TWU Local 100 Endorses Eric Adams for Mayor of New York City

APRIL 29 -- TWU Local 100 overwhelmingly and enthusiastically endorsed Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams for mayor today.

The Local 100 Executive Board voted overwhelmingly after hearing from eight leading candidates at the Union Hall in Brooklyn.

“Our members and officers have known Eric for a long time,” TWU Local 100 President Tony Utano said. “He’s stood with us in many battles and has always been there for us. He’s earned this endorsement and richly deserves it.”

Working in the Heat

Working in hot environments is not safe. Your body builds up heat when you work and sweats to get rid of it. Too much heat can make you tired, hurt your job performance, and increase your chance of injury. When the temperature changes quickly, you need time for your body to get adjusted to the heat. Be extra careful early in the summer when hot spells begin.

You have a right to a safe & comfortable work environment:

Clean water provided through a fountain, cooler or bottled water at all locations
Cool Work areas and break rooms
Ventilation to bring in clean air and take out hot air
Make adequate water supplies part of your daily workplace inspection

Need relief? Follow up with supervision immediately:

Bus- Call console, request immediate medical assistance
RTO- command 212-712-4480
CED- call your Barn Chair or Local Union rep
MOW- control 212-712-4120

If needed, file a Safety Rule Dispute Resolution Form.

For Stations: To follow up with supervision, call your respective Field Office. If you are a CTA, you can also ask for a comfort by entering the booth to cool down. If you feel unwell, you must notify OSAC and inform them that you are going home. Doctor’s lines will be needed on your return. Field Office numbers are as follows: 125th Street: 212-712-3127 or 718-436-8421; 44th Street: 212-424-5407 or -5408; 7th Ave: 718-243-3903 or 243-3905; Parsons-Archer: 718-334-8106. OSAC is 347-694-6500. Sick Desk for CTA’s ext. 42.

Click here to download a printed version of this message. Print it out and post it in your workplace.

For Stations Department members, click here.

One good flyer deserves another.

London Calling! TWU Local 100 Glad to Help Out

London’s Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers Union (the RMT) – our brothers in arms across the pond – found inspiration in our recent graphic campaign to slow trains and prevent subway fatalities. We sent them our graphics files and they went to work, repurposing our graphic image of a chalk outline on the roadbed and making it the centerpiece of their campaign to bring back laid off workers who ensure safety on the Bakerloo line. The line’s management cut staffing, forcing train operators to drive out of service trains into stations or “sidings” in yards without checking for passengers who didn’t get off in time. The RMT points to the case of a 12-year old boy who found himself alone in a yard walking the tracks. Now the public is getting the message that this unsafe practice should end and that they should let London Underground management know they need to bring back the laid-off staff. See the RMT’s flyer here.

2026 Open Enrollment Begins Today

OCTOBER 15—Open Enrollment begins for NYCT and MTA Bus Active Employees today at: www.mymta.info/openenrollment.

-If you are not making any changes to your plan, no action needs to be taken unless you become eligible for Medicare in 2026

-If you are opting out of medical coverage, you may do so from Oct. 15-Nov. 15

-If you wish to participate in the Flexible Spending Account Plan in 2026 you must re-enroll even if you took part last year. Registration for FSAs begins Nov. 1 and ends Dec. 15

-Open Enrollment for Retirees begins Nov. 1 and ends Nov. 30

-If you have questions or experience any issues, contact: BSC Customer Management Center at 646-376-0123, Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM or via email at bscservice@mtabsc.org.

Structure Division Mourns Darrell D. Gresham, 58

OCTOBER 14—Darrell D. Gresham, a Structure Maintainer B (Mason) with only five months on the job, died of natural causes at home on October 6th, reported Division Vice Chair Billy Taaffe. Brother Gresham worked out of the 14th Street shop assigned to ICC Capital Construction.

Brother Gresham came to transit late in life, after working in the construction trades for most of his life. Nina Davis, who had two children with Brother Gresham, says she has many family members who work for New York City Transit and that she pushed hard for him to join the transit workforce.

One of their children, Gresham’s daughter Dominique, who is a 911 Police Communications Technician, said her father was very excited to work for transit, and that he was especially impressed with the 14th Street location. “He would say he worked underground, and he kept on talking about how big [the facility] was and how excited he was about working there.”

Ms. Davis said that their other child, Darrell Jr., was murdered at the age of 18 in 2009, and that his father will join him in interment at the Pinelawn Memorial Park cemetery in Farmingdale. Besides Dominique, Brother Gresham is survived by three other children—Dartay, 35; Taquan, 33 and Sheilaya, 23.

A viewing will take place for Brother Gresham at the Lawrence H. Woodward Funeral Home, located at 1 Troy Avenue in Brooklyn on Friday, October 17th at 2 PM. A funeral service will be held at the same location on Saturday, October 18th, 9:30 AM.

Conductor Alerts Police, Who Make Gun Arrest on Transit Property

OCTOBER 14—Conductor Abdul Adetunji, heading home Saturday after a visit at MAC 3 for a random test, saw an encounter between three men on the A train that had the potential to escalate into a violent situation.

"I'm actually trying to doze off a little bit," said Adetunji, after noticing two young men on the train who were rolling weed, but not bothering anyone. "Then I saw another gentleman who gets on the train, wearing a ski mask and gloves. The first two start throwing gang signs at the third man, who starts throwing gang signs back. Then one of the men who was already on the train lifts up his waistband to show a firearm."

In full MTA uniform, Adetunji maintained a low profile on the southbound A Train and kept his eyes on the men as the train rolled to 59th Street, where one man—though not the one with the gun—exited.

The EECA Day Committee enjoying the fruits of their labor

Eastern European and Central Asian Day Delivers Solidarity Message

OCTOBER 14—Eastern European and Central Asian Heritage Day livened up the Brighton Beach boardwalk on Sunday, with a crowd of 800 transit workers enjoying the festivities as a nor’easter churned up the surf. 

CED Executive Board Member Gregory Dunichev introduced President John Chiarello as the first TWU Local 100 President to serve as a Car Inspector. President Chiarello noted that he was a provisional Car Inspector briefly before moving on to becoming a Signal Maintainer. He thanked event participants, union leadership in attendance, and the Committee that ensures a successful event year after year.

“In order to keep what we have gained, we have to be ready to fight,” he said, invoking the upcoming 2026 contract fight. “Just as we have gathered together from different nations,” he added, “we must gather together to fight for what we deserve: good pay, good benefits for our families, and dignity.”

Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival Celebrated in Sunset Park

OCTOBER 13—More than 500 transit workers of Chinese descent and their families gathered at the New Phoenix Seafood Restaurant in Sunset Park on Friday to enjoy an evening of dining, entertainment and solidarity.

The annual Mid-Autumn Festival sponsored by TWU Local 100 included a wide variety of dances and entertainments, including the iconic dragon dance where costumed performers drive away evil spirits and bring good luck and blessings to the community.

Both President John V. Chiarello and International President John Samuelsen addressed the festive crowd, bringing up preparations for the 2026 contract fight.

“You have to get ready to fight, shoulder to shoulder, for a contract,” Chiarello said. “We’re going to call for rallies, and when that time comes, we need you to show up.”
 

2026 Open Enrollment Begins Oct. 15th, Closes Nov.15th

OCTOBER 10—Active employees covered by our OA/TA/MTA Bus insurance plans can change their insurance plan and take advantage of other benefits for 2026 over a one-month period starting October 15th. If employees are not planning on making any medical plan changes they don't need to take any action. This notice does not apply to members who are not MTA employees.

The information for enrollment is available on the internet at the MTA portal at www.mymta.info/openenrollment. At that site a health benefits summary can be seen that has various options, including the MTA Opt-Out Program and the Flexible Spending Account.

You will receive dental, vision and hearing benefits information directly from your providers by October 15th, 2025.

The open enrollment period for retirees begins December 1.

More information, incliding downloadable postcards, will be available on this site soon.

Local 100 Statement on Attorney General Letitia James

OCTOBER 10—TWU Local 100 stands in support of New York State Attorney General Letitia James. It is clear that this indictment is politically motivated, and a gross misuse of this country’s justice system. Attorney General James has always been on the side of democracy and working people, and we remain in her corner.

New Poll Shows Strong Support for Keeping Carriage Horses in Central Park

Voters say Keep Horses in Central Park

OCTOBER 9—A new poll of NYC voters shows strong support for continuing horse-carriage rides in Central Park - with 70% of those surveyed saying the horses “add beauty and charm” to the park.

Read more and see the full questionnaire here»

At Flatbush Depot, Councilwoman Narcisse Talks to Our Rank and File

OCTOBER 6—Local 100 President John V. Chiarello and other union leaders visited the Flatbush Depot in the Flatlands neighborhood of South Brooklyn today to show our support for Councilwoman Mercedes Narcisse, a registered nurse who represents hundreds of transit workers in District 46, which covers Canarsie, Flatlands, Gerritsen Beach, Marine Park, Mill Basin, Bergen Beach and Sheepshead Bay.

Rank and file Bus Operators and Bus Maintainers heard from Narcisse, who is facing a challenge from two opponents this coming November. Sharase DeBouse, Local 100's Political Action Director, introduced her to the members saying she is a strong supporter of Local 100 and is working to protect our jobs against incursions from dollar vans, which saturate South Brooklyn.

MTA: Gov't Shutdown Poses No Risk for Medicare Advantage Recipients

OCTOBER 6—In the wake of the ongoing federal government shutdown, some retirees have been calling our Member Services Department with concerns about their Aetna Medicare Advantage coverage.

Addressing those concerns, Member Services Executive Director Chris Lightbourne reached out to MTA/NYCT about this issue. In an email received today, the New York City Transit Health Benefits Department says that "There is absolutely no disruption for your Medicare Advantage membership as a result of the federal government shutdown."

Retireed members should rest assured that their health care insurance coverage is solid and in full effect.

Union, Citing "Grift", Seeks to File Suit Against Horse Carriage Opponents

OCTOBER 3—TWU International President John Samuelsen charged today that deep-pocketed Manhattan elites funding opposition to the Central Park horse carriages may be illegally conspiring with a Florida businessman and a cryptocurrency lawyer who ran a PAC for New York Mayor Eric Adams to end the industry.