Richard Davis, who led New York City’s most prominent transit union, has stepped down following accusations of sexual misconduct involving a subordinate. The Transportation Workers Union Local 100 (TWU Local 100) announced his resignation in a statement, citing an internal investigation that deemed the allegations credible.
The case, first reported by The Chief Leader, centers on claims that Davis coerced a female employee into a sexual relationship and later threatened her safety and career when she attempted to end the affair. According to the union, TWU International has filed formal charges against Davis, though in his resignation letter, he attributed his departure to health concerns.
Davis, who assumed leadership of TWU Local 100 in December 2022, was suspended earlier this week by TWU International President John Samuelsen. The action came after an internal report concluded that the woman’s accusations were substantiated. The union has announced that John V. Chiarello, the current Financial Secretary-Treasurer, will oversee its operations on an interim basis until a new president is chosen at the executive board’s February meeting.
The alleged victim, whose identity remains confidential, described a pattern of coercion and intimidation. She alleged that Davis pressured her into sexual encounters during business trips and at union offices. When she sought to end the relationship, Davis allegedly retaliated by threatening her job, her family, and her life.
In one instance, Samuelsen directly accused Davis of leveraging his authority to force a subordinate into a sexual relationship and later punishing her professionally when the relationship ended.
This is not the first time Davis has faced allegations of misconduct. A former partner, who also worked in the transit sector, accused him of physical abuse in two separate incidents in 2015 and 2016.
