We Are Front Line Workers -- And We Matter

We are frontline workers -- and we matter. That's what this video produced by our members at the Michael J. Quill Depot in Manhattan says to all. We are New York and We Move New York!

Tuskegee Depot Mourns P&E Maintainer Julio Mejia

Julio Mejia, a Plant and Equipment Maintainer known for his generosity and sense of humor, passed away from COVID-19. Mejia, 58, who worked at the Tuskegee Depot, was hired by the MTA in 2003.

“My father was the most generous man in the world,” Tylik Mejia, one of Mejia’s two sons, said. “He would give you the shirt off his back if you needed it.” Mejia also had a nickname for everybody – and constantly was getting friends and family to laugh. “My pops was a jokester,” Tylik said. “He was always making jokes.”

Stanley Hayes, P & E Vice Chair for the Bronx, said Mejia started at the authority as a CM and later switched to Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning.  “He was always helpful and friendly,” Hayes said. “He was well liked by his co-workers. He will be missed.”

Union Mourns Collecting Agent Emiliano Padilla, 67

Brother Emiliano Padilla, who had 20 years of service as a Collecting Agent, has died from the coronavirus. His passing is especially painful because he exemplified the spirit of selfless commitment to others. In January of 2018, he was one of four union members who went to help in the disaster relief effort in Puerto Rico after the devastation of Hurricane Maria. This was Local 100’s second mission to the island.

Bill Pelletier with his wife, Heidi

William Pelletier, Retired TAS Vice President, Dies of Cancer

Retired Local 100 Vice President William “Bill” Pelletier passed away April 23, 2020 after a battle with a rare, aggressive form of prostate cancer, that doctors believe may be related to his esposure to the air at Ground Zero.  He was 69 years old and had been retired since 2008.

Brother Pelletier had served as the elected Chair of Flatbush depot for two terms, as Brooklyn Division Chair, and as Vice President for TAS during his career with the union.  He also served on the Local 100 Executive Board and as an elected delegate to several TWU International Union conventions.

Dedicated Bus Operator Erlin "Flintstone" Galarza Dies at 66

The Gun Hill Depot is mourning the loss of Bus Operator Erlin “Flintstone” Galarza to the corona virus.

Hired in 2004, Galarza was a dedicated professional who very rarely took time off except for vacation. An affable man, Galarza, 66, was good-naturedly called “Flintstone” by co-workers because of his resemblance to cartoon character Barney Rubble in "the Flintstones." “Everybody loved him,” depot Chair Angel Montalvo said. “This is a big loss for all of us.”

Galarza, who immigrated to the United States from Ecuador, was very religious. He was devoted father and husband. Married to his wife for 42 years, Galarza arranged his work schedule so he could take his son, now a teenager, to school, Montalvo said. He planned to work until the age of 67, just months away, when he passed.
 

RTO Mourns Conductor Gary Cherry, 56, from Coronavirus

Gary Cherry, an RTO Conductor, passed from the coronavirus on Easter Sunday. Tragically, he was the fourth member of his family to die from the virus.

Brother Cherry began his career with New York City Transit in 2009. He and his wife, Odette, were married for 40 years and were High School sweethearts. They had four children, three grandchildren, and a fourth grandchild who is due in one week who will unfortunately never be able to see her grandfather. He also leaves to mourn him a sister and three brothers.

Union Calls for Hazard Pay for Transit Workers

Budlino Ramirez with grandson Jayvyn

Well-Loved Station Agent Budlino Ramirez, 58, Falls to the Virus

Hundreds within the Union are joining his family in mourning the passing of Budlino Ramirez, 58, a dedicated Station Agent who regularly went above and beyond for family and friends. Brother Ramirez, most recently assigned to Bedford Park, worked many different locations covering RDO’s before his passing — a work pattern he shared with many other Station Agents who came down with the coronavirus and that may have exposed him to a significantly higher viral load.

On March 25, he texted his daughter, Brittany, saying he had chest pains and was coughing hard. Three days before, he had left his mother’s home where he had been staying for his own apartment, concerned that she would be infected and believing he already had been exposed. Battling the virus alone, he received supplies from his mother, and tried to rest and recuperate. He visited a doctor a few days later, who confirmed an upper respiratory infection, according to his brother Steve. When the family didn’t hear from him a few days later, they called police and forced the door, finding Budlino lying lifeless on April 6.
 

Many Come Forward to Aid Schaeffer

TWU Local 100 Vice President for Rapid Transit Operations Eric Loegel has been in touch with Alan Schaeffer, the father of Conductor Ben Schaeffer, who has been fighting the coronavirus at Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn.

Arnold Cherry (2nd from right in sunglasses) with former President Will James (center left, light blue shirt); retired rep Nick Lucas (far left), Trevor Lyons (white shirt and gold chain),and Horace Briggs, who is quoted in this story (center rear).

Arnold Cherry, Retired Vice President, Dies of the Coronavirus

Arnold Cherry, an activist member and officer of Local 100 for 30 years until his retirement in 2000, has died of the Coronavirus.  He was 78 years old.

Brother Cherry was especially active in organizing his co-workers in support of the 1980 City-wide transit strike.  He ran for President twice, in 1979 and 1982, finishing second to the late John E. Lawe both times. He served as a Shop Steward for many years before being elected Chair of the 207th Street Overhaul shop in 1985. He also served on the Local 100 Executive Board, and as the Local’s Grievance Coordinator and the Union Member on the Tripartite Grievance Board.

After 41 Years of Service, COVID-19 Takes Station Agent Rhonda Garvin

Rhonda Garvin, one of our longest serving Station Agents, has passed from the coronavirus after 41 years on the job. She was 63. Her father, William Franklin Garvin, had 30 years with Transit, working first as a Token Clerk and later as a Motorman. Rhonda’s son, also named William, a cable engineer at Optimum, remembers how she provided for her family, first working on the 3 line and then the L. Her transit earnings allowed the family to purchase their home in Canarsie.

Power Maintainer Khemraj Mahadeo Succumbs to Virus

Power Department members at Pitkin Yard are mourning the death to the Coronavirus of PDM Khemraj Mahadeo, 55.  Brother Mahadeo, who is from Guyana, worked as a PMB in the Power Maintenance Pitkin Yard Repair Shop since this past January, when he transferred from system operation. He had 6 years on the job. He is survived by his widow, Ceriandia and two children, Sanjay and Anjaly.

Friend and co-worker Neil Alexander said that Brother Mahadeo “was a quiet man, a very reserved gentleman who always had a smile on his face with a pleasant demeanor.” Shop Steward Sergei Falko agreed.  “Khemraj was a very nice, quiet man, and a very hard worker.”

One of his family members posted the following on social media: “Today is a sad day for our family as we lost my nephew Khemraj Mahadeo, to the Coronavirus. He was 55 years old, strong and healthy. He was a hardworking, good and decent family man and a loving husband, father, son, nephew and brother, among other things. He battled with it for several days but in the end it was too much for him. May his soul Rest In Peace.”

Power Division Chair Steve Higgins said: “Our union has suffered difficult losses.  Brother Mahadeo was good union Brother, and well respected in the shop and throughout maintenance.  Please pray for him and his family and friends.”
 

Signal Maintainer Dimitriy Bozhovskiy Is Taken by the Virus

Signal Maintainer Dimitriy Bozhovskiy, a “guy who always gave a little extra on the job,” has died of the Coronavirus.  His daughter told the union that her father had been fighting for his life on a ventilator at Coney Island Hospital, but he passed away at 6:30am on April 21, 2020. He currently worked days on Capital Construction out of Stillwell in Brooklyn.

Brother Bozhovskiy had nearly 20 years on the job and was planning to retire in May, according to his friend and LE/S Chair Duvet Williams.  “He was really looking forward to getting out.  He was 66 and wanted to make a full 20 years.  This is really sad.”

Dimitriy was born and raised in Moscow, Russia.  “He liked to tell stories about growing up in Moscow and then coming to America,” said Williams.  “He was a very pleasant man, a hard worker who always gave a little extra.  He wanted to get the job done safely and professionally.”

MOW Vice President John Chiarello added, “our hearts and prayers go out to his wife and daughter in their time of grief.  He was a good union brother who brought all the right things to the job for a safe and pleasant workplace.  This is a terrible loss to his family, friends and co-workers on the job.”

Stations Mourns Thankachan Mathai, 56

Brothers and Sisters in Stations are mourning the loss of CTA Thankachan Mathai, who worked at Forest Hills/71st Avenue in Queens. Brother Mathai had 20 years of service with NYCT and passed on April 4. He first became sick with COVID-19 on March 24, his son Mathews said.

West Farms Mourns Bus Operator Leon McKnight, 49

Hearts are heavy at the West Farms Depot with the passing of Bus Operator Leon McKnight Jr., 49, a particularly outgoing and affable veteran from Bronx.

“He was very friendly with everyone,” First Vice Chair Howie Davis said. “He spoke to everybody. He was an excellent person. He had an excellent personality.” McKnight’s favorite topic of conversation: his family. He was the father of five children, Davis said.