Saturday, January 28, 2012

Week In Review

Brothers and Sisters; this was the week in review
Our local Leaders went to Albany to put pressure on the legislatures who claim to support our efforts in the contract fight. These efforts are designed to put pressure on the Governor who seem to be taking a strong stance due to future aspirations for President of the United States. This Governor has put State and City pensions in his cross hairs to prove his worthiness as a Presidential candidate.
Campaign literature for President of the TWU Local 100 has already been circulated amongst  the membership to try to discredit  the current leadership and to advise folks to vote differently next time around. It has been the general consensus around the local membership, that this isn't the time nor the place with contract bargaining hanging in the balance! As a footnote, People will do what they have to do to poison the water that we all drink from in order to get their way! (Politics) Management is well aware of our division, let's be bigger and better, let's be together even if it hurts!
Department of Buses - there have been several things in the DOB that Management has been doing and getting away with. In certain locations of the MaBstoa properties Management has been running short on equipment, and radios the Operator via bus radio to pull serviceable buses right to the pullout lines. Our normal standard operating procedures require us to pull our buses in at the fuel line using certain pull in procedures. This should not be deviated from due to any savings measures management tries to put in place. We as a membership must do all we can to protect our shifting, that's why we must follow all SOP's!
Reporting and making reliefs on the road- When Bus Operators report on time, and get to relief locations late due to connecting buses arriving late simply get the route and run of the connecting bus and bring the info to the chairs of the depot, also as a follow up measure Operators can Email me at dyates@twulocal100.org If the above is happening to you, do not pay for a cab, and do not report earlier in order to make that relief on time.(Scheduling Problem)

On Thursday January 27th 2012 the MaBstoa Surface Reps met with the President on the contractual issues of part-timers. We were assured that there would be no settlement of any agreement that would come off the backs of Buses. There is however a potential problem that we must keep our eyes on, and that's the Queens and Staten Island Divisions. (ATU Local 726 ATU Local 1056) The TA is asking for part-timers from them in order to settle their 2009 contract. They have been without a Contract since our last Arbitration award. Currently the ATU is in Arbitration over the matter where the TA is seeking 10% of the workforce to be part timers!
All in a nut shell, the MTA is trying to bind the TWU to the PEF and CSEA agreements. The MTA right now don't have 5,000 layoffs looming over our heads like the State had on those Unions!

In Solidarity
Donald Yates
MaBstoa TWU-100

Sunday, January 22, 2012

TWU-100 Halts Talks With MTA Over Bad Faith Bargaining

TWU Local 100 Jan 20, 2012

TWU Halts Talks Over 'Bad Faith Bargaining'

Local 100 President John Samuelsen tells press conference on Jan. 19, 2012 that the union halted bargaining over an MTA breach of confidence by "bargaining in the press."
TWU 100 and the MTA held intensive contract talks the weekend of Jan. 13 - 16.
Some progress was made on departmental issues, but discussions of wages and health benefits still have a long way to go.

Despite reports planted by the MTA in the media, only two wage proposals have been made. The MTA is "offering" 0-0-0-2-2. That is, a 5-yr contract with a 3-yr wage freeze and a 2% raise in the 4th and 5th year. These terms mirror the deal accepted by two big unions of NY state workers.

Local 100 called for annual raises that keep pace with increases in the cost of living. President Samuelsen made it clear that he and the entire Local 100 leadership rejects the idea that transit workers should sacrifice to make up for failed political and economic decisions made on Wall St and in Albany.

After a few days respite, negotiations were to resume on Thursday, January 19. That morning an article appeared in the NY Daily News presenting givebacks that the MTA would be asking for at the meeting. This was a shocking violation of good faith negotiating practices and of a specific agreement with management to refrain from negotiating in the press. This move, the second time in three days that management had seeded the press with its claims, poisoned the atmosphere for negotiations. Local 100 presented its protest and then cancelled the remainder of the bargaining session in order to clear the air before negotiations continued.

The MTA is clearly under pressure to railroad us into an agreement on their terms or, failing that, to force the contract into snap arbitration, cutting short the negotiating process. We are not going to be railroaded.

We are committed to achieving a fair contract -- one that exceeds the terms accepted by state unions -- at the negotiating table. But we are not going to sit still while management attempts to frame the negotiations in the press before they even take place. This is just a way to pressure us into unwarranted concessions.
We look forward to returning to the bargaining table. Due to changes at the MTA, we are already months behind schedule in working out a new contract. We want to make progress in the negotiations. That is why we halted talks on the 19th, and why we expect to resume talks in an improved atmosphere.

Friday, January 13, 2012

Struggle

just a Reminder
Many struggles that this country has endured  to shape the very rights that we have is under constant attack. Media outlets shape the thinking and opinions against ourselves. (Think about That For a moment)
Our parents struggled against all types of oppression, and fought for equal rights. Politicians who were supposed to represent the people  only represent the Money. Corporations lobby against the very rights that were fought for and won through our parents sweat and tears, and in many cases death. Some of us frown against those movements because there is no real understanding of why we have what we have. Some folks believe that America gave us our rights without struggle. The Labor Struggle in America has been erased in our history books, and replaced with  ideas of self preservation. 
If you look where we are today and follow the changes in Law then you will truly understand!
The TA once cared about it's Customers, but now embrace the basic customs of business! Our employer is looking to blame us for their mismanaging by attacking our families.
Sunday January 15th is the Expiration of our contract, but this is more than a contract fight. This is a social struggle!
COME FIGHT WITH YOUR UNION AT THE SHERATON HOTEL 53rd AND 7th AVENUE!

In Solidarity
Donald Yates
MaBstoa TWU-100 

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

TA's Part Time Proposal

In yesterday's Division meeting for MaBstoa Division1, a question came up regarding The TA's position on Part Timers. At the time we had no knowledge that the TA has made this proposal and it hasn't come up in the DOB negotiations! 
This morning we did in fact found out that the TA is requesting to eliminate restrictions on the hiring of part time Bus Operators. Thus far our Union is adamantly against this proposal! Stay tuned!