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.   

Week In Review

Week in Review October 15th thru the 19th As the pick concluded for the incumbents of MaBstoa, there were again many delays which seemed to be the fault of the computer system.  Leaving The Scene Of An Accident There have been many instances where Transit officials accuse Bus Operators of leaving a scene of an accident based on customer allegations. Bus Operators who have collisions or are approached by customers on or off the bus alleging accidents should cover themselves by notifying the command center. The above mentioned holds true for operators who knowingly didn't have an accident, but are accused.  Message From Richard Davis Brothers and Sisters, make sure that you check the UTS regarding holiday pay,as the MaBstoa practice has been corrected based on a grievance filed in December of 2009. All Incumbents of MaBstoa hired prior to December 16, 2002 are required by contract to get paid double your weekday blueprint. The corrected pay will be from 2009 moving forward. Check UTS computers to see if you were paid correctly during that period. If any member of MaBstoa is part of the Brooklyn Division at this time, have the Depot chairs contact me at 212-712-5001 Reminder: Retirees Dinner Dance MaBstoa Div1 Saturday October 27th 2012 504 West 41st St.

Week In Review

Week In Review Second Week of the Pick was a disaster with 2 to 3 hours of delays for at least 3 days this week. Management blames the Union, the Union blames management, but who suffers? The members!  Nominations for Union office and convention delegates took place in MaBstoa Div 1 on Tuesday.  For those involved in the process, good luck! Press Conference For Assaulted Bus Operators Thursday of this week, Members from the press congregated at Kings Bridge Depot to interview Officers and members about the continued assaults, and the lack of managements commitment to reduce it. President Samuelsen led the interviews, while Tony Aiken, Div officer from the Bronx gave an emotional array  of facts regarding Managements mishandling of Assaults!  Shop-Gate Tuskegee  Airmen Depot (100st)  Discussion; Leaving the scene of accidents and the potential for arrests and heavy discipline including dismissal! Open Enrollment for health benefits Starts October 15th  2012 and ending November 26th 2012 TA/OA/MTA-Bus This will allow for healthcare changes. For more info view the locals website at www.twulocal100.org

Week In Review

Week In Review  While at Manhattanville Depot 2 problems popped up which enraged me a great deal 1) Bus Operator who went on comp in 2010 for 2 months went to the IME just recently, the Authority tried to make him go to the Mac when he was done, of course I made a big stink about it, but the Authority couldn't understand why I was bitching. End result Operator stayed in service and didn't go a damn place other than home.   2) AGS at Manhattanville wanted 2 Operators to sign for work place violence memo's, when I refused to let them sign the AGS threatened to take them out of service. I simply said take them out then! As I called his bluff the AGS called  Labor Relations who told him he couldn't take the operators out of service, just simply hand them the policy!  3) SLD came back to work from a period of absence,  B/O welcomed the SLD back to work and SLD took it as a threat and wrote the same. I went to the AGM of the Depot and stressed my concern over the issue and threatened that if they took this Operator out of service over the Dispatchers false allegations there would be serious consequences including the shutting down of this depot! I was assured that all would be ok Pick News Pick started for all incumbents on October 1st 2012, there were a few errors that were caught early on the MaBstoa side, but we're resolved thanks to the TWU pick team  

System Pick OA/TA

Good Morning MaBstoa and TA Surface  The general pick will be kicking off on Monday October 1st 2012 The expected incumbent pick will go from October 1 2012 to October 15th 2012 (TAS October 10th) Crossover Setup October 17th-19th Crossover Pick October 22nd and 23rd Consolidated Pick October 25th Thru November 9  Stay Tuned!

ONCE AGAIN IT'S ELECTION TIME

Brothers and Sisters Once again it's election time. There will be many candidates going around asking for your vote. My advice if it means anything to MaBstoa, is to choose or reelect reps who fight for the interests of the Labor movement. In our line of work experience is the only thing that will keep us strong. Politics in our line of work exists, but make no mistake about it, we all drink from the same cool aid. We all want a stronger Union, we all want the best contracts, we all want a person who will fight the abuser's.  1)'Who is the real fighter and defender of labor? Is it someone new without experience but a willingness to fight the bosses? Only if they come in at the ground floor and learn their craft. 2) Is a College degree necessary to be a rep? I think not, but I do believe that if you feel a degree is necessary, maybe you already think you're better than the members you are serving. 3) Should a rep be familiar with the contract, work rules and some laws? I believe that's a must, and coming in at the ground floor is essential to gradually sharpening those skills. In the upcoming months you will be approached by Inexperience guided by rumors and versions of truths. I have read the fliers, the articles in the papers and the nonsense that perpetrate from the mouths of the insincere. Prosperity may not always take a village, but it sure doesn't take the village idiot. I support the reelection of John Samuelsen! 

How To Check If I Am Receiving The Correct Amount Of Differential

How to check whether I am receiving the correct amount of differential Step 1: Look at one of your paystubs just prior to your Injury on Duty. Look for the amount of gross earnings (say $2400 per two weeks) Look for the amount of taxes paid, this includes federal, state, and local income taxes, social security and medicare (say $800).  This amount will vary depending on your exemptions and family situation. Calculate the percentage taken out of your gross earnings for taxes.  In this case: 30%. Step 2: Calculate how much your gross earnings would be over a 40 hour week. Some people always work 40 hours per week, so for them this would be simply half of their biweekly pay stub (in the example $1200/week) But others regularly work overtime, have built-in overtime, or receive night differentials.  In that case, you simply multiply 40 times your hourly rate just before the date of your injury.  In our example we assume a fictional rate of $30/hour, so the gross earnings over 40 hours would be 40x30=$1200. (Note: if you were injured as the result of an assault, you are eligible for differential over your run pay.  In that case you can skip Step 2&3 and just use the amount of your gross earnings prior to your injury.) Step 3: Calculate your net take home pay over 40 hours Your net take home pay over 40 hours is your gross pay minus taxes.  In the example, you would take 30% of $1200 or $400 out for taxes.  Net take home pay would be $800. Step 4: Check how much comp you were being paid for what period If you were paid comp for a 100% disability, your weekly comp benefit will be $792.07 effective July 1, 2012.  As you will see, in the case of our example, there will only be $8 dollars differential owed.  In many instances, our members are not owed any differential if they receive full comp. However, very often members get comp for only 50% or 20% of the full amount.  The comp amount may also change from time to time.  You need to make a list of all periods and amount of comp received.  In our example, we will assume that the comp benefit was $500 per week throughout the period of disability. Step 5:  Calculate your differential owed. Differential is the difference between what you would take home net over 40 hours minus the comp received.  In our example: $800 (net take home pay) minus comp ($500) equals $300 per week net differential.   However, you need to pay taxes over your differential income.  Therefore, the Authority will “gross up” your net differential for an amount called the “gross differential.”  In our example, we found the member paid 30% of gross income in taxes.  The Authority will use this number to gross up the differential.  In our example, the Authority will pay a gross differential of about $428 and then deduct 30% of that amount for taxes ($128), for a net differential of $300.  (Mind you that we were are working with estimates on taxes owed.  At the end of the year, when you file your tax return, it may turn out you owe less than 30% in combined taxes because your income was lower while you were on comp.) Step 6: Here’s the trick You now expect to receive a differential check for $300 every week (or rather $600 every two weeks), but in all likelihood you will not.  This is because after the Authority has established the differential amount, it will continue to take deductions for other matters just like it does from your regular pay check.   These include: health benefits contribution, pension contribution, union dues, 401(k) contributions, repayment of MCU or NYCERS loans, child support garnishments etc.  As a result, there may not be much differential left as a cash benefit.  Of these, your 401(k) contribution is probably the only deduction you could put a stop on.  All other deductions are mandatory. There really is something wrong with my differential After you have done your calculations and find that there really is a mistake in the amount of differential you receive, you may call Saleh Altaheri of the TA Payroll Department at 646 252 6686.   If that does not resolve the matter, you may contact your union representative to file a grievance.   The grievance should state  that s. 2.7 of the collective bargaining agreement was violated; and that Grievant was not paid the proper amount of differential due (specify the period at issue).