TWU LOCAL 100 CONTRACT PASSES

The NY Post is reporting on the results of the TWU Local 100 contract ratification vote. It passed but there is still a real opposition within the TWU. 

From the Post:

The vote was 10,112 in favor and 5,176 against the deal. Just 15,000 of TWU Local 100’s 35,650 eligible members cast ballots, union President Tony Utano said.

TWU members went nearly six months without a contract while management pushed for higher worker healthcare contributions, restrictions on overtime and the creation of part-time positions.

Union leadership was able to stave off most of those proposals — and win a 10 percent wage hike that will cost the MTA hundreds of millions of dollars over the next four years, according to fiscal experts.

35,650 eligible and only 15,288 cast ballots. This is somewhat troubling that a union considered very active only had a 43% turnout rate in a contract ratification. I believe this was a mail in vote and this does tend to lead to lower participation. 

On the ratification percentages, it was 66% in favor of the contract and 34% opposed. For those who follow union contract ratifications, that is a fairly significant no vote. The UFT no vote for teachers on the 2018 deal where annual average raises were lower than the TWU average increase was only 14%.

Those of us in opposition to the ruling Unity Caucus have a great deal of work to do in order to form a viable opposition within the UFT.