Local 100 Brings Contract Fight to House of Pain on May Day

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MAY 4, 2026—Just over two weeks before the collective bargaining agreement that covers more than 40,000 MTA workers expires, thousands of TWU Local 100 members flooded the streets Friday outside of MTA Headquarters at 2 Broadway, unified under one demand: a fair contract.

Accompanied by Scabby the Rat wearing a Janno Lieber mask, the Top 11 officers took to a stage outside Bowling Green Park to emphasize collective struggle amidst contract negotiations, standing shoulder to shoulder with leaders from other MTA-affiliated unions, including ATU, TWU Local 106, as well as SMART Transportation Division and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, which represent workers from the Long Island Rail Road.

Spirits remained high during the two-hour rally, and the solidarity among unions sent a clear message: we are more united than ever, and we have each other’s backs.

“Janno doesn’t have to worry about safety or fighting for dignity at his workplace or being treated fairly,” said President John Chiarello. “But he is the one who makes those decisions for you.”

“And how does he thank us? He has the managers lowball us at the bargaining table. Can you believe they only budgeted 2% for us in the contract?”

Chiarello concluded his remarks by symbolically feeding a paper copy of the MTA’s contract demands to a giant traditional Chinese lion puppet manned by two Local 100 members.

The crowd, waving red bandanas emblazoned with the words “will strike if provoked” cheered during remarks from over 20 speakers spanning various factions of transit.

“A unified Local 100 working hand in hand with the TWU will not be defeated,” said Angelo Cucuzza, TWU International Organizing Director on behalf of TWU President John Samuelsen, who was unable to attend. “We won’t stop until we ratify a contract that does not include any further cuts to hard-fought benefits and protections gained over decades of previous battles with the MTA.”

Representatives from as many as 25 affiliated unions were present to lend their support, some in the midst of their own negotiations with the MTA. Workers on the Long Island Rail Road are eligible to strike on May 16 if they have not yet come to a contract agreement. Our contract expires the same day.

“We’re going to fight until we win,” said Anthony Simon, General Chairman of SMART Transportation Division. “You don’t see different locals here, you see one! We move New York, and we will shut down New York if we have to!”

The TWU locals from the NY/NJ State Conference including Locals 1400, 264, and 320 were also present to show their solidarity.

“When we showed up here today, it wasn’t just about assembling,” said Administrative Vice President Alexander Kemp. “It is solely for the fact that when we ask for a contract, our dignity and our respect is on the line. When [management] tell[s] us what we represent to them is a small number, our response is always to turn out in large numbers of human capital. Our labor can never be taken for granted.”

Contract negotiations between TWU Local 100 and the MTA will continue this week.

May Day 2026