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Important Transit Bulletins: Vital Info Regarding Overnight Subway Shutdown

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The New York City Transit Authority has published two BULLETINS with important information on rules and regulations for all employees working and/or traveling within the system during the subway shutdown hours of 0100-0500. They can be found here:

Bulletin 20-29: System Overnight Closures

Service Bulletin 67-30: Suspension of Overnight Passenger Service

Please review both bulletins so there is no misunderstanding on dealing with this unprecedented new procedure. Stay strong and stay safe.

Alexander Gigueredo, Waterway Bus Op, Is Taken by Virus

Alexander Gigueredo, a Bus Operator for New York Waterway since 2018, died of the Coronavirus in April. According to Division Chair Carlos Bernabel, Brother Gigueredo had worked until March 25, 2020, the day Waterway ceased all bus operations due to the virus regulations. “This is really sad. He was so young,” said Bernabel.

Many friends posted condolences on Facebook, including this one: “This is so, so sad. R.I.P. to the most genuine and humble guy that I had the pleasure to meet. Fly high sweet angel. My condolences to his family.”

Steve Falco and his wife, Jilliene

RTO Mourns Train Operator Steve Falco, 36

Train Operator Steve Falco, full of life and energy, and well on his way to a successful career with the NYCT, died April 26th at the age of 36. The medical examiner has not yet determined a cause of death.

Brother Falco worked midnights, and was a fixture on the 7 Line where co-workers said he was known for making people laugh. He loved cars and playing chess. He is survived by his wife, Jilliene, one daughter, three stepchildren, two brothers, a sister, and his parents.

RTO Mourns Train Operator Michael Thompson, 60, Falls to Coronavirus

Train Operator Michael Thompson, 60, of Lindenhurst, NY passed away from the coronavirus on April 17, 2020. He was hired by New York City Transit in 2013.

His wife Loretta recalled that this was his dream job, and how much he loved it. Michael was known for his wonderful sense of humor and for his favorite pastime, fishing. He was born and raised in Harlem, and in addition to his wife, is survived by four children and nine grandchildren. He will be deeply missed by friends and colleagues both on and off the job.

Kenneth Wright, Caretaker at Gun Hill and Former Operator, Dies from COVID-19

Kenneth Wright, who worked as a Cleaner/Caretaker at the Gun Hill Depot in the Bronx and was a former Bus Operator out of Quill, died after contracting COVID-19.

Wright, 56, joined NYC Transit in 2011, after working two decades as a Corrections Officer. He was a Bus Operator out of Quill for several years before being reclassified due to a heart condition, Sukhy Singh, the Quill Chair, said.

RTO Mourns Train Operator Reginald Holmes, 47, from Non COVID-19 Illness

Train Operator Reginald Holmes passed away at home on April 6 from heart-related ailments not related to COVID-19. He had been a Train Operator in the IRT Division for two years. His friend Train Operator Vice Chair Curtis Lemon recalls how they took a “Chicago stepping” dance class together and bonded.

“His smiles and chuckles will remain in the hearts of many of his family and friends,” Mr. Lemon said. “He will be missed.”

We Mourn Work Train Operator Santiago Tapia, 47; Passes from Heart Disease

On April 23rd RTO lost work train operator Santiago Tapia, at the age of 47. According to his wife Joanne, his death was not due to COVID-19, but rather heart disease. He had 6 years with NYCT. A private funeral took place on May 2. Brother Tapia leaves his wife, Joanne, and three children, 6, 13, and 22. He was born in Manhattan, raised in the Parkchester section of the Bronx, and resided in Brooklyn at the time of his passing.

His union Brothers and Sisters remember him as someone who lighted up a room when he came in. He was a talented visual artist who once did an internship at Marvel Comics, his wife said. She added that he loved to read, do crossword puzzles, and play along with the TV show Jeopardy! He was also athletic, enjoyed softball, fishing, and going to the beach. She said he was "a man who loved his children," and that he "wasn't an ordinary guy, he was always reaching higher. He was everything to me." His wife described their marriage as "a Superman and Wonder Woman duo."

RTO Vice President Eric Loegel said that Brother Tapia's passing "is a sad loss for the TWU family. Brother Tapia was a larger than life figure and a one of a kind personality. He will be greatly missed by his Brothers and Sisters, the work train unit, and everyone who knew him. May he rest in peace.

An obituary provided by the family can be read here: https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/brooklyn-ny/santiago-tapia-9152796

President Utano's Statement on Plans to Close the Subway From 1AM to 5AM for Intense Cleaning

FEBRUARY 15, 2021 -- Gov. Cuomo today announced plans to close the subway from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. for intense cleaning and disinfecting of the system.

If the MTA and the police handle this correctly, this will ensure that our members on the overnight shift can clean the stations and trains without having to contend with the homeless or mentally disturbed. This is exactly the type of aggressive and dramatic action we wanted to better protect our members from contracting the virus from people camped out in the system.

The cleaning and disinfecting of buses also is being ramped up. These efforts will be good for the essential workers and our members. We will be closely monitoring this program.

-- Tony Utano, President, TWU Local 100

Stations Mourns CTA Denise Colbert, Lost to the Coronavirus

Denise Colbert, who had 20 years of service with MTA/NYCT, passed away at Jacobi Hospital in the Bronx on April 10th. Her daughter Tawana said her mother had worked RDO's and “was generally at a different booth every day.” She said her mother was “always helpful, always willing to lend a hand.”

Tawana said her mother felt sick on March 26th and called it in. She was given a test for COVID-19 and tested positive. She was hospitalized soon after.

Apart from her daughter, Sister Colbert leaves two grandchildren, Ryan and Christopher. Daughter Tawana is a Teamster.

Union Mourns Tower Operator Phyllis Robinson-Ward, 68, Dies from Coronavirus

Phyllis Robinson, 68, of Brooklyn, NY, passed away April 8, 2020 in the ICU unit of Kings County Hospital. She had 30 years of service with MTA/NYCT, and most recently worked midnights at Rockaway Park. Services have not yet been held for her due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Her only daughter, Francine, gave us this remembrance:

Phyllis was born the first of three children, to Fred Melvin Robinson and Clara Edmonia Robinson in Harlem, New York, on July 25, 1951. Phyllis graduated from Julia Richmond High School in 1969 and went on to receive a B.A. degree in Mathematics from Fordham University in 1977.