disobeying her order, and the school district then disqualifying him as a driver in that district. The company he worked for had no problem with his conduct, but were helpless to stop the school district from imposing a penalty. So was the union -- because our contract is with the company, not the district. The bill would mandate that school districts are a party to the union contract when it comes to the imposition of discipline. This means that any drivers or monitors who get penalized would have an opportunity to dispute the sanction and get a fair hearing, up to impartial arbitration. 

Please call your State legislators -- and ask them to sign on.

Eyewitness News: Subway Motorman Faces Suspension after Saving Trainee's Life

Did a subway motorman put passengers at risk during a medical emergency on a train? STORY: http://t.co/dhsh7h50Sl pic.twitter.com/dogxZ8tA6q

— Eyewitness News (@ABC7NY) May 20, 2015

Veteran Train Operator Quincy Calhoun, 59, was suspended without pay by NYCT after acting quickly in a medical emergency to save a trainee's life. WABC-TV's Joe Torres had the story last night on Eyewitness News. TWU Local 100's Steve Downs, T/O Division Chair, spoke on camera about the case and the Union's vigorous defense of our member.

Union Pushes Back Against GCS Exploitation at Access-A-Ride

TWU came out to support our members at Global Contact Services, the MTA’s call center for Access-A-Ride in Long Island City. The issue: in spite of promising good jobs, the Salisbury, North Carolina company has slashed wages for its New York-based workforce from $16 when it took over in 2012 to between $9 and $12/hour now. It has also engaged in a pattern of vicious targeting of union organizers and union supporters. TWU Local 100, with an assist from local politicians, is telling the MTA board of directors to direct that GCS negotiate a contract with the union in good faith and keep their promises of creating jobs that allow local people to have a decent quality of life.

Whilby Attorney Wants to Examine Pena's Bus as Discovery Continues in Bus Operator Murder Case

May 13 -- TWU Local 100 officers and staff joined Nancy Rodriguez, widow of slain Bus Operator William Pena, their daughter Gabrielle, attorney Sanford Rubenstein, and friends in court to continue to press for justice. Domonic Whilby, charged with Murder in the Second Degree, Aggravated Vehicular Homicide, seven other criminal counts, was led into court in handcuffs looking fit and trim in a black t-shirt and denim jeans. He has been incarcerated since his arrest on February 12, the day of Pena's death at 7th Avenue and 14th Street in Manhattan. His attorney, Laura Miranda, said she wants to examine Pena's M-14 bus, and asked for another test to be done on her client's blood samples from the day of the accident. Judge Gregory Carro, ruling to continue discovery in the case, set the next court date for June 24. Outside the court house, Nancy, TWU Local 100 MaBSTOA Vice Chair Don Yates, and Attorney Rubenstein talked to the media.

President John Samuelsen, Secy-Treasurer Earl Phillips, VP Tony Utano and LES Chair John Chiarello with members of the Local 100 ‘Transporters’ ice hockey team.

TWU Ice Hockey Team In Championship Game Tonight

The Local 100 Ice Hockey team won its last playoff game last night 6-3 and takes to the ice in the league championship tonight, Monday, May 18.

Come out and support the ‘TRANSPORTERS’. The puck drops at 8:45pm at Twin Rinks Ice Center, 200 Merrick Avenue, East Meadow, N.Y. 11554 (Ph. 516-441-0070).

Follow our team on its Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Local-100-Ice-Hockey/1549122235351401