MTA: Ousted transit union boss Richard Davis will be suspended if he returns to work

Ousted transit union boss Richard Davis can’t get back behind the wheel of a bus, the Daily News has learned.

Davis — a bus driver who stepped down as president of Transport Workers Union Local 100 last week after he was suspended amid allegations he pressured a subordinate into a sexual relationship — was told via email Wednesday that he would be suspended from his transit job if he decided to return to it.

“Although you currently remain on union release, given the seriousness of the claims resulting in your union suspension, please know that should you choose to return to paid MTA employment, we will suspend you pending the investigation of these allegations,” wrote Mersida Ibric, MTA’s chief people officer, according to a copy of the email reviewed by The News.

“The MTA will not tolerate sexual or any other form of discriminatory harassment and violators are subject to disciplinary action, including but not limited to termination of employment,” Ibric wrote.

Under the terms of a separation agreement made with Local 100, Davis remains on union release until Friday — meaning he’s excused from doing his MTA job until then. TWU elected officials — should they lose reelection, for example — usually have the option of returning to their MTA jobs.

As previously reported by The News, Davis signed the severance agreement with Local 100, the city’s largest transit union, last week, agreeing to end his employment on Jan. 31. The agreement came amid an investigation by the TWU international union into allegations Davis pressured a subordinate into a sexual relationship, during which he allegedly made professional and physical threats.

The allegations come a little more than a year after a December 2023 lawsuit in which Davis was accused of beating up another transit worker with whom he was romantically involved. The woman accused Davis of punching her in the head and placing her in a headlock during an argument in 2015, and assaulting her again in 2016. The 2015 episode, the lawsuit says, was triggered by the woman asking Davis about other affairs she suspected he was having.

Davis has denied all those allegations, and the lawsuit is ongoing.

Under the terms of his severance agreement with Local 100, Davis will receive 100 weeks of pay and health insurance through the end of 2026.

A spokesperson for Local 100 did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Originally Published: January 29, 2025 at 1:33 PM EST