Transit Unions Join Together at Local 100 Headquarters to bring Attention to the Malfunctioning Bus Radio System
Story below posted on Local 100 website https://www.twulocal100.org/
JANUARY 28—Local 100 and other members of the newly formed inter-union Safety Alliance held a press conference at the Union Hall this afternoon about the ongoing danger of bus radio outages, which have left Bus Operators unable to reach command during their shifts.
“There are still buses without operational radios on the streets of New York, and that is unacceptable,” said Local 100 President John Chiarello to the assembled press.
Chiarello also shared a previously unknown detail about the recent birth of a baby girl on a city bus.
“There was a Bus Operator who helped deliver a baby last week, who was praised by management, but what they didn’t tell you was that he had trouble getting through to command in that poor woman’s time of need. He did not get a response for five full minutes on the radio and had to use his cell phone to call 911 as this woman was in agony on the bus.”
The MTA has spent $750 million on the radio system to Parsons Transportation Group, a military infrastructure company, only for it to repeatedly fail. Another $33 million went to Clever Devices, a company whose proprietary intellectual property is in use across the system.
Bibi Bano, a Bus Operator who was attacked in October while on the job in Brooklyn, explained how she was unable to reach command for a half hour while an angry passenger went on a tirade.
“I called on the radio and I could not get anyone to help me out,” said Bano. “I had to call my union reps in the situation where I was assaulted.”
Bano said in order to call for help, she had to pull over, get up from the driver’s seat and go get her phone—the use of which is forbidden by management while on the bus. She was advised by TA Surface VP Gary Rosario and Division Chair Andre Armstrong to call 911.
“There were so many thoughts going through in my mind at the same time. What are we supposed to do if someone gets worse than what I went through?”
Philip Valenti, President of TWU Local 106, the Transit Supervisors Organization, said the problems with the radios has repeatedly been brought to management’s attention and has gotten worse instead of better. Valenti also had a message for the riding pubic.
“I will tell you—if you’re taking a bus, you’re in danger,” said Valenti.
Chiarello demanded the radio systems be fixed and lay the blame squarely at the feet of Janno Lieber.
“He’s failing our Bus Operators, he’s failing the riding public and I’m demanding the cell phone ban on our members be lifted immediately.”
