Report: LIRR "rolls closer to a possible strike"

In a copyrighted story, the New York Daily News today reports on the MTA's rejection, in Washington, of a proposed wage package for Long Island Railroad employees who have been working without a contract since 2010. The wage package, an average of 2.85% a year for six years, was recommended by an emergency board panel reporting to President Barack Obama. That recommendation is explained by President Samuelsen in his latest video, posted in the top position on the TWU Local 100 website. The MTA's rejection of the wage package recommendation, the News reports, sets up the MTA for a possible strike come summer -- which would be legal. LIRR employees are not subject to the NYS Taylor Law.

At Two Year Mark, President Samuelsen Assesses Prospects for a Contract

Local 100 President John Samuelsen, in the latest in a series of video to the rank and file, talks about how the economic climate has changed since the expiration of the TWU Local 100 contract two years ago, and what the prospects are for a settlement in the near future. Two recent arbitration decisions point to a developing consensus that the MTA’s repeated cry of poverty is bogus. Now it’s not just the TWU who is saying it.

Local 100, M3 Technology fete scholarship awardees

On January 10, TWU Local 100 Scholarship winners for 2012 and 2013 and their families, were feted at the Union Hall. President Samuelsen joined John B. Pescitelli of M3 Technology, our voluntary insurance provider and sponsor of the scholarships, in congratulating the awardees and presenting them with certificates. President Samuelsen discussed the contract fight, and said that the union's continuing fight for wages and benefits has been the driving force behind our members being able to provide their children with better opportunities than they themselves were given.

Click on image for slideshow. Click here for event program with full list of 2012 and 2013 scholarship winners.

The applications deadline for the 2014 scholarships is May 31. The application form can be found here.

TWU President Samuelsen and the Council Speaker

Melissa Mark-Viverito, Friend of TWU, Elected as City Council Speaker

TWU Local 100 congratulates City Councilwoman Melissa Mark-Viverito (D-East Harlem) on her election, by a unanimous vote, to the position of Speaker of the City Council. She has been a stalwart supporter of TWU Local 100 and an outspoken progressive in the fight to restore transit service, carrying Local 100 flyers to bring back bus service on Manhattan's East Side from the 126 Street Depot. She has attended Union events like Italian Heritage Night, and has frequently met with our Political Action Team and our leadership. We look forward to working with her in 2014 and beyond, as we pursue the restoration and expansion of bus service throughout the five boroughs. Ms. Mark-Viverito, 44, is a Puerto Rican-born lawmaker from East Harlem and becomes the first Hispanic to hold what is New York City’s second-most-powerful office.

As Snow Snarls City, We Make Commute Easier

TWU Local 100's Cleaners and other titles were out in force as the first big storm of 2014 hit New York. At 110th Street on the #1 line, CTA Raphael White with another worker helped tourists get down the stairs by chopping ice and helping clear a safe path to the train platform. TWU members -- send us your photos of storm-related activities to: communications@twulocal100.org

Holiday Party a Hit at LaGuardia Depot

Over 100 members from LaGuardia Depot turned out for the Depot's first holiday party at Ricardo's in Astoria, Queens. The December 13 event was attended by many rank and file, and officers attending included (l-r) Local 100 Administrative VP Angel Giboyeaux, LaGuardia Depot Recording Secretary Margie Johnson, Local 100 Recording Secretary LaTonya Crisp-Sauray, and LaGuardia Chairman Jack Desena. A good time was had by all.

Retirees Rockin For the Holidays

The TWU Retirees Association got the holidays started with a gala dinner and dance at Eastwood Manor in the Bronx!

Marines Take Toys for Tots Delivery from TWU

TWU Local 100 facilities manager Joe Ruggerio, with Paul Piazza and Tareque Ahmed, both members of the Executive Board from Stations Department, deliver over 200 toys to US Marines at the military base at Floyd Bennett Field, Brooklyn on Dec. 16. The toys were collected at the union’s mass membership meeting on Saturday, December 14th. One toy was donated by Station Agent Steve Anderson, who brought a football for the toy drive as Station Agent Theresa Green played Santa’s elf. Also in the pic are Stations' Paul Piazza and Paul Flores. The toys will be distributed by the Marines to children in area hospitals.

At Our Mass Membership Meeting -- Photos from the Event

TWU Membership Rejects MTA ‘Poison Pill’ Demands; Empowers Leadership to Make Contingency Plans

At its annual constitutionally required Mass Membership Meeting today, the assembled membership of Transport Workers Union Local 100 heard reports from the union’s leadership and passed a resolution expressing their determination to arrive at a negotiated contract settlement with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. The resolution rejected what it called the MTA’s ‘indefensible” claims of inability to pay a fair wage increase and formally called upon the union’s leadership to “make plans for every contingency.” Union members have been working without a contract since January of 2012.

With TWU, NYCT Honors Our Members in Recognition Ceremony

MTA top brass along with MOW Vice President Tony Utano honored union members in a recognition ceremony at Metrotech Center. Beginning the program, NYCT President Carmen Biano first thanked NYCT members who came out to help after the horrific Metro North crash last week. Then, along with VP Utano, he and other MTA officials honored members for heroism and commendable actions on the job.

IN MEMORIAM

Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela
July 18, 1918 - December 5, 2013

June, 1990: Mandela speaks at New York City Hall

Mayor-elect de Blasio Speaks at TWU Local 100 Union Hall in Brooklyn

TWU Local 100 donated our hall at 195 Montague Street in Brooklyn Heights to New York Communities for Change’s awards ceremony on December 3. Among those honored was Mayor-elect Bill de Blasio. In this short video shot at the union hall, he talks about the value of NYCC. In the beginning of the video, he speaks of the powerful contributions of organizer John Kest, who founded New York Communities for Change and also the Working Families Party, and the progressive movement's debt to him in New York.

Bus Operator Marlene Bien-Aime in court with ADA Hilary Chernin, who prosecuted the case on behalf of the People of the City of New York

Steangeli Medina Pleads Guilty to Bus Op Assault; Gets Jail Time

DECEMBER 3 -- The long wait for justice in the case of Kingsbridge Bus Operator Marlene Bien-Aime, who was brutally assaulted in June of 2011, has been resolved by a guilty plea from the assailant in  Bronx Criminal Court. Steangeli Medina, who was a minor when the assault was committed but is now over 18, accepted a plea deal today to a D Felony, the top count of the indictment, and sentence of six months behind bars, five years probation, anger management, and an eight-year order of protection that will prevent her from boarding any bus driven by Ms. Bien-Aime. Ms. Medina also waives any right to appeal. She admitted her guilt on the record and stated that she assaulted Ms. Bien-Aime following a dispute over her dog not being allowed on the bus without a carrier. In a victory for the union's efforts to increase penalties on those attacking our members, Ms. Medina pled guilty to section 120.05(11) of the penal law, which is the statute designed to prevent assaults on MTA employees while in their official business capacity.

Quality Members Ratify Contract

Members at Quality Brothers have ratified their first Local 100 contract by a 65-10 vote.

Last year, school bus workers at Quality decided to dump the existing house union and looked around for a union that would give them the representation they were looking for. They decided on TWU Local 100.

Local 100 won the subsequent representation vote by a wide margin. New members at Quality elected a bargaining committee which set to work.

School bus in NYC has been on a roller coaster thanks to the Bloomberg administration’s use of bidding to set off a race to the bottom. The uncertainties notwithstanding, members at Quality have won a solid contract which is a far cry from the deep concessions management was looking for.

Our congratulations to members at Quality and to the staff members who aided them in the organizing campaign and the contract fight.

[Photos: Quality members at a union meeting earlier this year, along with Sr. Director of Operations Curtis Tate]