TWU Local 100 continues to be very concerned about the members being attacked on buses and the subway system. Another union member was attacked at the Times Square 42nd Street subway station on Monday August 24, 2026. The MTA maintenance worker was cleaning the subway platform at the Times Square station when he was attacked about 10:30pm.
The union is outraged by the continual violent attacks throughout the city on transit workers. The union member assaulted at the Times Square station, who has asked that his name not be released, was nearing the end of his shift when he went to retrieve equipment to clean up a recurring leak inside the station. According to the member, the condition had been reported multiple times but had not been repaired. While approaching the area where he needed to work, the Cleaner encountered a man urinating nearby. After addressing the situation, the member asked the individual to move so that he could access the area and clean the platform. The individual became irate and the encounter quickly turned physical. The attacker started an argument with the MTA worker and then stabbed the Local 100 member. The incident unfolded in a matter of minutes and the attacker departed on a 1 train that entered the station. When the assailant was gone, the Local 100 member realized he had suffered serious cuts along his arm, including a laceration that required stitches. He is now recovering at home.
TWU Local 100 President John V. Chiarello said:
“Our member went to work to earn a living, do his job, and help keep one of the busiest stations in the world clean and safe. Instead, he ended his shift injured and requiring medical treatment because someone decided that violence was an acceptable response. There are conditions our members report every day that need to be addressed, and our frontline workers are often the ones left dealing with the consequences. But no matter the circumstances, no transit worker should ever have to fear being slashed, punched, spit on, or assaulted simply for doing their job. We are thankful that our brother is recovering, but we cannot just condemn these attacks after they happen. We have to take steps to prevent them. That is why TWU Local 100 is working alongside the Detectives’ Endowment Association and other unions through the New York State Public Safety Alliance. By bringing transit workers, law enforcement, and other public servants together, we can strengthen communication, advocate for better protections, and make sure the people responsible for keeping New York moving and safe are looking out for one another. Protecting transit workers and protecting the riding public go hand in hand. We need consequences for those who attack our members, and we need everyone responsible for public safety working together before another worker gets hurt or, worse, killed.”
Stations Vice President Robert Kelley said:
“Our Cleaners and Station Agents work face-to-face with the public every day, dealing with situations that most people never see. They deserve to know that when they come to work, someone has their back. Our main concern is for our member and his recovery, but we are also going to continue demanding the protection and support every member deserves.”
The attack highlights the importance of cooperation between the workers who operate and maintain New York City’s transit system and the law enforcement officers as well as the public for keeping New Yorkers safe.
Detectives’ Endowment Association President Scott Munro said:
“This is exactly why we formed the New York State Public Safety Alliance. A hardworking MTA employee should not end up stabbed and in the hospital because he was simply doing his job. Our brothers and sisters at Transport Workers Union Local 100 are members of this Alliance because their fight is our fight. Whether you’re a Detective, transit worker, or any other public servant, you deserve to do your job without being attacked. New York cannot continue tolerating lawlessness while the people who keep this city safe and moving pay the price. We stand together, we demand consequences—and our voices will be heard.”
President John V. Chiarello has been working with DEA President Scott Munro and other labor leaders through the New York State Public Safety Alliance, bringing transit workers and law enforcement together to strengthen workplace safety, advocating for stronger protections, and addressing assaults against public servants.
