Executive Council Approves CT Body Scan Benefit for Active Members

The Executive Council has approved a new health benefit for all active members in good standing. Members will be eligible to receive a CT body scan through Inner Imaging.

The TSO has been successful in negotiating a deeply discounted price for a “body scan” — an exam which includes four tests: for the heart, the lungs, the abdomen, and the pelvic area. While the price for this full body exam is approximately $850, the TSO has been able to reduce the price for our ACTIVE members to $375. For active members, the TSO will subsidize $200 of that cost. Therefore, active members will pay only $175 for this members-only body scan.
The $200 subsidy will be provided once in a five year span to active members.

For just $175, members will have access to this incredible preventive test that could potentially detect serious health issues early and may even save your life.

The average time spent at the office is less than 30 minutes, making it a quick and convenient screening for busy members.

The services provided by Inner Imaging are also available to family members, although family members would be responsible for the full cost of $375.

Link to the Inner Imaging website: https://www.innerimagingnyc.com

We expect to have this service in place within the next 2 weeks and will let you know when you can call for an appointment.

Philip Valenti, President

We are very proud to announce that the Transportation Columbia Association will be honoring our Vice President, Joseph Betancourt with a Special Recognition Award at this years Columbia Association Dinner.

The Transportation Columbia Association of New York is a fraternal organization representing Italian -American professionals in the transit industry promoting heritage, harmony, and professional networking. Led by President Paul Gallo, the group hosts events, including an annual Dinner Dance, to support its members and advance the industry.

Come join us as we celebrate Joe and all that he has accomplished in his career working for Transit. The Ceremony will be on September 25th at Sirico’s in Brooklyn. Call Paul Gallo @ (718) 694-5804 for tickets for the dinner and ceremony.

For the first time ever, TWU Local 106 sent representatives to the TWU Annual Working Women’s Committee held in Philadelphia.

Michelle Gonzalez and Renita Horton did an outstanding job representing our Local and the hardworking women Transit Supervisors of New York. Their participation ensures that the voices, experiences, and leadership of our members are heard and recognized on a national level.

Local 106 is proud to have Michelle and Renita representing our membership and continuing to strengthen the role of women in the labor movement.

We still have not received the draft MSII contract proposal due to President Crichlow requesting a full briefing on all contracts before any unions negotiations move forward.

On March 13th I along with the SSSA met with President Crichlow and his team to hear his proposal of changes to the Bus Command Center (BCC). A few days later we sent a counter proposal. As of now we have a follow up meeting on April 10th to discuss this BCC issue.

I know everyone can use a wage increase right now but I don’t control the pace of negotiations.

I have a tentative date in mind for a June General membership meeting but depending how things go over the next few weeks that meeting may be moved up to April or May.

Thank you for your patience, PV.

In a significant development for rail workers, a Presidential Emergency Board (PEB) appointed under the authority of President Donald Trump has issued findings supporting key positions put forward by the unions representing employees of the Long Island Rail Road.

The Presidential Emergency Board, established under the Railway Labor Act to help resolve disputes that could disrupt national transportation, reviewed the ongoing contract negotiations between labor representatives and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

After examining testimony and evidence from both sides, the Board’s recommendations sided with the unions on several critical issues, including wage adjustments and workplace protections. The findings reinforce the unions’ position that LIRR employees deserve fair compensation and contract terms that reflect the essential role they play in keeping the region moving.

The decision.

Assemblyman John Mikulin, Republican representative of New York State Assembly District 17, recently stopped by our office to discuss the needs of our members and how he can help support them.

Assemblyman Mikulin’s father drove a bus out of Jamaica Depot for 25 years. As the son of a New York City Transit Authority bus operator, John understands firsthand the challenges our members face every day.

Assemblyman Mikulin has always been there for us whenever we called, and for that reason we are proud to give him our full endorsement and support.

President Valenti was out at the Castleton Depot on Staten Island for an early morning meeting with members of the NYC Transit Alliance, represented today by Local 100, ATU Locals 726 and 1056, and the UTLO.

The MTA just doesn’t get it!

Instead of addressing and fixing the real issues that make the Maintenance Line Supervisor position so tough and undesirable, management continues to take the easy way out — repeatedly opening the job to the public — instead of making the necessary changes to make this demanding position attractive to the very mechanics who already know the job, the equipment, and the system.

The Maintenance Line Supervisor is the only supervisory title, in operations that Transit has consistently opened to the public. That fact alone should tell you everything you need to know.

If the position were structured properly — with reasonable hours, adequate support, clear authority, and real work-life balance — experienced mechanics would be lining up for the opportunity. Instead, the Authority keeps trying to fill the vacancy without fixing the vacancy’s cause.

You don’t solve a retention problem by lowering the bar.You solve it by raising the standard of how the job is treated.

But if your interested, go ahead and apply!

On Monday, March 2, 2026 at 11:00 AM, we will be welcoming George Alvarez, Assemblymember representing the 78th District in the Bronx, to our offices for a meet and greet with our officers and members.

Assemblymember Alvarez serves on several key committees in the New York State Assembly, most notably the Transportation Committee, Labor Committee, and Codes Committee — all of which directly impact our members and the work we do every day.

If you would like to meet Assemblymember Alvarez, please arrive at the office by 10:30 AM.

Kindly notify your Division Chairman if you plan on attending.

District 78

Whether you are Active or Retired, if you move, remember to call us @ (718) 601-7100 to let us know your new address so we can update our database.