Willie James

Willie James
President
TWU of Greater NY- Local 100
African
2000 Recipient

Willie James is President of the Transport Workers Union of Greater New York, Local 100 representing more than 35,000 men and women employed in the city’s transportation and allied industries. Willie was named to this post in February, 1996 and thereafter elected to a full term as President in March, 1998. In the fall of 1999, Willie led the Local in system-wide negotiations with the Metropolitan Transit Authority. The resulting agreement, ratified by the membership in February, 2000, was widely hailed as the best public sector contract in a decade.

Willie James came up through the ranks as a MABSTOA DIVISION II Bus Operator, Vice Chairman, Chairman at Amsterdam Garage and Division II Recording Secretary. He currently holds a position as TWU International Vice President at a post to which he was elected in October, 1993. He is also Vice President of the New York State AFL-CIO, a position he has held since 1996 and serves as a Vice President of the New York City Central Labor Council.

A native New Yorker, Willie James was born in Harlem Hospital. He began his career with the Manhattan and Bronx Surface Transit Operating Authority (MABSTOA) in 1967 as a Bus Operator.

Prior to becoming President, Mr. James held the positions of TWU Local 100 Executive Board member, Director of Education and Training, where he was responsible for Steward and Officer training classes and the development of the upgrade training for Cleaners and Helpers. This program provided the skill necessary for employee advancement and enabled the first two women in the history of the Transit Authority, who came from the ranks of Cleaners, to advance themselves to the position of Bus Maintainer.

In addition to his sufficient contributions to the labor movement, Willie has been a member of the Board of Directors of the Municipal Credit Union since 1983; he was elected president, a position he held until 1991. He was elected to the Board of Directors as well as being elected first Vice Chairman by his peers and presently serves in those capacities. The Municipal Credit Union is one of the oldest and largest credit unions in New York State with over two hundred thousand members and over a half a billion dollars in assets.

His many involvements include being an Executive Board Member of the New York Branch of the NAACP, Executive Board Member of the Black Trade Union Leadership Committee, Coalition of Black Trade Unionist, and founding member of the Society of Afro-American Transit Employees (SAATE), 100 Black Men Incorporated, and a Prince Hall Master Mason of Joppa 55.

He is also deeply involved in many civic and community organizations. He was ordained a Deacon at Mount Harmon Baptist Church, and is an active member of Mount Calvary Baptist Church in Harlem as well as a noted soloist.

He firmly believes that when the opportunity presents itself, one should selflessly help somebody without expecting something in return. “Just ask the person who you are helping to pass the baton of love and concern to others in this race of life.” Willie and his wife Rosabelle are the proud parents of two children Daisy Moyd and Charles James, three grandson and nine great grand children.

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