In a copyrighted story, the New York Daily News today reports on the MTA's rejection, in Washington, of a proposed wage package for Long Island Railroad employees who have been working without a contract since 2010. The wage package, an average of 2.85% a year for six years, was recommended by an emergency board panel reporting to President Barack Obama. That recommendation is explained by President Samuelsen in his latest video, posted in the top position on the TWU Local 100 website. The MTA's rejection of the wage package recommendation, the News reports, sets up the MTA for a possible strike come summer -- which would be legal. LIRR employees are not subject to the NYS Taylor Law.
Local 100 President John Samuelsen, in the latest in a series of video to the rank and file, talks about how the economic climate has changed since the expiration of the TWU Local 100 contract two years ago, and what the prospects are for a settlement in the near future. Two recent arbitration decisions point to a developing consensus that the MTA’s repeated cry of poverty is bogus. Now it’s not just the TWU who is saying it.
On January 10, TWU Local 100 Scholarship winners for 2012 and 2013 and their families, were feted at the Union Hall. President Samuelsen joined John B. Pescitelli of M3 Technology, our voluntary insurance provider and sponsor of the scholarships, in congratulating the awardees and presenting them with certificates. President Samuelsen discussed the contract fight, and said that the union's continuing fight for wages and benefits has been the driving force behind our members being able to provide their children with better opportunities than they themselves were given.
Click on image for slideshow. Click here for event program with full list of 2012 and 2013 scholarship winners.
The applications deadline for the 2014 scholarships is May 31. The application form can be found here.
TWU Local 100 congratulates City Councilwoman Melissa Mark-Viverito (D-East Harlem) on her election, by a unanimous vote, to the position of Speaker of the City Council. She has been a stalwart supporter of TWU Local 100 and an outspoken progressive in the fight to restore transit service, carrying Local 100 flyers to bring back bus service on Manhattan's East Side from the 126 Street Depot. She has attended Union events like Italian Heritage Night, and has frequently met with our Political Action Team and our leadership. We look forward to working with her in 2014 and beyond, as we pursue the restoration and expansion of bus service throughout the five boroughs. Ms. Mark-Viverito, 44, is a Puerto Rican-born lawmaker from East Harlem and becomes the first Hispanic to hold what is New York City’s second-most-powerful office.
TWU Local 100's Cleaners and other titles were out in force as the first big storm of 2014 hit New York. At 110th Street on the #1 line, CTA Raphael White with another worker helped tourists get down the stairs by chopping ice and helping clear a safe path to the train platform. TWU members -- send us your photos of storm-related activities to: communications@twulocal100.org
Over 100 members from LaGuardia Depot turned out for the Depot's first holiday party at Ricardo's in Astoria, Queens. The December 13 event was attended by many rank and file, and officers attending included (l-r) Local 100 Administrative VP Angel Giboyeaux, LaGuardia Depot Recording Secretary Margie Johnson, Local 100 Recording Secretary LaTonya Crisp-Sauray, and LaGuardia Chairman Jack Desena. A good time was had by all.
TWU Local 100 facilities manager Joe Ruggerio, with Paul Piazza and Tareque Ahmed, both members of the Executive Board from Stations Department, deliver over 200 toys to US Marines at the military base at Floyd Bennett Field, Brooklyn on Dec. 16. The toys were collected at the union’s mass membership meeting on Saturday, December 14th. One toy was donated by Station Agent Steve Anderson, who brought a football for the toy drive as Station Agent Theresa Green played Santa’s elf. Also in the pic are Stations' Paul Piazza and Paul Flores. The toys will be distributed by the Marines to children in area hospitals.
At its annual constitutionally required Mass Membership Meeting today, the assembled membership of Transport Workers Union Local 100 heard reports from the union’s leadership and passed a resolution expressing their determination to arrive at a negotiated contract settlement with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. The resolution rejected what it called the MTA’s ‘indefensible” claims of inability to pay a fair wage increase and formally called upon the union’s leadership to “make plans for every contingency.” Union members have been working without a contract since January of 2012.
