All News

Emmanuel Jacob, ENY Bus Operator, Passes

The men and women of East New York Depot are mourning the death to the Coronavirus of Bus Operator Emmanuel Jacob. He was 60 years old and had 20 years on the job.

Depot Vice Chair Javier Oquendo said that Brother Jacob “was a great person to work with. He was always upbeat, always in a good mood. He was great in the swing room, loved to play pool and was good at it. It earned him the nickname ‘Jake the Snake.’ He was always joking with the other drivers. Everyone knew him and liked him. This hits hard.”

Bus Operator Miguel Chumpitaz Loses Battle With the Virus

The members and officers of Gleason Depot in Brooklyn are in mourning over the loss of Bus Operator Miguel Chumpitaz, one of the most beloved workers at the facility. He was 60 years of age and had nearly 22 years on the job.

Scores of brokenhearted co-workers at Gleason posted emotional tributes to Miguel, like this one: “Just received the news of my long time Road Warrior from Gleason Depot, Miguel Chumpitaz, who has been Dispatched for Eternal Rest. For over two plus decades, we worked side by side through numerous situations moveing the people of New York and did so with kindness, joyful and loving spirit and with great determination. He enjoyed LIFE to the fullest and was admired, respected and loved . . . I will treasure all of the FUN TIMES we shared ON and OFF the Road. Rest in Peace, Road Warrior, you were truly one of a kind and will be truly MISSED."

Coronavirus Takes Telephone Maintainer Aristedes Moraitis

Union members at the Telephone Shop on Northern Boulevard are mourning the passing of their union Brother, Aristedes Moraitis, say their reps, Executive Board Members Sherlock Bender and Mario Galvet.

Moraitis, 49, was “always at work,” according to his brother, Evan, who said that Aristedes wasn’t feeling well at the end of March and went to Urgent Care, then to the emergency room on Tuesday, April 2. He got a confirmed positive for COVID-19.

Structure Vice Chair Hesronni Cayenne Dies of the Virus

Local 100’s Structure Division has lost its elected Vice Chair to the Coronavirus. Brother Hesronni St. Anthony Cayenne, just 48 years old, died in the hospital on April 9, 2020 after taking sick to the virus recently. He was born in Carriacou, a small island that is part of the Grenadine Islands located in the southeastern Caribbean Sea. He attended Hillsborough Secondary School and Bishop's College in Carriacou before emigrating to the United States.

Enterprise Making Special Discount Available to Our Members

TWU members,

As a reminder during these times, Enterprise Rent-a-Car is extending a discount to us for personal-travel needs, this includes the needs of our family members. This can be another good option for social-distancing if you must travel. You must use ID# L24XTWU in order to access the discount with two easy ways to do so:

Online - https://www.enterprise.com/en/deeplink.html?v=2&contractNumber=L24XTWU. The code is already built into this link.
Phone – Call 800-RENT-A-CAR & reference the code L24XTWU

We're All In This Together. Enterprise remains committed to helping frontline responders, and you, move forward. As an essential service provider, Enterprise is staying open to serve customers who rely on us to provide critical mobility options or who are on the front lines of relief efforts. At neighborhood locations in the U.S. and Canada, we are offering modified service options for safety.

MaBSTOA VP Richard Davis Interviewed on NY1 About Bus Operator Exposure to COVID-19

NY1 reported today on the tremendous loss of life among NYC Transit workers with a focus on Bus Operators. VP Richard Davis was interviewed along with John Costa, International President of the ATU. Click here or on the image to see the story.

TWU Int'l President John Samuelsen Talks to NY1's Errol Louis on the Coronavirus Crisis

John Samuelsen, International President of the Transport Workers Union, speaks to NY1's Errol Louis about the Coronavirus crisis, safety equipment, and Line of Duty death benefits.

Click here for the interview or on the image.

School Bus Driver, Bryson Kent Bowman, is Taken by Virus

The Local 100 School Bus Division is mourning the death to the Coronavirus of Bus Driver Bryson Kent Bowman. Brother Bowman, 59, worked for Student Transportation of America (STA) since 2017 safely transporting children to school and back home for Greenwich, CT Schools. He is the second member of the School Bus Division to succumb to the deadly virus. He passed away on April 4, 2020 at Stamford Hospital in Stamford, CT.

Proper Use of Masks

The Department of Subways has put out a two-page memo on the proper use of facemasks. Also available are these documents:

A Guide to Air Purifying Respirators

Understanding the Differences Between Respirators

How to Don and Doff a Respirator / Facemask

Trackworker Juan Diaz, 41, Dies of the Virus

Local 100’s Track Division has suffered another terrible loss to the Coronavirus. Trackworker Juan Diaz, just 42 years old with a wife and two young children, died of virus on April 3, 2020.

His heartbroken brother, Kevin, a Bus Operator at Queens Village Depot, said that Juan “made the ultimate sacrifice for this job. He loved the job, and respected the job and his co-workers.”

“He was all about his family.” said Kevin “He has a 4-year old and a baby. He didn’t even make it to the baby’s first birthday. We’re all devastated.”