All News

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.

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.

Union Mourns Julia McMillon, 85, First Female Recording Secretary

OCTOBER 2—Julia McMillon, who rose from the ranks to break the glass ceiling at Local 100’s top echelon of leadership, passed away Tuesday, September 30, at her home in Co-Op City.

Starting out as a Cleaner in 1982 at the age of 42, she became a Shop Steward in the Stations Department, at a time when women were under-represented and their issues were often sidelined.

McMillon grew up on Dean Street in Brooklyn before her family moved to the Lower East Side and later ended up working nearby, at the 2^nd Avenue station on the F line.

According to her niece, longtime Local 100 staffer Siaida Bryant, Julia was the glue that held the family together. “She was the matriarch,” Bryant said. “If someone fell short and needed help with the children, she was that aunt that picked up the pieces.”

(l-r): Previous medal winners Dom Spagnolo, Alan Grande, and Hector Soto, who was also honored this year, stand with Local 100 Pres. John Chiarello and Exec. Board Member Mario Galvet in front of glass case containing transit artifacts

11 Are Honored with 9/11 Medals at Sept. 29 Event

OCTOBER 1—Eleven retired TWU Local 100 members—all of whom suffer from medical conditions associated with their service at Ground Zero—were honored at the TWU Local 100 medal ceremony held at the National September 11th Memorial and Museum on Monday.

Local 100 President John V. Chiarello noted that, even now, 24 years later, most members of the public are not aware of the fact that New York City Transit workers were "the largest group to respond on the ground, saving people off the streets, clearing debris, taking part in rescue and recovery efforts and swiftly restoring transit services."

"None of our medal recipients could have known that that day would result in lifelong illness," he added, calling for the federal government to continue to fully fund care for 9/11 workers under the Zadroga Act.