News From The E-Board (TWU Local 100)

Solidarity Fund -- As of 10/18, there are 854 members still laid off. 300 have applied for coverage of health insurance through the Solidarity Fund. More are applying every day. A full report will be given at the 11/6 membership meeting. Local 100 retirees have donated about $60,000 to the fund. Change in insurance provider – Rec-Sec Benita Johnson is heading up the Local’s task force to ensure that members are not harmed by the MTA’s decision to change to Empire Blue Cross/Blue Shield and United Healthcare. Questions about the changes should be directed to her office at the union hall (212-873-6000). The TA is hiring Bus Operators for Brooklyn off the street while operators in MaBSTOA are still laid off. The union filed a grievance challenging this under the language of the bus consolidation agreement. The TA went to court and got an injunction against the grievance, but at a hearing on Wed. the judge ruled that the grievance can go forward.A judiciary panel was appointed, as required by the by-laws. This panel will provide the members for trial committees to hear charges. The chair of the panel is VP Tony Utano. The vice-chair is OA Div 1 Chair Richard Davis. The other members (one from each division) are Christine Williams (Stations), John Spicer (Private Lines), Tom Lenane (MaBSTOA), Richie Holley (MoW), Neil Phillips (CED), Dennis Boyd (RTO), LaTonya Crisp-Saury (TA Surface).New Building – the Local has signed a contract to purchase the property at 350 Schermerhorn in downtown B’klyn. The property holds two buildings and a parking lot. It requires a lot of renovation (including asbestos removal) so it will be more than a year after the closing before we will be able to move in. In the meantime, the Local will sublet the office space at 1700 Broadway that the national union had occupied before its move to Washington, DC. The Local will be moving in Dec.Financial reports for June, July, and August were presented by our accountant and accepted by the Board.Governor’s Race – by a vote of 35 in favor, 3 opposed and 0 abstentions, the Board voted not to make any endorsement for governor. In the discussion, no one expressed support for either Cuomo or Paladino because of their statements blaming public sector workers and unions for the state’s financial crisis and their clear intentions to go after our benefits and pensions. Several members urged the Board to endorse a minor party candidate (both Howie Hawkins of the Green Party and Charles Barron of the Freedom Party had support on the Board) to help alternative parties achieve ballot status for the next four years. (The three members who voted “no” wanted the Board to make an endorsement, but of a minor party candidate). Local 100 joins DC 37, the UFT and NYSUT (the statewide teachers’ union) in making no endorsement for governor.