Union, Community Action Bears Fruit as MTA Announces Service Restorations

Bus operators and maintainers, working hand-in-hand with transit riders and local politicians, have successfully pressured the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to restore service on key bus lines, said TWU Local 100 President John Samuelsen. He released the following statement on the eve of an MTA press conference describing the service restorations:

“Communities across the City have been struggling under the weight of the MTA service cuts of 2010 which were implemented by former CEO Jay Walder. It has become increasingly clear that the lack of bus service especially has been harming the economic health of our neighborhoods. Bus Operators have told TWU Local 100 that they have seen riders lose their jobs because of commuting delays caused by the cancellation of bus routes along with reductions in service in routes that survived the cuts. Business have been complaining that there are seeing a decreased flow of customers.

“So Local 100 has been investing in organizing riders, along with community groups. We have been working intensively with housing groups and rider advocates including residents of the Red Hook Houses, and the Rider Rebellion. We’ve partnered with political leaders including Councilmembers Brad Lander and Sara Gonzalez, and Assemblyman Jim Brennan and U.S. Congresswoman Nydia Velasquez, along with Assemblyman Bill Colton. We believe that these and other partnerships led directly to today’s decision by the MTA to put an estimated $30 million into the restoration of bus routes.

“The MTA’s move to cut bus and subway service back in 2010 has backfired. It has not saved money, but has cost New York residents jobs and New York businesses customers they could ill-afford to lose. These restorations are a breath of fiscal good sense and we hope the MTA follows up and restores all of the service lost in 2010.”

Said TWU Local 100 Organizer JP Patafio, who presented 1500 petitions calling for the restoration of B77 bus service in Red Hook, Brooklyn, to the MTA Board of Directors at its last meeting: “Both riders and rank and file operators have been united in the struggle to bring back service. We also appreciate the support of MTA Board Members Mitch Pally and Allen Cappelli who have also been lobbying for service restorations. It's a tremendous victory for riders and workers.”