Local 100 Hosts AFL-CIO Transportation Trades’ Visit to Quill Depot
The delegation traveled by bus throughout the multi-level depot, with MaBSTOA Division 1 Chair Sean Battaglia acting as guide. “This is a union strong building,” he said, crediting Chiarello and Samuelsen for their work on behalf of the members.
"It would be impossible without the two Johns," Battaglia added.
Later, the Local and International Presidents warmly welcomed TTD President Greg Regan and the dozen-strong TTD delegation to the Quill Depot swing room, where about 100 rank and file Bus Operators and Maintainers waited. Local 100’s top officers, including Secretary-Treasurer Carlos Bernabel, Recording Secretary Shirley Martin, and Administrative Vice President Alexander Kemp were also in attendance.
President Chiarello invoked the strength of the assembled members: “Look around you. This is how labor was built,” he said. “A fight has to be brought to the MTA – and to MTA CEO Janno Lieber… there’s going to be a call to arms, a call to fight for a fair contract, and it begins with everybody.”
Congressman Nadler called the tour of the depot “eye-opening,” and noted many years of work with Local 100, going back to our fifth President, John Lawe. He called the Union's work “indispensable.”
International President Samuelsen spoke about the values of TWU founder and Irish immigrant Michael J. Quill, whose name adorns the depot. He recounted the struggles and sacrifices of transit workers who fought a private police force of Pinkertons to bring our Union into the bus and subway lines. He noted that next year -- 2026 -- will see the 100th anniversary of Quill’s arrival in New York City.
“We’ll be celebrating the fight that Quill brought to U.S. soil. It’s not about the fact that Quill was Irish. It’s about the fact that Quill brought the fight to New York City…. It’s the multi-ethnic transit workers who are celebrating the industrial trade union power of the TWU in New York City. It’s going to be one hell of a celebration of the power of the TWU.”
Samuelsen added that it’s not the Republicans or Democrats who will protect working people, but that we have to rely on ourselves. “It’s the trade union movement that’s going to save us,” he said. “It’s the workers right next door.”
TTD President Regan noted that his group of AFL-CIO unions include aviation, maritime, transit, rail, building trades, school bus drivers, and manufacturing locals. “We bring that same fighting spirit,” he said, “the spirit of Mike Quill. There’s nothing we can’t achieve.”