News from TWU Local 100

Kingsbridge Bus Operator Walter Watson Passes from Virus

Kingsbridge Depot is mourning the passing of another Brother member to the Coronavirus, Bus Operator Walter ‘Wats’ Watson. He was 55 and died on May 4, 2020. He had 20 years on the job at Jackie Gleason Depot and in recent years, Kingsbridge near his home.

Brother Watson graduated John F. Kennedy High School in the Bronx, and shortly thereafter joined the U.S. Navy, where he excelled in electronics and became a certified naval electrician. He served on the nuclear submarine, USS Shark out of Groton, CT. After being discharged, he was offered a civilian military position in Iraq, but decided to stay close to home and went to work for United Parcel Service.

During those years, he helped start the Marble Hill 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament for the neighborhood youth. He also worked for Baldor’s, the specialty food service company, before joining NYCT in 2000.

Kingsbridge Vice Chair Felix Olivo said that Brother Watson was “very well liked at the depot, a fun loving guy. He was a hard worker and spoke his mind. He loved his Steelers and was always wearing the Black and Yellow proudly. He’s going to be dearly missed.” Brother Watson is survived by his wife, Tiffany, a 2-year old son, Walter Watson V, two daughters, Enaj and Sydney, four sisters and three brothers.

A PBA Luncheon for Transit Workers, Unions Show Solidarity; We Demand Hazard Pay

MAY 27 -- The Police Benevolent Association came to downtown Brooklyn this afternoon to deliver boxes lunches to transit workers to thank us for getting them to work -- and making sure that the City continues to be viable during the pandemic. PBA President Pat Lynch, a former NYCT Conductor and the son of a Train Operator, spoke of the sacrifices made and the reality that both cops and transit workers do not have the option to stay home during the pandemic. President Tony Utano expressed thanks for the solidarity between our two unions and called on the authority to grant hazard pay to the workforce.

Conductor Elecier Williams Passes from the Virus at 41; ‘Favorite Niece’ of Jamaican Consul-General

Local 100 is mourning the loss of Conductor Elecier Williams, who had two years on the job and passed from the virus at the young age of 41. Sister Williams worked the extra list on the midnight tour and lived in the Bronx. She leaves a loving family which includes the Consul General of Jamaica in New York, Mrs. Alsion Roach Wilson, who called her “my favorite niece.”

Signal Maintainer Ricardo Hill is Lost to Virus

Line Equipment/Signals Division is mourning the loss to the Coronavirus of Signal Maintainer Ricardo Hill. He had 20 years on the job and passed away on May 14, 2020 at the hospital. He worked out of Liberty Junction on the A line.

Division Chair Duvet Williams, who worked with Brother Hill in the past, said that “Ricardo was a tremendous professional. He was an expert on electronics. If you needed to know anything about electronics, he would teach you.”

Brother Hill was an avid amateur photographer. “He put a lot of effort into photography. He had very expensive equipment, and was really good at it,” said Williams. “This is really sad,” said Williams. “Ricardo was in great shape from exercising and lifting weights. He was a really good person, and a very positive influence on his co-workers. We are all going to miss this great union brother.”

Jazz Vocalist's Tribute to Essential Workers Uses Photos of Our Members

Austrian-born jazz vocalist and bandleader Elizabeth Lohninger's song Alright is a tribute to essential workers during COVID19 -- and she uses images of transit workers along with health care workers to send a message of hope amid the pandemic. Thank you for recognizing the importance and value of transit workers as we move America.

Voting Power is Political Power -- How to Vote During COVID19

Election Day is June 23, 2020 for State & Federal Primaries  , and the Early Voting Period runs from June 13, 2020 – June 21, 2020. You can vote even if you cannot get to the polling place on Election Day.

Under the Governor's Executive Orders: To help prevent the community spread of COVID-19, all registered, eligible voters may apply to vote by Absentee ballot for the June 23, 2020 elections. Voters affected by COVID-19 including the risk of contracting the virus, should check the box "Temporary Illness" as the reason for requesting an Absentee Ballot. The definition has been temporarily expanded to include those affected by COVID-19 and/or the potential of contracting the virus.

Find out how to vote from home at this link: https://vote.nyc/page/absentee-voting

Call Center Operator George Manifold Passes from Coronavirus; First GCS Employee to Die from COVID-19

George Manifold, whose job it was to bring transportation services to the sick and disabled, died on April 23rd from the coronavirus. He worked at his operators’ desk at Global Contact Services until April 19th, when he became too ill to work.

Brother Manifold had three and half years with the company, a long tenure in a job environment where most operators last less than a year. GCS workers are not MTA employees, but they dispatch Access-A-Ride vans which are coordinated through the MTA. Local 100 organized the shop four years ago and won important job protections including the right to challenge disciplinary actions.

“He was a great worker,” said his union rep, Division Chair Sandra Lennon. “He never had any problems or write-ups until he got an infection in his leg and was hospitalized. Due to being hospitalized, he couldn’t report to work. He was terminated.”

Appealing the termination on December 18th of 2018, Sister Lennon fought the charges and the hearing officer ruled in the union’s favor. Brother Manifold returned to work in January of 2019.

Brother Manifold leaves five children, five grandchildren, and a wife to mourn.

Rodney Sparrow, Power Maintainer, 50, Lost to Coronavirus

Power Division is mourning the loss of another Brother to the Coronavirus. Rodney Sparrow, a veteran of the job for nearly 23 years, died of the virus in April. He was 50 years old.

A computer expert, he worked on the Track Geometry Train responsible for identifying and inputting track defects into the data base for quick repair. He worked nights for many years, but had been working days at the time of his passing.

He was a graduate of the John Jay School of Criminal Justice, Class of 1993. He was a lifelong resident of Brooklyn.

TUF Open for Virtual Classes; Webinar Offered

The TWU Local 100 - NYCT Training and Upgrading fund is open for business despite the pandemic. Virtual meetings will be held on Zoom from 9AM to 4PM on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, & Thursdays. You can email TUF at: info@twulocal100tuf.org to request an appointment. Read the TUF flyer about how to get into the webinar open house here.

Read the We're Open flyer here.

EEM Harvey Knight Dies of the Virus

Harvey K. Knight, Jr., a veteran Elevator and Escalator Maintainer for nearly 20 years with NYCT, died on the Coronavirus on April 23, 2020. He is described by those who knew him on the job as a dedicated father, husband, friend and co-worker.

“He was a hard-working, dedicated employee, who had great enthusiasm for his job and his union,” said a friend in an email to the union.

A funeral took place on May 15, 2020 at Unity Funeral Chapels, 2352 Frederick Douglas Blvd. in Manhattan. The family said it will be holding a memorial at a later date for those unable to attend the funeral during this time of Coronavirus restrictions on gatherings. He is survived by his wife, Lorena, and three children, Jovanna, Jayvon and Justina.