(BUFFALO, NEW YORK) – Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 1342 President Jeff Richardson has been recognized and honored by his Union for his hard work representing the Buffalo Local’s 1,700 Active and Retired Members by his election as Second Vice Chair of the New York State Conference Board and on the Executive Board of the Northeast Conference Board working on behalf of 69 ATU Locals across the East Coast.

The 59-year-old Richardson (Pictured Above/WNYLaborToday.com File Photo), who is currently running for a new three-year term, tells WNYLaborToday.com he is “excited” about the “plethora” of new Union responsibilities, which include contract negotiations, workplace safety and governmental lobbying to “make sure our Members are safe on the job.”

He received the honors during the ATU’s recently-held convention in New York City where Delegates from every ATU Local across North America were in attendance.

“We - (Local 1342’s) Executive Board, our Stewarts, our Members and myself, are ‘one.’ ‘We ‘make sure’ our Members ‘get a fair and equitable contract and I do not accomplish anything without them and our Members.’ ‘This is my life.’ ‘This is my passion,’” said Richardson, who publicly thanked ATU President John Costa “for offering me the opportunity and the years of training (at the ATU’s Tommy Douglas Center) to learn to become a leader.”

Richardson further posted on his Facebook Page: “I'm thrilled to represent our Members and spread inspiration. It's a dream come true! I'm privileged to represent and be a part of all the outstanding ATU Locals in the State, lifting each other up. Also, I'm honored to have been elected as one of the Vice Chairs to represent 69 ATU Locals on the Eastern Coast, a truly humbling experience. I'm grateful for this opportunity to serve on this Executive Board with these exceptional Leaders, pushing the boundaries of excellence.”

The ATU noticing Richardson did not come out of the blue.

He has been raising eyebrows with results and involvement in not only his Union, where he also serves as the Local’s Pension Chairman, but the Labor Movement in general.

First off, since taking office as Local 1342’s President, Membership has had a 32% pay increase, which equates to 4% per year, in a contract with the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA) that further includes an additional sick day and holiday, and a longevity increase “that had not been dealt with for more than 25 years.” (WNYLaborToday.com Editor’s Note - For More Read: “Pressure Breaks Pipes” - ATU Local 1342 Reps Discuss Their Union’s “Historic & Life Changing” Contract With The NFTA, Local ‘Now Fielding Calls From Interested Unions Across The U.S. That Want To Know How They Did It’ - WNY Labor Today: Your On-Line Labor Newspaper, Bringing You Labor News From Across The Nation, New York State & Western New York)

Local 1342’s most-recent deal featured retro pay back to April 1st (2022) from the previous contract, serious raises in each year of the agreement - now coined as equity adjustments, and a $1,750 bonus for the 1,200 Union-represented Employees, which include Bus Drivers, Paratransit Drivers, Mechanics, Porters, Rail and Shop Workers, Tool Helpers, Training Representatives and Clerks.

Additional highlights included: Raises of 2% in year two and 2.25% in year three of the agreement; An equity adjustment raise of 9% on April 1st (2022) for total of 11.25% - “instantly;” Longevity increases on top of the raises, beginning April 1st (2022); A second longevity increase in year two of the contract; Additional bereavement time for the death of grandparents and grandchildren; Additional sick time; A $,1750 bonus for coming to work; Juneteenth added as permanent holiday; A Defined Pension Plan - an 11% company contribution, a 5% Member contribution was not touched; and there was no change to the Members’ employer-paid Health care coverage until 2024, when ATU Members’ investment will increase from 11% to 12%.

All this after nine straight years of zero wage increases.

Secondly, Richardson serves as an Executive Board Member at the Western New York AFL-CIO Area Labor Federation and the Buffalo AFL-CIO Central Labor Council, which honored him as the Grand Marshal of the annual Labor Day Parade a couple of years back.

Richardson started as a Bus Operator 36 years ago (in 1988) before becoming a Station Extra Clerk and then a Train Operator at the NFTA.

He tells WNYLaborToday.com he decided to get more involved in his Union “to help people - and myself.”

“‘If I was going to be there, I had to get control in my own hands if I was going to help the people around me and myself,’” he said. “I’m a ‘true fighter when it comes to helping other people and I wanted to make a career out of it.’”

Negotiations on a new contract with the NFTA are currently ongoing.

The ATU’s contract with the Niagara Fronter Bus and Subway Transportation Entity expired on July 31st (2025).

Richardson says while talks are progressing, major issues - such as wages, pension and health care, have yet to be discussed, and with the holidays just around the corner, he foresees a new contract agreement coming sometime in early 2026, in light of the fact that this time around, binding arbitration is in the picture.

Richardson, who “reads our contract like I read the Bible,” said: “They (the NFTA) ‘don’t want to go that route. I ‘understand and comprehend (our contract), so when I walk into those (negotiations), I walk in with power.’ Right now we have a ‘shortage’ of Operators and Mechanics, ‘so we have to raise the starting rate and top scale’ (to attract more people to the job). ‘But what we want to achieve is a positive contract with better wages and benefits for our Members and their families.’ ‘We are leading by example and I tell our Members that no matter how long you are in our Union - one day or (37) years, or what department you work in - you are all skilled Workers and you are part of our family on day one.’”

Richardson, who has five children and 10 grandchildren, said he could not do what his does for Local 1342’s Membership without the guidance he received growing up from his Mother - Geneva Simmons, and the support from his Wife of 26 years, Alfrieda.

“‘She is my backbone,’” Richardson said. “I ‘miss so many things’ - holidays, birthdays, vacations (due to Union business) ‘and no matter what, she understands.’ ‘You have to have a supportive wife to be an effective’ Union Leader.”

WNYLaborToday.com Editor's Note: Otherwise Noted, Photos Courtesy Of Jeff Richardson's Facebook Page.