Published 17 Sep, 2014
TWU Local 100 is now the exclusive bargaining representative for Citi Bike workers, after Local 100 President and International Executive Vice President John Samuelsen signed a voluntary recognition agreement with the company on Tuesday night. After a months-long organizing drive—which found broad support among Citi Bike’s 200 bicycle mechanics, dispatchers, call center operators and technicians—TWU is in uncharted territory, the first to unionize workers in the growing bikeshare industry.
This marks Local 100’s second organizing victory within the past week alone—putting the total number of workers to join TWU since Sunday at 800.
“We intend on forming a worker committee to bargain a contract that advances the livelihoods of bike share workers,” said Samuelsen. “This is part of a national organizing effort by the TWU to bring representation to bike share workers across the country. Right now, we have TWU worker committees and organizers on the ground working with bike share employees in several cities.”
Local 100 views bike share workers as part of the urban transportation system, bringing mobility, healthy exercise, and environmental responsibility to the diverse transportation mix.
Congratulations to our new Sisters and Brothers at Citi Bike, and welcome to TWU!
Read more on Local 100’s website at www.twulocal100.org
Read extensive coverage of the organizing win in the New York Daily News.