TWU Local 100 | New York's Public Transit Union

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At Flatbush Depot, Councilwoman Narcisse Talks to Our Rank and File

OCTOBER 6—Local 100 President John V. Chiarello and other union leaders visited the Flatbush Depot in the Flatlands neighborhood of South Brooklyn today to show our support for Councilwoman Mercedes Narcisse, a registered nurse who represents hundreds of transit workers in District 46, which covers Canarsie, Flatlands, Gerritsen Beach, Marine Park, Mill Basin, Bergen Beach and Sheepshead Bay.

Rank and file Bus Operators and Bus Maintainers heard from Narcisse, who is facing a challenge from two opponents this coming November. Sharase DeBouse, Local 100's Political Action Director, introduced her to the members saying she is a strong supporter of Local 100 and is working to protect our jobs against incursions from dollar vans, which saturate South Brooklyn.

The Councilwoman talked to members about Bus Operator safety in addition to the issue of the dollar vans, which was also a subject of remarks by Administrative VP Alexander Kemp. She also asked Operators and Maintainers to contact their local officials to make their concerns known.

President Chiarello rounded out the discussion by encouraging younger members to get involved in local political issues and with their union.

“We have to turn this union over to younger people who will be here longer than us—because nobody lasts forever. You need to know this business of unionism because if you don’t know where you came from, you’re certainly not going to know where you’re going.”

MTA: Gov't Shutdown Poses No Risk for Medicare Advantage Recipients

OCTOBER 6—In the wake of the ongoing federal government shutdown, some retirees have been calling our Member Services Department with concerns about their Aetna Medicare Advantage coverage.

Addressing those concerns, Member Services Executive Director Chris Lightbourne reached out to MTA/NYCT about this issue. In an email received today, the New York City Transit Health Benefits Department says that "There is absolutely no disruption for your Medicare Advantage membership as a result of the federal government shutdown."

Retireed members should rest assured that their health care insurance coverage is solid and in full effect.

Union, Citing "Grift", Seeks to File Suit Against Horse Carriage Opponents

OCTOBER 3—TWU International President John Samuelsen charged today that deep-pocketed Manhattan elites funding opposition to the Central Park horse carriages may be illegally conspiring with a Florida businessman and a cryptocurrency lawyer who ran a PAC for New York Mayor Eric Adams to end the industry.

Adams, once a supporter of the horse carriage industry who even set up another trough for the horses to drink from in Central Park, last month pulled what the Daily News called a "flip flop" and issued an executive order which would sunset the industry, breaking his pledge to the TWU to support the horse carriage drivers.

At a press conference held at the TWU Local 100 union hall, Samuelsen said that new evidence, revealed in a Daily News article published yesterday, shows that Florida businessman Josh Fox, who donated to the Mayor’s campaign, met with the Mayor just weeks before his sudden about-face on the horse carriage industry.

“We have now authorized our lawyers to pursue a civil conspiracy claim in Florida,” Samuelsen said, noting that Florida is where Fox's Brady Hunter Foundation, an animal welfare group, is headquartered.

Union Mourns Julia McMillon, 85, First Female Recording Secretary

OCTOBER 2—Julia McMillon, who rose from the ranks to break the glass ceiling at Local 100’s top echelon of leadership, passed away Tuesday, September 30, at her home in Co-Op City.

Starting out as a Cleaner in 1982 at the age of 42, she became a Shop Steward in the Stations Department, at a time when women were under-represented and their issues were often sidelined.

McMillon grew up on Dean Street in Brooklyn before her family moved to the Lower East Side and later ended up working nearby, at the 2^nd Avenue station on the F line.

According to her niece, longtime Local 100 staffer Siaida Bryant, Julia was the glue that held the family together. “She was the matriarch,” Bryant said. “If someone fell short and needed help with the children, she was that aunt that picked up the pieces.”

(l-r): Previous medal winners Dom Spagnolo, Alan Grande, and Hector Soto, who was also honored this year, stand with Local 100 Pres. John Chiarello and Exec. Board Member Mario Galvet in front of glass case containing transit artifacts

11 Are Honored with 9/11 Medals at Sept. 29 Event

OCTOBER 1—Eleven retired TWU Local 100 members—all of whom suffer from medical conditions associated with their service at Ground Zero—were honored at the TWU Local 100 medal ceremony held at the National September 11th Memorial and Museum on Monday.

Local 100 President John V. Chiarello noted that, even now, 24 years later, most members of the public are not aware of the fact that New York City Transit workers were "the largest group to respond on the ground, saving people off the streets, clearing debris, taking part in rescue and recovery efforts and swiftly restoring transit services."

"None of our medal recipients could have known that that day would result in lifelong illness," he added, calling for the federal government to continue to fully fund care for 9/11 workers under the Zadroga Act.

Hispanic Heritage Celebration an Opportunity for Solidarity

SEPTEMBER 29—Local 100 celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month at The Hudson event venue in Upper Manhattan Friday with live music, great food, dancing and our own TA Surface VP Gary Rosario's salsa band.

Union leadership, including International President John Samuelsen and Local 100 President Chiarello, were on hand, with Samuelsen emphasizing unity going into next year's contract fight and the support of our brother and sister transit workers across America.

Chiarello spoke about the importance of TWU Local 100’s solidarity in the face of ongoing threats to labor.

"The most important thing is us coming together to understand how to fight for a contract. If you look at the political climate we’re in now, they’re decimating unions. They lost nearly a million union jobs in the federal government. We have to go forward and fight for what we have."

Car Equipment Mourns Albert Dyment, 53

SEPTEMBER 29—Coworkers at the Coney Island Overhaul Shop are mourning the recent untimely passing of Car Inspector Albert Dyment. Brother Dyment, who did under-car inspections at the Shop, suffered a back injury at work three months ago and went for an MRI, said CED Recording Secretary Eugene Bleynis.

The MRI revealed that Dyment had late-stage pancreatic cancer which was inoperable. After three months of care, he died in active status on September 15 and his funeral was held three days later.

New Flagging Quarters Opens at Chambers St.

SEPTEMBER 26—Conductor and Tower Chair Chris Drummond (center) joined General Superintendent Archer and Superintendent Landis to celebrate the reopening of the newly renovated flagging quarters at Chambers Street in lower Manhattan. It is the largest flagging facility in Manhattan and shares some space with Maintenance of Way personnel.

"I thanked Superintendent Archer and everyone involved in the renovation," Drummond said. "I told them it was great and thanked them on behalf of our Flaggers. There are new TVs, showers, and plenty of lockers for both men and women. There's an office for supervision and for TSS as well."

Drummond said that the renovation was five years in the making, and that he hopes these renovations continue. "We finally have a facility that meets our standards," he said.

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