News from TWU Local 100

Attention Local 100 Bus Operators

The union has been informed that the NYPD is planning traffic checkpoints in Manhattan the entire week of May 11-15, 2015 to insure that drivers are adhering to the Vision Zero “right of way” law. Two precincts involved are: the 19^th Precinct, 153 E 67th Street and the 23^rd Precinct, 164 E. 102^nd Street.

These are East Side precincts, so the focus of the checkpoints will most likely be from 5^th Avenue to the East River Drive, and from 59th to 116^th Streets. However, Bus Operators anywhere in Manhattan should be on alert. Please remember to operate your bus strictly according to all DOT traffic rules and MTA driving standards. The Police will be looking to issue summonses for violating any traffic regulation, big or small. OA Division 1 officers including Terrance Harmon (L/S coordinator) and the line stewards will be on the road and in the depots to assist with any issues or questions.

Please operate safely and be careful.

Pete Donohue Joins TWU Family

TWU Local 100 President John Samuelsen today announced that Pete Donohue, the Pulitzer nominated transit reporter and columnist for the NY Daily News, is joining the TWU staff at Transport Hall, 195 Montague Street in Brooklyn.

President Samuelsen said: “I am thrilled to announce that one of New York’s finest reporters has accepted our offer to join us here at TWU. For 22 years, Pete covered the courts, politics, general news and the transit beat with a blue-collar style and flair that was quintessential New York. He reported on every event, big and small, involving our transit system for more than 15 years with the highest level of journalistic professionalism. He always gave the workers a fair shake, and never failed to reach out to the union to allow our voice to be heard. Pete had other opportunities available to him, but he chose us, and we’re happy to have him aboard.”

Samuelsen added that Donohue will work with TWU Local 100, representing nearly 40,000 members at the MTA, private bus and school bus companies, and New York Bikeshare, and TWU Local 101, representing workers at National Grid. During his career with the News, Donohue was considered one of the best reporters in the highly competitive New York City market. Since 1993, he built a reputation as a tough but fair journalist who not only got big stories first, but got them right.

Richardson Wins Handily in 43rd AD Race

Diana Richardson, who enjoyed the strong support of TWU Local 100 and ran on the Working Families Line, resoundingly defeated three other candidates to take the top spot in the contest for the 43rd Assembly District, recently vacated by Karim Camara. Richardson won with 51% of the vote, with her nearest challenger, Shirley Patterson, at 25%. Her win was the top priority of the TWU Local 100 PAC Team over the last month, with the Union attending fundraisers and going door to door to get out the vote, raise the candidate's profile, and get out the vote among transit workers in the district. Congratulations, Assemblywoman Richardson! We look forward to working closely with you on mass transit issues before the legislature.

Rec. Sec. Crisp-Sauray, Surviving Family Commemorate William Peña on Workers Memorial Day

On April 28, TWU Local 100 joined with local labor leaders and workers safety advocates to mark Workers Memorial Day. On the occasion, Recording Secretary LaTonya Crisp-Sauray and MaBSTOA I Chairman Richie Davis joined surviving members of the Peña family to commemorate his tragic death in the line of duty.

President Samuelsen Takes on Vision Zero on WABC Radio

Local 100 President Samuelsen delivered another blow to Vision Zero during an interview with UCOMM Radio's Kris LaGrange, which is broadcast on WABC 770 on Sunday evenings. Click to hear President Samuelsen's explanation of why the law is unjust, and why we're pushing an amendment to change it.

Disgraced cop Mirjan Lolja, right, confers with his attorney, Michael Martinez, after court hearing on April 24th

Set Trial Date for Rogue Cop in Conductor Beat-Down

A Bronx judge set June 5th as the trial date for NYPD officer Mirjan Lolja, who jumped on and throttled NYCT Conductor Fatima Futa, a member of Local 100, last December 23rd. Lolja -- who was not in uniform and didn't identify himself -- apparently grew irate at the train schedule and decided to take his frustration out on the nearest MTA employee. He pushed her down and choked her at about 2AM, then bolted from the station wearing a big grin on his face. Read the Daily News story here. Lolja only turned himself in a week later when the video image was released by the NYPD, who apparently didn't know that the perpetrator was one of their own. On his way into court today at the Bronx Hall of Justice, Lolja and his attorney had to walk past TWU Local 100 Vice President for RTO, Kevin Harrington, Chair Joe Costales, Exec Board Member Steve Downs, and rank and file members who then sat in court for nearly three hours waiting for the case to be called. When it was, it took just minutes for the prosecutors and Lolja's attorney to agree on June 5th as the date the trial will start. Lolja is charged with misdemeanor assault, which TWU Local 100 believes is too lenient, since state law makes assaulting a transit worker a felony. Let's show up in force on June 5th to support our assaulted Conductor.

WABC-TV Report: Bus Operators Give Their Take on Design Flaws

TWU's Media Campaign Driving Vision Zero Amendment Push

NYC's Vision Law unfairly and illogically targets Bus Operators. TWU Local 100 has geared up and fought this injustice – the criminalizing of transit professionals for doing exactly what NYC and the MTA require them to as a condition of employment. Accidents in which there no negligence or recklessness by the operator, are now crime scenes because of this poorly drafted law. We have also mounted an increasingly powerful media campaign – the ads are below for you to click and download.

City Council members are coming on board to amend the law – we have 25 supporters and counting. Our emphasis is to protect our Bus Operators from being arrested for non negligent accidents. The solution is to fix the systemic causes of right-of-way accidents involving MTA buses, including street design, MTA bus routing, pedestrian and cyclist behavior, and lines of sight on buses. Again, we urge everyone to get behind City Council amendment Int. 663 to eliminate the unintended consequences of Vision Zero. Fix the system. Stop arresting Bus Operators.

Click here to view/download our first ad.

Click here to download/view our second ad.

In the Swingroom, Politicians and Local 100 Make Common Cause on Vision Zero

Rangel, Wright, Dickens Join TWU in Swingroom to Oppose Bus Operator Sanctions Under Vision Zero Law

APRIL 20 -- TWU Local 100 President John Samuelsen and top leadership visited the swingroom at Mother Clara Hale Depot in Harlem, bringing the community's most prominent local political leaders with him. Congressman Charles Rangel took the opportunity to weigh in against Mayor de Blasio's Vision Zero law which has repeatedly criminalized Bus Operators when involved in accidents occurring through no fault of their own. "Right now, we should be calling the Mayor [about the Vision Zero law] and telling him, don't embarrass yourself," Rangel said. "Anybody can make a mistake, and this is just one big damn mistake... Common sense would indicate, that when [the lawmakers] were thinking about this, the last thing they were thinking about is that a bus driver, doing their duty, would be arrested."

Councilwoman Dickens proudly said that she was number three to sign on an amendment to Vision Zero, Intro 663, that would exempt Bus Operators from the law's provisions. They would still be subject to the rigorous accident investigation procedures now in place and possible discipline by the MTA. State Assemblyman Keith Wright was also outspoken in his support for the Amendment and against the criminalization of Bus Operators under Vision Zero.

In other news today, TWU Local 100 has sued the Mayor and the City of New York over the Vision Zero law, claiming that, when applied to motor vehicle operators, it is "so vague that it does not give a person of ordinary intelligence a reasonable opportunity to know what is prohibited." The 24-page lawsuit cites numerous precedents which argue against the reasoning behind the Vision Zero law, including the fact that there is no "mens rea" requirement, meaning a requirement that the operator has any intent to act recklessly or violate a law. You can read the Daily News story about the lawsuit here.

Assemblyman Keith Wright (D-Harlem)

Wright, Walker at Union Hall as Clergy Breakfast Showcases TWU's Commitment to Our Community

APRIL 14 -- TWU Local 100's second annual Faith-Based Breakfast brought out leading religious leaders to the Union Hall to share strategies and insights for community empowerment. Assemblymembers Keith Wright (D-Harlem) and Latrice Walker (D-Brownsville/East NY) welcomed faith leaders along with TWU Local 100's top leadership, including President Samuelsen, Secretary-Treasurer Earl Phillips, and Recording Secretary LaTonya Crisp-Sauray. The morning was highlighted by the presence of the Rev. Karim Camara, who Governor Cuomo recently appointed to head up his $50 million Faith Based Community Development Office in Albany.

President Samuelsen discussed the Union's campaign against the criminalization of Bus Operators under the new "Vision Zero" law which has seen union members arrested at accident scenes even when not operating recklessly. He also touched on the Union's longstanding ambition to find a way, partnering with local churches and other religious institutions, to guide youth into good jobs in transit.

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