CWA Workers Will Build 90 New York City Buses

A New York City bus manufactured by New Flyer.

CWAers at New Flyer's Minnesota facility have begun manufacturing 90 heavy-duty clean diesel buses for New York City.

The contract from the New York City Transit Authority and the MTA Bus Company was the result of CWA coordination and collaboration. "CWA came together and we worked through it from New York to Minnesota," said John Desm, president of CWA Local 7304.

In July, New Flyer had reached a contract to build the 60-foot buses for New York and deliver them by the end of the year. But in September, the city held up placing its order for the buses while the purchase underwent an independent review.

With the contract in limbo, the company was forced to implement reduced schedules and three-day work weeks. As the delay dragged on, New Flyer gave notice to workers that there would have to be 114 layoffs, said Desm.

But Desm had reached out to CWA District 1 Legislative Political Director Bob Master for help. Master and CWA Local 1180 President Arthur Cheliotes contacted New York State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, who was doing the review of the city transit contract.

Then, just as the company approached its deadline to make a decision about layoffs, the comptroller called back to say the contract had been approved.

The next Monday, workers began work on the buses.

"We're really, really happy to help brothers and sisters in Minnesota who are building state of the art buses for city of New York and we're proud CWA members are moving New Yorkers around the city," said Master.