AGAIN! I want to reinforce something I have made clear many times over the years: There is zero tolerance for anyone caught sleeping while on duty. This is especially an issue during the overnight hours between 11:00 PM and 6:00 AM.

As supervisors, we are often not the ones engaging in this behavior—but that does not matter. The problem lies with those we supervise, and management holds us directly accountable for their actions. If an employee is found sleeping, management treats the supervisor as if they were the one caught.

I suggest that at the start of every shift, everyday, you remind every employee under your command that if they are found sleeping while on duty, they will be immediately removed from service. If you discover an employee sleeping during their shift, remove them from service without exception. Make this a daily practice and part of the your regular duties.

If you are tied up with work and someone under your supervision disappears to find a place to sleep, you will still be held responsible. You will take the hit.

It comes down to this: You or Them.

Do not allow the employees you supervise to put you in a position where you are facing discipline because of their poor decisions. Take whatever steps are necessary to prevent it from happening—even if that means requiring employees to report in every 30 minutes for check-ins.

Protect yourself and stay in control of your operation at all times.

Philip Valenti, President

The Local 106 Working Women’s Committee, is again collecting school supplies for some less fortunate kids in our area. If you would like to contribute, see the flyer below for details.

Effective with the start of the fourth quarter of 2026, the pilot Productivity Incentive Program (PIP), which has been in place for the past ten years, will end. The program will revert to the original PIP agreement that was negotiated as part of the 1998–2004 contract. The original agreement and the evaluation sheets provided below are simpler to administer, easier to maintain, and better aligned with the program’s intended goals.

Because management has not consistently disseminated this information, we encourage all members to take the initiative to ensure that their depot is using the original PIP evaluation process and not the pilot evaluation process that has been discontinued. If your depot continues using the discontinued evaluation, immediately bring it to management’s attention and notify your union representative so the issue can be addressed.

Discussions with management are ongoing in regard to MTA Bus continued participation in the PIP.

Philip Valenti, President

The message in this advertisement reinforces what Local 106 has been saying: Governor Kathy Hochul has failed working men and women across New York State. In our view, her record has made her one of the most anti-union governors New York has ever seen.

This is why Local 106 has put all of it’s support and resources behind Bruce Blakeman for Governor. New York must change direction before it’s too late and the only way to do that is to replace Hochul with Blakeman in November.

As we continue working toward settlements for the contracts that expired on August 31, 2024 and December 31, 2024, we understand the frustration that comes with waiting for a new agreement. Unfortunately, history has shown that negotiating contracts with the New York City Transit Authority has rarely been a timely process.

Using the Queens Division as an example, and going back to our first contract in 1985, supervisor contracts have historically taken an average of 27 months from the date of expiration to the signing of a new agreement. While that history is frustrating, it also provides important perspective on the challenges our union has faced over the past four decades.

During the last four years, our union has welcomed a significant number of new supervisors who have never experienced the realities of contract bargaining with NYC Transit. I want to take this opportunity to educate our newer members—not to make excuses for the delay, but to provide historical context and a better understanding of what supervisor negotiations have traditionally looked like.

Our highest priority remains securing the best possible contract for every member while obtaining wage increases as quickly as possible. However, we will not rush into accepting a substandard agreement simply to say we settled. Our members deserve a contract that not only provides fair economic improvements but also protects and enhances the working conditions that affect your careers every day.

Negotiating a strong contract takes time, patience, and persistence. We remain committed to that process and will continue fighting until we reach an agreement that reflects the value and professionalism of Transit Supervisors.

Philip Valenti, President

The Transit Supervisors Organization (TSO) / TWU Local 106 is proud to invest in the future of our members’ families.

Most members know that Local 106 awards $1,000 scholarships to the children of active members who enroll in college. However, we also proudly offer the same $1,000 scholarship to the children of active members who choose to attend an accredited trade school after high school or who enlist in the United States Military and successfully complete basic training.

This is a reminder that whether your son or daughter chooses college, a skilled trade, or military service, Local 106 recognizes and supports their commitment to building a successful future.

We value the skilled trades and military service just as highly as a college education. Our nation depends on the men and women who build our infrastructure, keep our communities running, and defend our freedoms. Without the dedication of our tradespeople and members of the Armed Forces, many of the opportunities that make the American Dream possible would not exist.

At Local 106, we are proud to support every path that leads to hard work, service, and success.

This is simply a mid-year reminder for our active members about the scholarship opportunities offered by the Transit Supervisors Organization (TSO) / TWU Local 106. This is not the scholarship application or drawing announcement.

Philip Valenti, President

Bruce Blakeman must be elected Governor in November as the first step in stopping the communist wave taking over New York and America. Kathy Hochul and the Democrat party are just the host for these anarchist that call themselves Democratic Socialist. And if Blakeman is not elected to stop these sick people, Hochul will just continue to lay back and let the Mamdani’s takeover and destroy New York and then America.

This is a once in a lifetime chance you have to save your kids, grandkids, New York and America from what’s coming. Do not be afraid, stand up and speak out against theses radical Democratic Socialist that hate America. Time is running out.

Philip Valenti, President

The current state of affairs for contract negotiations is as follows,

This week we finally received the first draft of the MSII contract. We have been asking for and waiting for this draft since March 27th. When we reviewed the draft we saw that much of the minor but important working conditions that we had agreed to verbally were stripped out. We have already requested a follow-up meeting to go over this contract with the President’s office.

The three bus contracts, OA/TA/MTA negotiations have not moved in months. In my last meeting with the Authority I told them to draft on paper what they want at the BCC, and I will look at it. I have asked for that draft and have not received it as of yet. Plus, there are other issues on the table they have not finished discussing which as you can see, we have a ways to go still.

Any contract that is agreed to by union leadership has to be ratified by the membership and then by the MTA board and there is no MTA board meeting in August. And its prime vacation time for those important people we need to meet with in order to get a contract nailed down.

I realize this is not the news you want to hear right now but as you live your life you need to know what’s going on in order to make short-and- long term financial plans.

As always, we will continue to be relentless in our efforts to try and settle these last four contracts. And we thank you for your continued support and patience.

Two other things you should know,

My Philip.Valenti@nyct.com email is no longer active, so any emails going to that address I do not get any more. Send emails to pvalenti@twu106.org only.

The NY Post reported yesterday that the MTA was paying Paige Graves, their General Counsel, $344,000 a year, which is $100,000 more than the Governor https://nypost.com/2026/07/10/us-news/mta-general-counsel-paige-graves-to-abruptly-resign/ . That’s nice right! We can’t get a contract but the Executives at the MTA are making that kind of money!

Philip Valenti, President

In a city that increasingly looks to Democratic Socialists as the solution to its problems, many voters may soon discover that a bigger paycheck isn’t the only measure of quality of life. Democratic Socialists Politicians may promise higher wages and greater benefits, but after you cash your paycheck and return home to a neighborhood struggling with crime, disorder, declining services, and a lower quality of life, you have to ask yourself: was it worth it?

Governor Kathy Hochul is seeking reelection, and her critics argue that she has failed to provide the leadership necessary to stop the Mamdani Socialist wing within her party or address the issues affecting everyday New Yorkers.

The only way to stop the slow slide of NYC into a state of despair is to Elect Bruce Blakeman for Governor. Blakeman will keep Mamdani in his place and not allow NYC and the surrounding county’s to be destroyed by the smiling trojan horse.

It’s okay to be union proud and vote for a Republican-they’re not mutually exclusive.

One of the distinctive workgroups in the TWU – the Central Park Horse-Carriage Drivers – is fighting to prevent the total destruction of their livelihoods. The NYC Council is poised to vote on a ban on horse-carriage rides, which would throw these workers and their families into economic ruin. Instead of siding with blue-collar workers, Council members are lining up with animal rights fundamentalists backed by real estate interests; the horse stables are on Manhattan’s West Side, and developers would love to see them vacant and available so they can build high-rise housing, office space, and hotels. 

The 150 carriage drivers and owners we represent are overwhelmingly immigrants. They came to NYC to pursue their American Dream. Those dreams are in very real jeopardy of being destroyed.

We are asking you, the Local 106 members to join us in support to save the life of an industry that is on the verge of elimination. The rally is at City Hall on Wednesday, July 15, at 9 a.m. sharp. The rally will be held outside the Broadway entrance to City Hall. We will demonstrate TWU’s strength and support by attending the hearing at 10 a.m. Please wear TWU shirts or hats if you have them.

Event Details

• Rally: Support TWU Central Park Horse-Carriage Drivers
• Purpose: Oppose the proposed NYC Council ban on horse-carriage rides and stand in solidarity with our TWU members.
• Date: Wednesday, July 15
• Time: 9:00 a.m. sharp
• Hearing Time: 10:00 a.m.

Location: 

• Across the street from 250 Broadway. Intersection is Broadway and Murray St. Outside the Broadway entrance to City Hall, New York City
• Requested Participation: All members that can make it
• Attire: Wear your TWU shirt or hat. TWU Swag