All News

Welcome Back! Union Hosts Picnic for Quality Bus Members

Local 100 President Tony Utano, Secretary Treasurer Earl Phillips, Vice Presidents Pete Rosconi and John Chiarello, MTA Bus Division Chair Danny D'Amato and Vice Chair Mike Capocci, joined school bus members from Quality Transportation in Brooklyn for the annual end-of-the-school-year picnic on June 25, 2021. Last year's event had to be cancelled due to Covid. President Utano said that he was "thrilled to see everyone having a good time. It's been a long time since we have been able to relax and enjoy one another's company as brothers and sisters of our wonderful union."

$2,500 Scholarship Established in Memory of Garrett Goble

As part of this year's scholarship drawings, the union will be presenting the first annual scholarship in memory of Train Operator Garrett Goble, who was murdered in an intentionally set fire on his train on March 27, 2020.

The initial scholarship is in the amount of $2,500.

Local 100 President Tony Utano said the annual award will serve as a permanent reminder of the incredible dangers transit workers face each day on the job.

Opposition Growing to MTA Plan to End Cash Transactions at Booths

Opposition is growing to the MTA’s callous and insulting decision not to resume cash trash actions at subway booths.

Sen. Julia Salazar, Councilman Justin Brannan, the Riders Alliance, and others, have joined Transport Workers Union Local 100 in demanding NYC Transit President Sarah Feinstein reverse direction and enable riders to make cash transactions at the booths.

The MTA has resumed cash transactions for its suburban commuter train riders using the LIRR and Metro-North roads.

“Are they better than subway riders? Are they more deserving of this level of customer service? It’s an insulting outrage,” TWU Local 100 President Tony Utano said.

TWU Stations Vice President Robert Kelley is bashing the MTA in TV and radio and print interviews.

President Utano Hails Adams Victory as First Choice Ballots are Counted

JUNE 23 — TWU Local 100 President Tony Utano hailed the victory of Eric Adams as the first choice among New Yorkers to become the next Mayor as “a great day for transit workers and a first huge step to gaining a leader at City Hall who truly understands the needs and values of blue-collar workers in this City.”

Local 100 was instrumental in defining subway crime as a major issue in the Mayoral campaign. Transit workers supported Adams at rallies and press conferences as that issue surged in the opinion polls.

President Utano said: “We in TWU wholeheartedly supported Eric Adams because he was the only candidate who saw what we saw; that the growing problems of assaults against the transit workforce, and the tragic issues of homelessness and the mentally ill living in the subway system have to be addressed as a top priority of the next mayor if we expect New York to return to normalcy after this pandemic.”

“Eric Adams is the right man for our City at the right time. No one else even comes close. If he continues to maintain his lead, we know that he will bring New York back to greatness. We will continue to provide our support in every way possible as he moves forward to the November election.”

At Ulmer Park Depot, Sen Gounardes Calls Workers Comp Denial for Bus Op 'Outrageous'

JUNE 21 -- NYS Senator Andrew Gounardes (D-Brooklyn) came to the Ulmer Park depot to meet with Bus Operator Tommy Lau, who is still recovering from injuries suffered when he intervened in a mugging. On his lunch break, Brother Lau saw an Asian couple targeted by a robber and he rushed to their defense. The mugger ran but punched Lau causing bruising and headaches. NYC Transit denied workers comp benefits for Lau, even though Workers Comp Attorney Robert Grey told the media that it is well within their discretion to grant the benefit. Sen. Gounardes, meeting with Bus Operators and TA Surface Vice President JP Patafio, called the denial "outrageous."

New Yorker Piece on Shop Steward Terence Layne Wins Top Honors

The New Yorker magazine won first place for profile writing for its piece on Local 100’s very own Terence Layne.

The American Society of Magazine Editors announced the award to The New Yorker and reporter Jennifer Gonnerman for “Survival Story,” which begins with a description of a video message Bus Operator Layne, Manhattanville's Chief Shop Steward, recorded to his union brothers in sisters in the early days of the pandemic. The message was an encouraging, inspiring, defiant and powerful.

“I want to thank you all for stepping up and coming to work today and showing what leadership looks like,” Layne said. “We are performing an essential and invaluable task.” He reminded his co-workers that they were not only delivering hospital personnel to their jobs. “What about the person that needs dialysis? What about the person who needs regular cancer treatments?” he said. “We are helping all of these people live and survive this global pandemic.”

MaBSTOA Vice President and Local 100 Chief of Staff Richie Davis called Layne “a great union activist and fighter.”

You can read the entire profile here.

Subway Grime is Up -- the Solution? Hire More Cleaners!

The MTA has to hire cleaners to fill positions vacated through attrition or the trains are just going to get filthier and filthier, TWU Local 100 tells WABC TV, The New York Daily News and other outlets.

Brother Jeffers, at left with his son and a grandchild.

Union Mourns T/O Jerome Jeffers, 53, Killed by Hit-And-Run Driver

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Train Operator Jerome Jeffers, 53, a seven year veteran of NYCT, was killed in a car accident on June 13th in Queens. Brother Jeffers resided in Hollis, NY at the time of his passing, and was a lifelong resident of Queens. He worked 'vacation relief' in the B Division.

Outside of work, he enjoyed martial arts, computers, and was a member of the Freemasons. RTO VP Eric Loegel said "Jerome was a great guy, well liked throughout RTO. His loss is shocking and tragic. We're all saddened in RTO, and as his work family, we mourn alongside his relatives".

He is survived by his son, two grandchildren, and a brother.

There will be a Viewing for Brother Jeffers on June 25 from 4 to 7 PM at Crowe's Funeral Home, 107-44 Sutphin Blvd. in Jamaica, NY and a Funeral Service at 12 Noon on June 26th at the same location. All members are encouraged to attend.

Here's the NYPost article: https://nypost.com/2021/06/13/two-dead-in-pair-of-car-crashes-in-queens/

Bogus! Workers Comp Atty Says MTA Didn't Have to Deny Comp to Bus Operator

In a PIX 11 report, Greg Mocker interviews Workers Comp Attorney Robert Grey, who explains that contrary to what the MTA is saying, the agency had the ability to award Workers Compensation benefits to Bus Operator Tommy Lau, who came to the aid of an elderly couple on his break and was brutally attacked for intervening.

Early Voting Has Begun -- Here are Our Endorsed Candidates

Just click on the image for a downloadable flyer for the candidates we support in New York City.

Find your polling location here.

These candidates have pledged to support TWU Local 100's priorities and strengthen our mass transit system.

Each has passed our candidate screening process and we enthusiastically endorse them as the best choice in each race.

Supporting these candidates means increasing our union power and making life better for working people.

In Westchester, we are supporting Mike Khader for Council President of Yonkers, Christopher A. Johnson for the Westchester County 16th District, Corazon Pineda-Isaac for the 2nd Council District, and Vedat Gashi for Westchester County Legislator.

Please vote for them when early voting begins on June 12 or on Election Day, June 22.