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President Samuelsen's Statement on the Victory of Marisol Alcantara in the 31st Senate District

TWU Local 100 President John Samuelsen issued the following statement about Marisol Alcantara’s victory in the Democratic primary in the 31^st Senate District. The 42,000-strong union, representing bus and subway workers, endorsed Alcantara and dispatched volunteers to the streets to campaign for her. Alcantara is the daughter of a transit worker and an organizer with the New York State Nurses Association:

“We’re proud to have played a part in Marisol’s impressive victory. Marisol is an ardent trade unionist. She understands the importance of providing good pensions, affordable healthcare and fair wages to the men and women who roll up their sleeves and get dirty everyday earning a living to support their families. She knows and appreciates that transit workers provide a vital service under difficult and dangerous circumstances. We look forward to having another ally in the State Senate.”

15th 9/11 Event A Somber Remembrance at Transport Hall

It’s been 15 years, and the 3,000 transit workers who served at Ground Zero are older and grayer. Some 200 aren’t with us at all. All were honored by President Samuelsen and the union leadership on September 7^th, when we opened the third floor to our commemoration of what transit did at the World Trade Center site on 9/11/2001. It might more fittingly be called a proclamation, because we marshaled our resources not only to award medals and pins to those who served, but also to present, in a photographic exhibition, the documentary proof of transit workers’ central role in the rescue and recovery effort.

President Samuelsen, who was a 9/11 responder, remembered the day as an all-out, unremitting effort to do what had to be done after the towers came down. City Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley called 9/11 “an attack on our way of life,” and saluted the role of transit at the site. Since Samuelsen became President, Local 100 has been recording interviews and obtaining photographs from the attack on America, and the true dimensions of transit’s efforts at the site have become clear.

Almost from the instant the towers went down, transit workers all over the City were told to stop their current work and stand by for new orders – then to head down to Ground Zero with all of the heavy rigs in transit’s inventory. Our photographs – supplemented by images from New York Times photographer Aaron Lee Fineman, and the Baltimore Sun’s Jeff Makely – show transit workers excavating mountains of rubble, moving crushed vehicles and debris so emergency responders could get to the scene, supplying fuel for generators, repairing cables, and operating massive cranes. Photos document our members shoulder to shoulder with fire, police, and EMS – but having a much wider and broader role than they did.

Two staffers from the National September 11^th Memorial and Museum, Joshua Walker and Hicks Wogan, attended and expressed interest in photos documenting transit’s efforts. So did three from the 911 Tribute Museum, which represents 9/11 families and has several Local 100 members volunteering there as guides.

12 current and retired TWU Local 100 members received large medals honoring their service. All have become ill from their Ground Zero service, and some have cancers that are cutting their lives short. 33 members received the union’s 9/11 participation pin, which goes to anyone who can demonstrate that they served at Ground Zero.

The union’s photo exhibit on 9/11 is currently being displayed on the third floor of the Union Hall. Real Labor Press's coverage of the event here.

In 2014, Pres. Samuelsen making our case for better pay for GCS workers to the MTA Board of Directors.

Groundbreaking Contract Approved; Features Big Raises, Job Security for Call Center Workers

The unyielding Local 100 members at the Access-A-Ride Call Center overwhelmingly ratified a groundbreaking contract with big percentage raises and much-needed job security. The final vote count from Wednesday’s balloting was 378 to 10 in favor of adoption. The ratification capped a two-year campaign for fairness and respect against Global Contact Services. GCS, an MTA carpetbagger contractor from South Carolina, operates the Call Center in Maspeth, Queens.

“GCS no longer can run roughshod over GCS workers,” TWU Local 100 President John Samuelsen said. “We’ve not only secured vastly improved wages for our sisters and brothers but also a mechanism to defend their right to be treated fairly and with respect.”

Recently hired Call Center workers will see their pay rise from $9 an hour to $15 an hour – up 70% - with periodic increases between ratification and December 2018. More experienced workers now making $11 an hour will see their pay rise to $15.40 – up 40% - with this agreement. The contract also empowers workers to challenge disciplinary actions. Union officers can take cases to an independent arbitrator when a worker is being mistreated.

Local 100’s coordinated, multi-front campaign to nail down a contract began in 2014. It included putting a public spotlight on GCS’s brazen mistreatment of workers. The union convinced major media outlets to report on the paltry pay, bug-infested working conditions and out-of-control firings at the Call Center. Workers kept up the heat by repeatedly going to MTA headquarters to tell board members face-to-face about their plight.

“Our members at the Call Center were relentless in their pursuit for fairness,” Frank McCann, Local 100’s senior director of organizing, said. “This is their victory.”

Our West Indian American Day Video Shows TWU's Clout and Enthusiasm

TWU's West Indian American Day Presence Largest Ever

TWU Local 100’s pride in its Caribbean-American heritage and the union’s growing political clout in the City and State were on full display at this years West Indian Day Parade on Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn. TWU Local 100 got the festivities started early at the Labor Day event. The union’s huge procession featured a large float on a flatbed with a DJ blasting Caribbean tunes – following a custom-made union banner, then brought up with an NYCT bus and several hundred marchers. In addition, eight dancers on stilts and others in flamboyant costumes made the TWU’s contingent the most eye-catching as the parade began.

State Assemblywoman Diana Richardson, who was instrumental in the passage of the Cleaner Assault bill, proudly marched with TWU, and a host of other politicians from both City and State government stopped by to greet the union’s officers and rank-and-file members.

Local 100’s top four officers – President John Samuelsen, Secretary Treasurer Earl Phillips, Recording Secretary LaTonya Crisp-Sauray and Administrative Vice President Angel Giboyeaux – all marched. President Samuelsen and Secretary-Treasurer Phillips were acknowledged by Governor Cuomo and invited to march with him at the head of the parade.Phillips especially enjoying the celebration of his Caribbean roots. He was last year’s Grand Marshal.

Many of our marchers joined the TWU member base on Bedford Avenue, where jerk chicken was served to members and guests, along with other Caribbean favorites. Enjoy the photos!

Content from West Indian Day 2016

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State Sen. Parker, Senate Co-Sponsor, with rank and file members

Cuomo Signs Cleaner Assault Bill in Victory for TWU Local 100

ALBANY, August 19 – NY Governor Andrew Cuomo today signed into law a bill that fulfills a key objective of Local 100 – increasing penalties for any assault on a MTA/NYCT Station or Terminal Cleaner.

“Subway cleaners have been the victims of unprovoked, unwarranted and unacceptable attacks while working among the 6 million daily riders,” said President John Samuelsen. “This bill, which we fought long and hard for, gives them protection. The tougher penalties should deter anyone from harming a subway cleaner. If they don’t, police, prosecutors and judges should seek the maximum sentence.”

The Governor said: "These workers perform tasks that are vital to the operation of New York institutions and have increasingly become the targets of aggression and assaults. Signing these measures into law will help better protect these employees from harm and I thank the sponsors for their work to get them passed.”

TWU mounted a sustained political effort highlighted by a dedicated lobby day on May 24 in which rank and file Cleaners got on the bus to personally make their case to legislators. Several assaults on transit cleaners have highlighted the dangers facing them on a daily basis – especially women who work alone on platforms late at night. Many who attended used their own personal time. Multiple titles from Stations were represented, including RRSW’s, S/A’s and of course CTA’s. The trip and overall lobbying effort was organized by TWU’s Political Action Director, Marvin Holland, and his able staff.

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Assemblywoman Diana C. Richardson, (at left) who spearheaded the legislation in the Assembly, said, “I thank Governor Cuomo for his leadership in protecting the rights of our hardworking brothers and sisters in New York State. No employee should have to work facing the threat of assault and this legislation will help ensure a hardworking and dedicated part of our workforce is properly protected under the law. I am proud to stand with the Governor on this issue and thank him for signing this important piece of legislation.”

Senator Kevin Parker said, “I enthusiastically applaud Governor Cuomo for signing my legislation, Senate Bill S. 8104-A, into law as the passage of this bill increases the penalty for assaulting our MTA station and terminal workers to a class D felony. Although laws were enacted in 2002 to protect and deter assaults on transit employees while performing their duties, the law did not include station and terminal workers. Today, thanks to Governor Cuomo and my colleagues in the State Legislature, station and terminal workers will be added to the list of covered MTA employees. I am extremely proud to be a part of this milestone achievement and I stand eager to continue working with the Governor and Legislature to pass laws that improve the quality of life of New York State residents.”

CTA Darren Johnson, with Stations VP Derrick Echevarria and Rep Paul Flores, who responded to the scene

CTA's Heroic Day

by PETE DONOHUE

August 18, MANHATTAN -- CTA Darren Johnson took out the trash – after chasing it down.

Johnson chased a subway groper up four flights of stairs and escalators at a very deep subway station in Manhattan and held the molester for the police. The man took off after Johnson confronted him for assaulting a 25-year-old woman while she waited with a young child for an elevator on the northbound platform of the 63^rd St./Lexington Ave. station Wednesday morning.

“I didn’t want him to get away because maybe he would do it again to someone else,” Johnson said. “I have a 17-year-old daughter. When you hear about something like this you think that it could have been your daughter or mother or someone that you know.”

Police charged the suspect, Leonardo San Juan Godinez, 20, of Queens, with forcible touching and sex abuse, and led him from the 63^rd St./Lexington Ave. station in handcuffs, authorities said. Johnson was in uniform on the platform when the visibly-upset woman pleaded for help. “That guy just fondled me,” she said. “He just groped me.” Johnson called out to Godinez to stop walking when Godinez bolted. Johnson pursued him up 106 steps before catching him near the turnstiles in front of the token booth. “He reached into his pocket like he was going to grab something and I said to myself, ‘I’m not going to get stabbed here,’ “Johnson said. “I grabbed both his arms and held him.”

The station agent alerted the RCC and the police. Johnson didn’t have much time to catch his breath. Minutes after the police and suspect left, Johnson was in the booth getting a NYC Transit form to file his report when someone ran to the booth and said there was fire up by the street entrance. Johnson grabbed the fire extinguisher and extinguished the blaze, crediting his training from the union and NYCT with knowing how to handle the situation calmly.

“This was the craziest day of my life,” he said. Dan Rivoli, transit reporter for the New York Daily News, predicted Johnson would be nominated for a Hometown Heroes in Transit Award, which honors exemplary bus and subway workers. “I don’t feel like a hero,” he humbly said. “I feel like anyone should try and help in a situation like this.”

Station Agent Percillia Agustine-Soverall

Career Criminal Arrested in Arson Attack on Station Agent

A career criminal with five felony convictions was arrested on Tuesday and charged with lighting up a gasoline-soaked rag and shoving it into the money slot of a station booth to force the NYCT Station Agent to give up cash. The late-night attack last Friday at the Nostrand Avenue station on the #3 line in Crown Heights left Station Agent Percillia Agustine-Soverall "crying and in shock" when the halon system in the booth came on to douse the fire, filling the booth with a white cloud of fire retardant.

Daily News reporter Dan Rivoli reported the story and you can read it here.

President Samuelsen told Rivoli: "This was a cowardly, evil act against a transit worker who was simply doing her job. New York is able to work because we run the subways and buses every day. But our members face countless dangers, including arson attacks, while providing this vital public service."

Everett Robinson, 51, who has been charged with the crime, was arraigned today in Brooklyn Criminal Court. He has an extensive rap sheet including a five-year stint in jail for robbery. TWU Local 100 is demanding that Robinson pay the maximum possible penalty for this horrific crime against a transit worker. We will be holding a rally outside the courthouse to coincide with the next important court date for this case, and will need your support. Stay tuned for our updates.

TWU Local100 Endorses Marisol Alcantara for State Senate in the 31st District

TWU Local 100 President John Samuelsen threw the support of the 42,000-strong union behind state Senate candidate Marisol Alcantara on Tuesday. Joined by dozens of transit workers at Local 100’s headquarters in downtown Brooklyn, Samuelsen announced Local 100’s endorsement of Alcantara for the 31st District seat being vacated by Sen. Adriano Espaillat (D-Manhattan/Bronx). The diverse district stretches from Manhattan’s Upper West Side through Washington Heights and includes Riverdale, Marble Hill and Hamilton Heights.

“We’re here to say that Marisol Alcantara is the trade unionist in this race,” Samuelsen said. “She is trade union to the core. We welcome another ally in Albany.” Alcantara, an organizer for the New York State Nurses Association, told the gathered transit workers that she will fight for legislation blocking the city from arresting Bus Operators after accidents under a misguided Vision Zero law signed by Mayor de Blasio. She also will fight for pension parity so that newly hired transit workers enjoy the same benefits as more veteran workers.

Alcantara said good union transit jobs are a critical path to the middle class. “My mother is a transit worker,” she said. “My mother was able to get a pension, paid vacation and sick days. For an immigrant family, for a woman of color, getting a union job is like hitting the lottery.”

Espaillat recently won the Democratic primary in the 13th Congressional District race. “This is a lady who stands on her own two feet,” he said at the Union Hall. “I listen to her and I know that we will not always agree, because she is her own person, as she should be – because leadership is about that. Nobody understands transit better than Marisol Alcantara because her family comes from transit workers.”

Enjoy the Show! TWU at the Dominican Day Parade 2016