Retraining and automation

Should the jobs of TWU Local 100 members identifiable or substantial to the portion thereof (more than 20% - one fifth) be eliminated by the MTA as the direct and immediate result of the implementation of its discretion of data processing equipment, computers or automated devices or systems (which eliminate human beings). TWU Local 100 members who are directly displaced should have a right to elect training to their liking.

TWU Local 100 members may elect to be trained for new positions which may result directly from implementation of such data processing equipment, computers or automated devices or systems. The MTA or the management will not use testing, personal evaluation and or medical evaluation for the new position but rather would consider that as a transfer with their seniority intact to govern such a transfer. 

In the event where the numbers of TWU Local 100 members for retraining exceed the jobs available then TWU Local 100 members should have a right of choice to transfer to another department - for those who completed the retraining successfully. For those who failed the retraining provided or are unable to complete such training those TWU Local 100 members should have a right of choice to transfer to another department. That member who failed that failure does not give grounds to be demoted due to his inability to complete the retraining. It is also not a pretext for a dismissal. That TWU Local 100 member will not be held liable for the retraining costs whether that retraining is in house or if an outside contractor is used, the costs will be paid exclusively by MTA.

Training/upgrade fund that is present in the current contract appears to put TWU membership in mortal peril i.e. the summer 2011 courses are useless if they do not advance TWU Local 100 membership’s skills whatsoever but rather are a waste of resources. Lets review what is being offered by TUF - you notice introduction to computer hardware I &II, introduction to networking, languages Spanish and defensive driving. It is not known if any member has advanced or benefitted from TUF - since now Walder is bent on having technology replace human beings. We demand all TUF courses to reflect advancement of the membership - courses which should be streamlined to the work with an eye to protect the membership.

We cannot wait till the last minute to react. We here in why did you join the union prefer preventive measures as those mentioned above to be added into the contract of 2012. While we know Walder’s intention is to move the MTA into the twenty first technology however that should not be the circumstance to phase out TWU Local 100 members. As we have seen metro card vending machines have replaced our brethren station agents. Likewise we are seeing his push for a one person train operator with the intentions of eliminating a conductor.