Union Affiliation
New York City’s Transit System (run by the MTA) has had one active union local since 1934, called the Transit Workers Union (TWU), Local 100.
BACKGROUND
The Parts of the MTA consist of the city subway systems, MTA buses, the Long Island Railroad, the NJ transit line, among other small rail lines...
The first NYC subway system was opened to the public in October of 1904. The Metropolitan Transit Authority of New York was formed in 1965, under the name the Metropolitan Commuter Transportation Authority. The MTA was responsible for creating and maintaining the mass transportation policy for The New York metropolitan area that we have today. The New York originated MTA is the biggest provider of public transportation in the Western Hemisphere. It serves approx. 14.6 million people spread over 5,000 square miles. This spans from NYC to southeastern New York State (including Long Island), and other East-coast states.
oral history
Daniel the MTA bus driver and Julio the LIRR conductor can from different places with different problems, and at different ages, but they are both generally happy with their change of lifestyle.
Daniel’s family brought him from their native Ecuador to the US about twenty years ago (when he was very young). Daniel had big aspirations when he began looking for a job in the United States. He wanted to be an attorney, although he hadn’t gone to college. He wound up having many other jobs to afford living here, and he never had the opportunity to really pursue his dream. He said his job with the MTA was not his favorite job, but it was the best paying job that he had, so that’s why he’s kept it for a while. He seemed content with his lifestyle.
Julio decided to move his family from Puerto Rico to the US when he first got married. Julio was a farmer in Puerto Rico so the water rationing, droughts, and hurricanes in that area, effected his family greatly. He thought he would find it easier to make a living not relying on nature in the United States. He believes that he was correct in his decision. “…I am very happy. My family is doing well…”
organization
The Transport Workers Union of America was founded by NYC subway workers (in the year 1934). They originally chose the name, “Irish transport and general workers’ union.” This union was expanded to cover transit workers in other cities, especially on the East Coast. The largest local member of the TWU is the Local 100, which covers all NYC transit workers. The TWU started representing railway employees in 1954. The TWU’s goals were to represent all public transit workers, to reverse the 10% wage cut, to increase wages, to limit the workweek to 40 hours per week, to hire more workers to eliminate necessity of fast-paced job work, and to establish safe and sanitary working conditions. Using strikes and demonstrations, the union proved to be very successful in achieving its goals.
MTA Workers
