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TWU Indian Day Festivities a Crowd Pleaser

TWU members of Indian heritage proudly celebrated their union and their achievements before a packed house at the IBEW Hall in Queens on Saturday, October 3. The 10th Anniversary celebration included singing and Bollywood dancing and speeches by political and Union leaders.

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In Their Own Words: TWU's Members at GCS Say Why We Fight

Dozens of call center workers at Global Contact Services -- the MTA's Access-A-Ride Call Center in Queens -- came to speak truth to power to the MTA Board of Directors at their September meeting in Manhattan. Speaking to a room of executives who make salaries in the high six figures, these TWU Local 100 workers, who make from $9 to $11 an hour, pleaded for a review of the MTA's contract with GCS. In his remarks, TWU Local 100 President John Samuelsen called the call center's Northern Boulevard operation a brutal place to work where employees are routinely denied basic rights. He called the workers poster children for why New York's mininum wage needs to be immediately raised to $15/hour. Here are the call center operators, expressing their concerns about the workplace -- their willingness to work hard and grow the company -- and their need for fair treatment.

Mid-Autumn Celebration A First for TWU Chinese American Workers

SEPTEMBER 25 -- Five Hundred Chinese-American transit workers and their families gathered at the New Spring Garden Restaurant in Brooklyn to celebrate the traditional Autumn Moon Festival, highlighted by an exciting lion dance and a musical program. This was a first for TWU Local 100, recognizing our Chinese-American members in a festive event on the eve of the "super moon" and total lunar eclipse which was visible all over North America. TWU Local 100 President John Samuelsen keynoted the event along with Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams and the first-ever elected Chinese-American Councilwoman, Margaret Chin, who also sang at the event. Enjoy the slideshow!

President John Samuelsen Demands $15/hour for Call Center Workers at Access-A-Ride

SEPTEMBER 25: TWU Local 100 President John Samuelsen called on the MTA Board of Directors to audit the performance of Global Contact Services, the operator of the MTA’s Access-A-Ride call center. In a presentation to the Board, he detailed the harsh treatment suffered by call center workers represented by the Union, including arbitrary firings, low pay, and a ruthless approach to employee relations from a North Carolina based company that is running a southern-style plantation in Queens. After his presentation, MTA CEO Tom Prendergast said he would prioritize a review of the company’s performance and contract.

Daily News Slams Access-A-Ride's Harsh Treatment of Disabled Employees

In a copyrighted story, Daily News columnist and Democracy Now! host Juan Gonzalez slams Global Contact Services -- which runs the call center that dispatches Access-A-Ride -- as a vindictive and heartless employer that pays poverty wages even though their contract with the MTA is worth $152 million. Gonzalez reveals that GCS, which took over the MTA Access-A-Ride contract from First Transit three years ago, cut employee wages across the board. Now they are refusing to bargain in good faith with TWU Local 100 and raise wages in spite of the statewide push for $15 an hour. In the article, President Samuelsen spells out the consequences of continued intransigence on GCS's part - a strike. Read the complete article here.

City Squeezes Riders as Capital Plan Falls Short

BY PETE DONOHUE

Overcrowding in the subways continues to intensify. So much so that comparing riders to sardines packed in a tin a can seems insulting - - to the sardines.

The fish have more room.

It’s gotten so bad, and the outlook so bleak, that transit executives have discussed hashing out with the NYPD a formal arrangement with protocols for the deployment of police officers as subway gatekeepers on a routine basis, not just for special events like the Papal visit and/or emergencies. Cops would oversee the “metering” of riders to platforms. The goal would be to alleviate dangerous overcrowding where riders are squeezed toe-to-heel, filling every inch of concrete from one edge of a platform to the other. Welcome to Third World NYC. Uniformed police holding back commuters trying to get to work or home.

It would be a politically ugly image for the city to project. The problem is there really are no quick solutions. Signal upgrades and expansion projects like the Second Ave. subway take a lot of time and money. Even projects now planned could get shelved. Gov. Cuomo has pledged $8.3 billion to fund the already-behind schedule, and still unfunded, MTA capital plan. The MTA wants to city to provide $3.2 billion in subsidies, including $1.5 billion for the second phase of the Second Ave. subway. Mayor de Blasio, however, has said the funding shortfall is largely a state problem.

TWU Local 100 Shines at Subway Series Opener

It was TWU Local 100 night at Citi Field for the opener of the Mets-Yankees subway series on Sept. 18, 2015. So who better to throw out the first pitch at this latest renewal of the crosstown rivalry than Local 100 President John Samuelsen. His pitch was a little high and wide, but compared to the famous (infamous) first pitch thrown by rapper 50 Cent, Samuelsen’s was a 100 mph fast ball right down Broadway. More than 500 members and families were at the stadium off the 7 line. They were all seated in one section thanks to the TWU Local 100 Rewards Program. Click above to watch the first pitch, and below for some photos from this night of fun at the home of the New York Mets.

African American Day Thrills Crowds as TWU Marches

TWU Local 100 thrilled crowds down the length of Adam Clayton Powell Blvd. on Sunday's African-American Day Parade, with a Union float, City buses, and a huge cavalcade of motorcycles. Stepping proudly at the head of our contingent was the Transit Honor Guard. President Samuelsen, Sec-Treasurer Earl Phillips, Rec. Secretary LaTonya Crisp Sauray and other top leadership enjoyed the spirit of the day as members were treated to food and refreshments from 11 AM, before the march began at 2PM. Enjoy the photos!

Watch TWU's Pete Donohue on NY1's The Call

TWU Local 100's Pete Donohue has "The First Word" on NY1's The Call

Labor Day Parade Features the Hard-Driving TWU

Labor Day brought out the politicians and also the rank and file as a parade of municipal and private sector unions marched up 5th Avenue in a New York Tradition. A big group picture showed the TWU contingent, as Local 100 was joined by brothers and sisters from the airlines and Long Island Bus and representatives from the International Union. Marching with the Local at various times were City Councilmembers including Barry Grodenchik, whom we helped get the Democratic nomination in the last special election. Governor Cuomo greeted President Samuelsen warmly along with Secretary-Treasurer Earl Phillips and asked the Local 100 President to address the parade. Also enjoying the company of transit workers were Sen. Chuck Schumer, City Council Speaker Melissa Mark Viverito, Councilmember Ben Kallos, State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli and Msgr. Kevin Sullivan of Catholic Charities, who paused for photos as we marched past St. Pat's. The weather cooperated and a great day was had by all. Just scroll through the photos and enjoy the show!