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Statement on Anthem Data Breach

Anthem, the parent company of Empire, has announced a massive security breach. This breach may have involved non-medical information about members covered by Empire. President Samuelsen has discussed this with management, which is closely monitoring the situation and will keep us informed. President Samuelsen is further proposing that standards for data security be included in future agreements with vendors that handle member information.

Recording Secretary LaTonya Crisp-Sauray Speaks at Transit Awareness Day in Albany

TWU Local 100 Recording Secretary LaTonya Crisp-Sauray came to Albany on February 3 to deliver a ringing speech about the value of Bus Rapid Transit to commuters in New York City. On the same day, Bus Rapid Transit was put forward by New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, who said his administration backs putting in 13 new BRT lines in the City. Ms. Crisp-Sauray was introduced by Bob Zerrillo, the Policy Director of the New York Public Transit Association, which hosts Transit Awareness Day in Albany each year.

Local 100 & the NY Daily News Present 2015's Hometown Heroes in Transit

The New York Daily News produced this excellent video of the paper’s 2015 Hometown Heroes in Transit, showcasing the often heroic and always dedicated work done 24/7 by the members of TWU Local 100 as we guide a record 8.5 million each day to their destinations around New York City. Enjoy it and don’t forget to send us your ideas for future hometown heroes award winners by email to communications@twulocal100.org

Here are the Daily News' 2015 Hometown Heroes in Transit

The official job description for MTA bus operator doesn't say anything about a crazed gunman firing shots onboard. But that's what George Smith had to contend with Jan. 31, 2014, as he navigated his B12 local through Brownsville, Brooklyn. Smith didn't panic.

President Samuelsen Reacts to Lenient Court Treatment of Off Duty Police Officer in Assault of Female Conductor

As reported in the New York Daily News the off duty Police Officer seen on video fleeing a Bronx D line station after viciously assaulting a female Conductor on platform duty has been charged only with a misdemeanor rather than a Class D felony for attacking an MTA employee on duty, as prescribed by law.  The assault took place two days before Christmas at the Tremont Ave. station.
 
TWU Local 100 President John Samuelsen issued the following statement on the lenient slap-on-the-wrist charge.
 
“There is a glaring disparate treatment at play with NY's criminal justice system when a police officer is allowed to brutally assault a uniformed TWU Local 100 Conductor and walk away with what amounts to a slap on the wrist. Had one of our Conductors viciously assaulted a uniformed female police officer, an arrest would have occurred immediately, and that Conductor would be facing substantial felony charges. It's despicable, and transit workers will not be silenced in our outrage.”

The Award Winners
The Award Winners

Third Hometown Heroes Breakfast Honors TWU Members

JANUARY 29 -- Among the first people to open the Daily News each morning are the transit workers who get up while the City sleeps. Today, they got a treat -- a special 12-page section inside the paper showcasing the News's 2015 Hometown Heroes in Transit -- TWU Local 100 members who have distinguished themselves by helping fellow New Yorkers, often at risk to their own safety. Before the day's end, the Hometown Heroes section will be seen by nearly two million people. Honorees joined TWU Local 100 President John Samuelsen, Daily News Publisher Mort Zuckerman, and other luminaries at a breakfast hosted by the Municipal Credit Union at Manhattan's Edison Ballroom. Also on hand was Daily News transit reporter Pete Donohue, who has done so much to tell the stories of transit workers that President Samuelsen called him the reportorial voice of blue collar New York. The entertaining morning of presentations was MC'd  by New York 1 morning anchor Pat Kiernan, who shares with many transit workers the distinction of having to get up at 3 AM. We can't do justice to Donohue's great article on the hometown heroes in transit, so we're linking to it here so you can read it. And while it's on the stands, get out and buy today's Daily News. It's a honor for us all.

Today's honorees included a Bus Operator who drove a critically wounded teen to an ambulance station after gunfire erupted on her bus (and whose name is being withheld because of the incident), Conductor Jonathan Cassell, Train Operator Luis Manrique, Eagle Team Member Bob Esposito, Track Workers David Soto, Louis Albino, Clyde Ferguson, and Stewart Azzato, Car Inspector Kenny Williams, SIR Conductor James Thompson, Station Agent Theresa Green, Machinist Frank Gurrera, and Bus Operator George Smith.

 

Even with Overnight Passenger Service Suspended, Local 100 Works to Secure the System for a Safe Return

Winter Storm Juno may have only jabbed the 5 boroughs, but front line Local 100 members did job they are trained to do, putting in extra work and staying overnight in depots and quarters.

Even as the system went out of passenger service at 11pm Monday, dedicated professionals made sure that the system --in some cases, still recovering from Sandy-related damage-- was kept safe and ready for the slushy commute the following morning.

An assortment of pictures from the MTA follows. If you have pictures of your work location before, during, or after the winter storm, send them to communications@twulocal100.org

Winter Storm Juno of January 2015

Statement of John Samuelsen, President, TWU Local 100, on Gov. Cuomo’s State of the State Address

“Transit workers applaud Governor Cuomo’s commitment to investment in our transportation infrastructure, including his plans, announced yesterday, for a long-overdue train link to LaGuardia Airport.  We look forward to working with the Governor to develop a plan that fully integrates the link to LaGuardia with New York City Transit. We also support the Governor’s desire to provide dedicated public transportation lanes on the new Tappan Zee bridge, and his plans to construct four new Metro North stations in the Bronx.  We urge the Governor to support a Bus Rapid Transit system that will provide riders with faster, more frequent bus service, especially in areas already dependent on buses as their primary transportation option.  Our public transit system provides essential service to more than 8 million people every day, and is vital to the entire region’s economic growth and stability.  Every dollar spent is a dollar invested that will provide valuable returns for our entire state.”

Union Offering Members Huge Discounts on SAT Tutoring Through Princeton Review

Local 100 Rewards, the member benefit website set up by the Union, is now offering a steep discount on SAT test prep from the prestigious Princeton Review for TWU Local 100 families. First announced by President John Samuelsen at the recent M3 Technology scholarship dinner, the 18-hour SAT course, in six sessions, is a tremendous value. Just navigate to the Local 100 Rewards website, linked at the top right hand corner of the Union's site, or use this link. Classes begin on February 28, so if your kid is getting ready for college, get him or her ready for the test that makes the key difference for college acceptance. Just log in on Rewards and get the savings!

Contract Implementation Update for January 2015

A 2% raise for TA/OA members, won in our recent contract, goes into effect starting January 16, 2015.

New hourly rates by title can be seen at our wage rates chart (.pdf link)

In accordance with the TWU Constitution and the By-Laws of Local 100, this raise will be accompanied by a 2% increase in dues. The raise and new dues rates will be reflected in checks issued January 28/29, 2015.

The new bi-weekly dues rates  

TA/OA:

$28.72

Full-time Traffic Checkers:

$22.38

Part-Time Traffic Checkers:

$17.12

A print version can be read here (.pdf link)

A Night at the Nets

Content from Nets Night

At Barclays Center on January 9, it was the Nets vs. the Sixers and TWU Local 100 vs. TWU Local 100. In both cases, the favorites lost, but for our transit and utility workers, there was no heartbreak. Mike Conigliaro’s Local 101 team shot 17 from the foul line, while Tony Utano’s Local 100 squad came up with 16 points. A nice turnout of rank and filers and family members who showed up cheered on their sons, daughters, and spouses after the Nets game ended at the arena.

Every Local 100 and Local 101 member who attended got a free $10 discount card from Modell's. TWU Local 100 would like to thank our sponsors for the event, Modell's Sporting Goods and Markhoff & Mittman. This was another Local 100 Rewards special event -- be sure to check out the Local 100 Rewards site and take advantage of  the great offers exclusively for our Union brothers and sisters. Enjoy the photos and plan to be there for next year’s challenge at Barclays Center!

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