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Union Mourns Second Coronavirus Death

MARCH 26 -- We have lost a second union brother to the Coronavirus. MaBSTOA Bus Operator Oliver Cyrus out of the Manhattanville Depot passed away today. Local 100 Vice President Richard Davis, who has known Brother Cyrus for most of his 21 years on the job, said he was “a quiet, humble man. He was well liked by all his co-workers. The workers at Manhattanville are all very upset. There's a somber mood at the depot.”

Brother Cyrus was born in Guyana and lived in Brooklyn. He was 61.

Brother Peter Petrassi, a 49-year old Conductor for 21 years, passed away earlier today from the Coronavirus.

TWU Local 100 President Tony Utano said that this second death in one day “is such a terrible and incredibly sad loss. My heart goes out to Brother Cyrus’ family and all his co-workers at Manhattanville Depot. Transit workers, Police, Firefighters, EMS and health care workers and other essential public employees have put themselves into harm's way for the greater good of our City and our society. They are true heroes."

Statement of President Tony Utano on the line of duty death of Conductor Peter Petrassi

TWU Local 100 President Tony Utano issued the following statement:

"The death due to the Coronavirus of our brother, Peter Petrassi, is a terrible tragedy. TWU Local 100 feels this loss and mourns with his family. Conductor Petrassi’s passing is a line-of-duty death just as if he had been killed on the job in any number of ways that have struck down transit workers in years past. Transit workers are saddened. The MTA must NOW provide masks to frontline transit workers. Otherwise, the moment is rapidly approaching where bus and subway workers will do what is necessary to protect themselves and their families. Dedication and duty does not mean using transit workers as cannon fodder."

Utano on Crowding: MTA Must Do a Better Job

TWU Local 100 President Tony Utano issued the following statement regarding crowding in crewrooms, telling the media that “the MTA has to do a better job of managing this situation.”

“Society is at war with this virus and transit workers are doing their part getting medical staff and first responders to their jobs,” Utano said. “But it’s also critically important that workers get as much protection as possible.”

He thanked Local 100 officers for their hard work getting supervision to address problems that members are bringing to their attention. Read the full article here.

Here is President Utano's full quote: They talk about social distancing but this is a work environment. My members are having a tough time keeping proper distances from each other because some crew rooms and reporting locations just aren’t big enough. These were never luxury accommodations to begin with. Management is trying different things, and the reduced service schedule should provide some relief, but the MTA has to do a better job managing this situation. Society is at war with this virus and transit workers are doing their part getting medical staff and first responders to their jobs. But it’s also critically important that workers get as much protection as possible. Our officers are in constant contact with the membership, and dealing with management to resolve the issues that members are experiencing. Some of these situations have to be corrected immediately. It’s unacceptable.

CNN Anchor Chris Cuomo Gives On-air Shout-Out to Transit Workers on March 24

Guts, Moxie, and Grit: A TWU Local 100 Bus Operator and Shop Steward on What It Takes to Combat the Microbial Enemy

A TWU Local 100 Bus Operator talks about guts, moxie, and grit during the pandemic.

Stations VP Lynwood Whichard and Division Chair Robert Kelley

Coronavirus Update: Station Agents Will Handle Much Less Cash

TWU Local 100 President Tony Utano, Stations Division Vice President Lynwood Whichard and Division Chair Robert Kelley thanked the MTA for responding to the union’s call to drastically reduce cash transactions in the subway. Station Agents had expressed concern that such transactions were a possible Coronavirus health risk. The union immediately brought these concerns to the MTA, which concurred.

Local 100 President Tony Utano said that the quick action by Whichard and Kelley on behalf of their members will protect them during this crisis. Under the new protocols, Station Agents will direct riders to MetroCard vending machines to buy and replenish MetroCards. The exception will be half-fares for seniors and people with disabilities as those transactions must take place in the booth.

Union Gains Rear Door Boarding for Westchester Buses

MARCH 23 -- At the urging of TWU Local 100 President Tony Utano, Westchester County has adopted rear door boarding for Liberty Lines, and other Westchester County line service buses. Utano joined a press conference with County Executive George Latimer and State Sen. Shelley Mayer in White Plains today to announce the change in protocol. Utano thanked Sen. Mayer and Latimer for their quick response. He said the union wants its members and the public to ride in as safe an environment as possible. Rear door boarding began in New York City Transit today, also at the union's urging.