Union Meets with MTA on Coronavirus Threat

TWU Local 100 President Tony Utano and Secretary Treasurer Earl Phillips met with MTA officials today, Tuesday, January 28, 2020, to discuss the coronavirus outbreak in China.
 
“We are monitoring the situation and paying close attention to the reports coming from experts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as the state and city health departments,” Utano said. “We are following their lead and urge everyone to follow their prevention recommendations.”
 
The CDC issued these recommendations:  

Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands
Avoid close contact with people who are sick
Stay home while you are sick
Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

Individuals who are experiencing symptoms and may have traveled to areas of concern, or have been in contact with somebody who has traveled to these areas, should call ahead to their healthcare provider before presenting for treatment.

MTA Board Approves Union Contract

JANUARY 23, 2020 -- The MTA board today approved the contract negotiated by TWU Local 100. We will be meeting with the MTA on implementation. We will update you as the details become available.

Union Urges Support For Puerto Rican Earthquake Relief

Union Members Honored with MTA Medals of Excellence

JANUARY 17 -- Over a dozen TWU Local 100 members were honored today by the MTA/NYCT in their Medals of Excellence awards program. Members received awards for Distinguished Service, Commendations for job-related acts involving personal risk or requiring exceptional judgement, and for heroism in performing specific acts of bravery on duty. Local 100 President Tony Utano and NYCT President Andy Byford presented the awards. In the category of heroism, three Local 100 members were singled out: Conductor Denaul Jenkins, who survived a stabbing on the platform at 149th street in the Bronx, Signal Maintainer Anthony Mannino, who jumped onto the road bed to save a woman from being struck by a train, and Construction Flagger Ewan McKay.

Upper West Side Chaos Quickly Tamed by Transit Crews

JANUARY 13-- Chaos ensued on Manhattan's Upper West Side when a large water main broke around 5AM on Monday, January 13th near the Lincoln Cente IRT stop at 66th Street. Service on IRT lines 1, 2, and 3 was halted between 96th Street and 42nd Street as Firefighters and DEP Workers responded. Below ground, our Structure Maintainers pumped hundreds of thousands of gallons out of the system, Signal Maintainers checked and repaired 12 switches and 72 signals, and Conductors and Train Operators got riders to safety. Service was restored in time for the evening rush. Photos by Union Member and MTA Photographer Marc Hermann.

TWU Congratulates Liberty Lines Operator Paul Denaut

Paul Denaut, a Bus Operator working for Liberty Lines Transit in Westchester, has retired after 41 years of service. Brother Denaut started his career at Club Transportation Corp. in 1979, which was merged into Liberty Lines in 1981. The TWU family congratulates him on an outstanding record of service to the people of Yonkers and Westchester -- Carlos Bernabel, Divsion Chair, Private Operations.

College Scholarships Available for Local 100 Families in 2020

Union Plus College Scholarships Program - (application available now – deadline Jan. 31, 2020): https://www.unionplus.org/benefits/education/union-plus-scholarships
$100,000 – M3 Technology/Local 100 College Scholarship Program (application available now)
$25,000 – RGLZ/Local 100 College Scholarship Program (application available now)
$72,000 – TWU International Michael J. Quill Scholarships (application available now;
http://www.twu.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Quill-Scholarship-App_2020...

Membership Approves Four Year Contact with the MTA by a 2 - 1 Margin

JANUARY 9, 2020 -- Transit Workers approved the contract negotiated by TWU Local 100 with the MTA by a 2-to-1 margin, with 10,112 votes to 5,176, according to the American Arbitration Association, which tabulated the vote. The results were announced tonight at the conclusion of the count at the AAA office at 120 Broadway. "The MTA was determined to win huge concessions like doubling our paycheck deductions for healthcare, turning full-time jobs into part-time positions, and paying overtime after 40 hours instead of eight," said Local 100 President Tony Utano. "We did more than just hold our own. We moved forward."

TWU Prayers for Puerto Rico

Back to back earthquakes have hit parts of Puerto Rico very hard, and have plunged much of the island into darkness.  Our brothers and sisters in Puerto Rico have suffered too much in recent years. Local 100’s leadership sends out its heartfelt prayers to our Puerto Rican members and their families here and back home, with a sincere wish for better days to come. 

The Contract Ballots are in the Mail

Ballots for the ratification of our tentative agreement with the MTA covering TA, OA and MTA Bus members, are being mailed today (Dec. 18, 2019), and should be arriving in your mailbox in the next few days. The envelope is a large 9x12, printed in black and red, from the American Arbitration Association. Please follow the directions included with the mailing and return the ballot ASAP to have your voice heard. For more information about voting, click the image of our flyer.

Union Announces Winner of our Trash Train Contest

DECEMBER 10 -- TWU Local 100 Administrative Vice President Nelson Rivera announced the winner of our trashtrain.net contest at the Union Hall, presenting a check for $500 to CTA Tania Garcia, out of Pelham Barn, who snapped the photo of feces between cars on the #6 train. Brother Rivera explains how dirty cars -- the MTA said that over 2,000 had been isolated due to soiling this year -- inconvenience riders and cause train delays because they must be taken out of service. And that in turn results in rider anger against train crews and Cleaners. Local 100 started the contest at www.trashtrain.net in October to bring attention to the MTA's elimination of certain Cleaner jobs at terminals.

Here’s Your New Contract: Complete MOA and Departmental Agreements

We are happy to post all documents related to the new four-year agreement with the MTA for TA, OA and MTA Bus members. It includes the full Memorandum of Agreement, and all Departmental agreements. Ballots for the ratification vote will be mailed to each member’s home by the American Arbitration Association on Dec. 18, 2019. The ratification count will take place on Jan. 9, 2020.

• Read the Memorandum of Agreement & Departmental agreements (PDF)

Utano Takes to Airways to Thank Transit Workers for Contract Solidarity

Local 100 began running a new 60-second radio spot this morning on 1010 WINS in which President Tony Utano thanks the membership for standing behind the union during our contract battle with the MTA. The spot also extends a Happy Holidays wish to all New Yorkers. The spot will run until Christmas.

Click on the image to hear the spot.

Statement from Transport Workers Union Local 100 President Tony Utano on the tentative contract reached with the MTA.

“We had a real fight on our hands but transit workers stood together and we were able to secure a fair contract. Our Executive Board overwhelmingly approved the tentative agreement this morning. The American Arbitration Association will now conduct a ratification vote with members receiving ballots in the mail.”
 
The TWU Local 100 Executive Board, comprised of elected union officers from all divisions, voted 42-4 in favor of the agreement. Three board members abstained.

Read the highlights of the proposed agreement here.

Leon George, #1 Motorman, is Honored Posthumously by the Union

Brother Leon George, who had a celebrated career as the Train Operator (Motorman) with the greatest seniority in the transit system, passed away last year. We honored him and his legacy, presenting a plaque to his family on October 25 at Stillwell Terminal. His family was present at a ceremony at the terminal, where a replica plaque will hang permanently.