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Quill Scholarships Now Accepting Applications

The International Union's annual Michael J. Quill Scholarship Program is now open for applications. It will award $4,800 to 15 college-bound dependents of TWU members. You can read the memo announcing the program here.

The deadline to apply is April 27th and all applications must be mailed in. Here's a link to the application itself.

 

TWU Walks Picket Line With NY Nurses

JANUARY 16—On both Thursday and Friday, Local 100 President John V. Chiarello and other top officers joined strikes held by 15,000 members of the New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) against major NYC hospitals over issues of workplace safety, adequate levels of staffing and healthcare for the nurses.

The Greater New York Hospital Association – the trade group for the private hospitals – has already spent $100 million on replacement workers, GNYHA head Kevin Raske said.

To cheers from the nurses, President Chiarello and about three dozen TWU members and officers visited a crowd of over 200 nurses on Thursday, showing that our 44,000 members have their backs in the strike. 

“We know about strikes. We went out in 2005 for three days. And we’re proud of every one of you because you’ve been out for four days,” said Chiarello Thursday outside of NewYork-Presbyterian's Allen Pavilion on Broadway in upper Manhattan.

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Conductor Peppered with Rubber Bullets on 6 Train

JANUARY 13—A 6 train conductor was left shaken up and disturbed after he was ambushed by a passenger and shot in the face with rubber bullets on Monday.

Conductor Isiah Steele, 37, had just started his run on the 6 Train about 4:00 AM at the first stop, Pelham Bay Park, when his attention was directed to the man who would later take aim and shoot him with a BB gun. Customers were already waiting as Steele boarded the train. As he entered, another rider motioned in the direction of a young man with a pony tail, who wore a two-tone red and black jacket.

“Someone told me he had something,” said Steele, “But that maybe it wasn’t a real gun."

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Union leaders converged on Quill Depot to enforce safety concerns. President Chiarello is at top, left.
Union leaders converged on Quill Depot to enforce safety concerns. President Chiarello is at top, left.

Management Blinks as Unions, Led by Local 100, Enforce Safety at Quill Depot

JANUARY 8—A coalition of unions led by TWU Local 100 President John Chiarello confronted New York City Transit management this morning at Michael J. Quill Bus Depot, addressing in person the safety concerns about falling concrete and possible structural damage to the facility that he had previously asked about.

Chiarello had requested the structural integrity report on the depot last week, but the union was not given a copy until after today's action. He was joined at the depot, named for TWU's founder, by leadership from Amalgamated Transit Union Locals 726 and 1181 as well as TWU Local 106 and United Transit Leadership Organization, both of whom represent supervisors.

At issue are longstanding concerns about evident damage to structural components in the massive three-story building in Hell's Kitchen, which stores around 350 buses and services a dozen major bus routes. Local 100's safety team previously documented mesh suspended from ceilings to protect workers and vehicles from falling debris and deteriorating concrete, while expansion joints on the floor of the depot, built to relieve the pressure caused by the weight of the buses, are in need of reinforcement.

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A New Year's Message from the President

I want to wish the members of Local 100 a very Happy New Year.

You successfully transported more than a billion riders in 2025, from New Yorkers on the subways and buses to residents of Westchester on the private lines, children going to and from school in Connecticut to tourists in Central Park horse carriages and tour buses in San Francisco.

Last year saw public transit in New York bouncing back even more from the pandemic that began six years ago, with post-pandemic ridership on subways reaching new heights again and again, and that’s thanks to your hard work and dedication.

There were many accomplishments to be celebrated, from acts of bravery and extraordinary service by individual members to our collective work to move New York and beyond—you have shown up every single day, including holidays, to get people where they need to go safely and reliably, and you should take great pride in that.

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Tanya D. Johnson Sworn in as Newest Executive Board Member

DECEMBER 22—Tanya D. Johnson, a Bus Operator from Flatbush Depot with 18 years on the job, was sworn into her new position on the Executive Board at Monday morning's meeting.

Johnson, who won a special election on December 11, repeated the oath read by President John Chiarello as Administrative Vice President Alexander Kemp looked on.

“This means so much to me,” said Johnson after the swearing in. “It means when the senior people retire, they can pass along the information so that the younger generation can come up and still maintain a healthy, strong, united union.”

“It’s important for us to be loud and strong,” Johnson said. “It doesn’t matter if I can make a lowercase d, a capital d, I still made a difference and as time goes on each little change becomes a big change, and that’s important to me.”

New Bill Allows for MTA Vehicles in Bus Lanes While Performing Work for the MTA

DECEMBER 22—A bill was signed by Gov. Hochul Friday granting our members “affirmative defense” when tickets are issued to them for stopping, standing or parking in bus lanes while they are conducting official Transit business in a work vehicle.

This common-sense bill accounts for our members who occupy bus lanes to perform work necessary to the job, including Traffic Checkers and maintenence workers from MOW, CED or surface departments.

It allows for MTA employees operating “an authorized employer motor vehicle in a bus lane” while doing their jobs to avoid having to show up in court to fight the tickets.

Instances of stopping, standing or parking in bus lanes to take care of personal business will not be eligible for the affirmative defense, however.

The bill takes effect immediately.

Big Bus NY Workers Ratify Contract

DECEMBER 19—MTA Bus/School Bus/Private Lines Vice President Danny D’Amato announced that members at Big Bus Tours New York, the number one ranked "hop on hop off" tour bus company by Trip Advisor, have voted to ratify a new contract.

"I’m proud to announce that Big Bus NYC members have overwhelmingly ratified a new contract running through May 18, 2030," D'Amato said. "This agreement delivers meaningful gains in pay, benefits, safety, and working conditions—and it reflects the strength and unity of this membership...This contract proves what strong representation and an engaged membership can achieve," he said.

Here are the details:

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