TWU Local 100 congratulates City Councilwoman Melissa Mark-Viverito (D-East Harlem) on her election, by a unanimous vote, to the position of Speaker of the City Council. She has been a stalwart supporter of TWU Local 100 and an outspoken progressive in the fight to restore transit service, carrying Local 100 flyers to bring back bus service on Manhattan's East Side from the 126 Street Depot. She has attended Union events like Italian Heritage Night, and has frequently met with our Political Action Team and our leadership. We look forward to working with her in 2014 and beyond, as we pursue the restoration and expansion of bus service throughout the five boroughs. Ms. Mark-Viverito, 44, is a Puerto Rican-born lawmaker from East Harlem and becomes the first Hispanic to hold what is New York City’s second-most-powerful office.
Said TWU Local 100 President John Samuelsen:
"The Councilwoman's working class views and values reflect those of the 38,000 members of the Transport Workers Union Local 100. We look forward to working with her to not only restore all transit services that have been cut, but to also increase public transportation to transit deserts in the outer boroughs."
Councilwoman Melissa Mark-Viverito at TWU Local 100 Italian Night, at left, along with Union officials and staffers.