TWU's 27th Constitutional Convention Begins in Las Vegas

SEPTEMBER 15 — TWU’s 27th Constitutional Convention began today in Las Vegas, a weeklong event attended by air, rail and transit locals from across the country that will feature guest speakers, roundtable discussions, votes on resolutions and nominations to leadership office.

Local 100 President John V. Chiarello read the rules of the convention to the hundreds of members in the ballroom, and Local 100 Executive Board Member and New York City Employees Retirement System Trustee Mario Galvet presented one of the resolutions—#17, concerning the National September 11 Memorial and Museum.

“You see a lot of videos and stills of all manner of workers engaged in debris removal, mainly. You see lots of heavy equipment in those images that bear the names of all sorts of private construction firms. You should understand that that is a really not representative image of what actually happened that day,” said Galvet before reading the resolution, which aims to preserve the history of TWU’s involvement as first responders and included over 3,500 New York City Transit Workers joining the rescue and recovery effort at Ground Zero.

After 31 years, Pitkin Barn Chair Adelina Carson-Leath Retires

SEPTEMBER 12 -- For 31 years, Adelina “Lena” Carson-Leath called transit her home.

First Carson-Leath performed the grunt work of terminal cleaning, handling what’s left on the trains after they reach the last stop, then she got under the trains — working with equipment that was already old when she was born and needed to be pampered. She rose from CTA to Car Inspector when women in that title comprised less than one percent of the CED workforce. Understanding how unions level the playing field and contribute to positive change, she ran for the TWU Local 100 Executive Board and won, and then was voted chair of Pitkin Barn by her co-workers, holding that position for 13 years.

Union Mourns Former Elections Director James Mitchell, 75

SEPTEMBER 10 -- TWU Local 100 members are mourning the passing of former head of the Elections Committee and IT Director James Mitchell. A Track Worker by trade, Brother Mitchell was brought onto union staff by former President Roger Toussaint in 2001. Along with EEM Eladio Diaz, he ran the Union's IT Department and then became head of the Elections Committee.

TWU Local 100 President John V. Chiarello Featured in The New York Carib News

President John V. Chiarello is being recognized for his remarkable journey in labor leadership in a feature story published by The New York Carib News.

The article, titled “John Chiarello’s Journey to Union Leadership – A Fighter,” highlights his path from a provisional car inspector in 2001 to becoming the president of New York City’s largest transit union.

Backpack Drive Helps 40 Needy TWU Families

SEPTEMBER 2 – Just because you work and have a union job doesn’t mean life is without strife and struggles, says 20-year veteran CTA from Car Equipment Aimie Thomas. “Times are tough, and that’s exactly why we stand together.”

As summer drew to a close this year, Sister Thomas wanted to give back directly to our Union families with K-6 kids who are facing hardship. Working with Member Services, Thomas identified and reached out to families who are having difficulties. She purchased backpacks and filled them up with school supplies including folders, binders, glue sticks, pens and pencils, notebooks and crayons.

TWU Local 100 at the West Indian Day Parade

SEPTEMBER 1 -- TWU Local 100 showed up and showed out at this year’s West Indian Day Parade on Labor Day, repping our union and celebrating Caribbean pride in a big way.

Members came out in droves, waving their flags high and honoring the rich culture that helps make this city what it is. President John Chiarello said it best: “It’s a beautiful day to march side by side with our West Indian sisters and brothers who contribute so much to the culture of this city and help keep it moving.”

A Labor Day Message from the President

To all members of Local 100:

Monday is the one day a year dedicated to labor and workers, but I want you to know what you do is important 365 days a year.

I see you and I appreciate you.

Whether you will spend the holiday working overtime, relaxing with friends and family or joining us at the West Indian Day Parade in Brooklyn, I salute each and every one of you for the hard work you do day in and day out to move New York. 

Happy Labor Day.

In gratitude,

John V. Chiarello

TWU Local 100 President John V. Chiarello Makes Labor Power 100 List

AUGUST 27—TWU Local 100 congratulates President John V. Chiarello for his inclusion in City & State’s 2025 Labor Power 100.

President Chiarello’s profile mentions his success in securing a commitment from the MTA to hire 300 more maintenance workers, his partnership with the NYPD’s Benevolent Association to increase transit safety and his demands for timely workers compensation payments.

The list, which consists of “New York’s most influential union chiefs and worker advocates”, also includes International President John Samuelsen and TWU Local 101 President Constance Bradley.

A Message Regarding Union Leadership

AUGUST 26—At today's Local 100 Executive Board meeting, J. P. Patafio was removed from office as a Vice President.

The Executive Board found that Patafio violated the constitution and placed him in bad standing for three years.

TWU Local 100 Rallies to Support Assaulted Train Operator at Court Hearing

AUGUST 25—Dozens of TWU Local 100 members gathered Monday at Brooklyn Criminal Supreme Court to support Myran Pollack, a Train Operator who was viciously attacked with a knife on October 8, 2024 at the Utica Ave. station.

Pollack, who was weeks away from retirement, was stabbed 11 times after he woke a passenger at the end of the line around 10:00 AM. Jonathan Davalos, 27, was arrested and charged with attempted murder.

Train Operator Bitten by Emotionally Disturbed Man After Intervening in Attack on Female Passenger

AUGUST 23—A Train Operator working the D line Friday night was bitten in the leg by an emotionally disturbed man after he intervened in an attack on a female passenger.

Train Operator Ellerbee, with seven years on the job, was quick to react when he heard a child’s cries and stepped out of his cab to see a crazed man yelling and lunging at straphangers while aboard the train near the Stillwell Avenue station in Brooklyn.

UPDATE: Facebook page secured

AUGUST 22 — TWU Local 100 has regained control of our Facebook page.

We apologize for any inconvenience and thank law enforcement for their assistance in this matter.

TWU Local 100 Hosts Kick-off Reception for Cancer fundraiser

AUGUST 20—TWU Local 100 leadership and others hosted the 20th Anniversary Kick-off Reception for Making Strides Against Breast Cancer of The Bronx on Tuesday evening.

The celebration, held at a Cuban restaurant on Grand Concourse, was the first of what will be a series of events sponsored by the American Cancer Society to raise awareness and funding for breast cancer research.

“We get a lot of requests for donations from different organizations, and I have to tell you, I have no problem signing this check for American Cancer Society,” TWU Local 100 President John V. Chiarello said to applause from the crowd. “This is a very worthwhile cause because like I said, everyone knows someone who has had cancer.”

TWU Carriage Drivers Fight Back

AUGUST 19—TWU Local 100 members from across the spectrum of buses and subways came out today to support their carriage driver siblings in a rally outside Council Member Erik Bottcher’s midtown office.

Bottcher has been targeting the welfare of both the Central Park carriage drivers and the horses with demands the carriages be banned and claims that the animals, who are loved and treasured by the drivers, are mistreated.

“Why ruin this industry? What, over rich, elite people who want the real estate from the stables? Give me a break. Tell Erik Bottcher to come off his high horse and get down here,” said TWU Local 100 President John V. Chiarello, standing alongside hundreds of Local 100 members.

Defending Our Horses -- and Their Drivers

AUGUST 14 -- TWU Local 100 is fighting to preserve a 167-year-old tradition—taking horse-carriage rides in Central Park—and  protecting hundreds of blue-collar jobs.

Carriage rides in the city’s most famous park began when the first section opened in 1858. The tradition faces opposition from some City Council members, animal rights extremists, and now the non-profit Central Park Conservancy, which ludicrously claimed earlier this week the horse-carriages pose a safety risk to the public. 

Appearing on Eyewitness News, shop steward and Carriage-Horse Driver Christina Hansen said the real danger in the park comes from the hordes of e-bikes, motorized scooters, and illegally motorized pedicabs.  

“[The Parks Conservancy] is more interested in making the park a place for anybody with an e-bike or e-vehicle to zoom around. It’s total chaos.”