June 18, 2015
By Corey Bearak, ATU 1056 Policy & Politial Director
Mark Henry President/ Business Agent ATU Legislative Conference Chair wins 72%
Members of of Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 1056 overwhelmingly re-elected Mark Henry as President/ Business Agent last week (June 11) with 72% of the vote. Henry, who chairs the ATU NYS Legislative Conference, won election to a full three-year term of the local which represents 1700 active Maintenance and Transportation members in MTA New York City Transit's Queens bus division and several hundred retired members after succeeding now-City Council Member I. Daneek Miller last year.
Henry previously served three terms as the public transportation local's Vice President. Henry served on the union negotiation team that achieved a fair and just contracts for Local 1056 members in October 2014 and May 2012; the 2012 ground-breaking decision – studied and talked about in many arbitration college courses – set a precedent that benefits many public employee unions across the United States. Under Mark's leadership, Local 1056 closed on a new headquarters on Union Turnpike, which when fully renovated will offer labor not only a new outpost in northeast Queens but enable the local to better serve members who work in or from depots in Flushing, Jamaica and Queens Village.
Henry was a key member of a leadership team that forged collaborations with other transit unions, management and transit advocates to effect improvements in public transit.
Mark began his career in April 1987 as a Bus operator with the New York City Transit Authority. He increased his labor activism in June 2000 when he became Assistant Shop Chairman ultimately rising to acting Chairman for the Jamaica Depot.
Mark also serves as a member of the International ATU's Law committee, ATU Black Caucus, and its Canada and American Conference boards. Mark is a member of the New York State Public Employees Conference Board. This unsung labor-activist and organizer for Queens communities is also involved in community affairs; he was Treasurer for 27th District City
