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Working in the Heat

Working in hot environments is not safe. Your body builds up heat when you work and sweats to get rid of it. Too much heat can make you tired, hurt your job performance, and increase your chance of injury. When the temperature changes quickly, you need time for your body to get adjusted to the heat. Be extra careful early in the summer when hot spells begin.

You have a right to a safe & comfortable work environment:

Clean water provided through a fountain, cooler or bottled water at all locations
Cool Work areas and break rooms
Ventilation to bring in clean air and take out hot air
Make adequate water supplies part of your daily workplace inspection

Need relief? Follow up with supervision immediately:

Bus- Call console, request immediate medical assistance
RTO- command 212-712-4480
CED- call your Barn Chair or Local Union rep
MOW- control 212-712-4120

If needed, file a Safety Rule Dispute Resolution Form.

For Stations: To follow up with supervision, call your respective Field Office. If you are a CTA, you can also ask for a comfort by entering the booth to cool down. If you feel unwell, you must notify OSAC and inform them that you are going home. Doctor’s lines will be needed on your return. Field Office numbers are as follows: 125th Street: 212-712-3127 or 718-436-8421; 44th Street: 212-424-5407 or -5408; 7th Ave: 718-243-3903 or 243-3905; Parsons-Archer: 718-334-8106. OSAC is 347-694-6500. Sick Desk for CTA’s ext. 42.

Click here to download a printed version of this message. Print it out and post it in your workplace.

For Stations Department members, click here.

Union Scholarships Application Period Extended

The union announced that our application period for scholarships for college students has been extended until June 30. These scholarships are for members, children of members, grandchildren of members, or retirees or their children or grand-children who are attending or accepted by an accredited two or four year college. Each scholarship is worth $1,000, and 50 will be awarded in a random drawing. You can download and fill out the application here. The scholarship program is sponsored by M3 Technology, the union's guaranteed acceptance voluntary benefit administrator. Good luck!

A New Column: Pete Donohue's Perspective on Transit

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Noted transit reporter Pete Donohue – for 16 years at the Daily News the authority on NYC mass transit – has now joined the Union’s staff. In welcoming Pete, we’re proud to announce a regular column especially for our members and the riding public. You used to read Pete in the Daily News. Now, you can catch him only on the TWU Local 100 website. Enjoy Pete’s first column here, and check back weekly for more.

An American Union Story

When the mine whistle sounded in Dickson City, Pa., everyone in the small blue-collar town momentarily froze with fear. The sound was an ominous announcement that there had been a serious accident underground. Elementary school and high school students waited anxiously until their lunch hour when they would hustle home. Some wouldn’t be at their desks when class resumed.

“That’s how you knew whose father was killed or injured," my mother, Marlene, recalled. “Their desks would be empty.”

Her father, Frank Ceci, worked the mines for decades. He started in the early 1900s at approximately 13 years old. At first, he worked above ground as a “breaker boy” picking out unwanted slate from the coal. He joined the men going into the "hole" a few years later. One of his earliest work memories was of men dying during cave-ins. The mining company would have the dead man carried home.

"They'd leave the body on the porch," my mother said.

TWU Local 100 at the 2015 National Puerto Rican Day Parade

Dozens of TWU Local members from all over the transit system proudly marched down 5th Avenue at the annual Puerto Rican Day parade, an exuberant celebration which is reflected in these great photos by our very own Noah Rodriguez. Enjoy!

Labor Movement Unites Behind TWU Local 100 to Amend Vision Zero Law

New York's most influential labor unions, representing some 3 million members in the State and City of New York, have signed on to a joint letter to the New York City Council, urging an amendment to the Vision Zero law which has resulted in the needless arrests of Bus Operators. Read the complete letter here.

Family Day 2015 in Photos

A Message from John Samuelsen:

I want to thank everyone who contributed to the incredible, unprecedented success of our annual Family Day. The wonderful families that make TWU Local 100 such an amazing institution were on full display. The sun was shining (for the most part), and the aroma of grilled meat and fish was floating all over Coney Island. Our Family Day has now developed its own unique style of awesome divisional tailgating, with all kinds of great food and "interesting" beverages.

Video: Highlights of the Edwin Thomas Street Co-Naming Ceremony

Almost seven years after his death in the line of duty, NYCT Bus Operator Edwin Thomas is honored in a formal street naming by his union brothers and sisters and political leaders.

Edwin Thomas street co-naming draws politicians, 300 Bus Operators, and Union leadership

TWU Local 100 and the MTA turned out on a beautiful day to pay tribute to one of our own, Bus Operator Edwin Thomas, who was tragically killed by a passenger on his B46 bus seven years ago. The event marked the first official commemoration of a Bus Operator killed in the line of duty by the City Council, which voted to rename East 49th Street adjacent to the Flatbush Depot. Local 100 President John Samuelsen officiated at the event, which featured the unveiling of a plaque featuring the likeness of Brother Thomas on the side of the depot, and the uncovering of the street name. Also on hand were Thomas’s children and his mother. See our slide show featuring key moments from the event.

President Samuelsen Honored with Labor Award from Brooklyn Democrats for Change

MAY 27 -- TWU Local 100 President John Samuelsen received the Labor Leader of the Year award from Brooklyn's Democrats for Change political club in their ninth annual dinner event in Bay Ridge. Speaking to political leaders including Kings County Democratic Chair Frank Seddio, John took the podium to discuss the Union's issues with Mayor de Blasio's vision zero law, and the criminalization of Bus Operators who are involved in accidents through no fault of their own. He described the blind spots and engineering defects in buses and traffic right-of-ways that have given rise to accidents which have resulted in the arrests of Bus Operators, and called on members of the political club to stand with the union in fighting to amend the Vision Zero law in the City Council.

Uncuff 'em, Mr. Mayor!

TWU Local 100 releases our third ad bringing attention to the unfair arrests of Bus Operators under the Vision Zero law in the Daily News tomorrow, May 27th. The ad depicts New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, who wears the mantle of a political progressive, in the act of handcuffing one of the pillars of New York City's working class, an NYCT/MTA Bus Operator. The Daily News promoted the ad in a copyrighted article which you can read here. The ad urges the Mayor to stop this unfair policy. TWU Local 100's position is that reckless or dangerous acts by any motorist -- including Bus Operators -- should be punishable offenses, but that arresting responsible Bus Operators at accident scenes is an unwarranted criminalization of professional drivers before the facts of the case are known. The fact that an accident has occurred is not proof of culpability on the part of the driver, or proof that the driver has not exercised "due regard" when operating in the intersection. Bringing added muscle to our ad campaign, TWU Local 100 has filed suit in NYS Supreme Court to have the section of the law that provides for misdemeanor penalties against drivers who infringe on the "right of way" and cause injuries voided. Our reasoning: the law does not contain a definition of what "due regard" actually means. Short of clear evidence that the driver ignored safety rules or was operating under the influence, that's for trained accident investigators to determine -- not for officers on the scene to engage in a rush to judgement. View/download the complete ad here.