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During Black History Month, We Remember Granville Woods

They called him "the Black Thomas Edison," and without him, the motive power of our subways wouldn't exist. Granville T. Woods's "power pick up device," patented in 1901, was the forerunner of today's contact shoe, that delivers current from the electrified third rail to each subway car. Other inventions such as the multiplex telegraph (1887) allowed train crews to communicate by voice over telegraph wires, helping to prevent accidents.

TWU Local 100 Interim President John V. Chiarello said of Woods: "The men and women of TWU Local100 owe a great debt to this inventor and engineer. Growing up at a time when most Black children never received formal education, he was able to compete with the likes of Thomas Edison and register over 60 patents. He blazed a trail and set an example for Black transit workers."

The video on Woods was produced by CBS News.

Division Vice Chair Kemp Reveals Why NYC Buses are Slow

FEBRUARY 10 -- “Slow Ride” is an old rock song recorded in 1975. Now it’s also a description used to disparage New York City Bus Operators who are taking the heat for decisions made by Mayor Mike Bloomberg, the MTA, and the DOT – all who have contributed to what the report says are “painfully slow” bus speeds.

A new NYC Independent Budget Office report “blames the slow rides on heavy traffic, too few bus lanes, and inconsistent enforcement of bus lane rules by the DOT.”

New York City Bus Operators know the blame goes a lot deeper.

TA Surface Division Vice Chair Alexander Kemp goes back to 2010 when the stock market crashed and New York City  Transit laid off 500 Bus Operators. Those service cuts were never restored.

“New York City  Transit used to have 5 minute headways – now they are approximately 15 minutes. And people who are frustrated waiting for service are kept that way by transit supervision, who monitor, adjust, and control on-time performance,” he says. “If a bus is running late, supervision has the ability to speed the bus up to make schedule. But they don’t want to modify or adjust schedules – because this might incur an extra cost --  and people have to wait.”

“There is no shortage of operators who are available for service. NYCT will go on Twitter and say, “your bus is delayed because we’re operating with the resources we have,” but that obscures the reality, which is that we are short on buses. NYC Transit has been forced to put a large order of electric buses on hold because it lacks charging infrastructure.
 

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Remembering the Tuskegee Airmen – and Their Transit Legacy

From Michigan comes the sad news that one of the few remaining Tuskegee Airmen, Lt. Col. Harry Stewart, Jr. has died. He shared membership in that elite club with 12 other Black men, who came to NYC Transit after serving in World War II.

TWU Local 100 Interim President John Chiarello, honoring their legacy as part of Black History Month, said, “When our country needed fighters and pilots during World War II, the brave Tuskegee Airmen stepped up. They compiled an outstanding record of downing Nazi fighters in some of the most heroic battles of the war. But then they faced discrimination at home. TWU Local 100 stood up for the rights of Black transit workers to enjoy the same opportunities as White workers – and those included 12 of the Tuskegee Airmen who came back to start careers in transit. This month we honor them and their legacy will always live at the Tuskegee Airmen Depot in Harlem.”

Twelve members of the famed Tuskegee Airmen, the first African American military aviators in the U.S. Armed Forces, found a safe landing zone in New York City Transit and Local 100 after World War II. Six of the intrepid group of 12 airmen made careers in transit, while the others worked in the subways for a number of years while putting themselves through college and law school. All of them are believed to have passed away. 

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The TWU Strongly Supports Marc Molinaro’s Nomination to Lead the FTA

The Transport Workers Union of America – which represents tens of thousands of transit workers across the country – strongly supports the nomination of Marc Molinaro to lead the Federal Transit Administration.

“Marc Molinaro was a strong advocate for public transit in downstate New York while serving in Congress, and his experience will be essential for navigating transit issues nationwide,” said TWU International President John Samuelsen. “He has demonstrated a willingness to work with everyone – including trade unions – and he understands the challenges and issues the FTA will face. The TWU strongly supports Marc Molinaro’s nomination and urges his swift confirmation.”  

Molinaro defended existing federal transit worker protections while in Congress from 2023 to 2025, arguing that the current rules enabled more productive contract negotiations with TWU members in New York while he served as the County Executive of Dutchess County. He said in congressional hearings that efforts to gut a section of federal law known as 13c were “offensive” because they ultimately seek to cut jobs in favor of increased automation. 

In addition to transit efforts, Molinaro fought for airline workers. He introduced legislation that would create global safety standards for U.S. aircraft repairs to prevent airlines from sending aircraft maintenance jobs to foreign countries and eventually got the legislation signed into law as part of the FAA reauthorization.  

The TWU worked extensively with Molinaro during his time in Congress as the union includes tens of thousands of transit and rail workers in New York State who work for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. 

Union Posts Reward Money to Find Train Joyriders

JANUARY 30 – TWU Local 100 Interim President John V. Chiarello announced today that TWU Local 100 would match the reward offered by NYPD Crime Stoppers for information leading to the apprehension of the six unidentified men who took a R Train on a joyride last weekend. The Union will pay up to $3,500 for the information, matching the Crime Stoppers reward.

Images of the six men on platforms and entering the transit system were released today by Crime Stoppers. They NYPD announcement noted that the six individuals “caused damage to glass panels on the train,” but this was the least of it, Mr. Chiarello said.

“A bunch of reckless teens took a $20 million piece of equipment out of a secure transit layup area, endangering themselves, transit property, and transit workers who may well have been working on the tracks,” he said. “I’m outraged that this theft occurred and determined to stop copycats.”

“Train crews and riders are vulnerable to exploits like this and we have to send the message that anyone occupying and operating a train who is not a transit employee will be tracked down and punished to the full extent of the law,” Chiarello said.

The Union is also putting up the images and the reward on all of our social media channels, Chiarello said, as he called on members of the Union to be vigilant and to call in any tips or sightings to 800-577-TIPS.

Union Mourns Willie Joe Kirkland, 84, Father of Safety Director Celeste Kirkland

JANUARY 30 – Willie Joe Kirkland, a Bus Operator with 25 years of service with NYC Transit, passed away on Monday, January 27th. He was 84 years old and operated the M15 bus in Manhattan in the 70’s and 80’s.

His daughter, TWU Local 100 Safety Director and Power Cable Maintainer Celeste Kirkland said, “I loved my father, and he loved me. Everyone said I walked like him, talked like him.”

IB Image

Brother Kirkland was on a ventilator which was removed shortly before Celeste visited him at a hospital in South Carolina. They had three days together filled with love and laughter before he passed away.

In addition to his career in NYC Transit, he also was a tour bus and trolley operator, and worked as a wedding photographer. He was a man of faith and enjoyed sharing his knowledge of scripture. Willie Joe joined st Matthew's Church and served his community by teaching Sunday school.

Willie Joe Kirkland was admired by many. His memory will live on in the hearts of his family and all who knew him.

A Funeral Service will take place tomorrow, Friday, January 31 at St. Matthews Baptist Church in Ridgeland, SC, with the viewing at 10AM and the Service at 11AM.

Mike Quill Passed the Torch to Us

JANUARY 28 – TWU Founder Mike Quill died 59 years ago today. He was only 60 years old.

He had his first heart attack in the Civil Jail on West 37th Street, after being arrested by detectives while leading TWU negotiations at the Americana Hotel -- because he refused to end the strike he called on New Year’s Day, 1966. 12 days later the strike was won by the TWU and Quill was released from custody. He suffered a second heart attack on January 28th, 1966, this time fatal. His physician said that Quill died from overwork, and transit workers knew that he gave his life for the cause of labor.

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Union Statement on Youths Taking Weekend Joyride on R Train

JANUARY 28 -- Last weekend, three young men gained access to an R160 train in Queens and took it on a joyride, hitting 30 MPH according to their own video, which was posted on Instagram. These are new technology trains which TWU Local 100 has warned New York City Transit are vulnerable to break-ins.

In January of 2024 – a year ago -- New York City Transit committed to “a simple and fast solution that we can implement in weeks, not months or years” [The City, “Transit Workers Say MTA to Slow to Protect Subway Cabs, Dec 9, 2024.]

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