News from TWU Local 100

Lemon Wins Train Operator Election

SEPTEMBER 30 -- In an election conducted to fill the vacancy for Vice Chair of Train Operators in A Division, Curtis Lemon bested two challengers to win with 100 votes. Lemon, a Train Operator for more than ten years, has been a Shop Steward and also served on the Local 100 Executive Board from 2016 to 2018. Brother Lemon takes on the duties formerly performed by Leonard Goody, who took a promotion to a supervisory title. Congratulations Curtis!

14th Indian Day Brings Hundreds to Celebrate in Queens

SEPTEMBER 28 -- Union members packed the IBEW hall in Queens to celebrate their Indian-American heritage for the 14th consecutive TWU Local 100 Indian Day. Honorees included State Senators Kevin Thomas, New York's first Indian-born Senator, NYC Comptroller Scott Stringer, and Councilman Donovan Richards. President Tony Utano began the event by paying tribute to our Indian-American transit workers, and urging everyone to attend the union's critical contract rally on October 30th at 2 Broadway. He also singled out Admin VP Nelson Rivera for special recognition. Entertainment was provided by Neel & Neeta, with Bollywood dance numbers by Anil Diwakar, DPA Events and Entertainment. Great food was provided by Sitar Palace. The event was organized by our Indian Day Committee under the leadership of Executive Board Member Sam Ponnolil. Enjoy the slides of the event -- just click on the handles to advance the show.

1st VoTech Apprentice Class Graduates

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The first class of 25 apprentices, selected from New York City Vocational Technical Schools in 2016, has graduated after a three-year program of on-the-job learning with Local 100 veterans. The happy grads are now working in Maintainer Titles in Elevator & Escalator, Lighting, Signals ,and Hydraulic. Photo shows the grads holding their certificates. Local 100 President Tony Utano, Vice Presidents John Chiarello and Eric Loegel and Division Chairs Duvet Williams (LE/S) and Steve Higgins (Power) were on hand to wish the grads well in their new transit careers.

Local 100 Celebrates at the African American Day Parade

SEPTEMBER 15 -- A hundred transit workers and family members marched proudly through Harlem on a beautiful summer's day at the annual African-American Day Parade. Leading the Parade were top officers including President Tony Utano, Administrative VP Nelson Rivera, and Vice Presidents John V. Chiarello, Shirley Martin, and Lynwood Whichard. Our very own Sharase Debouse of our Political Action Department, who is a District Leader in her own right, lit up the parade as a Marshal. Click on the handles to see all of the images and videos.

New Radio Spot Attacks MTA Giveback Demands

Local 100 launched a radio campaign today on 1010 WINS that excoriates the MTA's giveback demands, and declares "Now it's time to for the MTA to hear our voices" as it promotes the union's planned contract rally on Oct. 30, 2019. Click on the graphic above or listen to the spot here.

Beware of Counterfeit Contract Flier

TWU Local 100 President Tony Utano issued the following statement after a counterfeit contract rally flier appeared on social media:

“Someone took an official TWU flier and doctored it by changing the date and time of the rally, and then circulated it on social media. This phony flier should be ignored. Those who are perpetrating this hoax are in violation of the TWU Local 100 By-Laws for misappropriation of the union logo.

"The reason for this intentional deception is to confuse the membership and undermine the union’s efforts to win a fair contract for transit workers. October 30th is the official TWU Local 100 contract rally at 5:00 pm outside 2 Broadway. This is the only rally sponsored and supported by the union."

Click here for the official contract rally flyer. “We will see you at the official TWU contract rally on Oct. 30, 2019.”

Utano Slams Foye in Wake of Rising Assaults

In an interview on 1010 WINS, Local 100 President Tony Utano slams MTA Chairman Pat Foye for being out of touch with the rank and file transit worker. Listen to the clip.

Local 100 Announces October 30th Contract Rally

We’ve heard a lot in the media lately from the bosses at the MTA that transit workers are overtime cheats and no-shows on the job. And that we don’t deserve a contract unless we pay for our own raises.

Now, the MTA is going to hear our voices, LOUD AND CLEAR!

Local 100 members are urged to turn out for a mass CONTRACT RALLY outside 2 Broadway on October 30th. There will be speakers, union-branded handouts, and lots of voices telling the MTA that “Transit Workers Deserve a Fair Contract.”

Assemble at 5:00pm. Wear your union colors. And be prepared to make noise.

Union Honors Transit Workers Who Served in 9/11 Rescue and Recovery

President Tony Utano and top officers recognized some of the three thousand transit workers who served in the rescue and recovery effort in a ceremony at the Union Hall on September 5th. Over 2100 were ordered to Ground Zero by NYCT, and hundreds more volunteered on their own time. Local 100 has mounted a campaign for public recognition of the work of union members on that day, and you can read more about that here. TWU Local mourns the loss of those killed in the attack on America, and we stand strong in supporting all responders who have illnesses from the toxic conditions at the World Trade Center site.

The New York Post put the story on Page 4 of Tuesday's Paper

Union Hammers Foye on Car Cleaner Cuts

TWU Local 100 has been hammering MTA Chairman Patrick Foye for the authority’s Car Cleaner cuts and anti-worker rhetoric. Administrative Vice President Nelson Rivera provided the media with photos of disgusting subway car conditions at the Stillwell Terminal in Coney Island. The photos highlight the understaffing and the harsh working environment of the subway.

“These disgusting conditions are terrible for riders and workers,” TWU Local 100 Administrative Vice President Nelson Rivera said. “If MTA Chairman Pat Foye wants to talk about ‘worker availability,’ he needs to recognize that this environment and unacceptable assaults are causing workers to get sick and injured.”

Local 100 secured coverage from news channels CBS2, NBC4 , WPIX11 and Fox 5; The City, an on-line news publication staffed by veteran NYC reporters; The New York Post and The Staten Island Advance.

The MTA has cut 81 terminal Car Cleaner positions in the last couple of years through attrition.