Utano Responds to Foye Letter to Workforce

AUGUST 27 -- On August 26, MTA Chairman Pat Foye sent a letter to TWU Local 100 members, and workers across all MTA operating agencies, saying that if immediate relief from the federal government is not received, "hard choices" would have to be made by the Authority. He outlined scenarios that include service reductions of 40%, fare increases, and layoffs. The Union's response came today, with President Tony Utano roundly rejecting Foye's implied demand for concessions from the transit workforce.

You can read that letter here.

President Utano cites Foye for a failure of leadership in which the CEO is prepared to wave the white flag of surrender before trying his utmost to obtain additional funding for the transit system. Further, Foye is not considering cost-saving measures outlined by the Union, including immediately ending payments to consultants and suspending work being performed by contractors that can instead be done by the in-house workforce. President Utano notes that the TWU has been fighting hard in Washington DC for additional transit funding and that he expects the MTA to not give up the fight. He concludes the letter to Foye by saying: "Go back to work, and find better solutions."