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Utano Blasts Latest Media Attacks on Transit Workers

TWU Local 100 President Tony Utano issued the following statement concerning the latest attacks on transit workers by the MTA and the media.

“The media’s open season on transit workers continued today with new attacks in the NY Post and on Fox 5 TV. The latest public abuse came in the form of a regurgitation of a 2018 investigation by the MTA Inspector General. Fox doubled down on the Post report by grandstanding outside Quill depot lamenting ‘an infuriating picture of overtime abuse inside the MTA,’ that, by the way, has nothing to do with rank-and-file transit workers.

"Most of the outrage against transit workers is being fueled by the MTA’s new media-hungry Inspector General Carolyn Pokorny, who continues to foment the ridiculous scenario that all 70,000 MTA workers are getting paid for not working. So be it. We’re used to the MTA assaulting its own workforce.

“This is all a repetitive pattern of smearing transit workers during periods, like now, when TWU is negotiating a new contract.

“I want to assure this membership that nothing will stop us from achieving a fair contract that protects our health benefits, our safety on the job and our financial security. We will continue to stand strong against whatever they throw at us.”

Union Wins First Contract at Trans Express; Vote in Favor 96 to 8

JULY 8 -- Trans Express members, newly represented by TWU Local 100 since November of 2017, have won a first contract with substantial raises for all. The contract ratification was announced by President Tony Utano who credited the dedicated efforts of Frank McCann, Director of Organizing, Division Chair Carlos Bernabel, Organizer Dexter Victory, and union attorneys Edward Kennedy and Jade Morrison. The agreement, which expires in December of 2022, sets wages and other terms for approximately 200 Drivers and Matrons who bring passengers to far-flung properties in New York City and environs, including Pepsico Headquarters, Ikea, Hornblower (the ferry service), Resorts World, and Arch Care. During the struggle leading up to the agreement an arbitrator found that a wrongfully dismissed employee who worked with Local 100 was due back wages of $20,000, attesting to the hard-fought nature of our campaign.

New Spots Praise Transit Workers During Mets, Yanks Home Games

If you tune in on the radio for Mets and Yankees home games, you’ll hear President Tony Utano praising transit for their efforts to get thousands of fans to the games and back home safely. “Where would New York be without its transit workers,” says Utano in the 15-second spots carried pre and post-game and once during the contests.

Construction Flagger Louis Gray

Union Issues Statements in Wake of NTSB Report on 2016 Flagging Fatality

TWU Local 100 released the following statements Wednesday about the National Transportation Safety Board report on the November 2016 subway accident that killed Local 100 member Louis Gray and seriously injured co-worker and Local 100 member Jeffrey Fleming as they were setting up flagging.

TWU Local 100 President Tony Utano said: "Louis Gray was a good man and a good employee, and MTA management failed to protect him. Louis died, and Jeffrey was badly injured, because of poor planning and a total lack of communication that night. The MTA needs to adopt the NTSB recommendations to prevent another tragedy like this from ever happening again. People don’t fully understand just how dangerous it is working in the subway or appreciate what transit workers do on a daily basis. They should.

Jack Blazejewicz, TWU Local 100 representative on the Track Safety Task Force, said: "100 has fought tooth and nail to increase roadway worker protection particularly when setting up and removing flags. Due to our pressure, NYCT has instituted a pilot program for a worker to notify the train operator face to face that there are workers on the roadbed setting up flagging. The pilot has been working great with zero train delays. NYCT should adopt the NTSB recommendations and expand the pilot program system wide to ensure another tragedy like Louis Gray never happens again."

The report can be found here:

Pride Parade Salutes LGBTQ Freedom

Transit workers who identify as LGBTQ, their friends and family members were part of the massive World Pride parade on June 30. Here are some photos of the TWU's contingent, which included a city bus provided by NYCT.

Westchester Family Day Brings Hundreds to FDR Park

Hundreds of rank and file transit workers who operate and maintain school buses in Westchester as well as the Liberty Line/Bee Line System gathered for a day of fun and food with their union brothers and sisters. The annual Local 100 event at FDR Park in Yorktown Heights was a time to relax and enjoy with friends and family. Local 100 President Tony Utano, Admin VP Nelson RIvera, and top officers from our Private Lines Department were on hand for the good times on June 29 as were local leaders including State Sen. Shelley Mayer (37th District). Click on the right bracket to see all the photos!

Family Day 2019 -- in Pictures!

JUNE 15 -- Eight thousand transit workers and their families turned out on a gorgeous day to enjoy softball, festive eats, vendor give-aways, face-painting and rides for the kids, and a chance to enjoy bar-b-que with their union brothers and sisters. President Tony Utano and the union's entire leadership team were on hand. NBA Player Albert King (Nets, Knicks) was our special guest. We were also joined by Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez. Enjoy the photos!

CED VP Shirley Martin Honored by NYS Comptroller Tom DiNapoli

JUNE 19 -- Shirley Martin -- a Jamaican born machinist and Vice President of TWU Local 100's Car Equipment Department -- was honored by New York State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli at a festive celebration of Caribbean Heritage Month in Brooklyn. Sister Martin gave brief remarks at the event which acknowledged her historic achievements both in Jamaica and here in New York City.

Governor Cuomo's Announcement Deploying an Additional 500 Police to Transit to Deter Assaults, Fare Evasion

Governor's Announcement: 500 Additional Police to be Deployed to Fight Assaults and Fare Evasion in the Transit System

A TWU Local 100 campaign to get more cops in the transit system to deter worker assaults has paid off in a big way: an additional 500 police officers will be deployed to the subway and buses, authorities announced Monday morning.
    Transport Workers Union Local 100 President Tony Utano has repeatedly blasted Mayor de Blasio for failing to address the barrage of attacks on transit workers –and has repeatedly called for a greater law-enforcement presence. Utano and the Local 100 administration have also pressed the issue with elected officials, transit executives and the media through scores of interviews, several recorded union advertisements on 1010 WINS radio and several opinion pieces in The New York Daily News.
    “This is a big victory for Local 100 and for our members,” Utano said. “We want to go to work and do our jobs and go home to our families unharmed. We are sick and tired of the abuse. We are hopeful that these additional officers will not only deter attacks against our members but also result in quick arrests when crimes do take place. Our voices have been heard. This is a big step forward.”
    Gov. Cuomo credited the TWU’s leadership for raising the issue of worker assaults. “I want to thank the Transport Workers Union, Tony Utano and John Samuelsen, for bringing this issue of assaults on MTA personnel to the forefront. They’ve been talking about it for years and they are right.”
    Cuomo announced the infusion of additional officers at his Manhattan office with MTA Chairman Patrick Foye. Their mission will be to increase rider safety, protect workers and address farebeating, which drains hundreds of millions of dollars a year. There is a direct correlation between fare evasion and assaults on transit workers. The most tragic case being the murder of Bus Operator Edwin Thomas, who was stabbed to death by an ex-con in Brooklyn after a dispute over the fare. MTA data has shown the routes with the highest fare evasion rates often have high number of Bus Operator assaults.
    The additional police officers will include a contingent from the NYPD and former MTA bridge and tunnel officers.