Management Blinks as Unions, Led by Local 100, Enforce Safety at Quill Depot

Union leaders converged on Quill Depot to enforce safety concerns. President Chiarello is at top, left.
Union leaders converged on Quill Depot to enforce safety concerns. President Chiarello is at top, left.

JANUARY 8—A coalition of unions led by TWU Local 100 President John Chiarello confronted New York City Transit management this morning at Michael J. Quill Bus Depot, addressing in person the safety concerns about falling concrete and possible structural damage to the facility that he had previously asked about.

Chiarello had requested the structural integrity report on the depot last week, but the union was not given a copy until after today's action. He was joined at the depot, named for TWU's founder, by leadership from Amalgamated Transit Union Locals 726 and 1181 as well as TWU Local 106 and United Transit Leadership Organization, both of whom represent supervisors.

At issue are longstanding concerns about evident damage to structural components in the massive three-story building in Hell's Kitchen, which stores around 350 buses and services a dozen major bus routes. Local 100's safety team previously documented mesh suspended from ceilings to protect workers and vehicles from falling debris and deteriorating concrete, while expansion joints on the floor of the depot, built to relieve the pressure caused by the weight of the buses, are in need of reinforcement.

“Management said that nothing was found that is problematic, but they refused to give us the study, asking for more time,” said MaBSTOA Vice President Donald Yates.

Chiarello also sent a letter today to New York City Transit President Demetrius Crichlow, filing an offical grievance under Section 1.9 of the contract and noting that there have been previous parking garage collapses in New York.

“So we said we would...shut down an artery in the depot, which would have affected all of our evening pull-ins,” Yates said. 

Management initially refused to release the structural report citing “security” but relented after the visit, supplying the report to Safety Director Celeste Kirkland this afternoon on a confidential basis.

“Common sense has to prevail,” said Chiarello. “I want to thank the officers, the members and the Safety Alliance. Just as unions are strong when their members band together, the Alliance is strong because unions have banded together.”

In the photos: Netting suspended from the ceiling of the Quill Depot to catch debris; A flagger at Quill Depot making sure only one bus is on the ramp at a time; Union leaders meeting at the depot on January 8.

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