TWU Local 100 President Tony Utano and the union’s elected Executive Committee launched main-table negotiations with the MTA Tuesday afternoon.
Utano was joined at negotiations by Secretary-Treasurer Earl Phillips, Recording Secretary Latonya Crisp, Administrative Vice President Nelson Rivera, and Vice Presidents John Chiarello, Richard Davis, Peter Rosconi, J.P. Patafio, Eric Loegel and Lynwood Whichard. The union’s legal team of General Counsel Denis Engel, Legal Department Senior Director Deirdre Feerick and outside counsels Vincent Pitta and Arthur Schwartz sat alongside the union negotiators on the 29th floor conference room at 2 Broadway.
In his opening statement, Utano said that the Local 100 leadership and the union’s Contract Policy Committee, took great care in consolidating scores of the membership’s proposals into a document that truly reflects the needs of the membership.
This first main table meeting, attended on management’s side by Anita Miller, the MTA’s Chief Employee Relations officer, Veronique Hakim, MTA managing director, Andy Byford, NYC Transit president, and other ranking labor relations and operating officers, was conducted in a respectful atmosphere.
Utano explained the rationale behind each of the union’s main table demands, which include raises, a reduction in disciplinary actions against workers, increased longevity pay, an improved dental plan hearing aids for retirees, and a request that the MTA join the union in supporting legislation in Albany for Tier 6 reform.
The MTA executives did not present any counter-demands. They instead offered to set up a series of mutually agreeable dates to move forward on the negotiating process.
President Utano responded quickly with a statement to the press: “Overtime isn’t a gift. It’s getting paid for additional hours working and being away from your family, working jobs that often are hazardous whether the threat is being hit by a train while on the job or stabbed or spat at by a maniac. We’re seeking a contract that is fair and reasonable and recognizes the unique, important roles transit workers play in the city.”
As the union and the MTA met for contract talks, a conservative think-tank released a suspiciously timed report highly critical of growing overtime costs. The report also urged the MTA to limit contractual gains in talks with Local 100.