BROOKLYN, NY—On January 23, Transport Workers Union (TWU) Local 100 President Richie Davis was ousted by International President John Samuelson due to credible allegations of sexual misconduct. His ouster comes weeks after he won his first election as the local’s president. The Executive Board made him President in 2022 following the Resignation of his predecessor, Tony Utano.
Despite these sexual misconduct allegations coming out in 2023, Davis was allowed to run in the December 2024 election. There is much speculation among rank-and-file members that he was allowed to run and was subsequently ousted to keep the current leadership group in power. Davis and his predecessor Utano came out of John Samuelson’s “Stand United” Slate, which has maintained power in TWU since 2009 despite its shortcomings.
Davis’ two predecessors oversaw contracts with increases in progression to top-pay and cuts to medical coverage, while real wages and working conditions have plummeted for New York City Transit (NYCTA) workers; Davis continued this lack of momentum one of the worst contracts in the union’s history. The lone contract Davis negotiated a contract that not only had a wage increase that fell way below post-COVID inflation, but he agreed to force TWU retirees off of traditional Medicare in favor of the for-profit Medicare Advantage scheme in exchange for a $7 million annual payout to the union.
Rank-and-file leaders of Local 100 have stepped up and started a petition calling for a new election. The petition states:
“Whereas the President of TWU Local 100 has been forced out of office, effectively nullifying the recent vote of the membership in the 2024 TWU Local 100 Union Elections; Whereas the current bylaws do not provide adequate relief or guidance in this unprecedented situation; Whereas the TWU Local 100 Bylaws state in Article III, Duties of the President, that: “In the event, a vacancy occurs in the office of the President, the Executive Board shall designate one of the Officers to act as President for the unexpired term,” We, the undersigned, demand the following: (1) A full membership vote to elect a new President for Local 100, ensuring that the leadership reflects the will of the union members and not an appointment by the Executive Board. (2) The suspension of the 18-month rule, which permits the appointment of a President and prevents other candidates from running for the position. (3) An election overseen by the Department of Labor, utilizing both electronic voting and secret ballot methods to ensure fairness, transparency, and accessibility for all members. The voice of the membership must be respected and upheld through a fair and democratic process. Immediate action is necessary to restore confidence in the leadership of TWU Local 100, protect the integrity of our union, and ensure full membership participation.”
The outcome of the debacle within TWU Local 100 not only affects its over 41,000 members but all workers at NYCTA, most notably the Amalgamated Transit Union which has members across three different locals in the system. LUEL stands with the rank and file for a democratic election against the current corrupt misleadership of TWU Local 100.
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