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Unions Under Attack: New Legislation Would Protect Federal Workers

APRIL 14 -- Two Congressmen from opposite sides of the aisle – Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and Jared Golden (D-ME) have  introduced a bill that would nullify President Trump’s March 27 Executive Order ending collective bargaining rights for most federal employees.

The bill, HR 2550 was introduced on April 1 and referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. It is co-sponsored by Democratic Reps. Donald Norcross (NJ-01), Mark Pocan (WI-02) and Debbie Dingell (MI-06), and Republican Reps. Nick LaLota (NY-01), Mike Turner (OH-10) and Mike Lawler (NY-17). Co-Sponsor Brian Fitzpatrick said, “Improving government efficiency is essential – but sweeping exclusions from collective bargaining are a blunt instrument that risk weakening the very stability and performance we aim to strengthen.”

The move to restore collective bargaining rights – currently also playing out in the courts – was welcomed by unions representing federal employees. Matt Biggs, President of the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers, said, “This illegal attack on collective bargaining rights by the Trump Administration will do great harm to the efficient operations of our federal government, including to our national security. IFPTE applauds and thanks Representatives Fitzpatrick and Golden for crafting and introducing this bill and urges Congress to find a way to pass it.”

At the same time, Rep. Fitzpatrick led a Republican letter to President Trump requesting that he “reconsider these Executive Orders and restore collective bargaining rights to federal agencies where bargaining would not genuinely impair national security interests.” You can read the letter here.

Among the signatories is Congressman Mike Lawler (R-Hudson Valley) whose district includes the Metro North commuter railway which is in part represented by TWU members.

Transit Museum Shines a Light on Our History

APRIL 11 -- Steps away from TWU Local 100’s office (referred to by union members as the Union Hall), the New York City Transit Museum displays historical artifacts of the New York City Subway, bus, and commuter rail systems. However, until last month, the 20 Sales Associates who work there had no union representation. That changed on March 25, when we organized them.

The Museum’s retail stores (one at 99 Schermerhorn, along with the subway exhibits and one at Grand Central) support its exhibits by visually telling the history of the system and the transit workers who operate it.

Jodi Shapiro, the Museum’s Curator, says many visitors may not think of the people who work for the transit system as actual human beings. “Through our exhibits, public programs, and educational work, we try to humanize them and to tell visitors, ‘Yeah, the people who clean the subway cars, the people who operate the buses, the people who take your money for metro cards and now omni cards, these people should be respected because they all have a small part in making this system work every day.”

One of the museum’s current exhibits, “Shining a Light on The Subway Sun: The Art of Fred G. Cooper and Amelia Opdyke Jones,” displays signage dating from the 1930’s to the 1960’s. Those signs assisted transit workers in encouraging passengers to keep the system clean.

IB Image

To deal with the problem of passengers littering, transit management (then under the New York City Board of Transportation) transit hired Fred G. Cooper, a contributor to Life Magazine and co-founder of the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA), to illustrate “The Subway Sun,” a cartoon campaign using humor to teach commuters that litter goes into a trash receptacle. Later, Cooper recommended Amelia Opdyke Jones, who took over “The Subway Sun” in 1946. Continuing the use of humor, Jones is credited for riffing off the “jitterbug” slang to create a character called “Litterbug.” 

“These campaigns were very effective,” Shapiro says. “They used to give steep fines for littering in the subway. When the first litterbug poster was published and put in the subways and elevators, the number of tickets written for littering was reduced by a couple of thousand.” The Subway Sun’s anti-littering posters, published in 1948, cut the number of summonses for littering by 20%.

Our new union members at the New York Transit Museum welcome TWU Local 100 members to visit the exhibits and their retail stores. Union members who are MTA employees receive free admission to the museum and a 20% discount on store purchases.

Union Expresses Solidarity After Tragic Collapse in the Dominican Republic

APRIL 9 -- TWU Local 100 Secretary-Treasurer Carlos Bernabel, on behalf of our 44,000 members, expressed his deep concern and condolences for those killed or injured by the structural collapse of the Jet Set club in Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic. Press reports are saying that over 100 people have been killed, with at least 250 injured. The collapse came when the club was full of musicians, professional athletes, and government officials during a merengue concert on Monday night.

Local 100 President John V. Chiarello said, “Many TWU Local 100 members, like Carlos, trace their roots back to the Dominican Republic, and many of those members are grieving today in the wake of this tragedy.”

Local 100 is displaying a ribbon from the flag of the Dominican Republic in this post in solidarity as we console and support New York’s Dominican Community, which counts many of our own as members.

A Transit Family Mourns Matriarch Evelyn McDuffie, 57

APRIL 8 -- Union Members in Stations and RTO are mourning the passing of their sister and mother, Postmaster Evelyn McDuffie.

Sister McDuffie passed of soft tissue cancer on April 2 at the age of 57 after having worked for the US Post Office for 32 years. Four of her siblings are transit workers, including Retired Station Agents Darlene and Patrice McDuffie, 19A Dispatcher Gary McClellan, who worked out of Zerega and Fresh Pond, and Retired Train Operator Shepard McClellan. She also leaves a neice to mourn, Tameka McDuffie, who is a NYCT CTA.

Her daughter, Station Agent Quenisha McDuffie-DeSheers, who has seven years with NYC Transit (in photo at right) invites all transit workers to attend services for her loving mother on Friday, April 11th at the Pleasant Grove Tabernacle at 1929 Fulton Street in Brooklyn, NY 11233. Condolences can be sent to the McDuffie family at 13444 135th Avenue in South Ozone Park, NY 11420.

Pres. Chiarello attends U.S. Secretary of Transportation Duffy and Mayor Adams Meeting to Discuss Crime in the Transit System

New York, NY – TWU Local 100 attended a meeting at the Broadway & Lafayette St. Station, where U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy and Mayor Eric Adams discussed crime and the overall condition of the transit system. The visit was part of ongoing federal efforts to assess public safety measures and the effectiveness of recent initiatives to combat crime in the subway.

Local 100 President John V. Chiarello spoke to reporters emphasizing the need for continued investment in safety and infrastructure. He made it clear that worker safety remains a top priority.

“We’re taking our members’ safety seriously and thank the Mayor for the added police presence, especially the idea of precision policing,” Chiarello stated. “We’re glad they are allocating needed resources to protecting the riding public and our members.” He added: “We know exactly where the crime happens—they have the statistics. If it works, keep doing it. Simple stuff.”

TWU Local 100 has long advocated for a more targeted approach to law enforcement underground, arguing that crime hotspots are well-documented and should be the focus of enforcement efforts.

Noticeably absent from the event was MTA Chairman Janno Lieber, raising questions about his leadership and coordination in addressing the issues that hurt the transit system.

As the city continues to deal with concerns over crime and service reliability, our members remain at the forefront of the conversation, pushing for real solutions that ensure both their safety and that of the millions of riders who depend on the subway every day.

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Autism Awareness Month: New 2023 Contract Benefit Recap

As the result of successful contract negotiations in 2023, TWU Local 100 members working for the TA/OA/MTA Bus are covered for enhanced coverage for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) under our Aetna Health Care plan. It covers behavioral, physical, occupational, and speech therapy as well as Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA). Each of our three plans has this coverage, including Aetna CPOS II Basic, Aetna CPOS II High Option, and Aetna Select).
 
You can find a link to the Autism Benefit package here.
 
• The Aetna plans provide for unlimited sessions for the above services for the treatment of ASD and at a $0 copay.
• If you have any questions or need additional details about this coverage, please contact Aetna directly at 855-824-5349.
#unionstrong #solidarity #autismawareness

 

APRIL IS THE MONTH OF THE MILITARY CHILD: EVENTS ACROSS NEW YORK

At TWU Local 100, we understand that behind every uniform, whether it’s transit or military, there’s a family holding it all together.

This April, we’re proud to honor the Month of the Military Child, a time dedicated to recognizing the strength and sacrifice of over 1.6 million children whose parents serve in the U.S. Armed Forces. These kids face more change in one year than many do in a lifetime. They move from state to state, adjust to new schools, and spend long stretches missing a parent who’s serving far from home. And yet—they keep going. They stay brave.

Throughout April, the Department of Defense is spotlighting these remarkable children. Here in New York, families are invited to take part in free events to recognize and celebrate military-connected youth. Check out this year’s incredible lineup:

SATURDAY, APRIL 5 •

10:00 AM – Via Aquarium (Rotterdam, NY): Dive into the underwater world of sharks, stingrays, and starfish—plus a walk-through tunnel experience! Co-sponsored by the Military Family Foundation and the Joseph P. Dwyer Program of Albany County.

2:00 PM – FASNY Museum of Firefighting (Hudson, NY): Explore real fire engines, suit up in firefighting gear, and enjoy hands-on fun at the world’s largest firefighting museum.

SUNDAY, APRIL 6

1:00 PM – Madison Square Garden Tour (New York, NY): Go behind the scenes of the world’s most famous arena and see what most fans never get to experience.

SATURDAY, APRIL 12

 11:30 AM – Zoo New York Private Tour (Watertown, NY): Discover bears, wolves, and mountain lions—plus an up-close animal encounter with expert guides.

SUNDAY, APRIL 13

10:00 AM – Buffalo Bills Stadium Tour (Orchard Park, NY): Walk the field, visit the press box, and capture unforgettable moments at Highmark Stadium.

12:00 PM – Buffalo & Erie County Naval Park (Buffalo, NY): Tour historic naval vessels and enjoy a pizza lunch aboard the USS Little Rock. Sponsored by WNYHeroes.org

2:00 PM – Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum (North Tonawanda, NY): See how carousels are made and enjoy historic rides.

SATURDAY, APRIL 19

11:00 AM – MOST + ExploraDome Show (Syracuse, NY): Create slime, explore the Dino Zone, and enjoy “Space: The Last Frontier” with popcorn in the ExploraDome.

SATURDAY, APRIL 26

2:00 PM – National Baseball Hall of Fame (Cooperstown, NY): A kid-friendly tour through baseball history. Don’t forget your favorite cap or jersey!

SUNDAY, APRIL 27

10:00 AM – Fenimore Farm & Art Museum Combo Day (Cooperstown, NY): A hands-on day with art, animals, and historic trades.


Whether you’re a transit worker raising a military child or someone whose family has served, this month is for you.
Learn more at the official Department of Defense spotlight: https://www.defense.gov/Spotlights/Month-of-the-Military-Child/

A Skill-Building Opportunity for TWU Local 100 Members

TUF Elevate Graduation 2025

MARCH 27, 2025 -- This month, 30 TWU Local 100 members proudly completed the ELEVATE Electrical Program — a nine-month training course that gave them hands-on experience, industry certifications, and a pathway to stronger career opportunities. After hundreds of hours in the classroom and shop, they crossed the finish line together, ready for what’s next.

The ELEVATE Electrical Program gives TWU Local 100 members a direct path to building hands-on skills in the electrical trade. Designed in partnership with the Electrical and HVAC/R Training Center, this nine-month training is an opportunity for members looking to grow their knowledge, expand their job options, and add certified electrical experience to their toolbox.

With both daytime and evening classes available, the program works around real transit schedules. It’s built specifically for working members who are ready to move forward in their careers. Sessions are capped at 15 people to keep the training personal, practical, and focused.

Throughout the 600-hour course, members get exposure to a wide range of topics, including:

• Safe use of tools and materials
• Fundamentals of electrical theory
• Wiring techniques for residential and commercial systems
• Fire alarm installation
• Fiber optics, HVAC controls, and more

By the end of the program, members walk away with certified site safety credentials and the kind of applied electrical experience that sets them up for opportunity to attain some of the highest paying skilled titles in the transit system. Whether you’re preparing for a title change, a promotion, or simply want to deepen your trade knowledge, ELEVATE is a smart, union-supported way to get there.

To learn more or to express interest in the next cohort, contact:
Helen Ogbogu
718.780.8700
Hogbogu@twulocal100tuf.org
Location: 195 Montague Street, 4th Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11201

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