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Manhattan Residents Showing Love to Transit Workers

BY PETE DONOHUE, TWU LOCAL 100 COMMUNICATIONS

Residents of an apartment building that towers over a bus depot in Manhattan are regularly showing their love and support for transit workers – by cheering, banging pots, ringing bells and blowing whistles from their windows.

A tale of two agencies: NYC transit workers to receive nearly 250,000 N95 masks to protect against coronavirus; correction officers still fighting for PPE

APRIL 4 -- In a copyrighted article today, the Daily News Reports on the successful effort on the part of TWU Local 100, ATU Locals, SMART-UTU and Teamsters Local 808. Read the complete article here.

A Message from TWU Local 100 President Tony Utano

APRIL 4 -- The MTA today will begin distributing N95 masks to TWU Local 100 members in the field. While we all recognize there was a global shortage, and we all wanted this safety equipment to come sooner, this is a very good development.

From the very beginning, the Transport Workers Union has had to compel the MTA to take some important safety-related actions, or had to push them to act with greater urgency.

Cesar Torres, Grand Avenue Bus Operator, Dies of the Virus

Local 100 regretfully announces the death of Bus Operator Cesar Torres, a 20-year veteran of Fresh Pond and Grand Avenue Depots. He was only 55 years old and died of the Cornonavirus after going out sick in recent days. He is the 10th Transit Worker and the 12th TWU Local 100 member overall to succumb to the disease.

Grand Avenue Depot Chair Clarence Patterson said that Brother Torres was “a wonderful guy, very family oriented, and always in a good mood. The Depot is in shock.

Gov. Cuomo Says Transit Workers Are "Doing Heroic Work"

APRIL 3 -- Gov. Cuomo singled out Transit Workers as "doing heroic work" in his daily press conference from Albany this morning. He noted that transit workers have a "very high rate" of illness due to the Coronavirus, and he personally thanked TWU and the workforce for its "heroic" efforts.

School Bus Driver Alejandro Bustamante Is Victim of the Virus

The union sadly announces the passing of Alejandro Bustamante, a School Bus driver for the First Mile Square School Bus Company in Yonkers, NY. Brother Bustamante is the 11th Local 100 member, and first from our School Bus Division, to die of the Coronavirus plague. Brother Bustamante had been with Mile Square since 2014 and was a resident of Yonkers.

Sandra Claderon, a friend and co-worker whose own daughter was transported to school on Brother Bustamante’s bus, said: “Alejandro took my daughter to school safely every day. He was responsible, respectful and always smiling. He was a very religious person who was very involved with his church. He will be deeply missed by all at Mile Square.”

School Bus Division Chair Gus Moghrabi said that Brother Bustamante’s death “has hit our Division hard. We are all extremely upset about his passing, and extend our deepest condolences to his family and friends.”

Local 100 President Tony Utano echoed those sentiments, and add: “Alejandro’s death is a stark reminder that this blight affects every corner of America, and every segment of our society. We all mourn with his family and his co-workers at Mile Square.”

3 New Laws Provide Leave for COVID-19

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APRIL 2 -- At the Union's request, the MTA issued a memo and accompanying informational posters regarding leaves available for members who are ill or quarantined due to COVID-19. Click on the image for the main memo. Here are links to the informational posters.

New York State Paid Sick Leave for Employees

Rights Under the Families First Coronavirus Act

MTA Memo — New Federal and State COVID-19 Related Leave Laws

Congresswoman Grace Meng Donates 3,000 Masks & Hand Sanitizer

Local 100 Pres Tony Utano sends our sincere thanks to Congresswoman Grace Meng for her donation of 3,000 masks and hand sanitizers to Local 100 members. In the photo, TWU Int'l Rep Angelo Cucuzza accepts supplies from a staff members at the Congresswoman's Flushing field office. We're all in this together.

Utano: Passengers Need to Cover Noses and Mouths While Riding

APRIL 2 -- TWU Local 100 is urging the MTA to strongly recommend riders cover their noses and mouths with bandanas or scarfs while riding if they do not have masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Government officials should consider making this a requirement at some point if there isn’t voluntary complance.

“This is a common-sense move that will prevent the spread of the virus and could ease the concerns of both transit workers and riders,” TWU Local 100 President Tony Utano said

TEMM Robert Sarutto Succumbs to Virus, Tenth Member to Die in Pandemic

A ninth New York City Transit Worker, and tenth Local 100 member overall, has passed away of the dreaded Coronavirus. Robert Sarutto, 59, was one of several members at the TEMM Jay St. crew quarters who had called out sick from the virus. His condition worsened in recent days and he died at his home in Staten Island. Brother Sarutto had 23 years on the job in the Elevator and Escalator Department.

Ralph Arpaio, a close friend and co-worker said of Brother Sarutto: “He was dedicated and hard working. He was always the first one to jump in and help another. He had a great sense of humor and a big smile on his face all the time. He was a good hearted guy, loved by all and will be greatly missed.” He leaves behind his grieving wife, Roxanne, and a host of friends and co-workers in MOW.

MOW Vice President John Chiarello said, “this is a terrible blow to LE/S and all of our 8,000 workers in MOW. We are all praying for his wife, Roxanne, and will continue to be there for her and his loved ones."

Local 100 President Tony Utano said that Brother Sarutto’s passing “is another heartbreak for Maintenance of Way and all of Local 100. We are all devasted by the mounting losses in Local 100 and across our City and country. I ask that all in Local 100 pray for Brother Sarutto’s family and friends during their time of grief.”