News from TWU Local 100

Juneteenth: A Day Every Union Member Should Know About

Today is Juneteenth, also known as Juneteenth Independence Day or Freedom Day, which commemorates the emancipation from slavery in the United States. The photo above is of Americans turning out to celebrate the day in Texas in 1900.

The newsletter, Fast Company, has brought these facts together:

Juneteenth marks the day in 1865 when the Union Army's Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger landed in Galveston, Texas, and declared that all slaves were now free.
This event happened two years after Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, but Lincoln's freeing of the slaves was only on paper, and the ongoing Civil War prevented freedom from becoming a reality as many plantation owners withheld the news.
Juneteenth marked a turning point in the fight to free fellow humans from the bonds of slavery, and African Americans in Texas celebrated it as a day of freedom. There were other options for an official holiday marking the end of slavery, including September 22, which was the day in 1862 when Lincoln issued his preliminary Emancipation Proclamation Order on January 31, the date the 13th Amendment passed Congress in 1865 and officially abolished the institution of slavery. However, it was Juneteenth that stuck.
In 1979 Texas became the first state to make Juneteenth an official holiday. Now the day more widely represents the emancipation of enslaved African-Americans.
While it's not an official national holiday, Juneteenth is now a state holiday or a day of observance in most states and the District of Columbia, with only Hawaii, Montana, New Hampshire, and the Dakotas holding out. To celebrate this historic day, events will take place around the country. This year, many are also calling for a day of action as a reminder that the struggle for equality and racial justice is far from over.

TWU is proud to acknowledge the value and importance of this day.

Fraternally,
Tony Utano

President

New Ad Campaign Reminds the City: 'TWU, We Move New York'

With another tough summer ahead for transit workers -- who are regularly subject to assaults and spitting incidents -- TWU Local 100 President Tony Utano has launched a new ad campaign on the City’s most listened to radio station, 1010 WINS, to spotlight the tough, dangerous work Local 100 members perform 24-7-365 to move New York City.

The campaign started today, Monday June 18, 2018, with a series of one-minute commercials. Additional spots in the weeks and months ahead will focus on stories of individual Local 100 members, the jobs they do for New York, and the impact good union contracts have had on their lives. If you have a story to tell, and would like to get involved, contact Local 100’s Communications Department.

Said President Utano: "We want New Yorkers to know that transit workers provide a vital service to this City and that we deserve respect for the jobs we do." The commercial closes with the message every New Yorker needs to hear: “TWU, WE Move New York.”

Media Turns Out as Bus Operator Describes Beat-Down by Teens; Union Pushes for Partitions in W'Chester

The media turned out in force Wednesday, June 15, for a TWU Local 100 press conference in Yonkers on the assault of Liberty Lines Bus Operator Burin Sylej.

Vice President of Private Lines Pete Rosconi told the assembled press contingent that Local 100 President Tony Utano would push for partitions in Liberty Lines buses.

Sylej described how three teenagers threw bottles, punches and kicks at him in the Bronx on Sunday at the southern end of a Westchester-Bronx route.

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More than 15 reporters, photographers and television camera operators from outlets like The Westchester Journal, News12 Westchester, 1010 WINS radio, WCBS Channel 2 and WNBC Channel 4 came to the presser at the Local 100 satelite office on Saw Mill River Road in Yonkers. IB Image

Read an excellent report in the local paper here.

Local 100 asked former Westchester County Robert Astorino to retrofit Liberty Lines’ buses with safety partitions but the Republican refused. TWU will now reach out to new County Executive George Latimer, a Democrat, who defeated Astorino in November.

Councilman Brad Lander Scores DeBlasio Administration for Flawed RFP on Bike Expansion

JUNE 13 -- At City Hall, TWU Local 100 members including Citibike workers joined Councilman Brad Lander to urge the DeBlasio Administration to re-think their RFP for bikeshare expansion. The Councilman put forward three tests which the RFP must meet. Also speaking were Citibike worker Roberto Jeanniton and Nick Bedelll, the TWU's Director of Strategic Campaigns.

Local 208 Scores Win v Driverless Buses

Utano Testifies at Columbus City Council Hearing

IB Image JUNE 11 -- TWU Local 100 President Tony Utano brought a delegation of Local 100 union officers to Columbus, Ohio to fight a move to put driverless tech on city buses. Our gesture of solidarity was to support TWU Local 208, which is fighting the possible introduction of robot drivers on public routes.

“Technology can be used to make public buses – already an extremely safe mode of travel – even safer,” he told the Council. “But there are critical safety gaps that only a human bus operator can fill – no matter how advanced technology becomes.”

Utano said robotic proximity sensors and automatic braking systems have their place in the buses of the future, but that in case of situations like a medical emergency, lost child, or frail elderly person they wouldn’t be able to help. “What if communication systems are knocked out or there is a computer glitch,” he asked. “Will an empty seat know not to drive down a street full of fire and smoke?”

"The TWU is not against technological advances," TWU Local 208 President Andrew Jordan said. "TWU believes technology is a tool that can help make public transit -- already incredibly safe -- even safer, but it shouldn't be used to eliminate these vital jobs."

Utano was joined by officers from both TA Surface and MaBSTOA, including TAS VP JP Patafio, OA Maintenance Director Tom Lenane, and Recording Secretary LaTonya Crisp.

The trip to Columbus was part of a full-court press by the TWU International to stand against the possible loss of Bus Operator jobs to driverless tech. Union members wearing message t-shirts packed the hearing room, and in the end the Columbus City Council voted unanimously in favor of a resolution expressing the sense of the TWU’s objections, which is to embrace new tech for its safety value while also preserving the crucial human element in the driver’s seat.

“There are a million reasons why the presence of bus operators is so important,” TWU International President John Samuelsen told the Council. “There will be significant and unacceptable safety and security gaps if you take Bus Operators off buses.”

TWU Parties at Puerto Rican Day Parade -- and Sends a Message

Over three hundred transit workers brought activism and excitement to the annual Puerto Rican Day Parade, marching proudly up 5th Avenue. Led by the Local 100/MTA Ceremonial Honor Guard, we paraded in bright t-shirts -- Bus Operators, Conductors, Cleaners, Mechanics, Train Operators, Track and Signal Workers, and numerous other titles. Some pushed strollers and brought their entire families. Attending were President Tony Utano and Administrative VP Nelson Rivera, as well as Vice Presidents Joe Costales, Derrick Echevarria, Richie Davis, and Pete Rosconi. President Tony Utano and Administrative VP Rivera marched earlier in the day with New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo and Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul. Later, the TWU contingent turned on to 5th Avenue with a float with a DJ that enlivened the enthusiastic crowd, and a City bus. The New York Times covered our entry, noting that the float told a story of sadness and anger: "4,645: TWU Local 100 mourns the heartbreaking loss of life from Hurricane Maria! Message to President Trump! Puerto Rico's recovery has just begun!"

Tony Utano Discusses Assaults on Labor Press Radio's "Blue Collar Buzz"

SUNDAY, JUNE 10 -- TWU Local 100 President Tony Utano went on labor press's radio show, "Blue Collar Buzz" over the weekend to talk about the continuing issue of assaults on transit workers -- mainly Bus Operators, Conductors, and Train Operators -- who are the face of the MTA to a public increasingly angry over schedule changes and delays due to system upgrades. Even though the Subway Action Plan will result in improved service, many New Yorkers appear to be taking out their frustration on the MTA employees they see on their every day commutes. President Utano addresses the issue on the show. He is also convening ongoing meetings with public officials including Brooklyn DA Eric Gonzalez. Hear the show here:

50 Students Win M3/TWU Scholarships worth $66,000

THURSDAY, JUNE 7 -- For the seventh year in a row, M3 Technology, which provides voluntary insurance coverage to TWU Local 100 members, has supported a scholarship program that helps college students with their expenses. The bulk are the sons and daughters of TWU members, although a few are TWU members themselves. A festive lunch was held for the winners at the Union Hall, with President Tony Utano congratulating the 50 awardees and their beaming parents. As each winner was introduced, their parents also came up for a photograph along with the Vice President from their respective TWU department. Four students won $5,000 scholarships, while the others won $1,000. Each scholarship is for the current academic year, and every eligible student or members can apply each year. President Utano urged the scholarship winners to respect and honor their parents and "never forget where you came from." Also congratulating the winners was John Pescitelli, of M3 Technology, who said that he would increase the amounts given to scholarship winners in the next go-round. Enjoy the slide show of the happy winners and their families!

At Third Rail Pick, two Number One's

IB Image Local 100 President Tony Utano, who is number one in the seniority list for Power Maintainers, visited the 38th Street Yard in Brooklyn, where he had picked work locations for years. The visit was a chance to reconnect with fellow MOW members, including Harold Calhoun (pictured talking with President Utano), who is number one in seniority for Third Rail Maintainers. With Tony were MOW VP John V. Chiarello and Power Division Chair Steve Higgins. Section Chair Tommy Creegan was also on hand for the pick. IB Image

TWU Friend is the New Prime Minister of Barbados

Mia Mottley, the newly elected Prime Minister of Barbados, is a close personal friend of TWU Local 100 Secretary Treasurer Earl Phillips, who was born and raised in this island paradise. Prime Minister Mottley has, in fact, visited the TWU Local 100 union hall in Brooklyn on two occasions. TWU’s Phillips, who admits “staying up all night waiting for the election results to come in” said he is thrilled with Mottley’s victory.

In a congratulatory letter to the new Prime Minister, Phillips stated: “On behalf of the 44,000 members of the Transport Workers Union Local 100, many of whom trace their ancestry to our beautiful country of Barbados, I wish to congratulate you and the Barbados Labour Party on its sweeping victory in the national elections on May 24, 2018.

“The people of Barbados have given you a tremendous mandate to govern. The vote demonstrates their deep belief in your ability to uplift our economy and deal with pressing infrastructure issues. Back here in New York, we are proud that you are blazing a trail as the first woman Prime Minister of our country. And we are equally proud and confident that you will lead Barbados into a new era of economic and political prosperity.”

Phillips said he has invited Prime Minister Mottley “back to TWU Local 100” on her next visit to the U.S. As her first act as Prime Minister, Mottley announced an emergency plan to deal with the country’s debt.