Transport Workers Union

Pittsburgh Bikeshare Workers Vote to Join the TWU, America’s Largest Bikeshare Union

Alex Daugherty — Tue, 03 Mar 2026 21:04:27 +0000

Pittsburgh bikeshare workers with POGOH voted overwhelmingly on Tuesday to join the Transport Workers Union of America, the largest union of bikeshare workers nationwide. The decisive vote came quickly after POGOH workers filed to join the TWU last month.

“Today’s victory is a big step forward for POGOH bikeshare workers who want the benefits of a contract and being a part of the country’s largest bikeshare union,” said TWU International President John Samuelsen. “We’ll now begin the task of securing a critical first contract that locks in quality-of-life improvements and build on the work we’ve done representing Bike Mechanics, Technicians and other workers in cities across the country.”

Workers in Pittsburgh are seeking to join TWU Local 320, which represents bikeshare workers in New York City, Boston, Washington DC, Chicago, San Francisco, Portland, and Los Angeles. POGOH workers are currently working in a warehouse that lacks proper heat in the winter, ventilation in the summer, and are seeking better wages. And Pittsburgh bikeshare workers are currently tasked with shoveling snow in the winter without additional pay, unlike TWU-represented workers in New York and Washington, DC.

“We were able to move quickly to achieve victory in Pittsburgh, but now the work begins to draft and ratify a first contract,” said TWU Organizing Director Angelo Cucuzza. “I also want to thank the workers in Pittsburgh who wanted to fight for a better workplace and our TWU member-organizers for their hard work.”

JetBlue Air Dispatchers Vote to Join the TWU and Reject Management’s Empty Promises

Alex Daugherty — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 20:17:57 +0000

Air Dispatchers and dispatch-related workers at JetBlue Airways voted Thursday to join the Transport Workers Union of America, the latest group of JetBlue workers to join the largest union of airline workers in the country.

JetBlue Dispatch workers voted to unionize after years of broken promises from management – a strong rejection of JetBlue’s “at-will employment agreements” that apply to all the non-union workers at the airline. Dispatch workers were recently told they would not get a raise in 2026, even though they are normally eligible for raises once every two years.

“JetBlue Dispatch workers sent a strong message to the bosses, they are done with worthless at-will employment agreements that only serve management’s interests,” TWU International President John Samuelsen said. “We are continuing our industrial organizing at JetBlue and will now fight for a first contract that delivers better pay and working conditions. JetBlue’s employment agreements and phony values committees aren’t worth the paper they’re printed on.”

In recent months, JetBlue management also changed working conditions for Dispatch workers, requiring all current System Controllers to get dispatcher licenses previously not required for their employment. All of the Dispatch-related workers who voted to join the TWU work out of JetBlue headquarters in Long Island City, NY.

“JetBlue Dispatcher workers, just like InFlight Crewmembers, Flight Instructors and Pilots, realized that JetBlue’s ‘at-will employment agreements’ are nothing more than a facade to keep workers from making real economic gains. As their company-controlled ‘values committee’ disbands, a worker-elected Negotiating Team will be formed and a demand for real negotiations will commence,” said TWU Organizing Director Angelo Cucuzza. “JetBlue Dispatchers saw the joining the TWU as the best path forward for navigating a rapidly evolving and changing airline industry.”

The New York-based JetBlue Dispatchers join the growing ranks of TWU Flight Dispatchers across the country. The TWU currently represents Flight Dispatchers at Air Wisconsin, Alaska-Hawaiian Airlines, Avelo Airlines, Breeze Airways, Envoy Airlines, Frontier Airlines, Horizon Airlines, Kalitta Airlines, Omni Airlines, PSA Airlines, Republic Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Sun Country Airlines and UPS Airlines.

TWU Calls for Federal Investigation of Smoke-Filled Brightline Train

Alex Daugherty — Thu, 19 Feb 2026 16:19:05 +0000

The Transport Workers Union of America is demanding a federal investigation into an incident on Friday night during which two Brightline train cars filled with smoke and three crew members went to the hospital for nausea and headaches.

The Miami to Orlando train should have been taken out of service after smoke started emanating from beneath the rear of the train, but Brightline kept it in passenger service, TWU officials say. The union is filing an incident report with the Federal Railroad Administration.

“Brightline’s actions here are nothing short of despicable,” TWU International President John Samuelsen said. “They recklessly put the safety of passengers and workers at risk. This is completely unacceptable on many levels.”

The 10-car train departed at 7:20 p.m. The train halted before reaching its first station stop, Aventura, when smoke started entering the second-to-last car. Crew members evacuated passengers from the last two cars to other parts of the train.

The train then continued and made stops at Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, and West Palm Beach.

At West Palm, other workers from Brightline arrived and checked the train. It then continued to Orlando. It arrived at 12:20 a.m., which is two hours late. Three Onboard Attendants went to the hospital due to headaches and nausea.

The TWU represents Onboard Attendants and Lead Attendants employed by Brightline.

POGOH Bikeshare Workers in Pittsburgh File to Join the TWU

Alex Daugherty — Fri, 13 Feb 2026 20:11:02 +0000

Pittsburgh bikeshare workers with POGOH filed for an election to join the Transport Workers Union of America, the largest union of bikeshare workers nationwide.

“Bikeshare workers in Pittsburgh decided to demand a greater say in their working conditions and join the TWU to fight for better pay, benefits and quality-of-life improvements,” said TWU International President John Samuelsen. “It’s time for POGOH management to step up and recognize the union without wasting time and resources on an unnecessary election. The TWU is America’s largest bikeshare union and we are proud to represent Bike Mechanics, Technicians, and other workers from New York to Los Angeles.

Workers in Pittsburgh are seeking to join TWU Local 320, which represents bikeshare workers in New York City, Boston, Washington DC, Chicago, San Francisco, Portland, and Los Angeles. POGOH workers are currently working in a warehouse that lacks proper heat in the winter, ventilation in the summer, and are seeking better wages. And Pittsburgh bikeshare workers are tasked with shoveling snow in the winter without additional pay, unlike TWU-represented workers in New York and Washington, DC.

POGOH workers are ready to stand up for a better workplace and management should voluntarily recognize the unit instead of dragging their feet with an election,” said TWU Organizing Director Angelo Cucuzza. “We are ready to fight and win a first contract that significantly improves the lives of bikeshare workers and their families.”

FAA Must Act to Implement Critical Safety Standards for Foreign Aircraft Repair Stations

Alex Daugherty — Wed, 28 Jan 2026 19:10:48 +0000

A new, bipartisan letter from Congress urges the Federal Aviation Administration to swiftly close safety loopholes for foreign aircraft repair facilities – a top priority for the Transport Workers Union of America. Congress mandated a number of new standards for foreign aircraft repair facilities as part of the 2024 FAA Reauthorization. The FAA hasn’t provided details on an implementation plan for the new standards.

“It is past time for the FAA to ensure that American aircraft are subject to the same safety standards when the air carriers choose to perform mechanical repairs in foreign countries,” TWU International President John Samuelsen said. “Members of Congress from both parties stood up for TWU Aircraft Maintenance Technicians whose jobs are endangered and the traveling public’s safety at risk from shoddy standards at foreign aircraft maintenance facilities in countries like China. It is unacceptable that the FAA hasn’t enforced the law to close loopholes that allow airlines to cut costs and safety at the expense of American workers.”

The FAA has not implemented four critical regulations. One requires foreign personnel with supervisory authority to hold a mechanic or repairman certificate, the second ensures that foreign aircraft maintenance workers pass appropriate background checks, the third requires the FAA to conduct unannounced inspections at foreign repair facilities, and the fourth instructs the FAA to collect data on the location and scope of aircraft maintenance work on American aircraft performed overseas.

The requirement for foreign workers to hold a mechanic or repairman certificate was subject to a November 16, 2025 deadline that the FAA did not meet. The four provisions were originally a standalone bill called the Global Aircraft Maintenance Safety Improvement Act that was eventually incorporated as Section 302 of the 2024 FAA Reauthorization.

“While foreign aircraft repair facilities technically are subject to the same safety certifications as American facilities, in practice the loopholes around certificates, unannounced inspections, background checks, and data collection allow foreign facilities to operate at a lower level of safety,” said TWU Air Division Director Andre Sutton. “The FAA needs to follow the law passed by Congress and the president to ensure safety in the skies and stand up for American workers who perform critical repair work.”

One provision for foreign aircraft maintenance facilities in the 2024 Reauthorization was finalized by the Biden administration in December of 2024. Foreign aircraft maintenance facilities are now subject to the same drug and alcohol testing rules as American facilities. Foreign aircraft repair stations must be fully compliant with the new testing rules by Dec. 20, 2027.

The Transport Workers Union represents aircraft maintenance workers at American Airlines, Envoy Airlines, and KLM.

The letter was led by Reps. Jeff Van Drew (R-N.J.) and Julia Brownley (D-Calif.) and signed by an additional 104 members of Congress from both parties.

Letter to Administrator Bedford on Implementation of Foreign Repair Station Safety Requirements

TWU Airbus Flight Simulator Technicians Win Big Gains in 5-Year Contract

Alex Daugherty — Mon, 26 Jan 2026 15:42:53 +0000

Flight Simulator Technicians in Miami and Denver working for Airbus and represented by TWU Local 525 recently ratified a new five-year contract that locks in a 20 percent raise, along with other significant benefits.

The Flight Simulator Technicians set up the massive simulators, which need to be constantly reconfigured to mimic different Airbus aircraft. They also maintain and install the flight simulators along with smaller simulators that train pilots from many different airlines. Currently, TWU members at Local 525 maintain and operate 13 large simulators in Miami and Denver.

“This negotiation strung out for a period of time, but we kept focused on delivering for our members,” said Local 525 President Kevin Smith. “Our Flight Simulator Technicians do critical work, and are sometimes called in at 3am to fix and maintain complicated flight simulators that are in constant use.”

The Flight Simulator Technicians have been part of Local 525 since 2006.

The latest contract also comes with a $15,000 signing bonus, bigger lead shift differentials, and a commitment that healthcare costs will not increase over the duration of the contract.

“This is a significant deal for our Flight Simulator Technicians and this agreement reflects months of hard work, collaboration, and advocacy to secure meaningful improvements and a stronger foundation for our members,” said TWU Air Division Director Andre Sutton.

TWU Tech Newsletter: CES Turns Into An Autonomous Auto Show

Alex Daugherty — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 20:22:05 +0000

This is the monthly edition of the Transport Workers Union’s Transportation Technology Newsletter. We aim to inform and educate our members, the labor movement, the public and policymakers about developments in transportation technology – and what the TWU is doing to ensure that new technology doesn’t undermine safety or harm the livelihoods of hard-working blue-collar workers. For suggestions and questions, please email ewytkind@gmail.com or adaugherty@twu.org.

The TWU Transportation Technology Newsletter will take a one month hiatus in February. We will be back in your inboxes in March.

ITEM OF THE MONTH

TWU AT CES: TWU leaders were on hand at the 2026 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, where the latest developments in automated transportation – and threats to jobs everywhere – were on full display. TWU International Secretary-Treasurer Jerome Lafragola and Administrative Vice President Curtis Tate saw what they described as “more refined” developments in autonomous vehicles.

“These things are evolving, first they looked robotic and now they are adding these luxury elements to them,” Tate said. “These companies keep talking about how they’ve updated their guidance systems and computer matrixes and stuff that’s supposed to make things better but when you won’t stop for a school bus or you take people into a cordoned off police or fire area your technology isn’t what it’s supposed to be.”

Tate and Lafragola said they witnessed automation coming for every sector of the economy while attending CES, with human-esque robots walking around the convention floor. They both said organized labor will play a pivotal role in pushing for laws and regulations that ensure a pro-worker future, instead of letting Big Tech achieve their ultimate goals of slashing labor costs to the bone.

“It’s the labor movement’s job to identify and put in the forefront that technology is awesome when used in conjunction with workers to make things safe or efficient but it’s not cool when it just takes jobs,” Lafragola said.

Lafragola noted that there were “a lot more” autonomous vehicle concepts on display compared to previous CES editions and Business Insider editors declared that CES at this point “has become a car show as much as it remains a tech show.”

WHAT ELSE IS COOKING

WAYMO IN THE WAY: A blackout in San Francisco last month that left traffic lights in the dark came with the added headache of stationary Waymo vehicles blocking traffic across the city, according to multiple media reports. While out-of-commission traffic lights are intended to be treated as four-way stop signs, the Waymo vehicles were unable to adjust and San Francisco resident Matt Schoolfield told CNBC the vehicles “were just stopping in the middle of the street.”

“San Francisco residents are, yet again, a testing ground for Big Tech billionaires,” said TWU International President John Samuelsen. “While TWU members worked hard to get transit up and running throughout the city, Waymos served as an impediment to first responders and residents trying to make their way around the city. A ‘software update’ doesn’t cut it. If autonomous vehicles essentially go dark when traffic lights become inoperable, the technology is nowhere near ready for mass adoption across the country.”

A Waymo spokesperson said the blackout ‘overwhelmed’ their vehicles’ ability to safely drive and caused the fleet to be parked. The company said, as it has after other instances of bad press such as blowing past stopped school buses, that a ‘software update’ will fix the problem. Color us skeptical.

AUTOPILOT PROBLEMS: A family in Washington state alleged in a January 8, 2026, lawsuit that Tesla is, according to news accounts, “partly liable” for a crash involving a motorcycle and a Tesla vehicle operating in ‘Autopilot’, a feature that has drawn significant scrutiny from federal safety regulators. The motorcyclist died tragically in the accident.

“Had the Tesla [Autopilot] system worked as Elon Musk has touted for years, this collision would never have occurred,” said Simeon Osborn, the attorney for the family.

“Tesla tells people that their cars can do more than they do, and people believe it,” the father of the victim told the Seattle Times. And that’s what we want to avoid — having people believe a lie — because Tesla’s cars ain’t safe.”

DRIVERLESS BUS IN ATLANTA, BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE FEDS: The Federal Transit Administration is pumping over $6 million from the federal Low or No Emission Grant Program into an autonomous shuttle in Metro Atlanta that will link the Cumberland Autonomous Mobility (CAM) Network with the CobbLinc transit system.

The initial planned deployment is eight 12-15 passenger ADA-accessible AV shuttles operated by Beep Inc. servicing Truist Park and The Battery Atlanta, where the Atlanta Braves play, as well as the Cobb Convention Center, the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre and other locations. Leaders of this initiative say the service will launch in 2027 and will provide first- and last-mile service in connection with the area’s transit system.

“A reminder to Metro Atlanta officials: transit services without a human operator onboard can be dangerous when the technology fails or when there are unruly passengers or road and weather emergencies,” said TWU Administrative Vice President Curtis Tate. “Operators do not just drive the vehicle – they are first responders and they make sure the passengers are safe. No robotic shuttle or bus can perform those safety duties.”

WHAT WE’RE READING

Volkswagen Robotaxis Without Steering Wheels or Pedals? Electrek.

Heavy Weights Kodiak, Bosch Team Up to Deliver Driverless Big Rigs TechCrunch.

Ford Unveiling Eyes-Free Truck in 2028? Inside EVs.

2026 Michael J. Quill Scholarship Applications Are Now Open!

Alex Daugherty — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 19:10:28 +0000

Applications for the 2026 Michael J. Quill Scholarship are now being accepted. Winners will receive fifteen (15) college-bound dependents of TWU members a scholarship worth $4800.00. This scholarship will be paid out each year in the amount of $1200.00 to winners who continue to be eligible over their four (4) year college course. The scholarship application can be found HERE.

The union has been honoring our founder with these scholarships since 1969. Quill Scholarship awards have benefited hundreds of TWU families. Children of our members in transit, railroad and air transportation, utilities, public employment, space installations, and allied industries are among those who began their college educations with the help of the TWU’s signature scholarship.

The deadline for all applications is April 27, 2026; no applications postmarked after this date will be accepted. No applications will be accepted by fax or email – there will be no exceptions. Winners of the scholarships will be determined by a public drawing, to be held in early June. Winners will be notified by mail 5-7 business days thereafter.

Click here for the rules.

We are grateful to have four additional scholarship sponsors:

• Acrisure

• M3 Technology

• Pitta LLP

• Pitta Bishop & Del Giorno LLC

TWU Gives Back

Pete Donohue — Sun, 18 Jan 2026 00:39:52 +0000

MIAMI, Florida,

The TWU honored Dr. Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. today through action: packaging and delivering boxes of supplies for the homeless in Miami.

TWU locals across the country donated toothpaste, deodorant, shaving cream, feminine hygiene products, and other items for hundreds of individuals and families now temporarily housed at two facilities operated by the Chapman Partnership, a charitable organization. One is in Miami, and the other is in Homestead, Florida.

“Community service is important,” TWU International Administrative Vice President Curtis Tate said at a Miami hotel where the union group gathered to pack items into boxes before delivering them by van. “As Dr King said, it’s about service. It’s about giving back. It’s about uplifting each other. And at the TWU, we strongly believe in that.”

The International is also giving a $5,000 check to the Chapman Partnership, Tate announced.

The Chapman Partnership offers a range of services to empower the homeless and help them regain stability. These include job training, dental and medical care through on-site clinics, tutoring for children, and even a dog kennel. The latter acknowledges the strong bond people share with their pets. Some members of the homeless community refuse services that require separation from their beloved dogs.

TWU volunteers also packaged candy to hand out to kids as they march Monday in Miami’s 49^th Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Parade.

The community service and other MLK weekend events were organized by the TWU’s Civil and Human Rights Department: Director Shirley Duff and members Greg Cosey, Local 513 president; Andrew Rangolan, Local 570 vice president, Thom McDaniel, TWU International staff; Jose Garlarza, International staff; Derek Moore, Local 502; Bobby Cifarelli, Local 2055 president; Reese Price, Local 2014; Tony Crapio, Local 2055; Cassandra Gilbert, International staff rep.; Will Vera, Local 234. Miami-based TWU Local 291 also played a big role, helping out with logistics and other tasks for the charitable event and a union cookout Saturday afternoon.

“This weekend is more than a celebration,” Local 291 President Joseph D’Elia said. “It’s a call to action. Dr King taught us that progress is never guaranteed. It takes courage, unity, and relentless determination.”

Read the Winter 2025 Express!

TWU — Mon, 12 Jan 2026 22:10:56 +0000

The latest Express is Here. Read how the TWU is pushing to get the overtime tax deduction extended to all members, and updates from all divisions, including regaining firefighter jobs at Cape Canaveral, a new freight rail contract in Pennsylvania, and the ongoing threat from automation.

Read the entire Express below!

https://www.twu.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/TWU_Xpress_Magazine-Winter-2025w.pdf