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Union Holds 2nd Commemoration at 9/11 Museum

SEPTEMBER 18 -- Eight TWU Local 100 members who served at Ground Zero after the 9/11 attacks were presented with commemorative medals at a ceremony held within the National September 11th Memorial and Museum on September 18th. President Richard Davis presented the medals, which are given to transit workers who suffered severe illnesses or injuries from their service on the pile. Union leadership, along with 9/11 Museum President Elizabeth Hillman and Chief Curator Jan Ramirez, also presented for public viewing a showcase in the Museum's Foundation Hall, dedicated to transit worker artfacts used in the rescue and recovery effort, including a flashlight, work vest, hard hat, and ID card. Also on display at the Museum is a NY Times photograph from September 12th, showing a Track Worker on the pile manning a fire hose.

In his remarks at the awarding of the medals (one of which was given posthumously and accepted by the widow and children of deceased TEMM John Dunne), President Davis said, "This exhibit is not just a display of artifacts; it's testament to the bravery, sacrifice, and unwavering spirit of the men and women who stepped forward without hesitation."

Look for complete coverage of the event in the next edition of the Transport Workers Bulletin.

Refreshed Crew Quarters — Chambers Street

SEPTEMBER 20 -- At 8AM on Friday morning, Local 100 and management held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the newly expanded and updated crew quarters for Construction Flaggers at Chambers Street in Lower Manhattan. The renovated space includes locker rooms for both male and female workers, with the women’s restroom now featuring six stalls—a likely record for transit facilities, indicating the growing number of women in the workforce.

New Dental Benefits Now in Effect

OCTOBER 15 -- President Richard Davis announced that TWU Local 100 has reached an agreement with a new provider, EmblemHealth, to significantly improve our dental benefits. These enhanced benefits feature an expanded network of top-tier providers and specialists, including:

100% coverage for preventive, basic, and major services.
One implant per year covered in full
Bone grafting
One fluoride treatment per child annually until age 26
An expanded network for pediatric dental care
Emergency bedside calls
Temporary dentures prior to permanent ones.
Higher annual maximums

The new policy includes 13,553 dentists in New York and New Jersey, and 415,000 + nationwide. This is the result of your union standing strong for you. You should have received your Emblem Health Premier Dental Plan card in the mail. If you have not recieved a card, and are represented by TWU Local 100 (OA/TA/MTA Bus, Liberty Lines) call 866-234-8697 for customer service.

Visit our Dental Page here.

Important Notice for Tier 6 Pension Members (2012-2022)

In 2021, TWU Local 100 raised serious concerns about the MTA’s pension calculations under the Tier 6 legislation, and our concerns were right on target. The MTA has confirmed that thousands of workers were overcharged for Tier VI contributions. As a result of our advocacy, the MTA is now refunding these wrongful deductions, with interest accrued through August 1, 2024.This correction affects approximately 8,000 Tier 6 employees from 2012-2022, who will receive the money that was incorrectly taken from them. However, despite our years of fighting for justice, several significant issues remain unresolved. The audit also revealed that some members may have been undercharged, and as a result were not paying into their pension.

To address this, the union secured payment options for any required repayments, ensuring that they are manageable. This prevents members from facing undue financial strain and ensures they retain their full pension benefits. Without our intervention, members could have been faced with paying interest on this money from day one until retirement, paying the amount in full, or even subject to loss of time counted toward retirement. We have filed a lawsuit against the MTA due to persistent problems with how they are calculating the amounts owed, the interest they promised to return , and the lack of effective dispute resolution methods.

Download a copy of this notification by clicking here

VICTORY: Judge Orders MTA to Restore Bus Service Levels!

JULY 18 -- New York State Justice Arthur Engoron today signed a temporary restraining order enjoining the MTA New York City Transit from allowing service cuts that were implemented on buses system-wide to continue. He ordered that the agency restore service levels to what they were before the cut began on July 12. Speaking outside the courthouse, TWU Local 100 President Richard Davis hailed the decision as a major victory for riders and workers. In court, TWU Local 100 attorney Arthur Schwartz offered to put the Vice Presidents of TASurface, MaBSTOA, and MTA Bus — all of whom were in the audience — to testify to the reality of the cuts.

Career & Salary Unit Approves New Contract, 503 to 8

JUNE 13 -- Over 500 members of the TWU's Career & Salary Unit, representing computer and telecommunications professionals and staff analysts working for the MTA, overwhelmingly approved a new contract which was recently negotiated and approved by the Union's Executive Board. The terms closely parallel those obtained by the main TWU Local 100 TA/OA/MTA Bus agreement. The Unit is made up of administrative and technical titles working under both the MaBSTOA and MTA Bus companies.

MaBSTOA Career and Salary votes tallied: 456 Yes / 8 No

MTA Bus votes tallied: 47 Yes / 0 No

President Richard Davis gave his congratulations to the members of the unit, many of whom work at MTA headquarters at 2 Broadway. "This is a good win for all of our Career and Salary members," he said. "We fulfilled key expectations that made their way to the negotiating table."

You can read the MOU for the MABSTOA represented titles here.

You can read the MOU for the MTA Bus represented titles here.

Union Wins Representation Election at Connecticut STA School Bus Company

JUNE 13 -- With all votes counted, TWU Local 100 has won a convincing victory at Student Transportation of America's Haddam/Killingworth unit, operating school bus services in the lower Connecticut river valley. TWU picked up 19 votes, with 9 voting "no union" and 5 going with the Teamsters. 50 workers were eligible to vote.

Union Holds Press Conference for Assaulted Bus Operator

JUNE 11 -- TWU Local 100 held a press conference today at the Union Hall to zero in on increasing assaults on buses. A female Bus Operator recounted an attack which she experienced on her B6 bus in East New York last Friday. The Operator, who did not want her name used, said she was punched when she refused to stop the bus at an unauthorized corner. She was badly bruised and wore an eye patch at the conference.

Local 100 President Richard Davis called her "a hero today" for having the courage to come forward. He called for District Attorneys to press for penalties of seven years in jail for those who assault transit workers. "The Mayor's office and the DA's need to come back to the table and talk to us about these issues," he said.

Secretary-Treasurer John Chiarello said, "The MTA is not living up to its obligation to protect members on the job. We want MTA CEO Jan Lieber to deploy all of his resources." He called for underground police officers to be deployed on buses.

TA Surface Vice President JP Patafio called the asssaults "a type of micro-terrorism" and said that members would not stand for it.

Bus Operator Assaulted During Route Detour

June 8, 2024 – At approximately 11:30 am today, veteran bus driver, Isaac Egharevba, with 17 years of service was violently attacked while operating the number 3 shuttle near the Grand Ave Depot. The incident occurred amidst tensions caused by a route detour, which had made several passengers irate.

The operator was performing his duties as assigned, when an unknown assailant unexpectedly sliced him on the left side of his face, between the neck and jaw. Initially believing he had been punched, Egharevba quickly realized the severity of his injury when he began bleeding profusely. Demonstrating remarkable presence of mind, he safely stopped the bus and called for assistance.

Responders arrived promptly, providing him immediate medical attention after he sustained a deep laceration. He is currently resting, being treated for his wound. TA Surface Recording Secretary Alexander Kemp responded to the scene and provided essential support to the injured member. Once EMTs tended to Isaac and transported him to the hospital, Chairman Clarence remained by his side offering support to our him and his family.

Richard Davis, President of TWU Local 100 said "The safety of our drivers is non-negotiable. This violent attack on one of our own is an attack on us all. We will not rest until the assailant is brought to justice." The union urges all members to remain vigilant. An investigation is currently underway and authorities are reviewing surveillance footage and gathering witness accounts to identify and apprehend the assailant. Our thoughts are with the operator and his family during this time.

"Death Gamble" Heading Towards Passage

JUNE 5 -- With only two days to go before the end of the legislative session in Albany, the Union has been advised that our "Death Gamble" pension legislation is set to pass both houses. This provision benefits MTA/NYCT members' estates who attained the years of service and age requirements for a full pension, but died before retiring without having filed for retirement.

If a member dies in active service, his or her beneficiaries receive a death benefit, generally equal to three times their regular salary. This is often less than the family would receive if the member had retired and filed for a pension.

With the passage of the new bill, co-sponsored by Sen. Andrew Gounardes (D-Brooklyn) and Assemb. Stacey Pheffer Amato (D-Queens), the family of a transit worker who dies in active service, and who has met the age/service requirement for a full pension, will receive the full value of that pension benefit, as if they had retired on the date of their death.

President Davis thanked TWU Local 100 PAC Director Sharase DeBouse, Assemblywoman Pheffer Amato (in photo), Sen. Gounardes, and the many members of the legislature who stood by transit workers and guided this legislation to a successful conclusion.

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