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TWU Dealt A Crushing Defeat

Posted by
on November 8th, 2007 at 9:33 pm

Unfortunately the popcorn burned & the drinks were flat after State Supreme Court Justice Bruce Balter of Brooklyn ruled against the Transport Workers Union Local 100’s attempt to restore their due checkoff power. The judge said he would like to see the 48 executive-board members promise not to strike again before the union would be out of the punishment phase from the 2005 transit strike.

Transport Workers Union Local 100 chief Roger Toussaint had this to say after the decision was announced:

Unfortunately this matter has become a political football. Transit workers will continue to meet the challenges and difficulties of this situation head-on.”

Leave it to the justice system to screw over the wrong party in a situation!

xoxo Transit Blogger

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2

Judge To Decide If The TWU Can Start To Recollect Union Dues

Posted by
on November 8th, 2007 at 2:31 am


One of the signs worn by TWU Local 100 picketers during the 2005 transit strike. Resized photo courtesy of Eye On Transit

Today is the big day as a judge will decide if the Transport Workers Union Local 100 better known as the TWU Local 100 can start to recollect their union dues better known as “checkoff power” or “due checkoffs”. TWU Local 100 got closer to their goal on Halloween when the MTA & state attorney general filed court papers supporting them regaining their rights but only on a probationary basis.

The TWU lost their rights, as I wrote about here, on June 1st for a total of 90 days. During the 90 day penalty period, Transport Workers Union Local 100 said they lost over $1 million dollars.

I spoke with a few friends in the mix at TWU Local 100 & many fully expect the judge to reinstate their rights. Ladies & gentlemen lets get our bowl of popcorn & beverage of choice ready as we sit & anticipate this big decision.

xoxo Transit Blogger

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MTA Hearing In Farmingdale Has Low Attendance

Posted by
on November 8th, 2007 at 2:14 am

I guess Long Islanders missed the memo or maybe Long Island Railroad Commuter Council member Maureen Michaels was right when she said “Maybe they’re delayed by the trains” in reference to the abysmal turnout at yesterday’s MTA hearing in Farmingdale on the proposed fare hike. According to the Newsday, approximately only 40 Long Island residents were present for the hearing which featured less than a dozen speakers from the riding public. Here is the entire article about the hearing courtesy of Newsday:

While hearings on the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s proposed fare increases have drawn hundreds in the city, some going until late in the evening, the only hearing scheduled on Long Island stood in stark contrast Wednesday night, with about 40 attendants and fewer than a dozen speakers.

After a brief introduction at Farmingdale State College, no speakers came to the microphone when MTA Deputy Executive Director Chris Boylan read off the first few names of residents who had signed up to give comments prior to the event.

“Maybe they’re delayed by the trains,” quipped Maureen Michaels, a member of the Long Island Rail Road Commuter Council.

Forty-five minutes into the hearing, Boylan took a 15-minute break to see whether any additional speakers arrived.

After the break, he read four more names. None had arrived. And they recessed again. But Boylan, who has attended other such hearings on Long Island throughout the years, said he was not surprised by the lesser turnout, given the greater population density in the city.

Still, a smaller crowd did not arrive with any less vitriol over the proposed fare hikes.

“I think this rate increase is outrageous,” said Kent Reiter, 62, of Garden City. Noting the proposed third track project, which officials say would increase capacity on the LIRR’s main line, he added: “You’ll be glad to build a third track through my backyard at a terrible expense to everyone … The fare hike is just another sign of a system gone wrong.”

Paul Askedall, 47, of Farmingdale, arrived in a tuxedo, making the point that fares will soon only be affordable to the upper class: “This is the only type of clothes you want people to wear … I and my parents have trouble making ends meet.”

But assuming a certain air of inevitability to the increase, he added: “You’re all going to do what you want. This is a charade.”

None of the MTA board members in attendance nor LIRR President Helena Williams responded to any of the comments.

The proposed increases call for raising Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North fares by an average of 6.5 percent. In the city, the $2 base subway and bus fare would rise by a quarter.

“The cost of living on Long Island is high; you’re going to make it higher,” said State Sen. Carl Marcellino.

State Assemb. David McDonough urged the MTA to delay its expected December vote on a fare hike until April, when the legislature votes on a state budget, in hopes that they can allocate enough money to offset the need for an increase.

MTA chairman Elliot Sander has said the agency is already asking the state for $1.5 billion during the next two years to finance operations and various projects. Expecting Albany to produce an additional $300 million a year to stave off an increase is not realistic, he said.

I can’t say that I am surprised by the lack of turnout for the Long Island hearing. I assumed in advance that the hearings held in the suburbs would have the least amount of turnout. I feel this reflects on the attitude of who can & can’t afford the big blow this fare hike will inflict on drivers & riders alike.

I applaud Mr. Askedall for the creative way he chose to make his statement. Mr. Askedall you get my kudos of the week for sure. Hmm, maybe I’m on to something, the Transit Blogger “Kudos Of The Week” award! I like it!

xoxo Transit Blogger

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Marvin Franklin’s Art Lives On….

Posted by
on November 8th, 2007 at 1:57 am

While death brings a lot of pain & emotions, sometimes positives will rise from the ashes & give a ray of light that will beam on forever. This is definitely the case when it comes to Marvin Franklin. Marvin Franklin was one of two track workers who lost their life in a span of 5 days this past April in two separate incidents after being hit by a subway train.

Marvin Franklin was a dedicated track worker whose life long dream was to retire & open an art gallery that would raise money for the homeless. Unfortunately he died before his dream could come true. However in a fitting tribute to a well loved man, his work will be shown in two exhibitions starting this Friday. The exhibitions will serve as a tribute to him while posthumously raising money for those in need.

The first exhibition of Marvin’s work will be on display at the art space known as Gallery 1199. Gallery 1199 is located inside the midtown headquarters of Local 1199 of the Service Employees International Union. The exhibition runs from this Friday until December 7th.

The second exhibition of Marvin’s work will be on display at the New York Transit Museum. The second exhibition will be co-sponsored by the Local 1199 of the Service Employees International Union & New York Transit Museum. The second exhibition will run from December 18th until March 30th, 2008. All proceeds & donations will support the New York Transit Museum’s “Orphans & Widows” fund.

I urge everyone to attend any of the exhibitions or make a donation if not both. I will do my best to do both before all is said & done. RIP Marvin Franklin…..

xoxo Transit Blogger

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M Train Accident @ Chambers Street

Posted by
on November 6th, 2007 at 10:48 pm


Chambers Street station on the J, M, & Z; Resized photo courtesy of Eye On Transit

This morning, the Chambers Street station on the J, M, & Z lines was the scene of an ugly accident involving an M train. The incident occurred at approximately 10:55 a.m. after the M train dropped off passengers. According to the MTA press release, the train which was approaching the relay position struck the bumper block outside of the station. Here is the full press release:

At approximately 10:55 a.m., a southbound M train approaching the relay (turn around) position struck the bumper block outside of the Chambers Street station. The train, which runs between Lower Manhattan and Middle Village, Queens, was in between runs and had discharged all customers at Chambers Street. Due to the collision, the train operator was briefly trapped in the cab of the first car. He was subsequently removed to St. Vincent’s Hospital. The train did not derail; however, there is significant damage to the first two cars and somewhat lighter damage to another four. The cause of this incident is under investigation. There was no effect to service.

Unfortunately posters at the popular transit forum Subchat turned the thread about the incident into a debate about why details such as pictures of such events should or should not be posted. A transit worker was taken to a hospital due to the accident & will definitely face intense questioning from the MTA about this. Instead of focusing on his condition, possible causes to the accident, & what trouble he might face from the MTA, the thread harps on unnecessary details about proper protocol for handling information about such incidents….

So sad but yet so typical………

xoxo Transit Blogger

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