News from TWU Local 100

Contract Implementation Update for January 2015

A 2% raise for TA/OA members, won in our recent contract, goes into effect starting January 16, 2015.

New hourly rates by title can be seen at our wage rates chart ^{(.pdf link)}

In accordance with the TWU Constitution and the By-Laws of Local 100, this raise will be accompanied by a 2% increase in dues. The raise and new dues rates will be reflected in checks issued January 28/29, 2015.

The new bi-weekly dues rates
TA/OA:	$28.72
Full-time Traffic Checkers:	$22.38
Part-Time Traffic Checkers:	$17.12

A print version can be read here ^{(.pdf link)}

A Night at the Nets

Content from Nets Night

At Barclays Center on January 9, it was the Nets vs. the Sixers and TWU Local 100 vs. TWU Local 100. In both cases, the favorites lost, but for our transit and utility workers, there was no heartbreak. Mike Conigliaro’s Local 101 team shot 17 from the foul line, while Tony Utano’s Local 100 squad came up with 16 points. A nice turnout of rank and filers and family members who showed up cheered on their sons, daughters, and spouses after the Nets game ended at the arena.

Every Local 100 and Local 101 member who attended got a free $10 discount card from Modell's. TWU Local 100 would like to thank our sponsors for the event, Modell's Sporting Goods and Markhoff & Mittman. This was another Local 100 Rewards special event -- be sure to check out the Local 100 Rewards site and take advantage of the great offers exclusively for our Union brothers and sisters. Enjoy the photos and plan to be there for next year’s challenge at Barclays Center!

We Mourn Line of Duty Death of MTA Bridge and Tunnel Officer Thomas Choi

TWU Local 100 mourns the passing of Thomas Choi, the first MTA Bridge and Tunnel Officer to die in the line of duty in the 81-year history of the TBTA. Officer Choi, a member of our sister union, the Bridge and Tunnel Officers Benevolent Association, was struck by a car while on duty on the morning of October 20, 2013. He was re-opening the Brooklyn-bound lower level of the Verrazano Bridge at the time. He was in a coma for 14 months before passing on Monday, December 29th. Local 100 members are invited to attend Officer Choi's funeral. A viewing will take place tomorrow, Thursday, January 8th between 3pm and 7pm at the King Fook Funeral Home at 6920 Fort Hamilton Parkway in Brooklyn. Services will take place Friday, January 9th, from 8:30 am to 10 am there, followed by a private burial at a cemetery in Westchester County. The MTA Bridges and Tunnels Honor Guard will lead the procession. Officer Choi leaves his wife, Michelle, two sons, Calvin and Timothy, and a daughter, Tiffany. Read the MTA press release here.

Working in the Cold

Working in cold environments is not safe. It can damage your skin (frost bite). It can interfere with working safely. Manual tasks are harder, because cold reduces strength and flexibility. And being cold makes it harder to pay attention.

You have a right to a safe and comfortable work environment. This includes:

Heating should be provided wherever possible
Clothes should suit the temperature and work
Warm up areas must be available

Click here for the Safety & Health Bulletin on working in the cold.

The Year in Review, The Year Ahead: A New Year's Message from Local 100 President John Samuelsen

On behalf of the 40,000 members (and growing) and officers of TWU Local 100, I wish you and your family all the best for a happy, healthy New Year, and the hope that 2015 brings you good things all year long. Your union will be working hard to insure that your livelihood is protected, that you are safe on the job, and that our contracts are enforced by the union, and respected at all times by management. I am happy to report that our 34,000 TA and OA members will start the New Year off right with a 2 percent across-the-board wage increase. This raise comes courtesy of the contract we negotiated with the MTA in April 2014.

The contract provided raises in every year, with full retroactivity. We also won a package of non-wage benefits worth four wage points, including huge gains in dental and optical, first time ever lifetime spousal medical benefits, free rides on Metro North and the LIRR and two weeks paid paternity and maternity leave on the birth or adoption of a child. In all, we won $635 million in wages and benefits.

How the NY Post covered the story on Christmas Eve

President John Samuelsen to Local 100 Bus Operators: ‘Protect Yourself, Operate Your Bus With Extreme Caution.'

Local 100 President John Samuelsen Issued the Following Statement and Advice today in the Wake of the Outrageous Arrest of Bus Operator In Brooklyn Under Vision Zero:

""On top of all the difficulties and dangers already facing our Bus Operators, a new one now exists. Under the initiative known as Vision Zero, the Police are now stating they are mandated to arrest a Bus Operator involved in a fatal pedestrian accident. The implementation this policy, written or otherwise, that calls for our Bus Operators to be arrested for accidents is nothing short of an attack against all New York City Transit Workers.

"Under this unjust, punitive policy one of our Operators was arrested on the evening of December 23, 2014 in Brooklyn. He was charged with “failing to yield to a pedestrian.” This arrest was an absolute outrage and must not stand. Day-in and day-out, we deliver a tremendous service to this City under extremely adverse conditions. Subjecting transit workers to such treatment is nothing short of despicable. WE ARE NOT CRIMINALS!

"The resulting anger and frustration of brother and sister bus operators and depot and division officers the following morning at several depots was a powerful, spontaneous demonstration of support for the charged Bus Operator. This portion of the Vision Zero law is a travesty, and must be amended. The union will be pursuing every angle to accomplish this, and pressuring elected public officials to take immediate action.

"In the meantime, all Bus Operators throughout the City must proceed with extreme caution on the job. This means abiding by MTA regulations rigidly. Observe all traffic regulations, most importantly the new City-wide speed limit. You are under great scrutiny right now by people in positions of authority who do not care about your livliehood, or your ability to take care of your family. This is an extremely serious situation and you must respond accordingly. Do not take any chances whatsoever. If the diligent operation of your bus causes a negative impact on service, then so be it. You must operate safely at all times. That must be your focus.

"Should any member of Supervision threaten or harass you in any way to speed up service to make schedule, notify your Depot or Division officers immediately.
"Be safe. Be careful. Protect your job."

Statement of TWU Local 100 President John Samuelsen on the Murder of Police Officers Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu

On behalf of all transit workers of good will, and on behalf of my own family, I offer my heartfelt sympathies to the families of Police Officers Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu and to all members of the New York City Police Department.

Their murder is a shocking assault on our entire City and on all workers who risk their lives and devote their careers in service to the people of New York. There is no justification on any level for this monstrous crime against society and the rule of law that keeps us all grounded in basic human goodness. It is my fervent hope that this shameful act serves as a catalyst for healing in our City.

May our Union Brothers Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu rest in peace, and may their families find the courage to get through this awful time.

Coro Fellows with PAC Director Marvin Holland

New Blood from Coro Fellows Energizes Union Fight

TWU Local 100 has been benefiting from the services of two Coro Fellows, highly-skilled college graduates who have been selected to be part of a rigorous leadership training program. Coro is a non-profit education organization that's been developing leaders for over 60 years, and training them to tackle complex problems by rotating them in and out of government and industry.

Local 100's two Coro fellows, David Bocarsly and Michelle St. Julien, were thrown into the mix to help tackle two of our most pressing issues: David was assigned to research the differences between MTA bus employees and the rest of the MTA workforce. Michelle was put to work mapping and analyzing patterns of bus operator assaults in Brooklyn.

Working out of the PAC "war room" on the 9th floor, and mentored by PAC Director Marvin Holland, David and Michelle immersed themselves in the issues and culture of our union. David, who comes from California and attended UCLA, did research and met with City Council members to educate them on the history of the MTA Bus pension and what could be done to fix the inequity.

AUDIO: Talking about TWU's National Bike Share Initiative with WPFW Radio's Bill Fletcher

On Bill Fletcher Jr.’s talk show on WPFW, Arise! TWU National Bike Share Initiative lead organizer Nicholas Bedell discusses the recent successful efforts to unionize bike share workers. He describes the effort, the fight against anti-Union law firm Jackson Lewis, and our long-term objective, which is to provide these workers with sustainable jobs in the new green economy.

After months of work, MTA VP George Menduina and MOW VP Tony Utano unveil new lobby at East New York Depot

The work was done by in-house forces, showcasing another example of excellent workmanship by TWU Local 100 members. Sharing in the satisfaction of a job well done were rank and file TWU members, under the Structures Division of MOW, Division Chair Richard Rocco, as well as engineers from DC 37 and managers.