A new, bipartisan Senate bill backed by the Transport Workers Union of America would expand the No Tax on Overtime policy passed in last year’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” to include about three million workers who are currently ineligible for a tax deduction on overtime earnings.  

“Tens of thousands of TWU members are currently ineligible for the overtime earnings tax break and the TWU will keep fighting this disparity until all of our members get what they deserve,” said TWU International President John Samuelsen. “Pro-worker lawmakers from both parties, and in both chambers, are stepping up to deliver thousands of dollars in savings every year for transport workers and their families.”

The TWU has raised the alarm consistently in recent months that workers employed by airlines, railroads, school bus companies, and motor coach carriers were ineligible for the new overtime tax deduction for up to $25,000 in earnings – a potential savings of up to $6,000 per year. The flaw comes from language in the bill that relies on an outdated definition of overtime dating back to 1938.

Approximately 80,000 TWU workers are ineligible, including airline Maintenance Technicians, commuter train Coach Cleaners, and School Bus Drivers.

The Senate bill, titled the No Tax on Overtime for All Workers Act, is a companion to House legislation that was introduced in September of last year. The Senate bill was introduced by Sen. Jim Justice (R-W.Va.) and Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.).

Dozens of Air Division local presidents and officers convened in Tucson, Arizona, on April 14 for a daylong TWU International conference focused on the broad range of expertise and resources available to help them serve their members.

The Air Division Presidents Meeting featured presentations from International staff and officers on topics including training and education, confronting advancing technology, organizing new workers, using media to advance union goals, improving workplace safety, and building political power. Speakers also outlined the benefits of participating in the International’s committees: the Veterans Committee, the Future Leaders Organizing Committee, the Committee on Political Education (COPE), and the Working Women’s Committee.

“You are part of a very big family,” Air Division Director Andre Sutton said. “We’re here to lend you a helping hand and provide you with the support you need.”

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.

ITEM OF THE MONTH

WAYMO PAUSED: New York City’s Department of Transportation declined to renew permits issued last year to Waymo for autonomous vehicle testing after they expired at the end of March, according to The City. The TWU called for NYC officials to stop autonomous testing in recent months. 

“The Waymo-ization of NYC would be dangerous on many levels,” said TWU International President John Samuelsen. “Automated Waymos across the country have blocked first responders, endangered children entering and exiting school buses, and completely stopped functioning during a recent power outage in San Francisco. All of these problems would be exponentially magnified in New York City. Automated vehicles are not ready for prime time and Mayor Mamdani is standing up for working New Yorkers by denying Waymo’s ability to operate autonomously in NYC.”

Waymo was previously operating eight autonomous vehicles with human safety drivers in parts of Manhattan and Brooklyn. The permit expiration comes a month after Gov. Kathy Hochul walked back her earlier proposal to allow some autonomous vehicles to operate outside of New York City, a move that Samuelsen said is a “last-ditch attempt at saving face” with organized labor.

“The permit expiration is a victory for the TWU and for blue-collar New Yorkers, but Waymo has made it clear from their lobbying dollars and aggressive expansion plans they are not going anywhere,” said TWU Administrative Vice President Curtis Tate. “Unions must remain vigilant and keep fighting the job threats that autonomous vehicles pose.”

HISTORY OF FIGHTING AUTOMATION: TWU Local 100 President John Chiarello was on hand at a recent meeting in Brooklyn to discuss the dangers of automation, part of an effort reported by City and State. In the City and State story, Samuelsen noted that robotaxis are a slippery slope and that the TWU has fought for years against automation attempts on the New York City subway system.

“The 1960s version of Abundance bros was saying, ‘It’s inevitable that there will be fully automated operation of the New York City subway,’” Samuelsen told City and State. “Forward flash 60 freaking years, and there’s still a two-person train crew on the subway cars in New York City. That’s because of the union.”

WHAT ELSE IS COOKING

CABLESS TRUCKS IN TEXAS: The autonomous truck manufacturer Einride is developing a freight corridor on public roads between Austin and San Antonio, Trucking Dive reports, with the company telling Fox 7 Austin they plan to begin testing by the end of the year. Einride’s trucks differ from other autonomous trucks on the road because they are designed without a cab that allows a human to operate the vehicle.

“Autonomous trucking companies are doing everything in their power to cut labor costs and have a track record of cutting corners on safety,” Samuelsen said. “Einride’s trucks are particularly concerning because they do not have space for a human operator in the cab and would require dozens of exemptions from federal safety laws to operate legally. All of the robotrucking companies that currently operate in Texas have the ability for a human to be on board. It is not safe to operate massive trucks on busy highways when the only solution for problems that arise is someone sitting at a computer.”

MASS OPPOSITION: A new poll of Massachusetts voters shows overwhelming opposition to autonomous vehicles in the state and city of Boston, with 73 percent of statewide voters and 67 percent of Bostonians opposing the operation of autonomous vehicles.

The poll, conducted by Workbench Strategy, showed even stronger support for opposing driverless heavy duty trucks, with 86 percent opposing their operation in Massachusetts.

WAYMO PARTNERS WITH LYFT: TechCrunch reports that Waymo is partnering with Lyft in Nashville as it begins to offer public robotaxi rides in the city, a different approach than other partnerships with Uber or in cities like San Francisco where Waymo operates mostly on its own. Lyft will handle fleet services and eventually riders can request a robotaxi through the Lyft app.

CHAOS IN CHINA: In the wake of a similar Waymo robotaxi outage late last year in San Francisco, at least 100 Baidu Apollo Go robotaxis operating in the Chinese city of Wuhan experienced a mass outage, stranding passengers and causing traffic chaos. A passenger told Chinese media that their robotaxi just stopped and flashed, “Driving system malfunction. Staff are expected to arrive in 5 minutes.” Apparently help never arrived so the passenger exited the car on their own.

“No surprise that this flawed driverless technology failed on China’s roads – almost daily a robotaxi in the US malfunctions,” said TWU Administrative Vice President Curtis Tate. “One day it hits a child near a school and the next day it drives into an emergency response scene or disrupts transit bus traffic on city streets. These services should be shut down – they aren’t ready to serve passengers safely.”

This isn’t an isolated incident involving Baidu robotaxis. Last year one of its cars fell into a construction pit.

TESLA PROBE ESCALATES: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is escalating its investigation into Tesla’s so-called ‘full self-driving’ (FSD) technology included in 3.2 million cars including Model S, X, 3, Y, and Cybertruck EVs. Federal safety regulators are investigating the FSD system’s reported failure to “detect and/or warn the driver appropriately under degraded visibility conditions” such as bad weather, glare and fog.

“The probe,” CNBC reports, “has been elevated to an “engineering analysis,” after a string of complaints about collisions in which FSD was in use within 30 seconds of a crash, including one in which a Tesla driver who was using FSD struck and killed a pedestrian.” The Verge reports that this elevated federal probe means FSD is “on the cusp of a recall,” a move by regulators that would validate early safety warnings about this technology in 2021 by National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy.

WHAT WE’RE READING:

Pressed by Sen. Markey, Robotaxi Companies Refuse to Say How Often Their AVs Need Remote Help. TechCrunch

A Self-Driving Car in Texas Hit and Killed a Mother Duck, Sparking Neighborhood Outrage. TechCrunch.

“With Waymo Testing Halted, We Have A Rare Chance To Get Ahead of the ‘Driverless Revolution.’” Streetsblog.

TWU Local 320 – LA Metro Bike Share Union Secures Landmark Contract Extension with Bicycle Transit Systems

(Los Angeles, CA) Members of TWU Local 320, based in Los Angeles, secured a landmark industry-leading contract extension with Bicycle Transit Systems featuring 13% raises over two years and a 32-hour, 4-day work week.

“I could not be prouder of the work our union has done. Every single day, our members grow Metro Bike Share ridership and are helping to build a more bike-friendly LA for everyone,” stated Anne Marie Drolet, Chief Shop Steward, Western Regional Rep, and LA Metro Bike Mechanic.

The landmark agreement with Bicycle Transit Systems builds on the contract that started in 2023 and ran through December 2025.

The extension includes a 13% pay increase over two years – 2026  and 2027.  That means pay increases ranging from 20% to 27% over the total five-year contract. The current contract includes paid sick days and other workplace improvements. The contract extension adds:

– A severance package for any layoffs, which includes healthcare

-Codification of a four-day, 32 hour workweek

-Two-year extension of the contract; and

-13% wage increase over two years

“The hard work, dedication and resilience of TWU Local 320 union members has proven over and over to be unbreakable and unstoppable. They are committed to providing LA’s Metro Bike Share program and its riders with the highest levels of service, quality and safety. Members in LA and nationally continue to ensure that the Transport Workers Union Local 320 maintains its integrity and strength as an unbreakable chain and unstoppable union,” stated Ed Aviles, President of TWU Local 320.

“TWU Local 320 went to the mat for their members and secured an extension that increases pay and locks in critical quality-of-life improvements,” said TWU International President John Samuelsen. “The TWU is America’s largest bikeshare union for a reason, Local 320 delivers for bikeshare workers nationwide from New York to Los Angeles and we’ll keep delivering as we head into the busy spring and summer season.”

The deal comes after TWU Local 320 members endured more than two years of uncertainty as LA Metro has withdrawn two contract awards for the future operation and equipment providers for the LA Metro Bike Share system.

TWU Local 320 represents more than 2,000 bikeshare and scooter workers nationwide during the peak season. Local 320 represents workers in New York City, Boston, Washington DC, Chicago, San Francisco, Portland, and Los Angeles and recently organized bikeshare workers in Pittsburgh.

Bicycle Transit Systems and TWU Local 320 negotiated the contract extension, though the LA Metro Board has the authority to select a contractor to operate the Los Angeles bikeshare network. The TWU successfully fought a proposed takeover of LA Metro’s bikeshare system in 2024. At the time, the LA Metro Board canceled a request for proposal that threatened the industry-leading contract for LA bikeshare workers.

Judge Dismisses Brightline Lawsuit. Union Election Upheld.

A federal judge dismissed a Brightline railroad lawsuit that, if successful, would have invalidated a vote by its workers to join the Transport Workers Union of America.

The judge found Brightline’s legal argument – that the National Mediation Board lacked jurisdiction to conduct and certify the union election in January 2025 – too weak to merit advancing the case to trial. Justice Darrin Gayles, of the U.S. District Court of Southern Florida, granted summary judgment to the NMB in the case that the TWU joined against Brightline.

“This is a huge victory for the workers and the TWU,” TWU International President John Samuelsen said. “Brightline should finally realize it has reached the end of the line. The railroad’s multi-year attempt to silence its workers and deny them the right to negotiate for fair wages and benefits has been nothing short of shameful.” 

TWU Rail Division Director John Feltz said: “Brightline can now stop wasting money on high-priced lawyers who tried to overturn our members’ right to join the TWU. The company should now use its resources to provide our members a contract that provides a fair living wage and better benefits for them and their families.”

The TWU represents about 100  Brightline Onboard Attendants and Lead Attendants. Workers contacted the TWU in 2024 to seek representation, aiming to gain a voice in the workplace and address several issues. These include a draconian sick time policy, heavy-handed discipline without due process, and unpredictable work schedules.

Despite an ugly, anti-union campaign waged by Brightline and its hired gun “union avoidance” law firm, workers voted to join the TWU in January 2025. Brightline challenged the NMB’s jurisdiction with several filings to the agency, before and after the election, and lost. It filed a federal lawsuit in December 2024.

Brightline claimed it is not a railroad as defined by the National Railway Labor Act and therefore not subject to the National Mediation Board’s oversight. Justice Gales ruled that this is an inaccurate interpretation of the law. He also noted that Brightline accepted federal grants that can be awarded only to rail carriers governed by the RLA.

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.

ITEM OF THE MONTH

ALL EYES ON HOCHUL: The New York Times reports that Gov. Kathy Hochul’s move to quash a Waymo robotaxi expansion in New York is due to her desire to get labor backing for her unrelated proposal to lower car insurance premiums. But Transport Workers Union International President John Samuelsen warned that Hochul is simply trying to wait out a reelection bid before returning to boosting Waymo, which currently has temporary permission to operate in NYC through the end of the month.   

WHAT ELSE IS COOKING 

WHAT WE’RE READING

Poll Finds Overwhelming Rider Support

A new poll reveals that subway riders overwhelmingly – nearly 9 in 10 – support legislation requiring the MTA to maintain two-person train crews, with a Conductor and a Train Operator on board.

Most riders view Conductors as essential front-line workers because they deter crime with their uniformed presence, they summon police and other first responders when needed, and are trained for emergencies such as train evacuations, the poll commissioned by The Transport Workers Union found.

Gov. Hochul vetoed legislation requiring two-person crews in December, but the TWU is working with NY state legislators to reintroduce the bill with amendments to address concerns raised in the governor’s veto message. Senator Kevin Parker will sponsor the bill in the Senate, and Assemblywoman Monique Chandler-Waterman is expected to sponsor it in the Assembly.

An alliance of support, led by the Transport Workers Union, is emerging. It includes transit riders and disability activists who rely on two-person crews to help them safely navigate the complexity of the MTA’s transit system, such as Disabled in Action, the Brooklyn Center for the Independence of the Disabled, the Riders Alliance, and Passengers United.

“The overwhelming majority of riders want to keep Conductors on their trains and don’t want to see staffing reduced because of automation,” TWU International President John Samuelsen said. “They don’t trust their safety and security to robots, to artificial intelligence, to technology.”

The poll was conducted by the Honan Strategy Group.

Key Findings:

87% support legislation requiring a two-person crew with a Conductor on subway trains.

86% believe uniformed Conductors deter crime, harassment, and hate incidents, especially at night.

84% agree that having two trained crewmembers on board, instead of just one, is critical during fires, medical emergencies, track incursions, evacuations, and other events.

61% oppose moving to one-person crews, and 61% oppose fully automated trains.

The MTA has One Person Train Operation without Conductors in effect on some of its smaller shuttles and has been adding OPTO technology to major subway lines. The TWU believes the MTA will push for OPTO expansion in upcoming contract talks with TWU Local 100. The contract expires May 15.

A total of 1,517 interviews were completed among transit riders across the New York metropolitan area from February 7th to 14th, 2026 – including New York City (52%), Northern New Jersey (31%), and Long Island (17%).  The survey achieved an overall margin of sampling error of +/-2.51% and larger for subgroups.

Subway rider Dustin Jones 

Dustin Jones has only traveled in the Conductor’s car subway trains ever since becoming a wheelchair user 15 years ago.

“That’s been my car,” he said. “Fifteen years. I’ve never ridden in another car. Ever. It’s a feeling of safety. If something goes wrong, I know I can knock on the window. If I have a question and need an answer, or if someone is acting weird, I don’t have to try and maneuver between cars to try and get help, which is dangerous on two feet, even more dangerous in a wheelchair.”

Rasheta Bunting, who is blind, has been on a train that had to be evacuated between stations three times and can’t imagine not having a Conductor on board. One train came to a halt between stations because of a blackout. The car on another train derailed. And a third train was stuck in place after a subway surfer riding on top was fatally injured.

“Conductors are a necessary part to help the whole MTA subway system work,” she said. “They’re just as integral a part of the process as the motorman. On a scale of one to ten, I’d say it’s a 100 in terms of safety.”

Danny Pearlstein, policy and communications director at the Riders Alliance, agreed: “New York subway riders rely on their conductors on and overwhelmingly want them on board. From providing directions to keeping an official eye on everything that unfolds underground, conductors play an essential role in our comfort and safety.”