November 06, 2008
TWU elects senator sympathetic to Taylor Law changes
What changes may be in store now that Democrats have taken over the Senate? For a hint of the answer, consider the "Taylor Law reform" by Joseph Addabbo, who unseated longtime Republican-Conservative Senator Serphin Maltese of Queens.
As chairman of the City Council's Civil Service and Labor Committee, Addabbo is closer to unions than most New York City pols. A week before the election, in receiving the endorsement of Local 100 of the Transit Workers Union (TWU), he showed why.
As punishment for staging an illegal strike three years ago, Local 100's automatic dues-check off privilege was suspended by court order. About half of the union's members are not voluntarily keeping up with their dues payment, draining the union's treasury. As the latest Chief reports (link available to subscribers only):
Mr. Addabbo saw this as a raw deal, calling the extended loss of dues rights a "whip" on the backs of workers. He has promised to seek revised language to put more pressure on employers to negotiate timely contracts rather than force workers to work under expired wage pact terms while talks drag on.
Last week, he faulted the Metropolitan Transportation Authority for refusing to budge on issues such as health-care contributions in 2005, with Local 100 ultimately forced to agree to have members contribute 1.5 percent of their earnings toward their health coverage.
"I think it was evident during the problems that Roger was having for his members during that time that the Taylor Law didn't work," Mr. Addabbo said. "His workers were out there working, and without any negotiations going on. His workers are dedicated; it showed no good faith on the other side."
He added that his amendment would be crafted "to make people keep working under the understanding and they have faith that the process is going forward in negotiating a fair contract. These workers represent all that's wrong with the Taylor Law."
Mr. Addabbo suggested that Local 100 could work with him if elected on the specifics of reforming the law.
The current TWU contract expires in January.
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