TWU Local 100 | New York's Public Transit Union

Construction Flagger Steve Rybkin Lost to Virus

RTO is mourning the loss of another union Brother to the Coronavirus. Steve Joseph Rybkin, 59, worked as a Construction Flagger until going out sick on March 19, 2020. He was confirmed positve for the Coronavirus a week later. He died on April 5, 2020 at St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital in Newburgh, NY. Brother Rybkin had 23 years on the job.

Union Mourns Train Operator Darlisa Nesbitt, Lost to Virus

Train Operator Darlisa C. Nesbitt, a 26-year veteran with NYCT, passed away of the dreaded virus on April 2, 2020. She worked most recently at Pitkin Yard in Brooklyn. She was only 51.

Express Bus Benefit Now in Effect

The free Express Bus benefit TWU Local 100 secured in the contract ratified in January is now in effect. Members need only use their work pass for free trips.

William Scott, Kingsbridge Bus Operator, Dies of the Virus

Kingsbridge Depot has suffered its first loss to the Coronavirus. Bus Operator William Scott, 51, passed away over the weekend. He had been on the job since August 2014.

Kingsbridge Depot Chair Richard Fields said that Brother Scott “was a very nice guy, very popular. Everyone liked him. He had a lot of interests.

Collecting Agent Daryl Laborde Lost to Virus

A beloved Collecting Agent, Daryl Laborde, 56, has died of complications from the Coronavirus. Brother Laborde’s sister, Sharon, informed the union that he passed on April 4, 2020. He had gone out sick on March 23, 2020. He joined transit in September 2014.

Brother Laborde leaves behind a grieving family, including 6 children and 10 grandchildren.

Conductors to Get Face Shields

APRIL 5 -- The MTA will issue Conductors face shields as a defense against COVID-19. Management informed RTO Vice President Eric Loegel on Sunday that distribution would begin this week.

RCI Lev Golubov Is Taken By the Virus

APRIL 5 -- The Local 100 Car Equipment Department has lost its second union Brother to the Coronavirus scourge.

Road Car Inspector Lev Golubov, 58, died on April 5, 2020 after being hospitalized with the virus on March 24^th. He had seven years on the job at Corona Barn.

Manhattan Residents Showing Love to Transit Workers

BY PETE DONOHUE, TWU LOCAL 100 COMMUNICATIONS

Residents of an apartment building that towers over a bus depot in Manhattan are regularly showing their love and support for transit workers – by cheering, banging pots, ringing bells and blowing whistles from their windows.

Daily News Report: Transit Workers Getting 250,000 N95 Masks

A tale of two agencies: NYC transit workers to receive nearly 250,000 N95 masks to protect against coronavirus; correction officers still fighting for PPE

APRIL 4 -- In a copyrighted article today, the Daily News Reports on the successful effort on the part of TWU Local 100, ATU Locals, SMART-UTU and Teamsters Local 808. Read the complete article here.

A Message from TWU Local 100 President Tony Utano

APRIL 4 -- The MTA today will begin distributing N95 masks to TWU Local 100 members in the field. While we all recognize there was a global shortage, and we all wanted this safety equipment to come sooner, this is a very good development.

From the very beginning, the Transport Workers Union has had to compel the MTA to take some important safety-related actions, or had to push them to act with greater urgency.

Cesar Torres, Grand Avenue Bus Operator, Dies of the Virus

Local 100 regretfully announces the death of Bus Operator Cesar Torres, a 20-year veteran of Fresh Pond and Grand Avenue Depots. He was only 55 years old and died of the Cornonavirus after going out sick in recent days. He is the 10th Transit Worker and the 12th TWU Local 100 member overall to succumb to the disease.

Grand Avenue Depot Chair Clarence Patterson said that Brother Torres was “a wonderful guy, very family oriented, and always in a good mood. The Depot is in shock.

Gov. Cuomo Says Transit Workers Are "Doing Heroic Work"

APRIL 3 -- Gov. Cuomo singled out Transit Workers as "doing heroic work" in his daily press conference from Albany this morning. He noted that transit workers have a "very high rate" of illness due to the Coronavirus, and he personally thanked TWU and the workforce for its "heroic" efforts.

School Bus Driver Alejandro Bustamante Is Victim of the Virus

The union sadly announces the passing of Alejandro Bustamante, a School Bus driver for the First Mile Square School Bus Company in Yonkers, NY. Brother Bustamante is the 11th Local 100 member, and first from our School Bus Division, to die of the Coronavirus plague. Brother Bustamante had been with Mile Square since 2014 and was a resident of Yonkers.

Sandra Claderon, a friend and co-worker whose own daughter was transported to school on Brother Bustamante’s bus, said: “Alejandro took my daughter to school safely every day. He was responsible, respectful and always smiling. He was a very religious person who was very involved with his church. He will be deeply missed by all at Mile Square.”

School Bus Division Chair Gus Moghrabi said that Brother Bustamante’s death “has hit our Division hard. We are all extremely upset about his passing, and extend our deepest condolences to his family and friends.”

Local 100 President Tony Utano echoed those sentiments, and add: “Alejandro’s death is a stark reminder that this blight affects every corner of America, and every segment of our society. We all mourn with his family and his co-workers at Mile Square.”

3 New Laws Provide Leave for COVID-19

IB Image

APRIL 2 -- At the Union's request, the MTA issued a memo and accompanying informational posters regarding leaves available for members who are ill or quarantined due to COVID-19. Click on the image for the main memo. Here are links to the informational posters.

New York State Paid Sick Leave for Employees

Rights Under the Families First Coronavirus Act

MTA Memo — New Federal and State COVID-19 Related Leave Laws

Congresswoman Grace Meng Donates 3,000 Masks & Hand Sanitizer

Local 100 Pres Tony Utano sends our sincere thanks to Congresswoman Grace Meng for her donation of 3,000 masks and hand sanitizers to Local 100 members. In the photo, TWU Int'l Rep Angelo Cucuzza accepts supplies from a staff members at the Congresswoman's Flushing field office. We're all in this together.