Week In Review

Week In Review  October 22, Thru October 27 2012 Monday and Tuesday the crossover portion of the pick commenced And finished without incident. Consolidated pick began on Thursday, but not without incident. Last year when the kiosk computer system was first introduced, the TWU and Management agreed to provide a body designated by the Union to teach the other picking members how to use the kiosk.  Eddie Melendez acting Chief Transportation Officer made an arrangement with the Union to follow the same pattern as years past, but welched on the handshake agreement the next morning (Tuesday). A meeting was called between TAS Vice President Stephen Thomas Division Chairs Frank Austin and Richard Davis, Vice Chairs Donald Yates and Tony Aiken with Eddie Melendez to see if the issues could be resolved, which ultimately couldn't, because management was hellbent on the cost savings factor, so Richard Davis and Frank Austin informed management that once the consolidated pick started, MABstoa TWU would stop the pick for violations of the kiosk agreement from last year. October 24th 2012 the MaBstoa coalition (Richard Davis, Frank Austin and Donald Yates) met with CTO Eddie Melendez and VP Steve Videl  and ironed out a deal acceptable to the MaBstoa TWU which also benefitted TA Surface as the deal was better than originally worked out with the Brooklyn Division concerning the Kiosk. The agreement consist of release time at run pay for operators teaching the system to others. The agreement is for this year only as we have to revisit the topic at a later date. Bronx Division Nominations took place October 24th 2012. Good luck to all candidates, and congratulations to Frank Austin who went unopposed and is reelected automatically.