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

Yesterday, we received the first draft of the 2024–2027 MSII Contract Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). After reviewing the document, it is clear that what we received does not fully reflect the agreement that was negotiated at the bargaining table.

While we are pleased that the economic enhancements we negotiated remain intact, many of the important working conditions that were verbally agreed upon during negotiations were omitted from this first draft. Those provisions are important to our members, and we are not satisfied with the document in its current form.

Additional meetings with Management and Labor Relations will be necessary to ensure the final agreement accurately reflects the terms that were negotiated. At this time, we are not satisfied with this first draft and will continue working to secure a contract that fully protects the interests of our members.

As always, we will continue to work diligently to bring this contract to a successful conclusion as quickly as possible. However, members should keep in mind that there is no August MTA Board meeting, and the summer months are traditionally a period when many management officials are on vacation, which may impact the pace of the remaining negotiations.

We appreciate your continued patience and support. We remain committed to delivering the strongest contract possible for our MSII members and will keep you informed as negotiations progress.

Philip Valenti, President

TSO/TWU Local 106 is proud to partner with Inner Imaging to provide our active members in good standing with access to a comprehensive, non-invasive full-body CT scan.

This advanced scan can help detect potential health issues before symptoms appear, giving you valuable information that can lead to early treatment and better health outcomes.

Get the peace of mind no amount of money can buy.

Local 106 Member Benefit

• Regular Cost: $375
• TSO/TWU Local 106 Contribution: $200
• Member Cost: Only $175

Manhattan Location-165 E 84th Street, New York, NY 10028

White Plains Location- 1133 Westchester Avenue, Entrance A, Suite N-010 White Plains, NY 194604

Call for appointment information 212-777-8900.

Honoring 250 Years of Freedom, Service, and Opportunity

As our nation celebrates America’s 250th Anniversary, the Transit Supervisors Organization – TWU Local 106 proudly joins Americans across the country in honoring the courage, sacrifice, and vision that gave birth to the United States in 1776.

For two and a half centuries, America has stood as a symbol of freedom, resilience, and opportunity. Those same values are reflected every day by the dedicated Transit Supervisors who keep New York moving. Our members proudly serve millions of riders, working around the clock to ensure safe, reliable public transportation while supporting the communities that depend on us.

America’s story has always been built by hardworking men and women. Organized labor has played a vital role in strengthening our nation by advocating for fair wages, safe workplaces, dignity on the job, and opportunities for future generations. We are proud to continue that tradition.

As we commemorate 250 years of American independence, we remember those who came before us, honor those who serve today, and look forward with optimism to the future of our country and our union.

On behalf of the Executive Council, we thank our members for their unwavering commitment, professionalism, and service.

Happy America 250!

Proud to Be Union. Proud to Be American.

President Philip Valenti
and the Executive Council
Transit Supervisors Organization – Transport Workers Union Local 106

For generations, union workers have been the backbone of America’s middle class. Through collective bargaining, working men and women have secured fair wages, safe workplaces, quality health benefits, and retirement security—not only for union members, but for millions of workers across the country.

Today, many transit workers and union members believe those gains are increasingly under pressure. Policies that expand government control, increase regulations on employers, or prioritize political agendas over the concerns of working families have raised concerns that organized labor could lose both its influence and its ability to protect its members.

Many union members worry that elected officials who embrace democratic socialist policies may ultimately weaken economic opportunity, and make it harder for working families to achieve the American Dream.

Transit workers understand that every election has consequences. The decisions made in Albany, New York City, and Washington directly affect contracts, pensions, public safety, staffing levels, and the future of public transportation. Those decisions also determine whether working families have greater opportunities—or face greater uncertainty.

The American Dream has always been built on hard work, personal responsibility, and the belief that every worker deserves the opportunity to earn a good living and retire with dignity. Many union members believe protecting that dream requires supporting leaders who value economic growth, public safety, and the rights of workers to bargain collectively.

Every election is a choice about the future. For union members, it is also a choice about protecting the jobs, benefits, and retirement security that generations fought to achieve.

The future of organized labor depends on an informed membership that votes, participates, and never takes its hard-earned rights for granted.

The only way to change New York’s direction is at the ballot box.

That is why we believe the answer is to vote for Bruce Blakeman for Governor of New York. We believe his leadership offers the best opportunity to stop what we see as the steady erosion of union strength, protect collective bargaining, support public safety, and defend the working men and women of the TWU who keep New York moving.

TWU Local 106 – Transit Supervisors Organization reminds all members that buses with known Red Line defects must not be released into service.

If you are serving as a Maintenance Line Supervisor in the Department of Buses, we recognize that you have one of the most challenging jobs in the Transit Authority. Chronic staffing shortages have unfortunately become an everyday reality of the position, placing additional pressure on supervisors to keep service moving.

However, no staffing shortage or operational demand should ever compromise safety. Do not make an already difficult situation worse by clearing a bus for service that does not meet the Transit Authority’s written standards for a serviceable vehicle.

Your responsibility is to protect the safety of our riders, your fellow employees, and yourself. Adhering to established maintenance policies and procedures is not optional—it is essential.

Safety must always come first.
If a bus has a known Red Line defect, it does not leave the depot.

President Philip Valenti

Governor Hochul, gave Tier 6 Transit workers the Shiv, as a majority of Transit workers are excluded from the reduced contribution rates that will take effect on or about October 1, 2026. The changes that were agreed to by Governor Hochul in regards to the pension contributions are not for operating employees. Operating employees are the mass majority of all Transit workers in the MTA.

Governor Hochul, took care of the left wing Mamdani loving Teachers union by giving them reduced contribution rates, an earlier retirement age and an increase in overtime allowable in your FAS.

Transit workers got and increase in overtime allowable in the FAS. The reduced contribution rates only apply to non operating workers, which we have but that is not the majority.

See page 2, bullet 3, exclude is the key word.

Yesterday, New Yorkers watched as three far-left, anti-American candidates won Democratic primary races. Their vision for New York is one of bigger government, higher taxes, reckless spending, and policies that threaten the economic future of working families.

If Kathy Hochul is re-elected Governor, New York will continue down this dangerous path. Time and again, Governor Hochul has failed to stand up to the radical wing of her party and lacks the guts and leadership necessary to stop the growing influence of socialist policies that put political agendas ahead of hardworking taxpayers and retirees.

New Yorkers have worked too hard and sacrificed too much to see their pension funds and tax dollars diverted to political pet projects while public safety, affordability, and quality of life continue to decline.

There is only one candidate with the courage, experience, and determination to stop the radical left’s takeover of New York and put our state back on the right track, and that’s Bruce Blakeman.

If you want to live in a Communist/Socialist state then you vote for Kathy Hochul.

If you love America, and don’t want to want to see New York turn into a third world, hell hole, cesspool, then you will vote for Bruce Blakeman in November as the stop gap to this madness.

Philip Valenti, President