Before a member is charged with chronic absenteeism, the Authority must afford a member the opportunity to present verifiable evidence of a chronic medical condition. This condition can be FMLA qualifying! An example of this would be a series of headaches that later was found to be high blood pressure! When resubmitting documentation have your doctor put any diagnosis on his/her letterhead, along with any testing that was done. Include dates and as mentioned if it’s FMLA qualifying. These letters that are mailed out should not be ignored. Though the Authority gives you 21 days to come up with the documentation and the union is aware that it can take longer, it is best to take longer and bring quality documentation.
Many members who receive the 21 day letter misinterpret it as resubmitting the same sick forms. Chronic absenteeism is the backdoor to discipline sickness! Be mindful!
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Curing Sick Leave Documentation
Curing Sick Leave Documentation
New York City Transit’s labor cost control unit is charged with making sure that documented sick-forms turned in have the following information provided by Dr’s
1) prognosis and Diagnosis
2) Expected date return to work.
As per the 2002 MOU we have 30 days to cure sick form violations.
In most cases the Authority is looking for the Dr. to spell out the sickness and how he/she is treating it. If you receive a letter asking you to resubmit doctors lines, go back to the doctor and have the doctor fill out a new form spelling it out! Remember you have 30 days to cure the violation, if you have any questions contact your depot chair.
New York City Transit’s labor cost control unit is charged with making sure that documented sick-forms turned in have the following information provided by Dr’s
1) prognosis and Diagnosis
2) Expected date return to work.
As per the 2002 MOU we have 30 days to cure sick form violations.
In most cases the Authority is looking for the Dr. to spell out the sickness and how he/she is treating it. If you receive a letter asking you to resubmit doctors lines, go back to the doctor and have the doctor fill out a new form spelling it out! Remember you have 30 days to cure the violation, if you have any questions contact your depot chair.
Bus Consolidation A Big Mess
On Thursday July 8th 2010 Union officials from the OA sat down with the President and the attorneys to discuss ways of addressing the bus consolidation issues and the way the layoff were conducted by the TA! We concluded that bus consolidation did nothing but give the members the right to transfer from the OA to the TA... and vice versa while giving the TA the right to eliminate the blockage of equipment and personnel. Under the agreement bus operators were hired in a civil service/non civil service ratio! Now that layoffs occurred and the OA was affected more, we believe that bus consolidation should be challenged! These explorations are ongoing. To date bus consolidation has had a negative affect on employees who work in the department of buses and the maintenance departments. The goal of bus consolidation is to regionalize the system so as to reduce the costs associated with overtime, and work rules. The 2002 agreement on bus consolidation has done nothing but hurt the DOB unions (Mabstoa TA Surface.)
Checking The Routes
Checking The Routes 06-03-10
On this morning reps from the Manhattan Division went out to monitor the lines at 79th St. and Columbus Ave. What we found, was buses on the M11 and M7 averaging 20 minutes late, and overcrowded. The M79 on the other hand was on time or close to schedule. The MTA makes sure that certain lines aren't affected while the neighborhoods that need the service the most are cut daily. Go figure! Most of the overcrowding that has been occurring in the Department of Buses has been related to Managements desires to plug budget woes by keeping chosen runs in the depot, in which the Union feels is a major violation of the publics trust!
On this morning reps from the Manhattan Division went out to monitor the lines at 79th St. and Columbus Ave. What we found, was buses on the M11 and M7 averaging 20 minutes late, and overcrowded. The M79 on the other hand was on time or close to schedule. The MTA makes sure that certain lines aren't affected while the neighborhoods that need the service the most are cut daily. Go figure! Most of the overcrowding that has been occurring in the Department of Buses has been related to Managements desires to plug budget woes by keeping chosen runs in the depot, in which the Union feels is a major violation of the publics trust!
MTA Service Cuts Hurt New Yorkers but Do Little to Help MTA Finances
Drum Major Institute blogBy John PetroJul 1 2010
http://www.dmiblog.com/archives/2010/07/mta_service_cuts_hurt_new_york.html
This week New York City straphangers felt the impact of the MTA service cuts— longer commutes, crowded trains and platforms, dirtier buses and trains, and a generally worse commuting experience. Not only are these cuts negatively impacting the quality of life for millions of riders, but they also undermine economic development and job creation.
New Yorkers might be able to cope with this new commuting nightmare if the sacrifice led to the transit system’s financial stability. But even after $93 million in savings because of the service cuts, the MTA is looking at an operating budget hole of over $400 million in 2011. And the gap seems to widen monthly. And the gap seems to widen monthly. Two weeks ago the Wall Street Journal reported that tax revenue for transit was coming in $135 million less than expected.
The long-term budget picture looks even worse. The MTA’s five-year capital budget, which is used to replace old trains and buses, repair tracks and stations, and build system expansions, is under-funded by $10 billion. Without the necessary funding, the transit system will fall into disrepair and riders will fall into dismay.
So, the service cuts stink, and they don’t even begin to get us out of this mess. And unless state lawmakers make a serious effort to address the root cause of the MTA’s budget, namely chronic disinvestment, the situation will only get worse. Lawmakers in Albany have not contributed any money directly to fund the MTA’s capital program in nearly 20 years, forcing the transit authority to rely on borrowing instead. This borrowing puts pressure on the fare box, as the money to pay back past borrowing is taken out of the MTA’s operating budget. In 2010 the MTA will pay nearly $2 billion in debt service. That’s a little less than half of the $4.3 billion the MTA collected in fares in 2009.
For whatever reason, lawmakers in Albany have consistently shortchanged the region’s mass transit system, which is arguably one of the state’s greatest assets and is unarguably the backbone of the nation’s biggest metropolitan economy. When Albany killed congestion pricing in 2008, they also killed a reliable revenue source for mass transit that would have allowed the MTA to begin paying down its $25.5 billion debt. More recently Albany flat out stole $143 million in tax revenue that was “dedicated” to transit. The result: instead of planning new transit lines that would create jobs, drive growth, and create new economic opportunities for New Yorkers, we are fighting to preserve the system we have.
Drum Major Institute blogBy John PetroJul 1 2010
http://www.dmiblog.com/archives/2010/07/mta_service_cuts_hurt_new_york.html
This week New York City straphangers felt the impact of the MTA service cuts— longer commutes, crowded trains and platforms, dirtier buses and trains, and a generally worse commuting experience. Not only are these cuts negatively impacting the quality of life for millions of riders, but they also undermine economic development and job creation.
New Yorkers might be able to cope with this new commuting nightmare if the sacrifice led to the transit system’s financial stability. But even after $93 million in savings because of the service cuts, the MTA is looking at an operating budget hole of over $400 million in 2011. And the gap seems to widen monthly. And the gap seems to widen monthly. Two weeks ago the Wall Street Journal reported that tax revenue for transit was coming in $135 million less than expected.
The long-term budget picture looks even worse. The MTA’s five-year capital budget, which is used to replace old trains and buses, repair tracks and stations, and build system expansions, is under-funded by $10 billion. Without the necessary funding, the transit system will fall into disrepair and riders will fall into dismay.
So, the service cuts stink, and they don’t even begin to get us out of this mess. And unless state lawmakers make a serious effort to address the root cause of the MTA’s budget, namely chronic disinvestment, the situation will only get worse. Lawmakers in Albany have not contributed any money directly to fund the MTA’s capital program in nearly 20 years, forcing the transit authority to rely on borrowing instead. This borrowing puts pressure on the fare box, as the money to pay back past borrowing is taken out of the MTA’s operating budget. In 2010 the MTA will pay nearly $2 billion in debt service. That’s a little less than half of the $4.3 billion the MTA collected in fares in 2009.
For whatever reason, lawmakers in Albany have consistently shortchanged the region’s mass transit system, which is arguably one of the state’s greatest assets and is unarguably the backbone of the nation’s biggest metropolitan economy. When Albany killed congestion pricing in 2008, they also killed a reliable revenue source for mass transit that would have allowed the MTA to begin paying down its $25.5 billion debt. More recently Albany flat out stole $143 million in tax revenue that was “dedicated” to transit. The result: instead of planning new transit lines that would create jobs, drive growth, and create new economic opportunities for New Yorkers, we are fighting to preserve the system we have.
FYI Uniforms
Transit Managers are giving notice that they will enforce the New York City Transit uniform policy. As a reminder, all Bus Operators should be wearing authorized uniforms! Management is looking to violate all SLD’s who don't enforce the policy. Transit is looking for casualties, don't become one of them!
Bus Service Nixed In Queens! Mayors Solution (Commuter Vans)
Bus Service Nixed In Queens! Mayors Solution (Commuter Vans)
On June 22nd 2010 the TWU went to Queens to support the ATU at a press conference regarding the implementation of van service! In Queens the MTA has eliminated several routes including the Q74. The Mayor has authorized van service to take the place of the eliminated routes. While we was there the Mayor was questioned on the issue and he said he felt it was good for the public! We countered with the media present that if the service is needed why get rid of the route? What we are seeing is how the rich manipulate the system to cut labor costs.TWU President John Samuelsen and the OA and TA reps responded to this atrocity by going to Albany on the issue. Our immediate goal was to block any legislation that would allow private vans to operate on any bus route, because to allow such action would be detrimental to our ability to call back operators who were laid off! We were able to speak to several policy makers including the Governor on the importance of this matter! In attendance was Richard Davis, Frank Austin Donald Yates J.P. Vernon Thorpe Curtis Tate Shanon Pollard and John Samuelsen! Stay Tuned
On June 22nd 2010 the TWU went to Queens to support the ATU at a press conference regarding the implementation of van service! In Queens the MTA has eliminated several routes including the Q74. The Mayor has authorized van service to take the place of the eliminated routes. While we was there the Mayor was questioned on the issue and he said he felt it was good for the public! We countered with the media present that if the service is needed why get rid of the route? What we are seeing is how the rich manipulate the system to cut labor costs.TWU President John Samuelsen and the OA and TA reps responded to this atrocity by going to Albany on the issue. Our immediate goal was to block any legislation that would allow private vans to operate on any bus route, because to allow such action would be detrimental to our ability to call back operators who were laid off! We were able to speak to several policy makers including the Governor on the importance of this matter! In attendance was Richard Davis, Frank Austin Donald Yates J.P. Vernon Thorpe Curtis Tate Shanon Pollard and John Samuelsen! Stay Tuned
Layoffs Hit The Department Of Buses
On 06-28-10 Many Bus operators and Maintenance workers came to return their badge and passes at PS 248 in Brooklyn. The scene was disheartening. A combined 369 employees (OA,TA) had to turn in their badge and passes due to the layoffs that the Transit Authority claimed was necessary. The Unions fight is not over, they're legal battles that are still in the hopper, so stay tuned for that! Bus Operators are expected to be recalled as openings occur, also MTA bus has 57 openings that can be applied for (JFK & Far Rockaway Depots) (Grey Hound) and (MTA Bridge and Tunnel Authority). Laid off employees will have benefits extended to July 31st 2010. Bus Operators who opt to take positions will be allowed to come back when called! All Vacation and AVA days will be paid out, sick time will be frozen! All laid off will receive Cobra which is done through a 3rd party called SHP'S you can purchase benefits at 102% or find health care cheaper. Shp's takes 40 days to process, so all laid off workers are encouraged to get right on it!
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