The 689 Connector ATU Local 689 Newsletter February/March 2016 - Winter Edition
OFFICERS
Setting the Record Straight From the Desk of President Jackie L. Jeter
Hello Local 689 and Happy New Year!
Jackie L. Jeter President
Esker Bilger Financial Secretary-Treasurer
Larry Lockley, Jr. Recording Secretary
Carroll Thomas 1st Vice President
Raymond Jackson 2nd Vice President
it, but communication, or the lack of, is what’s dividing and killing our morale as a union.We have I love the beginning of a new year because it so many different forms of communication but always affords the possibility of starting anew. As apparently we are not utilizing them to the fullest we move forward, I am encouraged by the new extent possible. We have an Local 689 Website; Executive Board and Shop Stewards who have our E-news - which gives you a snap shot of committed themselves to helping our local union upcoming events; our written newsletter - The enter a new year as we enter into a new century Connector; the ATU Local 689 Official Facebook in our Local’s history. page; Twitter; Text messaging to alert you to upcoming events; flyers; Local 689 bulletin boards; As we move towards solidifying ourselves with and site visits for that face to face, word of mouth the issues that bind us we must also develop a approach. My question for you becomes; If we strategy for conquering the issues that divide have all of these ways to communicate, why are us. We must ask the most important question, we so disconnected and uninformed? how do we get members more involved in the questions and answers facing our union? Each and every one of us can be a better ‘ME” than we were the year before and this year I I will be totally frank; there are times when the challenge you to fine tune your communication answers to some of our issues these days don’t skills and make sure that we each touch a cocome easy. The accomplishments of the past seem union member to assist in the dissemination of to be forgotten so quickly as if we really don’t information. We have a long road ahead of us know how we got here, adding more strength to and this year will prove to be challenging for the term, “what have you done for me lately.” our Local. We are gearing up to begin contract negotiations; we’re attempting to address the As I campaigned throughout the system with my escalation of operator assaults on bus and rail; we teammates I got the opportunity to speak to many are partnering with WMATA to identify additional of you about your opinions concerning WMATA bathrooms on the lines; we have a newly elected as well as your thoughts as to what Local 689 steward who is tackling the eating area issue for can do to better support our members. Many of stations; and of course, we have constant Parayou simply said that a divided membership was Transit mobilizing and internal organizing needs. the biggest problem. You also mentioned the 2010 health insurance issue, the lack of face to Since this newsletter’s theme is about setting the face visits and a lack of understanding about the record straight, let me begin with the Election union. One of the main issues that we were faced challenge process and the investigations that took with was the realization about the information place. being given to the membership as it concerns complicated issues, the resolution of issues and Continued on Next Page... “hot topics.” I am not totally sure how you see
In This Issue:
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February/March Calendars In the Fight with Faye Lawson In Memoriam December Membership Meeting October-December Retirees Union Politics with
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David Stephen 100 Year Celebration Rescheduled January Membership Meeting Labor Supreme Court Gathering News You Can Use Black History Month
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Union Business with Raymond Jackson Snowstorm Jonas Arbitration Resolutions Union Leadership Contact Info APRI Fights to Restore Voting Rights Act Notice of Election