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Union Urges Members, Public, to be on the Lookout for Man Wanted in Assaults on Female Transit Workers

The Transport Workers Union is urging its more than 40,000 members – and the millions of daily bus and subway riders - to help identify a man wanted for assaulting two female transit workers on Friday by throwing urine at them.

The NYPD has obtained a surveillance photo of the man who splashed urine on a No. 6 train Conductor at the Brook Ave. station at E. 138thSt., and also doused a Bus Operator with urine in front of 250 Grand Concourse at E. 138thSt. “Take a close look at this photograph and call the police immediately if you know him,” TWU Local 100 President Tony Utano said. “He is a dangerous menace and needs to be arrested right away. These were disgusting, horrific attacks that can not go unpunished.”

To transit workers, Utano said: “As you drive bus and train routes, keep your eyes out for this suspect and alert the authorities if you spot him. But also be careful. Bus Operators should keep their windows closed. Train Conductors should make sure they are wearing their goggles - and close their windows if someone approaches on a platform.”

TWU Local 100 will have officers distributing a Wanted Poster in the area where these attacks took place. “We will flood the area with Wanted Posters with the photograph of this criminal, and we look forward to seeing him in handcuffs.”

Union Warns of Possible Serial Attacker Targeting Transit Women

Passenger Throws Cup Of Urine In MTA Bus Driver's Face, Police Say
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) - An MTA bus driver is speaking out after being assaulted while on the job. She says she was on her usual route in the Bronx Friday morning when a stranger suddenly threw urine on her. "It literally went inside the collar... whole left shoulder soaked," Trellis Robinson said.

TWU Local 100 President Tony Utano is warning transit workers of a possible serial attacker targeting women on the job.

“Bus Operators should keep their windows closed and Train Conductors should make sure they are wearing their goggles and immediately shut their windows if someone approaches on a platform,” Utano said. “We will do everything we can to help the police catch this disgusting individual and put him in handcuffs.”

A female No. 6 train conductor was punched in the face and splashed with a liquid believed to be urine at the Brook Ave. station Friday morning at about 10:40 a.m. A female Bx1 Bus operator was splashed in the face with urine at East 138th Street and Grand Concourse, which is about 15 blocks away. You can see the news report on that incident above.

Utano is asking the NYPD to increase their presence along the No. 6 line and bus routes in the area. If the attacker’s image was captured on video, Utano said TWU Local 100 will flood the area with the image along with an appeal to members of the public to call the police if they recognize the individual. “This abuse of transit workers is outrageous,” Utano said. “No other group of workers gets treated like this.” The assailant was described as a black male, about 5-feet-7 inches tall, 160 to 180 pounds, wearing a Navy sweatshirt with a hood, khaki pants and red sneakers.

NYCT Clarifies Cancer Screening Policy; Allows 4 Hours Paid Leave

In a memo from NYCT Human Resources dated March 21, the company clarifies that four hours of paid leave are available to employees for cancer screenings. A cancer screening is defined as an "examination for cancer where there may be no symptoms present. Cancer screenings may include, but are not limited to, physical exams, laboratory tests, imaging procedures and genetic testing." Read the memo here. For the form to request the leave, click here.

Local 100 Rocks Albany at our Annual Lobby Day

APRIL 9 -- TWU Local 100's annual Lobby Day brought approximately 1,500 transit workers to the State Capital to graphically demonstrate the power of the union. Legislative leaders including Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, and Assemblyman and Chairman of the Committee on Governmental Employees Peter Abbate addressed our members in the convention center, while other political leaders came to the union's pre-lobby day reception at Corning Tower. Our photo essay shows the enthusiasm of our members as they began the day, which featured direct one-on-one lobbying of legislators to advance our political agenda. That agenda includes pension reform, a guarantee that train crews will include an Operator and a Conductor, fairness for our School Bus Members who are subject to discipline, and protections against diesel fumes exposure.

Train Operator Acts Fast; Saves Boy on Tracks

APRIL 4 -- A Local 100 Train Operator rescued a young boy who wandered onto the very dangerous subway tracks in Brooklyn Thursday morning. Train Operator Hopeton Kiffin was heading through the Hoyt St. (2/3) station on an express track when something out of the ordinary caught his eye at approximately 9:15 a.m. “I see a slight red flash, and I slowed the train down,” Kiffin said. “As a Train Operator, you always have to be aware. I saw a customer on the platform pointing to the tracks, so that confirmed that something was wrong.”

To his amazement, Kiffin, 51, said he saw a boy, about 12 years old, wearing a red sweater or jacket standing between two pillars. The boy was in a narrow area separating the northbound express and local tracks. There are four parallel tracks in the station.

“I was taken aback. I was like, “What is he doing there?,” Kiffin said. Kiffin alerted the Rail Control Center and then exited the No. 5 train to approach the boy. “He was clapping his hands,” Kiffin said. “He wasn’t afraid. There was no fear. I guided him to the train, got him on board.” Kiffin took the boy to the next station, Borough Hall, and handed him over to the NYPD Transit Bureau.

“This could have been a terrible tragedy if not for the alertness and professionalism of our Train Operator,” TWU Local 100 President Tony Utano said. “You can never relax when you are operating a subway train. You have to be alert for anything out of place. This story has a happy ending only because this Operator spotted this child and managed to get him to safety.”

At about the time Kiffin’s train was entering the station, a rider who observed the boy on the tracks used a Help Point intercom to alert the Station Agent. The Station Agent informed the RCC, which put out an alert to train crews in the area. Numerous television stations wanted to interview Kiffin, but he didn’t want to be in the spotlight. “It’s just part of my job,” he said. “I’m just glad everything turned out well.”

Union Opens Negotiations with the MTA

APRIL 3 -- TWU Local 100 President Tony Utano gave MTA management a comprehensive list of contract demands as he kicked off negotiations Wednesday at the Union Hall.Flanked by the top 10 elected officers, and backed by dozens of Local 100 Executive Board members, Utano outlined the case for a fair, inflation-beating agreement:

·      We are a trained and dedicated force of professionals who deliver a critical service moving millions of people a day by bus and subway.
·      We work around the clock in a stressful and hazardous environment. Since the last round of contract talks, three transit workers were killed on the job and hundreds more were injured in assaults or accidents.
·      We’ve begun to turn back the tide of delays with the Subway Action Plan. The MTA’s own metrics show service is improving because of the increased inspections, repairs and other work being done by Local 100 members.
·      The MTA’s finances have significantly improved. The state Legislature approved new funding streams for the authority: Congestion Pricing, a new real-estate tax on the sale of mansions, and a new Internet sales tax. The MTA board also enacted fare and toll hikes.

    “Our members expect a fair and equitable agreement,” Utano said. “We have worked hard for it. We deserve it. “There is no need to be nickel and diming us. And there is certainly no reason for your side of the table to be demanding givebacks of any kind.” Utano defined a fair and equitable contract as one that keeps workers ahead of inflation, enhances on-the-job safety, protects health benefits and addresses numerous departmental concerns. It also means a pact that drives down the “ridiculous and unnecessary amount of discipline for trivial violations across every title,” Utano said.

Utano presented the demands to an MTA delegation led by Chief Employee Relations and Administrative Officer Anita Miller. The package was developed during a three-month process during which members presented proposals to their sectional and divisional officer. The Local 100 Contract Policy Committee put together a final package that was reviewed and approved by the Executive Board. “I would like to add that our Executive Board unanimously adopted this package,” Utano told MTA brass. “This is a powerful indication that the entire leadership and membership are solidly behind this effort.” Both sides agreed to confer on dates for main table and divisional negotiations. The current contract expires on May 15.

President Utano Voices Anger After 'Disgusting' Assault

MARCH 29 -- A New York City Transit Conductor was spat upon and menaced for telling a rider not to smoke on a train early this morning. The incident followed several others this month: one conductor was punched in the face, another was spat upon and yet another was struck in the head with a bottle.

“This is a disgusting, despicable, really outrageous thing that’s happening to our conductors,” Transport Workers Union Local 100 President Tony Utano told 1010 WINS. “They are getting spit on. They are getting bottles thrown at them. No other group of workers in New York City has to deal with this stuff.” He called for a greater police presence in stations and also for additional cameras.

In today's incident, after receiving a report of an unruly customer smoking on the train, the No. 6 Train Conductor made an announcement at approximately 5:15 a.m. requesting the rider extinguish the cigarette or get off. The man became belligerent and began banging on her cab door, cursing and yelling.

When the train doors opened at Bleecker Street. the man came to the Conductor’s window and spat on the her face. After she closed the window, he continued spitting on the window and wrote "BITCH" on the window with his saliva.

The conductor requested medical attention and evaluation, and the train was taken out of service, Eric Loegel, Local 100 Vice President of Rapid Transit Operations, said. Police described the attacker as as African American, approximately 5 foot 9 inches tall, dressed in a lime green and hunter green sweater and khaki pants with a salt-and-pepper Mohawk hairstyle.

Memorial Unveiled for Stephen Livecchi at College Point Depot

All work at the sprawling College Point MTA bus depot came to halt at 10:30 a.m. this morning (Thursday, March 28th) in a solemn tribute to veteran Maintainer Helper Stephen Livecchi, who was killed on the job as he was directing bus traffic one year ago on March 27, 2018. Brother Livecchi had worked at the Depot for 37 years.

Many of the depot’s workers, from both transportation and maintenance, gathered for the unveiling of an engraved memorial to the fallen transit worker, near the entrance to the facility on 28th Avenue.
Livecchi’s wife, Donna, surrounded by union officers, MTA officials and scores of Local 100 members, sobbed quietly as a lone piper from the NYC Transit Pipe and Drum band, Tom Gervin from Gun Hill Depot, played a soulful ballad.

Local 100 President Tony Utano, Administrative Vice President Nelson Rivera, Vice President Peter Rosconi, and MTA Bus Division and Depot officers attended, along with Darryl Irick, President of the MTA Bus Company and George Menduina, Vice President of MTA Facilities. President Utano offered comforting words as he addressed the family. “TWU will always be here for you. You are part of the TWU family,” said Utano. “And it’s a big family.” Utano also said that the memorial would ensure that “Stephen Livecchi will never be forgotten.” He said that new workers coming on the job would pass by the memorial every day as they arrive at work, and ask “what happened here; what is this all about?” Utano said that they would be told the story and “be reminded just how dangerous our jobs are.”

The MTA’s Menduina said that he was at College Point the day of the tragedy in March 2018. “out of this tragedy came some good,” said Menduina. “The MTA, working with the union, has developed new safety protocols for bus movement not only at College Point depot but at every MTA bus facility throughout the city.” NYC Transit Police Officer J.W. Cortez closed the ceremony with a beautiful rendition of “God Bless America.”

NYC Artists Say Subways are the "Soul of the City"

Jeff Vogel, a long-time member of the New York City Labor Chorus, recently published a poem/song entitled, Soul of the City, featuring lyrics celebrating the role of our subways in the life of New York City. Here’s the song set to a charming video of scenes across the system. Lyrics by Jeff Voegel; music by Joe Gutierrez; Ruben Gutierrez on saxophone. Video production by Abigail Gutierrez. Enjoy the show!

Union Marks Anniversary of the Death of Track Worker St. Clair Richards Stephens

TWU Local 100 marks the one year anniversary of Track Worker St. Clair Richards-Stephens, who lost his life on the tracks at 125th Street on the Lexington Avenue line one year ago. He was only 23 at the time of his death. HIs death sparked a renewed effort to make the job safer for all of the transit employees working for the MTA who put their lives on the line in dangerous conditions. Mourn the dead -- fight like hell for the living -- Mother Jones.