Barbados Consul General Hon Mackie Holder presents Earl Phillips with a Citation for his outstanding community service. Photo Credit: Barbados Consulate

After 11 years as TWU Local 100 Secretary-Treasurer, the second highest position in the Union, Earl Phillips, retired in May 2022. He was warmly congratulated on his tenure by President Tony Utano and other Union leaders and staff at a small reception in his honor. International President John Samuelsen also attended the event.

Brother Phillips, 60, was born in Barbados and came to America in 1987 to join his mother and sisters in America. He started an auto-repair business in Brooklyn and was hired by NYCT as a Chassis Maintainer in 1993, working out of East New York Bus Depot in Brooklyn as well as Gun Hill and Kingsbridge Depots in the Bronx. Witnessing work situations that compromised worker safety, he became active with the Union and became a Field Safety Representative in 2002.

In 2009, he was named Director of Safety and Health. In February of 2011, the Union’s Executive Board elevated him to Secretary-Treasurer. He has been serving as Secretary-Treasurer ever since, winning office in four consecutive union elections, expertly managing the Union’s finances, and overseeing a steady increase in the membership rolls. At the same time, he has also been serving as TWU Local 100 Safety Director, managing the Union’s team of field safety reps.

Earl is also an elected International Vice President of the Transport Workers Union of America and has earned numerous honors and awards for labor advocacy, Caribbean-American community service, and charitable work.

On Sunday, July 10, the Barbados Consul General for NY, Hon. Mackie Holder and the Barbados Support Group hosted a retirement sendoff for Phillips with a Soiree at The Palace on Nostrand Avenue in Brooklyn. The very well-attended event included family, friends, colleagues, and several high-profile electeds such as Mayor Eric Adams and State Attorney General Letitia “Tish” James.

Retirement wishes came from a close friend in Barbados, his former Executive assistant, Helen Mahoney, and the Prime Minister of Barbados, Hon. Mia Mottley, who hinted she had plans for him. Phillips shared that his plans were “to cut grass” and wondered what the Prime Minister and Consul General had planned for him.

Phillips received gifts and a citation from the Consul General for his immeasurable contributions to the Barbados Diaspora. He left for his home island the next day with warm wishes and wonderful memories.

  Barbados, Caribbean, Unions