Transit union leader files lawsuit for details on severance package of ousted president.

In a significant development within New York City’s largest transit worker union, a former vice president has launched a lawsuit seeking transparency regarding the severance agreement of a recently ousted leader accused of sexual misconduct. John Paul “JP” Patafio, who is currently a bus driver and a former executive committee member of Transport Workers Union Local 100, filed the lawsuit alongside two other union members in a Brooklyn Federal Court.

The lawsuit follows the removal of Richie Davis, the former president of Local 100, who stepped down in January after being suspended pending an investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct involving a subordinate. Following his exit, Davis negotiated a severance agreement with the union that guarantees him 100 weeks of salary along with health insurance coverage until the end of 2026. Patafio’s legal action contends that this agreement represents a “corrupt misuse of union resources.”

As the complaint outlines, Patafio asserted that neither he nor the other members of the executive committee received a written version of the severance agreement. Instead, they were compelled to approve the deal based on an oral summary provided by the acting president at the time, John Chiarello. Patafio was the only committee member to vote against the separation agreement. Two days after the vote, he reached out to his fellow committee members via email, urging them to convene and reconsider the terms of this agreement, which he claimed was viewed unfavorably by the union membership.

Patafio’s efforts to revisit the severance deal continued for several months, as he expressed concerns about its impact on the union’s reputation and integrity. His lawsuit seeks judicial permission for access to examine and copy the severance agreement in question.

Patafio has faced his own challenges within the union; he was removed from his leadership position in August after reportedly trying to unilaterally impose discipline on a fellow union representative involved in a personal scandal. A spokesperson for TWU Local 100 described Patafio as “a disgraced bus driver,” emphasizing that his removal was supported by an overwhelming majority of the union’s executive board.

This case underscores the ongoing tensions within the leadership of the Transport Workers Union Local 100, as it navigates allegations of misconduct and governance concerns while seeking to serve its membership effectively. The outcome of Patafio’s lawsuit may provide critical insights into the inner workings of the union and its financial decisions.