TWU International on the same page as Local 106, as other NY Locals cower in fear to call out Hochul for what she is, an Anti Union Governor.

IN MEMORIAM

The TSO/TWU Local 106 is deeply saddened to report the passing of Baisley Park Dispatcher Audrey Winsome Green Donaldson.

Audrey was a well-respected supervisor who performed her duties with grace, dignity, and professionalism. She touched the lives of the many members, coworkers, and employees she interacted with throughout her career.

Her dedication to her work and the people around her will be remembered and deeply missed.

On behalf of the officers and members of TSO/TWU Local 106, we extend our deepest condolences to Audrey’s family, friends, coworkers, and all those who had the privilege of knowing her.

Twenty five years ago on the quiet peaceful morning of September 11, 2001, we all remember where we were when we were attacked by radical Jihad Terrorist. These terrorist murdered our family members, our friends, our coworkers, firefighters, police officers, transit workers, innocent men, women and children, and today we remember and mourn.

September 11th is deeply personal for me.

All of us knew someone that was lost that day. In my family, we lost my wifes cousin who was a new employee at Cantor Fitzgerald. His body was never recovered. On the job, Transit Police Officer Timothy Roy, who worked with us for years in the bus crimes unit out of Casey Stengel Depot. Both of these men were murdered because terrorist hate America, our way of life and all that we stand for.

In addition to having a family member and a coworker who were killed that day, I carry vivid memories of both terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center.

In 1993, I was a Bus Operator when the World Trade Center was first attacked. Eight years later, on September 11, 2001, I was working the PM Car as a Dispatcher at Casey Stengel Depot when our world changed forever.

Our country has never been the same since those terrorists hijacked four airplanes and carried out attacks against the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and the passengers and crew of Flight 93, which came down in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

America saw firsthand the devastation radical terrorism can cause when given the opportunity to attack innocent people. We learned many painful lessons from September 11th. But as the years pass, we must never allow time to turn remembrance into complacency.

Like Transit Workers throughout New York City, we immediately sprang into action. We helped move people away from Ground Zero, brought people into areas where they were needed, and did whatever we could to assist with the rescue and recovery effort.

Transit Workers were there.

Firefighters were there.

Police Officers were there.

Everyday New Yorkers were there.

Twenty-five years later, the site of Ground Zero has been transformed into a memorial. We have continued with our lives, raised our families, gone to work, and watched another generation grow up and elect a Mayor that has ties to people that hate America and say that September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks were brought on ourselves.

We must remain vigilant against terrorism and extremism in all its forms. We must stand together as Americans and defend the freedoms, constitutional principles, and democratic values that define our nation.

I will never forget my family member who was murdered that day. I will never forget my coworker, Transit Police Officer Timothy Roy. And I will never forget being at Casey Stengel Depot as a Dispatcher when the world changed forever.

I will never forget the Transit Workers who answered the call.

I will never forget the firefighters, police officers, emergency workers, and ordinary New Yorkers who put themselves in harm’s way to help others.

And I will never forget the innocent men, women, and children whose lives were taken from them.

Twenty-five years later, we remember.
We mourn.
We honor their lives.
And we will never forget.

Philip Valenti, President

Dependent Eligibility Verification Audit (DEVA) 

Every year, the MTA conducts an audit to verify the eligibility of employees’ dependents for medical and supplemental benefits.

You should have received a letter in the mail from the MTA asking you to confirm the information for everyone currently covered under your benefits plan, including whether any dependent has other primary health coverage.

This is NOT something you should ignore.

The MTA has advised that if you fail to respond to this request, your medical and supplemental benefits — and those of your family — may be terminated.

I have just received the list from the MTA of members who have not yet responded, and unfortunately, that list is very long.

If you are on that list, you need to take action NOW.

If you received this letter and it is still sitting at home, complete the required form and return it to the MTA ASAP. Do not wait until the last minute.

Your health benefits and your family’s coverage are too important to risk losing because a form wasn’t completed.

PLEASE TAKE CARE OF THIS IMMEDIATELY!

Philip Valenti, President

A special thanks to all of you that will be on the job September 7, 2026 working for the NYC Transit Authority, MaBSTOA and MTA Bus. Everyone knows, in the city that never sleeps it’s the Transit system and Transit employees that never stops working.

To those of you that will be off enjoying this unofficial last weekend of summer, I hope you make it a great one! And I hope you get a chance to spend time relaxing with your family…You earned it!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 3, 2026
Contact: Team Saritha
Email: Press@SarithaForNewYork.com

A 30-year-old transit worker tried to stop a man who was urinating on the platform at Times Square Station, when the man slashed the transit worker multiple times and escaped on the next train. 

This is not the first time something like this has happened. Every year, thousands of transit workers are assaulted and harassed just for doing their jobs.

The union has called for tougher penalties for transit crime. So I worked with legislators to write a bill that imposes tougher penalties. 

The union has said criminals like this deserve to go to jail. So I announced a Transit Crime Strike Force to prosecute criminals like this and put them in jail. 

Here is my message to the Transit Workers of New York: 

I see the conditions you are working in every day. You are on the frontlines of our public safety crisis — you spend every day dealing with the homeless, the mentally ill, the drug addicted, and the repeat offenders. It’s not fair and it’s not safe. I will prosecute transit crime, remove repeat and violent offenders from the transit systems, and stop fare evasion. Doing so will make the trains and buses safer for workers and riders. 

That is why TWU Local 106 and TWU Local 252 have endorsed my campaign for Attorney General, and I’m honored to have their support. 

All transit workers have the option to vote for someone who is going to make your workplace safer this November. I am the only candidate in this race even talking about transit safety, and I am the only one who will do something about it. Join me, and together we will create a safer, more affordable New York. 

Saritha Komatireddy is a candidate for New York Attorney General.

• The MSII contract is basically done we are just waiting to resolve one issue that is somewhat minor.

• On the (3) Buses contracts, Transit dropped their demands on resumes at the BCC. That BCC issue caused this delay, so now that resumes are off the table negotiations should be moving again. We were warned though, that a BCC arbitration decision from several years ago that was not implemented will be implemented for 2027.

In a recent post, I warned you about how the Transit Authority is doing business with its unions: no deals and no mercy for anyone.

Make one mistake, and management will seek to fire you—regardless of your spotless record, years of service, or history as a dedicated Transit employee.

Well, we just received an arbitration decision yesterday involving one of our members who was held out of work without pay since July 10, 2026, suspended and facing dismissal.

The Arbitrator reinstated our member, imposed a five-day suspension without pay, and awarded him full back pay for all other time lost—approximately $15,000.

So let’s look at what this means.

The employee will now receive approximately $15,000 in back pay for being kept out of work. And the position he normally worked was covered by overtime during the entire period.

Based on that, it is reasonable to estimate that this unnecessary suspension could ultimately cost New York taxpayers approximately $40,000.

And for what?

This is what happens when MTA Labor Relations can make decisions with other people’s money. They don’t personally pay the price when they make a bad decision. The taxpayers do.

There has to be accountability.

Labor Relations should be looking for fair and reasonable outcomes that protect the Authority, its employees and the taxpayers—not pursuing discipline simply because they can.

When management loses an arbitration case, the bill doesn’t come out of their pockets. It comes out of ours.

This isn’t about giving employees a free pass when they make mistakes. It’s about fairness, proportionality, good judgment and responsible use of public money.

TWU Local 106 will continue to fight for our members—and we will continue to expose the cost of bad decisions made by the MTA.

Philip Valenti, President

TWU Local 106 has been out front supporting Bruce Blakeman because we know that not only is Bruce Blakeman going to win in November, we also know that New York needs a strong leader in Albany not a weakling that’s too afraid to stand up to the radical DSA that took over, and is now running the Democratic party.

We need a Governor who will lower the costs of living for New Yorkers and hold the MTA accountable. Most importantly, we need a Governor who will take care of MTA workers—not one that believes she’s entitled to the union support just because she is a Democrat.

Unlike Kathy Hochul, we believe Bruce Blakeman will bring the strength, leadership, and support that New York’s City Transit workers deserve.

TWU Local 106 is proud to support Bruce Blakeman for Governor of New York 2026

TWU Local 106 is also proud to support Chris Tague for NY Senate and Peter Oberacker US Congress

Let me take a minute of your time to give you a quick update on where we are with the MaBSTOA, Queens and MTA Bus contracts. We have not had a meeting with management in a while, primarily because of management’s summer vacation schedules. We expect negotiations to get moving again shortly. However, as I have said several times already, what caused these contracts to be dragged out: management’s demands regarding the Bus Command Center (BCC).

Those demands were unexceptable and we could not agree to the proposed changes they wanted.

As soon as negotiations resume and there is something meaningful to report, we will keep the membership informed.

We are ready to get back to the table. We are ready to negotiate. But we will not agree to unacceptable demands just to get a contract signed.

Philip Valenti, President