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Investment Banker Jean-Francois Coste

Drunken Banker Punches Train Operator

An entitled rich investment banker punched one of our female Train Operators in the face for stopping him from going into a non-public area of a Brooklyn station. He was arrested but outrageously was later released without having to post bail.

Local 100 President Richard Davis issued a blistering public statement following the Friday, Dec. 16, 2022,  attack at the Stillwell Ave. terminal station - and vowed that TWU would see the attacker in court.

“The public should be treating transit workers as heroes, not punching bags,” Davis said. “Time and time again we’ve stepped up for this city, most recently working through the pandemic, and this is the thanks we get. It has to stop. We will see this guy in court.”

Davis continued: “We’re going to send a strong message to the judges and prosecutors that they must take assaults against transit workers far more seriously. No more slaps on the wrist.”

Jean Francois Coste, 53, was charged with second-degree assault, a felony, and some misdemeanors. A judge did not impose bail and he was released ROR. “This is just another slap in the face to all transit workers,” RTO VP Canella Gomez said. “It’s amazing how quick you can go from heroes to zeros in this city.”

TO Tanya McCray was leaving the crew room at approximately 12:15 a.m. and closed the door so it would lock as an apparently intoxicated Coste approached on the mezzanine. He then punched her without warning, striking her in the face at least twice.  She got in a few licks in herself, punching Coste in self-defense and swinging her lunch bag, which contained a thermos, at him. Another Train Operator came to her assistance and pushed Coste away.

“Thank God for him,” McCray said. “He really came to the rescue and helped me.”

Coste fled to the platform and boarded a train, but Local 100 members cornered him and made sure he didn’t go anywhere until the police arrived.
 

Richard Davis Sworn in as New Local 100 President

DECEMBER 14, 2022 -- TWU Local 100 President Tony Utano – whose career as a union leader has spanned four decades – announced he was stepping down from the top position this morning. The Executive Board overwhelmingly voted to elevate Secretary-Treasurer Richard Davis to the presidency with 41 in favor, none opposed.

Utano, who has served as president since 2017, and was previously the Vice President of the Maintenance of Way Department, said he wants to spend more time with his family and enable a new generation of leaders to lead. Utano will continue to serve as Executive Director. 

The Executive Board also voted to promote MOW Vice President John Chiarello to Secretary-Treasurer. Structures Chair Richard Rocco was named MOW Vice President.

In a statement to the membership, Davis said:

“I’d like to thank the Executive Board for this honor. Thank you for putting your faith and trust in me to lead our union forward. 

And that’s exactly what I intend to do - move us forward and make this great union even greater. My mission is to build a better, stronger, more unified, and more effective TWU Local 100 that has an administration that is focused on you, the membership. 

I promise to work tirelessly on your behalf and put your needs first. I will never stop working to make improvements on multiple key fronts, including safety, job security, your quality of life and your ability to take care of your families. 

Priority number one is gearing up for our upcoming contract fights at the MTA and at our private bus and school bus divisions. I will be immediately sending teams into the field as part of an internal organizing and membership outreach campaign. I believe it’s vitally important that your voices be heard as we chart a course for the future. We also must be ready to mobilize to face any obstacles that are placed in our way.  

You have my commitment to lead, to serve, and to fight. 

Thank you, 

TWU Local 100 President Richard Davis

Davis, 53, joined NYC Transit as a Bus Operator at the age of 26. His first union position was chief line steward. He was elected MaBSTOA Division 1 Chair in 2004, then Vice President of the Department in 2014. Davis became Secretary-Treasurer in May following the retirement of Earl Phillips.

Utano, 60, joined NYC Transit in 1980 as an Electrical Helper at the age of 18. He was elected to his first union position the following year. He never lost an election, serving as Section Vice Chair, Section Chair, Division Chair and Vice President before becoming President in September 2017.

Job Security and Higher Pay for Station Agents

Stations Vice President Robert Kelley has negotiated a landmark agreement to protect Station Agent jobs – while raising the pay rate by $1 an hour – as the MTA moves towards full implementation of its digital OMNY fare-payment system. Station Agents will get training for new roles providing customer service outside booths. They also will retain access to the booths and can spend time during their tours inside as well.    

Watch the video of the press conference here.

The Station Agent title has been under a very serious threat from OMNY, which is now in every station and on every bus. OMNY allows riders to instantly buy trips at turnstiles with credit cards, debit cards, and smartphones. Riders also can now purchase and load OMNY cards at Walgreens, 7-Eleven, CVS, and other stores across the city. But with this agreement, the MTA is now stating clearly that it intends on preserving the Station Agent title and jobs. In fact, the authority hired nearly 300 new Station Agents over the last year and plans on hiring about 230 more in 2023. 

“This is about protecting the employment of Station Agents so they can continue to take care of their families,” Kelley said. “OMNY posed a very real threat. We can’t sit back and watch our members get phased out along with the MetroCard. We are forging a new path with a new role that makes their presence in stations even more vital.”

NYC Transit Richard Davey said: “The reason we came into this agreement, frankly, was to put a stake in the ground and say, for NYC Transit, the Station Agent of the future is critically important to the kind of service we want to provide. This is our commitment, our joint commitment, to say the intent is for these 2,000-plus station agents to continue to be part of our transit family and to provide a heightened level of customer service.” 

Asked by a reporter about the possibility of layoffs, Davey said the MTA’s need for additional government funding to fill budget gaps must be acknowledged, but “the intent is for no layoffs whatsoever.”

Station Agents will get new roles and spend parts of each shift outside the booth to provide customer service, such as helping riders with OMNY equipment, giving directions, assisting the elderly and disabled, assessing station conditions, and reporting conditions or situations that need to be addressed. Agents will get cellular telephones and training, including de-escalation training. 

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