Mike Quill Villa Roma
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Seni r BuzzSUMMER 2019 The Official Publication of the TWU Local 100 Retirees Association • 195 Montague 3rd Floor • Brooklyn NY 11201 NOSTALGIC PHOTOS from back in the day Page 3 Retirees Remember September Outing to the Great VILLA MIKE ROMA QUILL Planned- Page 18 Fondly Pages 4-5 www.twulocal100.org/retirees-association Director’s Letter by Mike Tutrone, Director, TWU Local 100 Retirees Association I am happy to announce that at our last executive board meeting a couple of changes were introduced and passed in our quest to improve the lot of TWU Retiree Association members. Change number one was that Effective June 1, 2019, all the benefits in our Hospital Stay Program will be doubled, the weekly hospital income will rise from $150.00 to $300.00 per week, and all other benefits will rise accordingly. Change number two is that the Retiree Association will now cover the cost of your Defensive Driving course, see the listing of classes here at the Union Hall. For those of you who are unable to take advantage of the classes at the union hall, merely send us a copy of the course completion certificate and a copy of your payment receipt and we will reimburse you. This benefit is capped at $25.00 per member, spouse is included if you have a family membership. Mike Quill Film Prescriptions Thanks to all, who have contributed to the By now everyone should have received their new MIKE QUILL documentary film that Is prescription cards from CVS Caremark, if you have being produced and directed by not received them call the MTA BSC at 646-376-0123 Macdara Vallely (See the page and request a new card. The big take away here is inside this newsletter). that the only thing that is changing is the name of the provider, the plan remains exactly the same. Our efforts are ongoing to aid in the completion of this project, so Project there is still time to contribute to We are attempting to cre- this deserving effort if you choose. ate a retiree orientated wall here at the union hall, so CONTRACT at this time we are asking The contract expired on May that you send in any items 15,2019, we have asked Pres- that you would care to ident Utano to seek an up- contribute to the project, grade in our retiree Vision old badges, pins, flyers, benefits, which were last pictures, anything of that upgraded over 35 years nature would be greatly ago. We have also asked that appreciated. he seek to secure a transit pass for the MTA Bus retirees and cooperation from Have a great summer ! ! ! management in getting a bill passed to get the pension contribution refund for those who retired before 12/15/2005. As of this edition going to the printer, the contract is still in negotiations. Here’s a few photos from the TWU historical archives. If you were around in those days, it’s pretty clear working conditions were not the best. We didn’t have a lot of identifying infor- mation for the photos, and would only be On the Job ack in the guessing as to the years and locations. B If you recognize the location, drop us Day! a line at the TWU Retirees Association, 195 Montague St., Brooklyn, NY 11201. A C B D E This photo is from 1962. He is Louis Year unknown. Track equipment for carrying a Asnicar, a Bus Maintainer. Photo taken length or rail hasn’t change much to this day. A at the Crosstown Depot, Brooklyn. D The image appears somewhere at Grand Central (at least that’s what is apparently Year unknown, location unknown. But the name stenciled on the support beam). We’re of the Operator aloft is Joseph McGiveney. B guessing late 50’s or early 60’s. E This is a shop gate meeting, probably C outside a car barn, in 1947. etters to L theEditor Dear Retirees Association: What a wonderful idea. This is for a great Just to let you know that I am making this man for the great work he did for his fellow contribution in honor of my late father, Ver- man, and making our lives 100 percent bet- non “Jack” F. Bowman. He was a Bus Op- ter. And I thank the union for the $5,000 col- erator out of the Flatbush Depot in Brooklyn. lege scholarship for our daughter 30 years went to pray with my mother, Mary, as a little He retired in 1969 after 40 years of service. ago. She is a high school math teacher in boy. I’ll say it now as I said it 2010 when I He often told me he would “kiss the grave” Maryland the last 23 years. So thank you retired. The TWU is the best team I worked for what Mike Quill did for the workers in again. God bless Michael Quill. with in my life. Good luck with the Mike Quill helping create this union. Eugene Bynes film. I sure would like to see it. Fondly always, John Rosa Gary Bowman My retirement from NYCT at the age of 58 Brooklyn, NY has been a blessing because of the union My father, Joseph Kaufmann, dedicated his founded by Mike Quill and the struggles life to the welfare of Bus Operators in the that he and his associates endured. It is the Bronx. For many years he was a Bus Op- Thank you for your efforts on behalf of Mike reason that I have lived the “Life of Reilly” in erator for the Surface and then MABSTOA Quill. Please keep my updated on the prog- Florida. companies. He was elected Chairman for ress of the film. There are no such things as pensions any- transportation in the Bronx and many years Joseph Cordova more. I thank a union like Local 100 every later was appointed Union Organizer. He Bronx, NY day. worked with many dedicated union leaders, Yours truly, and was a close friend of Mattie Guinan (Lo- Enclosed is a check to support the Mike Quill H.J. Nieves cal 100 and International President). My dad film. Must say, Mike Quill was a great coura- attended the famous 1948 Convention in geous leader. I can’t wait to see the film. My father, Charles Wechworth was an orga- Chicago. He proudly stated, “we threw out All the best for the union’s future. nizer for Local 100 in 1952. He became a the commies.” H.M. Clarke 2nd Vice President to Quill in 1958. He was My father had two framed pictures on his bu- Bronx, NY with Quill in jail during the 1966 strike. He reau, one of my mother, Ruith, and the other said they enjoyed playing cards. My father of Mike Quill. He wore his union button at I am third generation TWU Local 100. My told me Quill enjoyed calling Mayor Lindsey his funeral. The bottom of his stone at St. grandfather was one of the original members “Lindsley” on purpose to piss him off. When Raymond’s Cemetery reads, “Union Organ- at Mike Quill’s rallies. My father was a 25- Quill died in early 1966, my dad drove a sta- zier – TWU.” year SMA. And myself, I have 32 years as tion wagon with Quill’s casket in the back as I am submitting a check for the Mike Quill an SMA. funeral workers were on strike. I still have film in honor of all those who fought for the Sincerely, the placard from the car as my father passed members of TWU. Thomas Kaps away in 2000. He left me many papers from Sincerely, the union from the 50’s and 60’s. I am a re- Ruth Brosnan I am glad to help in such a good cause. Mike tired Bus Operator with 40 years of service. Quill made it possible for me to retire with a Roger E. Wechworth I wish to help with this worthy project that will pension and health care. define Mike Quill as “the world’s greatest la- God bless TWU and Mike Quill. We need more Mike Quill’s in the world to- bor leader.” Mark Mallarchi day. I have a key chain I got at the TWU’s 13th Toney Chavis Convention. One side of the key chain is Enjoying 33 years of retirement thanks to Durham, NC a likeness of Quill. The reverse side is en- Mike Quill. I was known as the “Singing Bus graved, “In Memoriam to Michael Quill, In- Driver,” as I sang the National Anthem at Mike Quill was a great man, and he’s still a ternational President, 1934-1966.” I have many TWU conventions. great man. carried this key chain all these years for a Best, A. Minone “bit of luck,” and to honor a great man who Daniel Finnegan Staten Island, NY made decent wages, benefits and pensions possible. I am proud to support the “Mike Quill: Which Thank you so much for my pension and medi- Side Are You On” film. Thanks to Mike Quill cal benefits. Thank you for fighting for my pay Sincerely, for everything. raises and better job conditions. Thank you John Healey L. D’Mendiratta for my weeks of vacation and personal days. TWU Retiree, 37 Years Bronx, NY There is so much to be grateful for. I thank God Spring Hill, FL and especially St. Patrick’s Cathedral, where I RETIREES TURN The Mike Quill Film Is endorsed by: OUT IN NUMBERS TWU Local 100 Retirees Association TO HELP QUILL TWU Local 100 TWU International FILM PRODUCTION We are trying to keep the great Mike Quill’s legacy The Retirees Association sent out a mailing im alive and well for this and March asking for Local 100 retirees to help out future generations of with the making of a full length documentary film workers, all of whom have on TWU founder, the great Michael J.