Proposals

There is no question those above proposals are harmful towards TWU Local 100 members and we do not agree with those proposals. It is a charade from our employer to propose terms that will be ‘Net Minus Labor’.  We recall not too long ago when the previous CEO Jay H Walder had the “net zero” labor initiative. We did not agree with that then and we are not going to agree now with the new CEO Joseph Lhota ‘net minus’ labor approach.

“Throughout my career in both the public and private sectors, I have initiated reforms that are performance-based and that cut costs, and I look forward to bringing this same approach to the MTA,” Lhota said in a statement from the governor’s office.

First proposal is unacceptable, why should we as TWU Local 100 pick in advance the ‘holiday picks’ it does not make sense. Who is able to foresee his family needs in advance, then once locked in to that holiday pick what if something pops up such as a family emergency. It is obvious the management has pegged this proposal with the eye in ramping up the disciplinary measures. We here in why did you join the union will call it entrapment however we may consider it in the event that the members of the Transportation Department are awarded five dollars ($5) hourly rate above the train operator title which is a bargain for our employer. Here is why, members of the Transportation Department especially bus operators in their work encompass five (5) titles in the Department of Subway. Bus operators operate the bus that is equivalent to the train operators (660, 651, 909), open and closes doors that is equivalent to the conductor (411, 412, 413), collect fares that is equivalent to the station agent (813, 977), give directions of the best bus routes to get to destination that is equivalent to a telephone operator (868), assist disabled and elderly who can’t take 5 flights of stairs. Based on that ($5) for bus operators above the train operator hourly rate is a good deal for our employer since it is a saving of five titles.

Second proposal ‘Eliminate all caps on runs set forth in Section 5.1E (Runs) 

1. Runs

1) a. Up to thirty percent (30%) of runs may be swing runs and the remainder of the scheduled runs shall be straight runs in the boroughs of Manhattan, the Bronx and Brooklyn.

b. Sixty five percent (65%) of all regular runs (straight runs and swing runs combined) will be completed within a spread of ten (10) hours and all remaining regular runs will be completed within a spread of eleven (11) hours.

2) If a regular swing run is not completed within a spread of eleven (11) hours, time and one-half will be allowed for all time in excess of said eleven (11) hours which may be needed to permit the completion of the run.

3) All spread time in excess of eleven (11) hours will be paid at the rate of time and one half regardless of whether or not the operator has worked eight (8) hours during the period.

The above section is there to protect TWU Local 100 members since our employer is interested in eliminating this section which is indirectly assailing ourselves. In addition why should we relinquish that protection? What in return is the management offering? We may look into it if our employer offers all of the following to the bus operators - first - bus operators shall be entitled to assault pay (‘run pay’) for five (5) years for injuries incurred on duty as a result of physical assaults, second - bus operators shall be entitled to stress premium pay hourly five ($5) dollars for the spread, third - bus operators shall be entitled to challenge for the fare premium of two ($2) dollars for the spread.

Third proposal OA pick practices should be eliminated - we see no point in that, why should OA accept that? It is necessary for bus operators to be present at the pick room - leaving a slip with choices is not good. A slip is an open ticket for manipulation due to the absence of the bus operator.

Forth proposal we do not see the benefit to amend the Preventable Accident Disciplinary Procedures of 2002 MOU due to the fact that the current system is unfavorable towards the bus operators. The arbitrators are trained by our employer and the arbitrators have blindly sided with our employer - there is no point of giving anything more to our employer. As it is the arbitrators have gone further in pleasing and kowtowing our employer. We would recommend a bus operator (who was a steward with TWU Local 100 who has retired within the past five years) who has worked in the borough of Manhattan, the Bronx and Brooklyn as being acceptable as a safety person.

Fifth proposal eliminating - section 5.1(I) Traveling allowance when sent to Foreign depot - we say no, no, no. We would like - first - night differential for holiday to be one ($1) dollar, second - boost time should not effect late slips, third - late slips must initiate reserve time, forth - swing time be paid in full no more half of swing if more than one hour full swing paid on RDO, fifth - headway allowance must be paid for middle of run even when relief is involved, sixth - accidents for each accident pay one (1) hour (accident pay is not affected by boost), seventh - Work Day Off, raise the maximum to six (6) hours from current four (4), eight - snow work phone call to stay ready for snow work four (4) hours pay, ninth - report for snow work sent home eight (8) hours instead of the current six (6) hours, tenth - meal allowance twenty ($20) dollars.