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Elevator Positions are Saved

An Announcement from Transport Workers Union Local 100

Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2018 – The Transit Authority has agreed not to proceed with two proposed budget cuts that would have directly impacted subway riders and station staff: the elimination of elevator operators at five deep-cavern stations in Washington Heights, and the closure of subway station booths in the system. This breakthrough came as a result of extensive discussions between Local 100 President Tony Utano and NYC Transit President Andy Byford.

TWU Stations Vice President Derick Echevarria, along with other Local 100 officers and members, also have been leafleting riders and urging them to tell the MTA to shelve these cuts, which were included in the preliminary 2019 budget. “This is a great outcome that both riders and workers wanted to see,” Echevarria said. “It wasn’t an easy process but this is the right result. The presence of transit workers gives riders a sense of safety and security. We are the ‘eyes and ears’ and provide valuable customer service.”

The Washington Heights stations where elevator operators will now remain are: 168thSt., 181stSt. and 190thSt. on the A line, and 181stSt. and 191stSt. on the No. 1 line. These are unique deep-cavern stations. The 191stSt. station is 180 feet below street level and the deepest in the subway station. Riders overwhelmingly have said that the presence of transit workers gives them a sense of safety and security.

Read the Daily News story on the reversal of the cuts

MTA ditches proposal to do away with subway booths, elevator operators - NY Daily News

The MTA won't go through with a proposal to close several subway booths and do away with 75 station agent positions, after the idea got pushback from workers and riders worried about safety.

Italian Night at the Union Hall Features NYS Comptroller Tom DiNapoli

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25 -- Tom DiNapoli, sole Trustee of New York State's pension fund, joined TWU Local 100 leadership and rank and file members to celebrate the Italian heritage of transit workers. In a keynote address, DiNapoli vowed that the MTA's budget would not be balanced on the backs of transit workers. He was given a plaque by the Union. President Utano, the first Italian-American President of our Union, warmly welcomed transit rank and file to the event, introducing his family and first grandchild, Nina Fay. Union leadership at the event included our top four officers and most of our Vice Presidents, including newly elected VP of Maintenance of Way John V. Chiarello, who introduced Brother Utano. Enjoy the pix!

NYCT Restores Cleaners on A, R, 6 and D Lines

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26 The New York Post reports this morning that Transit has decided to reverse a pilot program that cut CTA night tours at certain stations during the overnight. Riders surveyed by the paper were concerned about the build-up of trash and also about the lack of a human presence in the stations during late night.

"We told the MTA last year that their plan to practically eliminate overnight cleaner positions stunk to high heaven. We're glad the new administration now appears to agree and is restoring positions at the affected stations," Local 100 President Tony Utano told the paper.

The story:

MTA brings back night cleaners as subway stations reek of filth

A year after the agency cut many of its overnight cleaning shifts to save money, it's restoring some of the positions because the stations are too dirty. About 30 of the positions will be reinstated on the A, R, 6 and D lines, union officials said.

photo courtesy ABC-TV

ABC Report: Train Operator Saves a Life

For the second time in less than a week, a Local 100 member from the Rapid Transit Operations department was featured on prime-time television for life-saving actions.

Subway Train Operator Louis-Mark Perry was taking his No. 7 train through a tunnel in Long Island City, Queens, Tuesday when he saw a man wedged up against the wall. Perry hit the brakes and then convinced the disorientated man, who was then in jeopardy of being electrocuted by the third rail, to board the train. "Once he got up into the train I told him, 'I don't know if you're married or if you have kids," Perry told WABC news reporter N.J. Burkett on Wednesday. "But if you do, you need to go home and hug your wife, hug the kids and be thankful you're alive. Because you really, you really could have been killed."

You can watch the episode here.

Just days earlier, Conductor Benjamin Schaeffer quickly evacuated his N train in Brooklyn after learning that an apparently homeless man spilled gasoline onto the floor of one of the cars. Schaeffer was featured on WNBC Channel 4. “I’m proud of how Operator Perry and Conductor Schaeffer handled these life-or-death situations - but I’m not surprised,” TWU Local 100 President Tony Utano said. “We are trained professionals and we do what needs to be done when there is an emergency situation.”

Utano said both men will certainly be in contention for a TWU Local 100 Transit Heroes Award later this year. Transit Heroes will honor Local 100 members who do exceptional deeds for their bus or subway riders, their co-workers or communities.

NBC Report: Conductor Acted Fast to Mitigate Urgent Risk

A veteran Train Conductor, who also serves as a TWU Local 100 Shop Steward, is being praised for taking quick action after a rider spilled gasoline inside his N train Sunday, October 14.

Conductor Benjamin Schaeffer immediately secured his cab and evacuated riders from the Manhattan-bound train after passengers came to his window at the 36thSt. and said an apparently homeless man with a shopping cart stuffed with items spilled the flammable material from a canister. Schaeffer was interviewed by NBC Channel 4 Reporter Andrew Siff. The piece aired Tuesday night at 6 p.m.

"I was proud of him," RTO Vice President Joe Costales said to Siff. "This is what we train to do in a daily emergency situation." See the full report here.

Utano Honored by Coalition of Black Trade Unionists

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The NY Chapter of the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists (CBTU), an organization that has advocated for minority empowerment in the labor movement since 1972, honored TWU Local 100 President Tony Utano as it’s “Man of the Year” on Oct. 12, 2018. Utano received the recognition at the 26th Annual James “Jim” Bell Scholarship Awards Dinner, at which a number of college grants are presented to minority students.

In his acceptance remarks, Utano commended the CBTU’s scholarship program for giving the recipients and their families “a real step up in their goal for a college degree.” He said that high school diplomas no longer are sufficient in today’s job market. “Young people today need a college education to insure a decent job and a long career.”

In addition to Utano, the CBTU recognized Mary Sullivan, CSEA Executive Vice President; Barbara Edmonds, Director of Field Operations for DC 37; Attorney Tilker Ziegler and City Council member Ritchie Torres. City Council member Andy King also attended. The event was hosted by Charles Jenkins, President of the NY Chapter CBTU. Jenkins is also Director of the TWU Local 100-NYCT Training Upgrading Fund.

In the photo: Local 100 President Tony Utano (center left) at CBTU awards dinner with NY Chapter President Charles Jenkins (center right); Local 100 Administrative Vice President Nelson Rivera; Vice Presidents John Chiarello and Derick Echevarria; LES Chair Duvet Williams; Stations Vice Chair Antonio Roldan; Political Director Michele Gilliam; Jesse Mendosa (Local 100 Honor Guard member); City Council member Andy King and Local 100 staffers Sharase Dubois (PAC), and Emmanuella Mathurin (Office of the Recording Secretary).

We Celebrate Russian Heritage in Brighton Beach

TWU Local 100 leadership joined hundreds of our Brothers and Sisters of Russian heritage at our annual celebratory banquet and night of entertainment at Tatiana's in Brighton Beach. As you can see from the photos, the evening did not disappoint!

Union Files Civil Service Lawsuit on Behalf of Station Agents

OCTOBER 12 – TWU Local 100 Stations Vice President Derick Echevarria, President Tony Utano, and Station Agents who are provisional in their title have filed a joint lawsuit against New York City Transit demanding relief under civil service law.

The court action, filed in New York County Supreme Court, seeks to force NYCT to create a certified hiring list based on an exam given to prospective Station Agents late in 2015. The lawsuit says the Transit Authority violated the law by not creating a hiring list, allowing approximately 300 new hires to be unlawfully carried as provisional employees for years. Additionally, other people who took the competitive test and chose not to begin employment with NYCT are also entitled to a place on a civil service list.

Stations VP Derick Echevarria said: “Transit did not create a civil service list as required by law for our Station Agents. Other transit titles were hired from civil service lists within the last two years – but no civil service list for Station Agents has been forthcoming. We’re going to court to get this fixed.” He said that a wave of new hires brought in to staff the 2nd Avenue subway do not have civil service protections. “Civil Service appointments create job tenure rights, which provisional employees do not enjoy. That’s why this litigation is important.”

Westchester County Executive Latimer Signs Historic Sick Leave Bill Backed by TWU

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 12 -- TWU Local 100 President Tony Utano released the following statement after Westchester County Executive George Latimer signed the Earned Paid Sick Leave Law:

"This a big win for TWU Local 100 members working in Westchester. The Earned Paid Sick Time Law mandates companies to provide workers with paid sick time off – for up to 40 hours a year (as long as they have worked the required amount of time during the year.) Under the law, employees earn one hour of paid sick time off for every 30 hours worked. After working 150 hours, for example, an employee would be eligible to get paid for 5 hours of sick time. After working 240 hours, an employee would be able to call in sick and get paid for an 8-hour shift. The employer can’t require scheduling such time off days in advance. What this means for you is that the terms of the law will be implemented during the next contract with your employer.

"TWU Local 100, however, retains the right to bargain other benefit(s) during negotiations – on terms that benefit TWU’s membership. As new contracts are negotiated, the benefits of this law will be taken into account. Some Local 100 contracts already have paid days off that workers can take without advance notice or scheduling (sick day, floating holiday, etc). The new law says that unscheduled paid time off counts towards the earned sick leave requirement. Local 100 fought hard for the passage of this law. It will help working people throughout Westchester County, not just TWU members. This new law is another example of how the TWU’s commitment to working people extends beyond Local 100’s membership and helps those who may become our members in the future."

Big Bus Washington Approves Union Contract, 47-1

OCTOBER 12 -- Big Bus Washington Tour Bus Operators overwhelmingly approved a contract negotiated by TWU Local 100 last weekend. The tally was 47 in favor, 1 against. President Tony Utano came in to close negotiations in New York leading to the final agreement. The pact had been approved by the Local 100 Executive Board on September 5 and was then submitted to ratification by the members at Big Bus Washington.

Among the provisions of the new agreement are 7 paid holidays, job protections and safeguards against unfair discipline, increased company contributions to the employee medical plan, and weekly and annual attendance bonuses.

Representing the negotiating committee at the Exec Board ratification was Big Bus Operator Jonathan Williams, Sr., (in checked shirt) who is pictured next to Private Lines Division Chair Carlos Bernabel. With the union leadership including (l-r) Administrative VP Nelson Rivera, President Tony Utano, Recording Secretary LaTonya Crisp, and Secretary Treasurer Earl Phillips. Next to Brother Rivera is Manny Agosto, an Executive Board member representing Liberty Lines in Westchester. At far right is Private Lines VP Pete Rosconi.

Big Bus is one of the world's largest open top double decker tour bus companies, with fleets in 20 cities in 11 countries.