As I Was Saying JOHN SAMUELSEN, PRESIDENT A Good First Half to 2011 LOCAL 100 HAS FOUGHT SEVERAL SUCCESSFUL FIGHTS IN THE FIRST HALF OF 2011 IN COURT, IN ALBANY, IN arbitration and in the workplace. TA, OA and MTA Bus members have received their retroactive three percent pay as well as the retroactive rollback of health care deductions to a flat 1.5 percent on 40 hours. This was all made possible by our victory in late March in the New York State Court of Appeals. But the best news is the resignation of MTA Chair Jay Walder. Unfortunately for Hong Kong’s transit workers, they will soon be dealing with his anti-worker agenda. Advances in Albany Bus Operator Safety We had a very successful session in Albany with the passage The vicious and unprovoked assault of Bus Operator of the “lock box” bill. Most pundits told us the bill would never Marlene Bien-Aime in the Bronx vividly demonstrates why pass. Well they were wrong. But for sure, passage of the “lock transit work is among the most dangerous in the City. Our box” bill proves that Local 100’s new political action program Bus Operators are assaulted at the rate of three per week. This is on the right track. We have forged never before seen rela- must and will end under my watch. tionships within NYC’s communities, with transit advocacy In addition, the torching of a Station Agent’s token booth groups, and with other public transit unions across the State. in Brooklyn on June 29 should surprise no one. The tough Contract 2012 economy and high unemployment means more crime in the Nearly 5,000 Local 100 members responded to our contract subways. Couple that with the fact that the MTA has virtually survey, both on-line and by filling them out at the workplace. put our Station Agents on an island making a revenue booth This impressive number demonstrates that Local 100 mem- appealing to thugs. Hopefully, this was just an isolated inci- bers are already engaged in the contract process. TWU Local dent, and not the start of a new crime wave. 100 is approaching perhaps the biggest fight in our union’s his- Bus Safety Inspections tory. Powerful forces that go beyond the MTA are determined TWU Local 100 has now fully established our intention to to strip us of our ability to provide for our families. If we are continue to conduct 19a inspections on the MTA’s buses prior to prevail and defend our livelihoods, the membership must to use in passenger service. These inspections are an extremely remain fully involved and be prepared to fight. important element in Local 100’s program Big Wins at Arbitration to enforce workplace safety. Transit work We won three major arbitrations in recent weeks that will is incredibly dangerous, and incredibly have long-lasting and positive consequences for Local 100 stressful. Despite the attitude of some members. We first scored a critical win for CED Cleaners bosses, we are not here to be beasts of bur- against a management attempt to dramatically broadband the den in a never-ending quest for more pro- scope of terminal cleaners’ work. Of course, the MTA is already duction, or to risk our health and safety in trying to ignore this award. The union will continue fighting the pressure filled drive for on time bus for the Cleaners with every means at our disposal. and train performance. We work for the We also scored an important win for RTO members MTA to provide for our families, regarding overtime caps. The third win – the College Point plain and simple. Under my grievance that is fully described in a piece elsewhere in this administration, safety will issue of the Bulletin underscores our Bus Operators’ right – and continue to be one of responsibility – to refuse to take unsafe vehicles on the road. our highest priorities.
ÓÊ/71Ê V>Ê£ääÊUÊ ÕiÌ Transport Workers Union of Greater New York, Local 100 1700 Broadway New York, NY 10019 Phone: 212-873-6000 Fax: 212-245-4102 www.twulocal100.org Ê->ÕiÃi President >ÀÊ* «Ã Secretary-Treasurer iÌ>Ê Ã Recording Secretary }iÊLÞi>ÕÝ Administrative Vice President 6-7 VICE PRESIDENTS 6-7 À>Ê >Ài]ÊMABSTOA VÊ ÝÊ Ê>ViÃÊ Ê >Þ]ÊMTA Bus, PBL iÛÊ>ÀÀ}Ì]ÊRTO "iÊ ÀiÊ/iÃÌÊ >ÕÀViÊiÃ] Stations iÃÊ,ÛiÀ>] CED One of Local 100’s top legislative priorities, the Lock Box -Ìi« >Ê/ >Ã]ÊTA Surface /ÞÊ1Ì>]ÊMOW bill, was unanimously passed by both houses of the State EXECUTIVE BOARD Legislature in June. The biggest hurdle though, the /Ê-ÕÀv>Vi Governor’s signature, still blocks the way. Lloyd Archer Ron Carter Joe Sclafani 9 Latonya Crisp-Sauray 9 Brander J.L. White ÌÀ>VÌÊÓä£ÓÊ >«>}Ê >ÀÊ µÕ«iÌ VÃÊ"vvÊÜÌ Ê iLiÀÊ-ÕÀÛiÞÊ Grigoriy Dunichev Jolly Eapen More than 5,000 members returned contract surveys Shirley Martin Neil Phillips recently as part of the first step toward a new collective ,/" bargaining agreement. Terry Adams Brussard Alston Dennis H. Boyd Steve Downs Lee Ireland Cleveland Manley -Ì>Ìà 10 Kathryn Taylor-Davidson 10 Derick Echevarria ÛiÀÊ-ÌÀÞ Annie Hallahan Michael Morales LiÊ7>Ã Ê ÀiÜÃÊ Paul Piazza Christine Williams iÊ"ÕÌÊ>ÌÊ } ÌÊÊ "7 When the City sleeps, Station Cleaners on the Mobile Wash Edwin Benjamin, Jr. Jack Blazejewicz teams are working hard to keep the system’s stations clean. Eze F. Chisholm John V. Chiarello Tommy Creegan Pete Foley Mario Galvet Dennis McCormick 15 15 -/"Ê /Ê ii`ÃÊ>Ê iÜÊi>` Tony Aiken Frank Austin MTA Chair Jay Walder said good bye to New York and Richard Davis Tom Lenane hello to Hong Kong. He’s abandoning his post with four Christopher Magwood years left on his contract. /Ê ÕÃÉ* Jerry Greenhaus Gwendolina Peebles Robert H. Stahl John H. Spicer, Jr.
Communications Department Official Publication of the Transport Workers Union ÀÌÊ*>}iÊ* Ì Transport Workers Bulletin of Greater New York, Local 100, AFL-CIO Alan Saly ÀiVÌÀ ÌÀLÕÌ}Ê `ÌÀÃ Published quarterly by the Transport Workers Union, Local 100, AFL-CIO James Gannon David Katzman, 1700 Broadway, New York, NY 10019 ÀiVÌÀÊvÊ Daniel Tasripin Postmaster: Send address changes to: Transport Workers Union, Local 100, *ÕLV>ÌÃ À>« VÃ 1700 Broadway, New York, NY 10019 Alan Saly Noah Rodriguez 5 AWARDS IN ALL! Bulletin Takes 1st Place in Labor Journalism Contest YANKEE SHORTSTOP DEREK JETER WENT FIVE FOR FIVE ON THE day he got his 3,000th base hit. Local 100’s Commu- nications Department also went five-for-five in the
TWU Workers Union Local 100 MTA Chairman Nonprofit Org. Metro New York Labor Communications Council’s 7EST %ND !VENUE s .EW 9ORK .9 U.S. Postage Change Service Requested Jay Walder PAID New York, NY sends his regards Permit No. 9124 annual Journalistic Awards Contest covering mate- !"##$%&'()*"+,)$-# rial published in 2010. .+/$-)+*)0"1&2#
!"#"$%&'(%'))***+ Jay H. Walder is The Transport Workers Bulletin, Local 100’s quarterly magazine, !"#$%!&'($%)*$+,-"$ received a First Place award in General Editorial Excellence in the &$./01#*$2)3)4"5-# category of publications with circulations in excess of 25,000. The Highest Paid “Public” Servant in New York We also received a first place award in Unique Performance is cutting hundreds of transit jobs and an unprecedented amount of subway and bus for the Jay Walder Postcard (Greetings from the South of France). service with impunity. Union members handed out thousands of the cards to passen- Take some o! the TOP for once. gers to demonstrate the disconnect between MTA Çhairman Jay 6-Year Contract Salary Walder, who was vacationing at his summer home in France at $350,000 annually Bene!ts the time, and working class New Yorkers who depend on public $22,000 pension contributions annually transportation. Housing $5,000 per month The Metro Council honored us with a Second Place award for Golden Parachute $350,000 minimum the best E-Newsletter (a weekly update e-mailed to everyone on $500,000 additional if removed “without cause.” www.twulocal100.org the union’s e-mail list). Another second place award went to the Department for the back page of the Bulletin’s May 2010 edition, which poked fun !"#$ at Jay Walder’s personal contract and golden parachute with the MTA. Finally, the Council awarded us a Third Place finish in Gen- eral Excellence for the Local 100 website.
4 After New Bus Operator Assault: Union Presses Drive To Get Bus Shields JUNE 21 BROUGHT THE FIRST DAY OF SUMMER AND A BRUTAL ASSAULT on Marlene Bien-Aime, a Bus Operator on the Bx9, who was sucker punched, pulled out of her chair and dragged down the stairs of her bus by an enraged teen who wanted to bring an un-caged dog aboard. The attack put a spotlight on the energies to his duties as chief financial MTA’s failure to move more quickly officer. on the issue of bus safety shields for Even though the installation of bus operators. The shields, in use in many safety shields, or partitions, has been other cities and countries, would stop agreed upon by the MTA and Local a sudden attack on a Bus Operator. 100, installation has been moving very After the assault on Marlene Bien- slowly. Local 100 divides these instal- Aime, Local 100 President Samuelsen lations into three categories – the ret- took steps to speed up the process of rofitting of buses which are already in getting the shields in place. He named service, the modifica- MABSTOA Division II Chair Frank tion of buses in the Austin to run the Union’s Bus Opera- procurement pipeline tor Action Committee (BOAC). Aus- scheduled for deliv- Bus Operator Marlene tin replaced Secretary-Treasurer Earl ery, and design specs Bien-Aime shown (above) outside Bronx Phillips, who is now devoting his full for bus shields in new Courthouse prior to purchases. giving testimony; (left) in the emer- Right now, hun- gency room after dreds of buses are attack, and (below) with nasty shiner. being retrofitted with She received black safety shields at Flat- eye, broken nose and assorted bruises. Her bush depot in Brook- attacker was arrested lyn. Buses which are and, in mid July, was indicted on the as- in the procurement sault charges. pipeline – the Nova 3 articulated buses – will makes communication also be equipped with easy with the riding driver protection shields, public. Another feature although the union has the union wants is a concerns that the material driver exit window on making up the Plexiglas that is part the left side, similar to passenger exit of the protective barrier is not strong release windows. Photo shows bus enough. The best possible shield, the If you have concerns about Bus protection used in places like Lisbon, union contends, incorporates a clear Operator safety, Frank Austin can be Portugal and window which the driver can slide reached at the Union Hall at 212-873- Athens, Greece. down if threatened but which also 6000 ext. 2038.
Ê/71Ê V>Ê£ääÊUÊ ÕiÌÊx -Ì>ÌiÊ i}Ã>ÌÕÀiÊ*>ÃÃiÃÊ RELUCTANT CUOMO HOLDS KEY
TWU LOCAL 100’S YEAR-LONG CAMPAIGN to win a “lock box” bill to insure that dedicated transit fund- ing be used exclusively for that purpose is rounding third and heading home. Only Gov. Cuomo can stop the bill from scoring now. Members of the Governor’s staff earlier indicated that he has reservations about signing the bill. As this edition was go- ing to press, the bill’s future was still undecided.
The margin of Gov. Cuomo has Fresh in the victory in both the expressed reserva- minds of the pub- tions about the State Senate (which lock box bill. lic and transit ad- passed the bill first) vocates were the and then the State 950 TWU Local eran legislators were not afraid to take Assembly, was an 100 layoffs of 2010 up an issue that is perceived to limit impressive victory – the result of the the Governor’s power over the budget for TWU and the diversion of $260 process. bill’s many sup- million in transit The final push came on June 15 porters: unanimous funding to fill bud- when the Local 100 Executive Board approval in both chambers. get holes. Citizens knew a lock box went to Albany to meet with key legis- What mattered most in the victory would be a barrier to more service lators just as the deals were being done was getting the bills out of committee cuts. to approve the final State budget. As on the way to floor votes. That’s where Revitalizing the MTA Labor Co- the political process in Albany moved our political action team under the di- alition, Local 100 and other transit into its final stages, most of the news rection of Marvin Holland and Curtis unions brought 1,500 members to coverage was about the high-profile Tate, stepped up to the plate with some Albany on March 29, with the lock fights to preserve rent control regula- old-fashioned union power. box our main priority. Those address- tions and pass gay marriage. Under the Tracking back to the beginning of the ing the united unions included State surface, however, the lock box moved year, the Lock Box drive started to gather Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli. forward, with the State Senate acting steam on Valentine’s Day, when we part- A May 23 press conference in the on June 22 and the Assembly bringing nered with Transportation Alternatives Times Square subway complex re- it to a vote on June 24. and the Straphangers Campaign to bring sulted in renewed commitment to After the important win, Local riders postcards with QR codes that sent the lock box from bill sponsors Jim 100 issued a joint statement with the a message to legislators: transit funds Brennan (D-Park Slope) and Marty Straphangers Campaign and Trans- must be dedicated to transit. Golden (R-I-C – Bay Ridge). Both vet- portation Alternatives. It also quoted
ÈÊ/71Ê V>Ê£ääÊUÊ ÕiÌ -Ì>ÌiÊ i}Ã>ÌÕÀiÊ*>ÃÃiÃʺ VÊ Ý»Ê
Times Square press conference (photo middle) with sponsors, Sen. Golden (far left), Assemblyman Brennan Assemblyman Brennan and State (far right) and Local President Samuelsen Senator Golden. President Samuelsen (2nd right); above, called the lock box “not only a win for Albany lobby effort with Booklyn TWU public transportation, but for good officers Tony Untano, government. It also demonstrates that Joe Sclafani, Dennis McCormick and John transit workers, teaming with tran- Chiarrelo, with Assem- sit riders and responsible legislators blyman Peter Abbate; (photo left), Valentines make a winning combination.” Day “card” to Albany event.
The Local 100 Executive Board journeyed to Albany on June 15 for a final push on the lock box bill.
/71Ê V>Ê£ääÊUÊ ÕiÌÊÇ State, Local Governments Seek ‘Shared Sacrifice,’ i.e… They Want Public Employees To Share All the Sacrifices By David Katzman
FURLOUGHS. ZEROES. CO-PREMIUMS. THIS IS THE LANGUAGE OF COLLECTIVE thousands of lay-offs. It would effective- bargaining in the public sector. Public employee unions are ly reduce pay the first two years and then return to zero, offering a 2% increase going through a difficult period, and it is showing at the bar- only in the final two years. Co-premi- gaining table. ums on health are significantly higher. We are not speaking here about ment budgets vulnerable. The rich In exchange, there is some limited job states like Wisconsin, where Tea Party- and powerful have decided that what protection. (See sidebar.) inspired governments are dismantling we need now is “shared sacrifice.” Ap- Less than a month later, the 56,000 the right to collective bargaining. In parently they mean sacrifice shared member Public Employee Federation those places, pensions and health cov- between the unemployed and public initialed a similar agreement. This erage are under the gun, but not at the employees, since the rich themselves agreement, too, is pending ratification. bargaining table. There is no bargain- aren’t giving up a dime. These pres- If these contracts are ratified, it is ing table. sures are showing themselves in plac- likely that they will be claimed as a pat- However, the assault on public es like New York. tern. services and on public employees CSEA, representing 66,000 state What about transit? is not limited to those states. Years employees in New York, has tentative- The economics of transit are dif- of tax cuts for the well-to-do have ly agreed to a five year-contract. This ferent from these cases. The political made many state and local govern- agreement came under the threat of atmosphere around us, however, is not. The MTA is composed of revenue- generating operations, and NYC Tran- ÕÊ->ÃÊ-Ì>ÌiÊ7ÀiÀà sit generates the most among them Here’s a look at the recent agreement between the State and CSEA and – after bridges and tunnels, which Wage Rates Furlough Days Additonal Payments turns a profit – is the least subsidized. 2011-12 0% 5 days (equivalent to a 2% cut) While “shared sacrifice” is hypo- 2012-13 0% 4 days (equivalent to a 1.6% cut) critical doubletalk, that doesn’t mean 2013-14 0% $1,000 lump sum it hasn’t gained influence. A large part Made in two of the public feels pinched by the crisis payments: $775 and its fallout. Even if they understand and $225. 2014-15 2% that Wall Street is to blame, that doesn’t 2015-16 2% 1.6% lump sum* mean they are immune to ideas that we *repayment of 2012-13 furlough days should be sacrificing. i>Ì Ê «ÀiÕ With 35,000 families to protect, Grade 9 and below 12% individual (up from 10%) our union doesn’t take this lightly. You 27% family (up from 25%) don’t beat back a tidal wave by huffing Grade 10 and up 16% individual (up from 10%) and puffing. We have been working 31% family (up from 25%) hard in Albany. We have been develop- >Þvvà ing our ties with community groups, ! No layoffs due to current deficits rider advocates and other labor unions. ! Layoffs possible due to restructuring & facilities closures And we have been making sure that ! Layoffs possible if revenues take a further unanticipated hit work rules are followed scrupulously, safety rules above all. nÊ/71Ê V>Ê£ääÊUÊ ÕiÌ Contract Fight Underway Create H.A.V.O.C. and More H.A.V.O.C. By Steve Downs, Executive Board Member Chair, Contract Working Group THE RECENT SURVEY OF MEMBERS TO HELP DEFINE THE UNION’S PRIORITIES for contract bargaining was just the first of many opportunities for Local 100 members to Have A Voice in Our Contract. In the fall, members will be able to shape the demands for their titles at their Di- vision meetings. Special contract meetings will be called as needed to report from bargaining sessions and to get feedback from the members. And, where the last two contracts were determined by an arbitrator, this administration is determined to give the members the final say on the contract through a membership referendum. Having a voice inside the union is important. Making yourself heard outside of the union is, too. The MTA, Mayor Bloomberg and Gov. Cuomo need to hear how determined you are to defend your wages and benefits. To Have A Voice in Our Contract: ! Wear your HAVOC button. ! Help leaflet riders about the MTA’s threats to service. ! Speak out about the importance of a fair contract for the people who move NY. ! Enforce safety on the job. ! Join TWU picket lines or lunch time protests at work. ! Come out when TWU calls rallies and demonstrations. If you haven’t paid all of the dues you owe, you can have a voice by paying up. This will give Local 100 more resources for our fight against management demands for a wage freeze, higher payments for medical coverage and other cuts. And it will put you in good standing, so that you can have a voice when it comes time to vote on a new contract. Winning a good contract will require HAVOC and more HAVOC. The officers of TWU 100 will make sure you have every opportunity to have a voice in YOUR contract.
x]äääÊ,iÌÕÀÊ ÌÀ>VÌÊ-ÕÀÛiÞ Local 100’s contracts with the TA/OA and MTA Bus ex- ties, some 3,000 members (60% of the total responding) pire Jan. 16, 2012. Although negotiations will not begin indicated that they are ready to take some action -- whether until the fall, preparations are underway for what are likely to wearing union buttons or t-shirts at work, attending rallies, be the most difficult contract talks in decades. One piece of or inviting union speakers to their community or religious the preparations was a recent survey of thousands of mem- organizations -- to support the campaign for a good contract. bers to determine their contract concerns. The survey was Recognizing the importance of full participation in the com- carried out under the slogan of H.A.V.O.C. (Having a Voice in ing fight, hundreds of members checked the box saying they Our Contract) and participants received H.A.V.O.C. buttons. will pay all dues they owe. Division officers will be contact- Over 5,000 members responded to the survey, which was ing them to make arrangements for them to return to good conducted both on paper and online. We are now tabulating standing. the survey responses and the results will be posted soon. More than 500 members wrote additional comments on The survey asked members to rank their priorities on their surveys. These are all being read and tabulated and possible contract issues. In addition to ranking their priori- will be reviewed by the Local’s officers.
ÊÊ/71Ê V>Ê£ääÊÊUÊÊ ÕiÌÊÊ MOBILE WASH TEAM WELCOMES BACK DIANE WILLIAMS Carrying the MTA’s Water LIKE FIREFIGHTERS, THEY BRING HOSES OF PRESSURIZED water into the equivalent of a fourth floor walk- up. But the steps lead down, into filthy, hot, rub- bish-strewn stations. They open up the guns, grab the brooms, mops and pails, and don’t let up until the job is done. Then it’s onto the next station. Caption for both photos One of the toughest jobs in the transit system is most- goes here. Caption for both ly done late at night, in sweltering heat or bitter cold, by photos goes here. Caption teams – many of them women – who resuscitate terminally for both photos goes here. Mobile Wash team members dirty stations. Tough, not only because of the physical lift- pulling their weight, and more, ing involved, but also because the stations aren’t cleared of at 59th Street station recently. passengers, who sometimes argue with crews and insist on disregarding their requests to clear the area. ing care of Williams’ three kids There are many hazards on this job, because it’s so phys- and one grandchild. ical. CTA Diane Williams knows this better than anyone. Recovering was hard, but On April 15, 2008, she was heading up the stairs at the 2nd getting back to work was hard- Avenue L train stop on Manhattan’s Lower East Side when er. That’s because she was fired she heard a sharp crack and felt sudden pain in her right by Transit after being out more leg. That injury would be grounds for termination – but than a year on her injury. she didn’t know it yet. She reached out to Lo- “I couldn’t put any weight on my leg,” she remembers. cal 100, and found help from “I tried to call the CTA downstairs, but all lines were busy. Station Section Chair Jay Ber- So I found a crate, sat down outside, and the lunch relief mudez and from Chris Light- CTA Diane found me there.” She was transport- bourne, now Director of Mem- Williams, after a ed by ambulance to Beth-Israel ber Services. “I called out of harrowing injury and recovery Hospital, just down the street, frustration [with Transit] she period, back and had surgery. says. “I wondered, what did I on the job But instead of being out do wrong, for them to termi- with Mobile Wash. for a month or two, Williams’ nate me? When they asked me to bring in my pass and uni- injury was complicated form, I felt bad.” when her body rejected Bermudez and Lightbourne got Williams back to train- the metal implant. More ing after convincing NYCT’s Independent Medical Exam- surgery followed at the iner that Williams could go back on duty. But character- Hospital for Joint istically, Transit put her back to work at minimum pay. Diseases. The se- Bermudez straightened that out early in 2010, getting a verity of the bump up to her correct pay grade as well as credit for lost damage to her vacation and sick time. leg forced Wil- The TWU Bulletin caught up with Williams and her liams to go from Mobile Wash crew one night recently at the 59th St. Sta- Joint Diseases to a tion on the 4, 5, 6 lines. Diane could be seen humping high convalescent home, pressure hose down long flights of stairs and blasting walls, with her mother tak- ceilings and platforms clean.
£äÊ/71Ê V>Ê£ääÊUÊ ÕiÌ Local 100 Members, Families Enjoy a Day at the Beach APPRECIATING
THOUSANDS OF TRANSIT WORKERS, THOUSANDS of hot dogs, and dozens of bar-b-cue grills going full-out were part of the Local US100-sponsored Transit Workers Appre- ! ciation Day at Coney Island on June 4. Continued on next page
Continued on next page
Ê/71Ê V>Ê£ääÊUÊ ÕiÌÊ££ Appreciation Day Continued from page 11 Kids enjoyed the antics of a juggler, jumped like jacks-in-a-box on an elaborate moon walk and had their faces painted in wild art. Transit families also took advantage of the 60 percent off tickets to Coney Island’s popu- lar Luna Park. Local 100 President John Samuelsen threw out the first pitch at a celebrity softball game at MCU Park, home of the Brooklyn Cyclones, sponsored by the High School of Sports Management. Members picked up valuable tips and literature at the associated health fair in the big parking lot outside the stadium. Prominent politicians, including Brook- lyn Borough President Marty Markowitz and City Comptroller John Liu, paid their respects. President Samuelsen greeted members and their families throughout the day, and em- phasized the day’s theme, “appreciation.” “We don’t hear that word – appreciation – very much on the job from the MTA,” said Samuelsen. “So at this event, we’re here to show a little appreciation for each other. Appreciation for our union and the jobs we do so well every day. Also, appreciation that our union has pro- vided us with a decent standard of living and the promise of a dignified retirement.”
£ÓÊ/71Ê V>Ê£ääÊUÊ ÕiÌ Ê/71Ê V>Ê£ääÊUÊ ÕiÌʣΠA fourth Operator, a probationary employee, had been re- Local Locks Horns turned to work the previous week in a negotiated settlement. Edelman also ordered both sides to convene a labor- With MTA on Bus Safety management committee to develop a comprehensive “safety” defect list to guide both Company and Union representatives in determining whether buses are to be held out of passenger Union Stands service. While Edelman has 30 days to issue his final award, he indicated that he expects the two sides to develop an ex- Strong for pedited procedure for such disputes moving forward, in- cluding an immediate decision by a designated arbitrator by phone. He also indicated he wants agreement on a post- Stand Up Guys trip inspection process so that safety issues that arise during
This bus, out of LaGuardia depot, operation of the vehicle be noted on the Operator’s Vehicle caught on fire after leaving garage Condition Report (“OVCR”) Card and fixed immediately. just days before the College The stand-off took place when the disciplined Opera- Point incident. tors, with union reps at their side, refused to take buses with safety defects on the road during pre-trip inspections man- dated by law. Management charged the Operators with insubordina- tion. Three were terminated. A fourth was put back to work, pending due process on a 30-day suspension. Defects included upper rear marker lights on an Orion bus and upper brake lights on two MCI Cruisers. Our mem- bers’ actions were not only justified, but required by law. President John Samuelsen, Secretary Treasurer Earl Phil- lips, Vice President John Day and attorney Denis Engel ar- gued the case for Local 100, while management countered with John Hein, Sr., the Executive Vice President, Labor Re- lations for NYC Transit and David Franceschini, Director, Labor Relations, MTA Bus, among others. Ironically, the week before these Operators were taken out of service, a wheel came flying off a bus (out of Col- lege Point) and a lady and her baby were almost crushed. In FOUR LOCAL 100 BUS OPERATORS WHO STOOD UP FOR another incident, a bus out of LaGuardia burst into flames safety and their union on May 26, and paid for while in service. And on June 2, a bus out of JFK depot (ATU) caught fire and burned to the ground as it it with suspensions and terminations, are back left the depot for passenger service. to work as a result of an important arbitration President Samueslen said that the arbitration is win for the union. an important win for bus and passenger safety, and protects Operators from in- Arbitrator Howard timidation, harassment and Edelman issued an im- discipline when acting to mediate bench deci- protect themselves and sion on June 24, to the public from un- return three of safe equipment. the Operators to their jobs at Three of the four operators disciplined the College for standing up for Point Depot. safety are shown at the union hall.
£{ÊÊ/71Ê V>Ê£ääÊÊUÊÊ ÕiÌ Walder Goes A.W.O.L. TRANSIT WORKERS WON’T Samuelsen. “His attempt last have Jay Walder trying year to blackmail the union into major pay and other to kick them around concessions led to gratuitous any more. and unnecessary layoffs, and The aloof technocrat, once he rammed through equally labeled a “bean counter” by unnecessary service cuts in Local 100 President John Sam- both subway and bus service, uelsen, announced he is exiting with particular insensitivity the platform in October 2011 to already underserved areas for a $2 million a year position of Queens, Brooklyn and the in Hong Kong. Transit workers Bronx.” We had some fun with Walder along the way, had a message for the MTA boss: don’t painting him as the “Grim Reaper” of jobs Samuelsen tagged Walder a political let the turnstile hit you in the rear end (above), and job slasher“Freddie Kreuger” lightweight. “Walder was totally inef- (below right). on the way out. fective in dealing with Albany to either New York’s political elite, led by ing credited with were in the pipeline secure new funding for public trans- Mayor Bloomberg, fell over each oth- months and years before he got here.” portation to avoid service reductions, er to praise Walder for his two-year “Transit workers won’t miss Jay or to protect the dedicated sources of stint as Chairman. The Mayor, for Walder. We’re glad to see him go.” transit revenue already there.” instance, called Walder “a world-class Samuelsen also blasted the outgo- Finally, Samuelsen charged that transportation professional. He is the ing Chairman for his attack on the Walder “completely fumbled the ball” type of person we can’t afford to lose, union’s contract. “Walder was an- during the only real operating crisis and his departure is a real loss for New tagonistic to the union and the work- faced during his tenure, the Christmas York City, the metropolitan region, ers from his first day on the job,” said 2010 blizzard, the state and the country.” Others credit Walder with usher- /À>ÃÌÊ7ÀiÀÃÊ7i} ÊÊ"Ê"ÕÀÊ>ViLÊ*>}i ing New York’s bus and subway system Ⅲ ANUUDA ONE BITES DA DUST! GOOD RIDDANCE into the 21st century by introducing TO BAD RUBBISH! modern technologies like count down Ⅲ Oh, Happy Day, our reign of stupidity is over. clocks. Ⅲ CHINA WATCH OUT! Trouble’s coming, hide your Local 100 President Samuelsen children. found the positive Walder assessments Ⅲ NA Na, NA NA NA NA, Hey, hey hey, GOOD BYE! “laughable.” Ⅲ Goodbye you rich fake phony. I salute my TWU LOCAL 100 FAMILY. HE TRIED BUT COULDN’T “Jay Walder leaves the transit sys- BREAK US! tem in far worse shape than when he Ⅲ There will soon be layoffs in China. got here less than two years ago,” said Ⅲ There is a God! Samuelsen. “Walder accomplished Ⅲ Damage done. Now it’s time to screw up another nothing for public transportation in city’s transit system. the region. He pushed through un- Ⅲ So they’re getting rid of the trash … about time. Good riddance to that tyrant! precedented service cuts, and laid off Ⅲ Ⅲ Farwell jerk! thousands of workers – 960 of the Ⅲ He did a lousy job! Goodbye. You will not be them Local 100 members – and all the missed. technological improvements he is be-
ÊÊ/71Ê V>Ê£ääÊÊUÊÊ ÕiÌÊÊ£x A Reprint from the New York Daily News Transit Workers Deserve More Than a Token Raise For the Risks They Take Pete Donohue less subway predators armed with gasoline New York Daily News and matches. He survived an agonizing two weeks before passing away, leaving behind a Monday, July 4th 2011, 4:00 AM While most columnists widow, Stella, and a 17-year-old son, Adrian. from newspapers around the “He was a good guy, a hard worker,” Adri- Here’s a question for the six-figure MTA an said. “He was always working. He spent country have blindly joined executives when they try to sell the notion the chorus demanding give- time with me when he could, but he did what that transit workers should get a series of ze- he had to do to pay the bills.” backs from public employ- ros when their contract is up for negotiation ees, Pete Donohue of the Six years ago, an arsonist stuffed cloth later this year: into another L-train booth in Brooklyn, New York Daily News brought When was the last time someone tried to doused it with a flammable liquid and set in a new perspective to the de- burn down your office when you were in it? on fire in East New York. The clerk, who was bate recently. Donohue used Two punks splashed gasoline on a token six months pregnant, escaped serious injury the attempted torching rob- booth at the Prospect Park station in Brook- when the booth’s automatic fire-suppression bery of a revenue booth in lyn before dawn last week and set it on fire system extinguished the flames, as have many Brooklyn to point out the con- with a female clerk inside. others who have been subjected to such at- stant life-threatening dan- It was an act of depravity and stupidity, tacks over the years. gers facing transit workers an apparent attempt to get the clerk – who It’s no cakewalk for other subway work- on-the-job, as well as the jus- doused the flames with a fire extinguisher ers. Since 1947, at least 239 subway workers tice of the workers seeking – to unlock the door so the two young men were killed on the job, many of them hit by could scoop up whatever cash was inside a raise instead of givebacks trains while on the tracks to inspect or repair from the sale of MetroCards during the over during negotiations later this - equipment like signals and rails. night shift. However shocking, it was hardly year. Two track workers were run over in one unprecedented. week in 2007 – Danny Boggs and Marvin In 1979, clerks Regina Reicherter, 56, and Franklin. Crew foreman James Knell was Venezea Pendergast, 47, were killed when electrocuted last year while wrapping up a two teenagers sprayed gasoline through the repair project on an elevated line on a wet, change slot of the booth in the Broad Chan- stormy overnight shift. nel station in Queens and ignited it. It was a And then there’s emotional trauma. It twisted act of revenge. One of the teens had seems a day doesn’t go by without someone received a summons for jumping the turn- jumping or falling in front of a train entering stile the night before, after a clerk alerted a a station. A front seat to death. A human be- police officer. ing obliterated in front of your eyes. You just In 1988, clerk Mona Pierre, 39, was killed don’t change the channel from something when a robber torched her booth at the like that. Halsey St. L-train station in Brooklyn. Straphangers shouldn’t be outraged that And in 1995, clerk Harry Kaufman, work- transit workers will at least ask for a cost-of- That’s Daily News columnist Pete ing overtime to pay his son’s college tuition, living increase. There should be outrage that Donohue talking to Bernadette was burned over 80% of his body in yet an Boggs, widow of Track Worker Danny - the MTA will make a strong push to deny Boggs who was killed on the job in other robbery attempt by heartless and brain- them. 2007, and who is mentioned in this column.
£ÈÊÊ/71Ê V>Ê£ääÊÊUÊÊ ÕiÌ
TWU Turns Out Big for Puerto Rican Day Parade
Local 100 members and their families came out in big numbers to enjoy this year’s Puerto Rican Day parade. Prior to the march, (above) Local 100 President John Samuelsen presented a beautiful plaque honoring the memory of Richie Bermudez, Chair of the 100th Street Depot, who died late last year, to his family.
1ÃÊÌÊ7>Ê-ÌÀiiÌ\ʼ*>ÞÊ1«½ Local 100 and other TWU Locals, including Locals 252 (Long Island Bus), 501 and 562 (American Airlines) joined other unions in a march on Wall Street recently to drive home the message that Wall Street’s millionaires – after causing the economic meltdown in the first place – are getting away scot-free, while public sector workers are bearing the brunt of the losses. This was just one of many similar rallies Local 100 attended to protest worker givebacks.
Support LGBT Pride Parade ,iÌÀiiÃÊ ÌÕiÊÌÊ-Õ««ÀÌÊ/ iÀÊ1 TWU Local 100’s retirees are more active than many of our active members, aided by the depth of experience in their Executive Board (above) and staff, headed up by John Noone (not pictured) and Mike Tutrone (far right). Not only have our retirees reached the $100,000 mark in donations to the Solidarity Fund to help For the second year in a row, Local 100 supported laid-off members with health care benefits, but they also came the LGBT parade to advance equal rights for all. The to Albany in force to lobby for the union’s Legislative Agenda. union’s contingent was led by Recording Secretary Looking to retire? Stay involved by joining the TWU Local 100 Benita Johnson and Administrative Vice President Retirees Association on our website at www.twulocal100. Angel Giboyeaux.
ÊÊ/71Ê V>Ê£ääÊÊUÊÊ ÕiÌÊ棂 W O R K A N D T H E Law Public Sector Unions Are Under Attack BACK IN MARCH TENS OF THOUSANDS OF WORKERS CAME OUT TO PROTEST THE WISCONSIN GOVERNOR’S EFFORT to strip public employees of their rights to bargain collectively. He won, and the Wisconsin legislature passed his bill, and just recently the State’s Supreme Court threw out a challenge to the new law. Ohio followed suit with an even worse law. And only lost the right to engage in secondary boycotts, the National a few weeks ago, we saw the Republican governor and the Labor Relations Board was required to seek court imposed Democratic controlled legislature of New Jersey punish injunctions against militant union activity that ran afoul their public employees. As a result, New Jersey’s state and of the new laws, and the ability of unions to organize new local workers must now contribute much more for their members was greatly hampered. Today, in the private sec- health insurance and pensions; cost-of-living increases to tor there are fewer workers in a union as a percentage of retirees’ pension checks were suspended indefinitely; retire- the workforce than there were before these unions were ment ages were raised, and even more importantly, the new legalized in 1935. legislation curbed the unions’ contract bargaining rights. Ironically, having legal rights in the public sector began The attack against public sector workers is not just about in Wisconsin, which in 1959 was the first state to grant its dollars and cents; it is also about curbing and eliminating the employees the right to collectively bargain. Since then pub- power of public sector workers by stripping unions of their lic sector collective bargaining rights expanded throughout rights. In New York we are facing a similar challenge. Right the United States so that by 2003 only 11 states had not wing forces are on the march to try to destroy public sector passed laws granting collective bargaining rights to some unionism much as they have done in the private sector. or all of its employees. New York State passed the Taylor Public sector trade unionism is a more recent phenom- Law in 1967 following a successful strike by Local 100 and enon than private sector unions. In 1935 private sector other unions. trade unionism was legalized with the passage of the Na- Today in New York, like in other states, public sector col- tional Labor Relations Act. The American labor movement lective bargaining rights are under serious attack. Recently, grew dramatically until a full third of America’s workers legislative proposals were made to eliminate seniority rights were members of a union. At that time only small hand- when teachers are being laid off. There are also calls to elimi- fuls were in the public sector. Today, less than 12 percent of nate the Triborough Doctrine in the Taylor Law which out- the workforce is unionized, and most union members are laws a public sector employer from chang- in the public sector. Stated another way, more than a third ing terms and conditions of employment of public sector workers are in a union compared to only until a new contract is negotiated. Re- about 6 percent of the private sector workforce. vocation of the Triborough Doctrine Many factors contributed to the decline of private sec- would significantly hurt workers’ rights. tor unionism, none more important that the deindustri- We live in difficult times. This is alization of America. Our industries and our jobs were when it is more important than ever for exported overseas. Manufacturing was heavily unionized workers in both the public and private and when those union jobs disappeared nothing replaced sectors to have a strong union. them. But changes in the law designed to curb private sector unionism were very important as well. With Taft- Larry Cary, TWU Local Hartley, passed by Congress in 1947, private sector unions 100 General Counsel
£nÊÊ/71Ê V>Ê£ääÊÊUÊÊ ÕiÌ Train Operator’s Son Scores All America Honors
Alex Bowen, Jr. clearing bar on his way to a State championship and All America honors.
EVERY DAD WANTS TO SEE HIS SON a short amount of time, he’s done so 1993 as a Conductor. He earned a pro- well. And he did it all himself. I’m so motion to Train Operator in 2002. He hit a high note in life. happy for him.” currently works the midnight tour on For Train Operator Alex Bowen, Dad is also very happy that college work trains, and serves his union and his son Alex, Jr. has already hit one in is already all paid for. Alex scored a brother and sister members as a shop only his senior year at Beacon High full scholarship to SUNY Albany. steward. School. And for the young Alex, there Dad said that Alex, Jr. was a gifted Alex, Sr. is also the father of two will be many more octaves to come. athlete in other sports as well. He ex- daughters, Catrina and Beverly who In only his second year of compe- celled in Pop Warner Football as a wide attend Baruch College tition, Alex, Jr. won the overall state receiver. The 6’ 4” Alex, Jr. also starred and CCNY respectively. championship in the boys high jump in Lacrosse, and is highly competitive Train Op- at the New York State Public High in the triple jump. But he truly found erator Alex School Athletic Association champi- his calling with the high jump. Bowen, Sr. with son, onship in early June. “The college coaches feel that a lot Alex, Jr., said: Bowen cleared 6 feet, 8 inches to of his success has been on pure ath- “I’m so proud and happy for win the title. But that was only the leticism,” Alex, Sr. contin- him.” beginning. One week later, he went to ued. “They believe that the nationals and placed third with a 6 he’s going to jump a feet 9-3/4 inch jump earning him All lot higher with intense America honors at the New Balance coaching.” Outdoor Nationals at North Carolina Do we see the A&T University in Greensboro, NC. Olympics in the fu- The young star’s coach at Beacon, ture. “Who knows,” Jim Henry, said of Alex: “After placing said Alex, Sr. “That second indoor (state championships), would be nice for his whole goal was to get up here and him.” win the state championship, and he did.” Alex, Sr. has been Needless to say, dad, Alex, Sr., is ec- a member of Local 100 static. “I’m so proud of him. In such since joining NYCT in
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W E M O U R N O U R L O S S Local 100 mourns the passing of the following Active and Retired members. Patrick Licata Benny J. Washington Vito Pagano William J. Green Walter W. Patterson Retired NYC Transit Retired NYC Transit Retired Conductor Retired MABSTOA Retired TA on January 22, 2011. on January 11, 2011. on May 19, 2011. Bus Operator and father Surface employee of Local 100 Office on October 19, 2010. Michael Hargett George T. Nichols Jennie Kenndy Manager Kerry Sylvester, Retired CED Cleaner Retired TA Retired MABSTOA on December 20, 2010. Michael Cowell on February 21, 2011. Station Cleaner Senior Admin. Asst. Retired Structure on February 8, 2011. on May 3, 2011. Hugh McMenemy Maintainer Brian Temple Retired MABSTOA on October 21, 2010. Retired NYC Transit James K. O’Brien Richard Pryor Bus Operator on February 30, 2011. Retired Train Operator Active Station Agent on June 15, 2011. Walter Gayz, Jr. on March 11, 2011. on May 11, 2011. Retired Liberty Lines Juan D. Rogers Sherbert Williams Bus Operator Retired NYC Transit Louis Causa Barry Hare Retired Conductor on Nov. 1, 2010. on January 2, 2011. Retired Safety Inspector Active Station Agent on February 15, 2011. on March 16, 2011. on June 13, 2011. Benny J. Washington James J. Bartelini Joseph Baatz, Sr. Retired, NYCT Member Retired NYC Transit Michael B. Smith Gisel Rijo Retired MABSTOA on January 11, 2011. on May 3, 2011. Retired Car Inspector Retired Tower Operator Bus Operator, on March 14, 2011. on June 9, 2011. Arthur F. Bates Adelaide Polite Hudson Pier, on Nov. 3, 2010. Retiree since 1977 Retired Station Agent Felicia D. Windham Patrick Walsh on January 16, 2011. on November 18, 2010. Active TA Cleaner Retired MABSTOA Gino Lombardi on March 12, 2011. Maintainer & Recording Martin Hunt William Roberts Retired TA Bus Secretary Maintenance Maintainer Retiree since 1986 Active Station Agent Julian J. Washington Division in June 2011. on January 25, 2011. on April 17, 2011. Retired Train Operator on October 22, 2010. on April 10, 2011. Peter O’Brien Bathold Vollmart Leon P. Sealey Sr. Joseph Schnorr Retired MTA Bus Retired Brake Retired TA Bus Operator Curtis C. Hickson Retired MABSTOA Operator in May 2011. Bus Operator Maintainer, on February 1, 2011. Active MABSTOA on December 7, 2010. Bus Operator Cowell Carvey on Sept. 29, 2010. Filberto DiPalme on April 10, 2011. Retired Car Inspector Robert W. Kemps James Malamas Retired NYC Transit on May 3, 2011 Retired Bus Operator, on December 10, 2010. Albert Prescott Retired Track Worker on October 15, 2010. Fresh Pond Depot, on Retired Train Operator Thomas M. Barnes December 7, 2010. Eddie Davis on March 15, 2011. Retired TA Maintenance Retired TA Bus Operator James Morro Porter on April 30, 2011. Retired TA Cleaner Anthony Basile on January 14, 2011. Lewis Ceballo Retired Car Cleaner Retired NYC Transit Facundo Rosario on June 5, 2010. Charles Coleman on November 7, 2010. on April 10, 2011. Retired MTA Maintainer John Visone Retired MABSTOA on June 4, 2011. Joseph Schnorr Bus Operator Ryan Warren Retired TA Maintainer on October 2, 2010. Retiree since 1996, on December 10, 2010. Murphy, Jr. Alfredo Belisario on February 1, 2011. Retired TA Bus Operator Retired Station Agent Joseph Matteo Michael Hangelt on April 10, 2011. on June 8, 2011. Alexander Dixon Retired CED Cleaner Retired TA Bus Operator, Ulmer Park, Retiree since 1980, on February 22, 2011. William Foriello Dwellie Benefield on January 11, 2011. Retired TA Stock Clerk Retired Train Operator on October 12, 2010. on April 20, 2011. on June 5, 2011.
V>Ê£ääÊ >ÀÃÊ->`ÊÛiÀÃ>Àià Local 100 members and officers gathered at the 59th St./ recently to mark the anniversaries of the deaths of Track Work- Columbus Circle station on April 25 to honor the memory of er Marvin Franklin (below right), killed just days after Boggs; Track Worker Danny Boggs (photo below left), killed on the job Track Worker Harold Dozier; Signal Maintainers John Nicholson at that site 4 years ago. Similar memorials have also been held and Daniel Walsh and Liberty Lines member Barrington Garvey.
ÓäÊÊ/71Ê V>Ê£ääÊÊUÊÊ ÕiÌ Working In The Heat
WORKING IN HOT ENVIRONMENTS IS NOT SAFE. YOUR ! CED: Call your Barn Chair or Local Union rep. body builds up heat when you work and sweats ! MOW control: 212-712-4120 to get rid of it. Too much heat can make you HEAT EXHAUSTION tired, hurt your job performance, and increase What are the symptoms? your chance of injury. When the temperature Headaches; dizziness or lightheadedness; weakness; changes quickly, you need time for your body mood changes such as irritability, confusion, or the inabil- ity to think straight; upset stomach; vomiting; decreased to get adjusted to the heat. Be extra careful or dark- colored urine; fainting or passing out; and pale, early in the summer when hot spells begin. clammy skin You have a right to a safe & comfortable work WHAT SHOULD YOU DO? environment. ! Act immediately. If not treated, heat exhaustion may advance to heat stroke or death. DON’T WAIT FOR THE 90-DEGREE HEAT. ! Move the victim to a cool, shaded area to rest. Don’t PLAN FOR IT! leave the person alone. If symptoms include dizziness or ! Clean water provided through a fountain, cooler or lightheadedness, lay the victim on his or her back and bottled water at all locations raise the legs 6 to 8 inches. If symptoms include nausea ! Cool work areas and break rooms or upset stomach, lay the victim on his or her side. ! Ventilation to bring in clean air and take out hot air ! Loosen and remove any heavy clothing. ! Make adequate water supplies part of your daily ! Have the person drink cool water (about a cup every workplace inspection 15 minutes) unless sick to the stomach. To follow up with supervision, call: ! Cool the person’s body by fanning and spraying with ! Station command center: 212- 712-5277 a cool mist of water or applying a wet cloth to the person’s skin. ! TA/OA: Call Console. Request immediate medical as- ! sistance Call 911 for emergency help if the person does not feel better in a few minutes. ! RTO command: 212-712-4480 If needed, file a Safety Rule Dispute Resolution Form. For off-hours safety emergencies call 888-302-3727.
ÊÊ/71Ê V>Ê£ääÊÊUÊÊ ÕiÌÊÊÓ£ O UR U NION’S H I S TORY 70th Anniversary of TWU’s First Major Strike Workers Shut Down Omnib us and 5th IT WAS 1941. THE PRICE OF GAS WAS 12 CENTS A three previous annual contracts. But in 1941, the company gallon. You could buy a modest house for dug in its heels. Company bigwigs claimed that they were $4,500. Rent on a blue- losing money, even though, as the union pointed out, the company collar apartment was $32. had paid an enormous dividend to Movie-goers flocked to its shareholders (shares were trad- the theaters to see Citi- ing at $21.00 and the dividend was zen Kane and the Maltese $3.25). Union officials were seeking an Falcon. And couples were eight-hour day (most Operators swinging to the sound of were putting in 60-hour work Glenn Miller’s Chattanoo- weeks), wage increases and im- ga Choo Choo. proved pensions. The company countered with demands for the It was also the year that the elimination of sick pay and the young union of transit workers, introduction of one-man op- TWU, faced its toughest challenge erations on some double-decker yet – a confrontation with the gi- buses or pay reductions. ant Omnibus Corporation that led The contract expired on to the union’s first sustained strike March 1, 1941 but the union since its founding in 1937. kept negotiating. As the pressure mounted, TWU TWU had conducted a several high pro- International President Mike Quill and file job actions that had gained the union notoriety Strikers from Local 100 President Austin Hogan Omnibus and Fifth and respect among the workers. In July 1935, work- Ave. Coach, with refused to accept mediation or bind- ers at the Jerome Avenue Car Barn stopped work after armbands proclaim- ing arbitration to resolve the dispute. ing their strike six fellow workers were fired for refusing to clean windows status, march in Company President John A. Ritchie with enlarged “squeegees” on a rainy day. Then in 1937, the 1941 St. Patrick’s refused to yield, and essentially dared Day Parade. union conducted a two-day sit-down strike at the Kent Av- enue powerhouse in Brooklyn to protest the termination of two union activists. Both actions were wildly successful and catapulted TWU to unprecedented election victories. But 1941 was different. The Omnibus Corporation was at the time the largest and wealthiest urban bus company in the United States. It fully owned the Chicago Transporta- tion Company and a controlling interest in New York City Omnibus and the 5th Avenue Coach Company, which op- erated bus routes throughout Manhattan. The companies carried an estimated 900,000 passengers a day. TWU represented about 3,500 workers at the two com- panies. The union had made steady but modest gains in
ÓÓÊ/71Ê V>Ê£ääÊUÊ ÕiÌ mnib us and 5th Avenue Coach the union to strike. Union officials hastily put together a strike plan. At 5:00 a.m. Monday morn- ing on March 10, 1941 the membership walked off the job and set up picket lines at the companies depots around the City. Mayor Fiorello LaGuar- dia took up with the com- Operators at the Fifth Avenue Coach Co. prior to panies. Prior to the strike, the Mayor said the 1941 strike. that a work stoppage “would not serve any Board of Transportation, flocked by the useful purpose.” After the strike began, thousands to support the strikers on the the Mayor’s words got much sharper. He picket lines. called TWU “bull-headed, obstinate and Members and leaders of other unions stupid.” The Mayor also issued an order also joined in. Most notably Joe Cur- to the Police Department to make prepa- ran, President of the National Maritime rations to protect buses in the event the Union, and Vice President of the CIO, companies tried to resume operations told the press after attending a TWU ral- with scab drivers. ly: “Such enthusiastic spirit I have never The company bought full-page ads in seen. This is truly a rank-and-file strike most of the City’s daily newspapers with headlines pro- with rank- and-file spirit. These men know what they claiming: “If you had to walk today … Blame the Trans- want and they are determined to fight on to achieve their port Workers Union.” demands. This strike is 100 percent effective.” Other paid ads attacked TWU as a “Communist-domi- Hundreds of strikers, wearing TWU armbands, fa- nated, Moscow-directed outfit.” mously marched in the St. Patrick’s Day parade with a And the ads labeled Mike Quill, number of organizations, despite being denied a permit to who was an Irish immigrant, march as one by the St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee. a “Communist agitator, a dis- Strikers walked the picket lines for 12 days. In the end orderly trouble-maker and a both sides agreed to intervention by the New York State radical organizer almost from Mediation Board. The company dropped its demands for the day that his foot landed on givebacks. And agreed to a total of $1 million in improve- the friendly soil of the United ments, to be hashed out through mediation. States.” It was a grand victory for TWU. Brother and sister TWU It proved that the union had the support of the work- members from the subways, ers, and that is was strong enough to conduct a sustained who were themselves locked in job action. Most importantly, it proved that TWU was a battle with the City and the here to stay.
AS TWENTY-NINE GRIEF STRICKEN FAMILIES BURIED Ê/71Ê V>Ê£ääÊUÊ ÕiÌÊÓÎ clusively for public transportation. Had a “lock box” been in place last year, the layoffs and service reductions might have been avoided. But even with a secure transit “lock box,” in place, the funding crisis will not go away. The MTA projects growing deficits in the years ahead, that if not properly addressed, will guarantee yearly con- frontations between union and management, a poisoned atmosphere for collective bargaining, and more pain for riders in the way of less service and jacked up fares. The payroll mobility tax, advanced by the Ravitch Com- mission in late 2008, and enacted in 2009, has not nearly produced the projected $1.5 billion in revenue. Another plan, also supported by the Commission, to impose tolls on all East River crossings was shelved at that time. So, what is the answer? Many believe it’s congestion pricing – a policy that has In the Battle Over had enormous success in London and Stockholm – but has not been instituted in any major American urban center. Transit Funding… Supporters believe it is the most effective tool available to City officials to reduce unnecessary driving during peri- ods of peak congestion, thereby easing traffic and encour- Is Congestion aging commuters to walk, bike or take mass transit as an alternative. Mayor Bloomberg took a big shot at instituting a con- Pricing the gestion pricing plan for Manhattan in 2007-2008. The May- or’s program was modeled on the one instituted in London Solution? in 2003. Cars entering an exclusion zone in Manhattan’s Central Business District (initially everything south of 86th Street but modified later to south of 60th Street) would be charged $8 between 6 am and 6 pm, $21 for trucks. All rev- OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS, THE STATE LEGISLATURE enues collected through the charge would be used solely to has stripped $360 million in desperately need- fund expansions and improvements to the regional transit system. The City Council passed the initiative, but it got ed funding earmarked for the MTA and spent shot down in the State Legislature, mainly by lawmakers it to prop up other areas of the budget. from the outer boroughs. Benefits of congestion pricing are unquestioned. Lon- Last year’s painful layoffs and historic service cuts were don and Stockholm’s initiatives have resulted in significant the immediate consequences of that action. This year, the shifts of commuters to transit, particularly buses. Bus de- MTA is apparently carving it’s lost revenue out of main- lays in central London dropped by 50 percent after the pric- tenance at NYCT, MTA Bus, Metro North, LIRR and LIB. ing plan was introduced. In Stockholm, daily public trans- We are already seeing harmful effects in the bus divisions, portation use shot up by 40,000 riders daily. where many depots are not making service due to curbed Also in London, CO2 emissions fell by 16 percent within maintenance schedules. the “congestion” zone, with nitrogen oxides and particulate Local 100 leaders successfully completed the fight for a emissions dropping as well. Also, average traffic speeds in- legislative “lock box” for dedicated transit funds. The bill, creased by 37 percent. sponsored by Assemblyman James Brennan (D-Brooklyn) No one presently is openly spoiling for another round and Marty Golden (R-Brooklyn), passed both houses in over congestion pricing. But a long hot summer of mainte- Albany unanimously. It is revenue neutral, and would sim- nance-related delays across the system may very well restart ply force the Legislature to use existing funding streams ex- the debate.
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twu 100 ad3.indd 1 7/22/11 8:57 AM Transit Workers Help MTA Edge Into Solar Age A GRANT WORTH $150,000 FROM THE FEDERAL DEPARTMENT OF LABOR is helping TWU Local 100 members learn how to maintain a photovoltaic array over Coney Island’s Stillwell Avenue Terminal in the MTA’s largest foray into alternative energy generation.
The huge array – 80,000 square combined with clear feet of roof, housing 2,730 solar glass in custom units panels, each about five feet square – to not only generate sends current through 150 kilowatt power from the sun, As Coney Island’s Wonder “inverters” that take the DC output but to let light in as Wheel rotates in the and change it into AC, illuminating well. Permanently background, Local 100 members (above) take the inside of the Stillwell terminal. installed rolling gan- part in photovoltaic train- When night falls, the terminal lighting tries on the roof allow ing, and (left) Simon Oui takes a meter reading to switches to Con Ed. panels to be lifted and se how much current the At peak output, with the sum- moved for repair or panels are generating on a cloudy day. mer sun high in the sky, the PV ar- replacement. ray generates 200 kilowatts of power In late June, Lo- fiber optic technolo- every hour. On cloudy days – such as cal 100 Administra- gy. Giboyeaux devel- on the day when these photos were tive Vice President Angel Giboyeaux oped the DOL funding with the Tran- taken – the current still flows from the joined the first class of 15 union mem- sit Authority, insisting on an all-union solar cells, but at lower voltage. The bers from Maintenance of Way on the training program. installation is called “building inte- terminal roof, training with instruc- He believes that the MTA will an- grated photovoltaics,” meaning that tor Kim Curran. Also on hand were nounce plans to install solar arrays the solar panels are integrated into the Training and Upgrade Fund (TUF) on other properties, especially above roof structure itself. For the technical Director Hector Ramirez and Direc- subway platforms. Bus depot roofs minded, it’s a demonstration proj- tor of Bargaining Unit Protection Pete may also be ripe for generating free, ect in which thin-film PV Foley, who came up with the specifics renewable power to cut down on elec- panels were of training in both photovoltaic and tric bills. Local Administrative Vice President Angel Giboyeauxining Unit Protection Director Pete Foley (far left) pose with transit workers in the class.
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