TWU Day-Care Mess

To the Editor:

The recent articles on TWU Day Care got transit workers buzzing about the current administration at Local 100. Many of my co-workers argued that the limited reimbursement of $200 per month for only 400 qualifying members a year comes up way short. That's less than half of the MTA contribution to the fund, and many feel it was not worth the 0.5-percent wage increase it was bargained in place of. Passing up a 0.5-percent wage increase for 38,000 members for $200 a month for a select 400 equals poor negotiations.

As The Chief hit the newsstands on Tuesday, Feb. 12, Local 100 posted a multi-dated informational bulletin that was faxed to our section office. The bulletin describes the guidelines for eligibility and some history on the trust fund and its changing rules.

In this bulletin, the union boasts of the 7,008 families that have benefited from the fund since its inception in 2002 (fewer than 1,200 per year). It describes the reasons for changing the enrollment rules. The guidelines for 2008 enrollment include some questionable registration procedures, which make filing for application now more difficult than ever.

- Why is the registration period still undetermined (late April)? - Why is registration in person and by the member only?

- Why must registration only take place at Local 100's now-rented home at West 64th St. and West End Ave? Why not at the Brooklyn offices at 180 Livingston St.?

- Why is there a list of four dates in which pre-registration will be held?

In the past, members faxed information to the union hall. They also were able to apply at 180 Livingston St. The registration periods were longer. Spouses were allowed to apply in the past because the members could not get out of work to do so themselves. There was more outreach in the field to encourage enrollment.

Now it seems that the union is making it more difficult to enroll. Are the pre-registrations to be held on: Black History Celebration, Women's Day, and a Quill-Connolly Day (at the union hall), and during Lobby Day an unfair advantage for attendees vs. those who cannot attend?

Unanswered questions include: - How many members applied? - How many people were selected? - How much was paid out each year? - Who was on the list? - How many people on the child-care fund staff? And how much were they paid? - How many union staffers received child-care? - Where does the unused portion of the fund go?

- Did any of the fund monies go toward the construction of new offices, new computers, and equipment on the third floor of 80 West End, despite the fact that the local no longer owns the building?

When the MTA agreed to child-care, it did so to improve on employee availability. As a matter of fact, child-care can only be offered to members during their respective tours of duty. Since it was something that the MTA wanted, and the union gave up a 0.5-percent wage increase, then there should have been no limit to who received it, provided that it improved employee availability. All this is a result of poor negotiations.

RICHARD RIVERA, Shop Steward, Car Repair Gang, Coney Island Overhaul, TWU Local 100