The NYPD installed a new chief of police for the subway system.
The new Chief of Transit, Jason Wilcox, is a 35-year police veteran. He spent seven years as the commanding officer for all of Manhattan, supervising operations in Transit Districts 1, 2, 3, and 4. Transit Districts are essentially underground police precincts with geographic boundaries encompassing stations and segments of subway lines.
Introducing himself to the NYC Transit Committee at its monthly meeting Monday morning, Wilcox echoed the operational directives Mayor Eric Adams has vocalized when speaking about subway crime: greater visibility of police and more active patrols by uniformed officers.
“They will be on the trains and on the platforms,” Wilcox said. “They will be moving around. Every night, every day, you will see them. They will be there to protect you and make you feel safer.”
Wilcox said he is a lifelong city resident who has relied on the subway and bus system throughout his life. Growing up in Manhattan, his family never owned a car, he said.
A Local 100 campaign helped pressure the previous mayor to boost the number of officers in the Transit Bureau last year.
The number of Transit Bureau officers increased by approximately 1,000.
Local 100 endorsed Eric Adams based on his pledge to increase subway safety for both riders and workers. Local 100 President Tony Utano, who has spoken with Adams about the better deployment of officers, said he is encouraged by some of his actions in his first weeks in office, including directing above-ground precinct police officers to regularly park their cars and enter subway stations for spot-checks and to increase police visibility.
The new chief also indicated a greater focus on fare evasion began last year with a significant increase in summonses.
“We get it,” Wilcox said to a committee member pushing for enforcement. “I understand it. We’re committed to addressing that as well. It’s a matter of order that will we continue to try and maintain.”
TWU Local 100's Scholarship Program, sponsored by M3 Technology, is now accepting applications for 2022. $125,000 in scholarships will be given out in a random drawing of eligible applications. These college scholarships are open to union members, their children, their spouses, and the children and grandchildren of TWU Local 100 retirees. Just click on the image to download an application. Fill it out and mail it in! Good luck!
JANUARY 19 -- TWU Local 100 President Utano has demanded the MTA suspend use of Kronos timekeeping equipment for all Local 100 members because of the nationwide cyberattack and data breach.
In a letter to MTA Chairman Janno Lieber, Utano also insisted the MTA “fully and completely” compensate transit workers for any potential economic losses stemming from the attack - including time spent dealing with banks and credit card companies.
According to the MTA, unknown hackers gained access to files containing some personal information about MTA workers, which the MTA says is limited to commuter railroad workers. Previous representations by the MTA, however, have proved to be false so we are closely monitoring the situation.
The leaked data includes names, birthdates, addresses and emails, according to the authority.
The security breach is even more alarming because the MTA has revealed that Kronos does have some personal information about Local 100 members even though the Authority had repeatedly assured the union it would not provide the company with such data. The MTA was only supposed to provide individual names and pass numbers. The restriction was codified in an arbitration award after the union brought a case. Calling the disclosure an “absolute betrayal” that also violated a union arbitration award, Utano demanded an immediate investigation to determine those responsible.
In the absence of MTA compliance with these demands, Utano said the union will enforce its contractual rights for immediate arbitration.
In a welcome sign of cooperation and focus, Mayor Adams and Gov. Hochul announced Thursday new subway initiatives to increase safety and reduce the homeless population dwelling underground.
Adams, who was endorsed by TWU Local 100, said street-level police officers not responding to emergencies will be directed to park their cars and enter subway stations for security checks – and to increase the uniformed presence in the system. Subway-dedicated officers in the Transit Bureau will be directed to ride and walk through trains instead of congregating on mezzanines, he said. And officers sitting behind desks who can be of better service on patrol will be placed into transit patrol, he said, appearing with Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell.
“Omnipresence is the key,” Adams said at a press conference at the Fulton Transit Center in Manhattan. Hochul said the state will fund new homeless outreach teams consisting of mental health professionals and build more affordable housing with support services.
“We’re happy the new governor and new mayor are working together to improve safety for both riders and workers,” TWU Local 100 President Tony Utano said. “Riders come in and out of the system, but this is our office. This is where we spend 8, 10, or even more hours a day. The mayor and governor are giving the issue of public safety in the transit system the focus and attention that’s required.”
Officials said the goal was not to hound the homeless with enforcement for low-level infractions but to get them the help they need to move on with their lives, and out of the transit system. Adams indicated that he believes laws need to be enforced or adapted to deal with the thorny issue of handling subway dwellers who refuse services, including alternative shelter.
Our Training and Upgrading Fund (TUF) offers courses to Union members on site and online. Offerings include computers and electronics, learning software productivity tools like MS Word and MS Excel, Math, Spanish, and sign language. Also, a course for women on exploring non-traditional careers. Get all the details by clicking on image at left for a full copy of the two-page flyer.
DECEMBER 8 -- Local 100 members have re-elected President Tony Utano to a new three-year term, as well as incumbent running mates on the Stand United Slate, Earl Phillips as Secretary Treasurer, LaTonya Crisp as Recording Secretary and Lynwood Whichard as Administrative Vice President.
Six of the seven Vice Presidents on Utano’s slate, including John Chiarello (Maintenance of Way); Richard Davis (MaBSTOA); Shirley Martin (Car Equipment); Robert Kelley (Stations); Peter Rosconi (MTA Bus/School Bus/Private Operations), and JP Patafio (TAS) were all victorious. RTO members elected Canella Gomez as their Departmental Vice President from the Progressive Change slate.
President Utano said of the results: “I want to thank the membership for placing its faith in me to lead our union for the next three years. We all kept the faith throughout the pandemic, and together battled to keep our workplaces safe and to move the union forward on all fronts. We secured billions in federal aid for the MTA which will guarantee our jobs, our benefits and sanctity of our collective bargaining agreements for the foreseeable future. Better days are coming, and I am thrilled to be able to continue as President of this great organization, TWU.”
Unofficial results on all elections have been posted on the Elections Committee page. These results will be subject to certification.
Management has issued a memo on COVID-19 testing which explains testing procedures for members who choose not to get vaccinated. It also explains how to provide proof of vaccination. You can read it here.
Five hundred transit workers hailing from India and Southeast Asia celebrated with Union leadership at a festive evening November 20th in Elmont. Officiating at the celebration were longtime CED officer Jolly Eapen and the younger members of the Committee. A great time was had by all -- the food was first rate, and Bollywood dancers and singers entertained the crowd. Enjoy the pix!
The MTA has started reimbursing Tier 6 members who were overcharged for their pensions. The checks are in the mail.
This first round of checks will be for overcharges that took place this year (2021). Reimbursements for overcharges that took place in prior years are expected to be issued in the first quarter of 2022.
TWU Local 100 President Tony Utano raised concerns earlier this year about the MTA’s pension-calculations, prompting the authority to do a comprehensive review. The review proved the concerns were on target.
Pensions are overseen by the New York State Legislature in Albany. The Tier 6 legislation mandated workers contribute 3% to 6% of their earnings through automatic paycheck deductions towards their future pensions. The legislation also limited, or capped, how much overtime could be used to calculate a retiring worker’s pension. The limit is now about $17,000 a year.
The MTA has conceded it had wrongly been making pension deductions to overtime earnings above the overtime cap.
The checks currently going out to overcharged members are for deductions on overtime earnings exceeding $17,000. The MTA will continue to deduct Tier 6 contributions for those employees on 40 hours only for the rest of the year. Deductions on OT earnings for those employees will not be subject to deduction for the remainder of 2021, and beyond.
The MTA has said that approximately 8,000 employees with the Tier 6 plan will be getting reimbursements with interest.
Local 100 Shop Steward and Carriage Horse Driver Christina Hansen goes on 1010 WINS to support her Brothers and Sisters in Central Park and their iconic industry. Listen here.
NOVEMBER 18 -- RTO Vice President Eric Loegel continued the Union's ongoing campaign to bring more public attention to the continuing issue of assaults on transit workers. With him was Conductor Trevor Thomas, who was shot in the face with a BB gun as he was pulling out of the 219th Street station on the #2 Train on November 8th. Brother Thomas described the pain and anger he felt after being shot by a gang of three teenagers. Union Rep Jose Melendez displayed Thomas's bloody shirt to assembled media. The assailants have not yet been apprehended.
TWU Local 100 has been very vocal about the need for uniformed police officers to ride buses to help prevent the attacks and abuse inflicted on Bus Operators. It appears the MTA has come to the same conclusion. The MTA’s Sarah Meyer today told the authority board at its monthly meeting that 64% of subway riders feel safer when they see a uniformed police officer in the system – but that “the NYPD does not patrol buses. We need a plan on that front.” MTA Chairman Janno Lieber said, “Policing isn’t limited to the subway or the commuter rail system. People who ride buses also deserve effective policing. We’re looking at it right now.”
TWU Local 100 President Tony Utano issued the following comment in response to this development: “We are grateful that the MTA has finally publicly taken up our call for the police to pay much more attention to buses. This is good news for riders and Bus Operators. Bus Operators never see uniformed police officers on buses and have been subjected to violent assaults and horrendous abuse for far too long. The city has increased the number of police officers in the subway. It’s a good step but there’s more to be done throughout the subway and bus system. Transit workers come to work to do a job, not be punching bags for unhinged riders and criminals. We want to go home to our families at the end of our shifts safe and sound, not wind up in the emergency room.”
Police on a relatively very small scale “step on, step off” buses at very few bus stops but do not ride buses along routes.
Click on the image to hear Carriage Horse Driver Christina Hansen, who is represented by TWU Local 100, talking to WCBS 88 about how the horse carriage industry is now making a comeback as the COVID cloud begins to lift. Or click here for the report.
