In Transit - May/June 2014

OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE AMALGAMATED TRANSIT UNION | AFL-CIO/CLC

MAY / JUNE 2014

THE YEAR OF TRANSIT ACTION

INTERNATIONAL OFFICERS LAWRENCE J. HANLEY International President JAVIER M. PEREZ, JR. International Executive Vice President OSCAR OWENS International Secretary-Treasurer

INTERNATIONAL VICE PRESIDENTS LARRY R. KINNEAR

Ashburn, ON – lkinnear@atu.org

RICHARD M. MURPHY

Newburyport, MA – rmurphy@atu.org

BOB M. HYKAWAY

Calgary, AB – bhykaway@atu.org

WILLIAM G. McLEAN

Reno, NV – wmclean@atu.org

JANIS M. BORCHARDT

Madison, WI – jborchardt@atu.org

PAUL BOWEN Canton, MI – pbowen@atu.org KENNETH R. KIRK Lancaster, TX – kkirk@atu.org GARY RAUEN Clayton, NC – grauen@atu.org MARCELLUS BARNES Flossmore, IL – mbarnes@atu.org RAY RIVERA Lilburn, GA – rrivera@atu.org YVETTE SALAZAR Thornton, CO – ysalazar@atu.org GARY JOHNSON, SR. Cleveland, OH – gjohnson@atu.org ROBIN WEST Halifax, NS – rwest@atu.org JOHN COSTA Kenilworth, NJ – jcosta@atu.org CHUCK WATSON Syracuse, NY – cwatson@atu.org CLAUDIA HUDSON Oakland, CA – chudson@atu.org BRUCE HAMILTON New York, NY – bhamilton@atu.org MICHELLE SOMMERS Brooklyn Park, MN – msommers@atu.org

INTERNATIONAL REPRESENTATIVES

NEWSBRIEFS

Raising gas tax not political suicide in states that have done it U.S. lawmakers continue to avoid the most obvious solution to the transportation funding deficit – raising the gas tax. But, Transportation for America points out that in two states where lawmakers recently raised the gas tax they received subsequent support from voters.

In 2012, Pennsylvania legislators gave the state Department of Transportation $2.3 billion to repair and maintain the state’s roads, bridges and mass transit system – a 40 percent increase in the department’s budget – by a vote of 113-85 in the House and 43-7 in the Senate. In Virginia, there were similar results, where only about 5% of legislators who approved a gas tax increase lost their seats in the following election.

Toledo transit workers protest lack of funding, stalled contract “Fix it, fund it, make it fair,” was one of the chants of Local 697 transit workers calling on Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority (TARTA) leaders to improve working conditions for paratransit drivers and to change how the agency’s local tax subsidy is collected to better fund the system.

Along with pushing for higher paratransit wages in a new contract, the workers charge that understaffing has forced unpredictable overtime on its members. The members of have been working without a labor contract since 2011.

21 arrested at transportation sit-in protest A demonstration at the Massachusetts Department of Transportation calling for a more affordable youth ridership program resulted in the arrest of 21 protesters and public transit advocates. Troopers arrested the 11 women and 10 men, mostly young adults, who remained after that time on trespassing charges, state police said in a statement. All were released on bail the following night.

The hours-long protest was staged by the Youth Affordabili(T) Coalition, who have waged a seven-year crusade demanding monthly youth transit passes at a reduced cost. The coalition is calling for a $10-a-month MBTA youth pass, “which would be available to young people ages 12 to 21, valid for use year-round without time or day restrictions,” according to a statement.

INTERNATIONAL OFFICERS EMERITUS

ANTHONY WITHINGTON

International President Jim La Sala, ret.

International President Warren George, ret.

DENNIS ANTONELLIS

International Executive Vice President Ellis Franklin, ret.

International Executive Vice President Mike Siano, ret.

Sebastopol, CA – awithington@atu.org Spokane, WA – dantonellis@atu.org

STEPHAN MACDOUGALL

Boston, MA – smacdougall@atu.org

ANTHONY GARLAND

Washington, DC – agarland@atu.org

CANADIAN DIRECTOR MICHAEL MAHAR

Rexdale, ON - director@atucanada.ca

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CONTENT

M AY/J U N E

2014 Vol. 123, No. 3

18 NYC School Bus Local Has Ongoing Meetings

with Mayor DeBlasio

New Report: Privatization Triggers ‘Alarming Race to the Bottom’ for Middle Class

19 Attacks on Denver Bus Drivers Increase, New App

Will Help Make Everyone Safer

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2014: THE YEAR OF TRANSIT ACTION

Tulsa Paratransit Users Oppose Threatened Cuts

20 ATU Heroes 21 Public Transit Poised for Leading Role

in Battling Climate Change 22 Salem, OR, Church Proclaims

‘Transit a Right for All’

Edmonton Considers Monthly Transit Passes to Low-Income Residents

23 ATU Out in Force at Kansas City Stand Up

to ALEC Rally

TRANSIT WORKERS, ADVOCATES RALLY, DESCEND ON CAPITOL HILL FOR TRANSIT FUNDING

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2 International Officers & General Executive Board

NEWS Briefs

3 Index Page 8 Legislative Report: This Plan Does Not Deliver 9 International President’s Message:

Join the Campaign 10 International Executive Vice President’s

Message: Movements and Institutions

Koch Brothers Attack Public Transit Again

24 Funding Cuts Force Agencies to Buy More Parts

for Aging Fleet 25 People with Disabilities Struggle with Inadequate

Public Transit 26 Salt Lake Local Grieves New Bus Cameras 27 Translations (Spanish) 30 In Memoriam 31 Union Plus 32 Stay Connected - For the Latest ATU News

and Action Alerts Please Check Out the

ATU’s Social Media Network

11 International Secretary-Treasurer’s Message:

Little Known Case Threatens US

Public Sector Unions 12 Year of Transit Action Flyer 13 ‘Allies at Every Stop’ Training Continues

Former Bay Area Local President Antonette Bryant Named International Representative

14 Transportation Reauthorization Debate Heats Up

Canadian Driver Fatigue Bill Advances

IN TRANSIT

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2014

THE YEAR OF TRANSIT ACTION

ATU MEMBERS HAVE FANNED OUT ACROSS NORTH AMERICA TO PROMOTE PUBLIC TRANSIT IN COMMUNITIES AND IN THEIR NATIONS. “We’re here today not just defending the transit status quo, instead we are fighting to give Americans the type of public transit they deserve.”

— ATU President Larry Hanley

From Bloomington, IN, to Erie, PA; Ottawa, ON, to Concord, CA, Syracuse, NY, to Saskatoon and beyond, ATU members are holding rallies, leafleting events, and “ride-alongs” with elected officials to mobilize riders to demand more, better, and safer public transit in the U.S. and Canada.

A group of memners and riders hold up their cell phones after contacting their elected officials during a rally in Erie, PA.

ATU International President Larry Hanley and Local 256 President/ Business Agent Ralph Niz at the Rally to Fund Transit in Washington, DC

in Queens’s buses and service. “Public transportation is the backbone of this city,” ATU leaders there said. “It is a civil right of the neighborhoods we service.”

Pressure In Fall River, MA, members of Locals 174, and 1037, joined Bus Riders United, the Massachusetts Senior Action Council and others at a rally to preserve evening bus service, which could come to a screeching halt in six weeks.

Meanwhile in Queens, NY, members of Locals 1056 and 1179 were leafleting riders to push long overdue investment

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To put pressure on elected officials to fund public transit a phone bank was set up by Local 519 in La Crosse, WI, transit workers, and the Municipal Transit Utility (MTU).

MTU is expecting 1.2 million riders in 2014 – a 3% jump from the year before. But while ridership increases every year, public funding doesn’t follow suit.

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An innovative approach was taken by Local 1579, in Gainesville, FL, whose members paid for the operation of Gainesville’s Regional Transit System (RTS) on May 20 so that passengers could ride free. Local President Mary Frances Folz-Donahue said the local funded the fare-free rider appreciation day to highlight how significant federal funding is for the operational and capital needs of RTS. In addition to those listed above, demonstrations and rallies were also held by Locals 1005, in Minneapolis, MN; 1637 in Las Vegas, NV; and 682 in Ft. Wayne, IN, among others.

A member in Minneapolis, MN, talks to a rider about the importance of mass transit, in regards to its effect on the environment.

Newly organized members of Local 714, demonstrated and leafleted in support of increased transit funding in Bangor, ME. “The country and this area, we need public transit. A lot of the very poor, working poor, have no other alternative than to take the bus. There will be a lot of people hurting if we have to cut service,” says Bangor Shop Steward Susan Warner.

Innovative That same day, provincial NDP and Liberal Party MP candidates joined members of Local 846 for a “ride-along” in St. Catharines, ON. The event provided both the public and the candidates an opportunity to discuss their parties’ positions on public transit.

Members speak to a disabled rider about the need more funding in Saskatoon, Canada. Unfortunately, adults with disabilities are twice as likely as those without disabilities to have inadequate transportation (31 percent vs. 13 percent).

Are you in?

With key elections coming in both the U.S. and Canada and the pending transportation funding law in the U.S. set to expire October 1, the visibility and voices of workers and our riders are even more urgently needed.

Throughout the rest of the year transit workers and supporters will continue to hold rallies, leaflet, and other events to galvanize riders at bus depots and train stations.

And those riders will then be encouraged to contact their elected officials and demand increased funding for public transit.

It’s easy, fun, and rewarding to mobilize riders into the campaign for more, better, and safer public transit.

A member talks to a young rider about the effects of transit on unemployment. Syracuse, NY.

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Are you in? Get involved today and let your voice be heard. v

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LEGISLATIVE AGENDA

This plan does not deliver Our roads are crumbling. Bridges buckling. Transit systems are being stretched to capacity as ridership goes through the roof, fares go up, and service levels go down.

Funding from Washington is flat because the federal gas tax, which funds highway and transit programs, has not been raised in more than 20 years.

So how do House Republicans propose to come up with enough money to keep systems running? By ending sixday delivery at the U.S. Post Office!

No, your eyes are not deceiving you. That’s their plan.

The House GOP wants to shore up the Highway Trust Fund by making several changes to the United States Postal Service, including ending the six-day delivery mandate.

They think it can save billions of dollars that can be shifted over to transportation needs.

Bad transportation policy Like the misguided effort to cut public transportation out of the Trust Fund two years ago, this idea is simply bad transportation policy that is certain to derail the House version of the surface transportation bill right from the start.

An inscription on the James Farley Post Office in New York City currently notes that no matter the weather, letter carriers get the job done. If the ill-advised proposal by House leadership moves forward, that creed will be broken, and it will be necessary to change the inscription to say:

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May/June 2014 | IN TRANSIT

Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds, but House Republicans don’t recognize the need to invest in our nation’s infrastructure and thought that stealing $10.7 billion from the Post Office over the next ten years was a wise policy. Your mail will get there eventually. Hopefully it was nothing important.

Ridiculous How ridiculous. ATU is standing with the National Association of Letter Carriers in strong opposition to this gimmick.

We are calling on Congress to pass a fully funded, six-year surface transportation bill by raising the gas tax and passing the so-called “Robin Hood Tax,” imposing a tax on certain financial transactions to strengthen our financial security, reduce market volatility, expand opportunity, and stop shrinking the middle class. This proposal could generate billions of dollars for infrastructure.

What’s next? Shifting money from Social Security to pay for a slush fund for big banks? With this crowd in charge, anything is possible. v

LARRY HANLEY, INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT

Join the campaign In Toledo, OH, a local union is rallying its members to harness the power of their community in asserting their rights to human dignity. In Providence, RI, a local has, through pressure from riders and members, gotten the state legislature to add $2 million in operating aid to the system.

In three provinces and 18 states and the District of Columbia local unions have provided their members with effective ATU training. More than 6,000 members have been trained since January. This is well in excess of ten times the numbers we trained in the past.

Since May, our locals have engaged riders in seven provinces, over 28 states, and the District of Columbia.

From Olympia, WA, to St. Catharines, ON; from Erie, PA, to Concord, CA; from to Saskatoon, SK, to Bangor, ME; and so many places in between, our local unions took unprecedented actions across North America – the likes of which this Union has never seen.

We have begun We have begun the walk down the road to solidarity with our communities; the walk toward real power. Throughout this issue you will see the remarkable efforts of many local unions. I salute their officers and members for a job well done.

Let’s continue to expand our efforts. ATU International is prepared to train more members and provide the leadership necessary to do the job. So to all members I say, “Join the effort now to improve transit, protect worker respect, and make our Union strong!” v

Please visit www.atu.org for more information and the latest ATU news.

ATU makes things happen Clad in ATU t-shirts, members held rallies and “ridealongs” with elected officials. And they handed out more than 650,000 leaflets to spur riders and transportation supporters to call their legislators to demand more, better and safer public transit.

These are the actions of a union with new life. This Union is making things happen.

But, much more can and must be done to defend and grow our systems, and protect our riders and members.

IN TRANSIT

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JAVIER PEREZ, JR., INTERNATIONAL EXEC. VICE PRESIDENT

Movements and Institutions Within the hollowed halls of Labor today there is much hand wringing wondering what to do as they watch the density of unionized members in the US workforce drop to eleven percent. Is Labor organized, is Labor a movement or is Labor an institution? And what is the difference?

Labor became strong in the U.S. during the struggles of 1917 through the 1930s. Even though Herbert Hoover won the 1928 presidential election promising there would be “a chicken in every pot and a car in every garage,” men, women and immigrants jointly soon learned as my godmother use to say, “They didn’t even have a pot to piss in.” And so by the happen stance of need they evolved a joint ideology of hope, and shared an inner passion to make change happen.

International President Hanley has often shown and encouraged members to watch the movie “At the River I Stand.” The movie documents two eventful months in 1968. What began as a local labor dispute between African American sanitation workers and the white power structure of Memphis grew into the devastating tragedy of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and a national struggle for racial and economic justice.

Turning point It marked a turning point in the civil rights movement. Julian Bond, while head of the NAACP, said, “The film reveals how the black and labor movements both win by struggling together!” The struggles of Cesar Chavez’s United Farm Workers during the early grape boycotts is another example.

There is a strong argument that, movements gave strength to the House of Labor and that labor unions have become institutions that seek to preserve the gains won by movements.

Yes, labor unions were able to expand workers rights and benefits through bargaining but would any of this have been possible had not the public awakened to the

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May/June 2014 | IN TRANSIT

inescapable reality of problems?

Would any of our gains been possible without an inflection point a triggering event? The Memphis sanitation workers story is an excellent example of this.

Labor assisted the noted groups through finances and strategy. In doing so Labor earned acceptance from the larger community and with this achieved many gains for all.

Lessons learned from history Our ATU recognizes the lessons learned from history. We know that in order to keep our profession on a higher plane and to continue to provide a path from poverty to a middle class living we had to change.

Change is not easy the path is not and will not be always smooth. And, yes, there are those who are skeptics and those are sitting on the sideline to see what happens.

In order to form a more perfect Union we the people are reaching out to our riders; we are forming a movement within both our countries that will help all.

These past months I have had the privilege to attend various conferences’ and caucuses. I thank each of you in Canada and the US who have stepped up and embraced the change that we need. I’ve had the privilege to work side-by-side many. Let’s challenge those who have not stepped up I leave you with these thoughts, “Lets organize every work place, every town, every rider around. There’ll be no stopping us, no backing down. Forward together, not one step back! v Please visit www.atu.org for more information and the latest ATU news.

OSCAR OWENS, INTERNATIONAL SECRETARY-TREASURER

Little known case threatens US public sector unions The U.S. Supreme Court is set to rule on a little-publicized case that could have far-reaching ramifications for public sector unions. In Harris v. Quinn three home health aides (out of 20,000) represented by the National Right to Work Legal Fund are challenging an Illinois law that requires them to become members of a union and pay dues.

Even though an uncontested majority of these workers voted to unionize in 2003, the plaintiffs argue that “forcing” them to join a union is unconstitutional because they are not public employees who are represented by unions in Illinois, but rather employees of the Medicaid patients they care for.

They claim that collective bargaining with the state amounts to petitioning government. Consequently, they argue, that even if they are public workers, bargaining on their behalf is political and they should not be compelled to support it with their dues.

Lost in the argument Lost in the argument are the benefits created by organizing Illinois home health care workers.

John A. Logan, professor and the director of the Labor and Employment Studies program at San Francisco State University, writing May 29, in The Hill, says: “Unionization and collective bargaining has transformed the lives of home care aides. Before bargaining, Illinois aides received $7 per hour and no benefits. This year they will receive $13 per hour plus benefits. According to the National Women’s Law Center, unionized home care aides enjoy improved and more regular compensation and benefits, more efficient payment procedures,

a grievance process, greater access to training, and a stronger voice in rulemaking. In every state that has granted bargaining rights, standards for home care aides have improved. In its ideological crusade to destroy labor rights, however, NRTW would happily see these most vulnerable workers forced back into poverty and it would reverse the improvements in home care services provided to elderly and disabled patients.”

Implications The implications of a Supreme Court decision barring states from requiring any public sector employees to become members of unions their fellow workers vote to join should be pretty obvious to everyone.

There’s no question that such a ruling threatens public sector worker unions, the people they serve, and could eventually affect ATU members as well.

I find it strange that such an important case has evoked such little public interest. So I’m doing my part to make you aware of it, with the hope that our informed understanding of the issues involved will spur us to action when necessary.

This is part of what we need to do as part of the transit action we are all undertaking throughout the rest of the year. v

Please visit www.atu.org for more information and the latest ATU news.

IN TRANSIT

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This leaflet and others are available for Local Presidents to use to mobilize members to get involved in the campaign for more, better, and safer transit.

Please send an email to officeofthepresident@atu.org.

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May/June 2014 | IN TRANSIT

‘Allies at every stop’ training continues

Former Bay Area Local President Antonette Bryant named International Representative International President Larry Hanley has appointed former Local President Antonette C. Bryant, 1555-Oakland, CA, as an international representative.

Bryant has 22 years of experience in the San Francisco area local since starting with BART as a station agent in 1991. She began as a steward for part-timers (the first in the local’s history) fighting to improve working conditions and ensure contractual equity on behalf of members who had part-time status.

More members are taking part in ATU “Allies at Every Stop” training to learn new strategies to empower and get members involved, make our locals stronger, and put events together for May Transit Action Month.

Held in Providence, RI; Oakland, CA; Minneapolis, MN; Wilmington, DE; Portland, ME; Ottawa, ON, and other cities, the trainings covered how to be an effective union member in a hostile work environment, building rider and community coalitions, strategies for bargaining and grievances, and other topics.

As a result, more locals have begun leafleting at bus stops, train stations and other transit venues to engage riders in our campaign.

In 1994, Bryant was key to resolving grievances, leading to a memo of understanding that remains in the contract as a framework for the improved working conditions of part-time members.

Nearly four years later, Bryant assumed full-time status as a steward; she was soon elevated to chief steward. In this capacity, she became even more involved in union activities from attending numerous trainings as well as serving on the local’s Violence in the Workplace Committee and on the Bay Area Violence in the Workplace Committee.

An activist approach “Antonette Bryant brings an activist approach to her new role as an international representative, says International President Hanley. “At Local 1555, she helped negotiate the highest compensation ever over consecutive years. As a member of the International Black Caucus and the International Latino Caucus she has distinguished herself as a tireless fighter for our members.”

Recent honors she has received include the 2014 Outstanding Business and Professional Woman Award from the Gamma Nu Chapter of the Iota Phi Lambda Sorority, and the 2014 Rosina Tucker Award for Union Woman of the Year by the San Francisco Chapter of the A. Philip Randolph Institute. v

More trainings are being scheduled; so don’t miss your opportunity to take part in these exciting events. Contact your local officers and tell them you want ATU training or email us directly at training@atu.org. v IN TRANSIT

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Transportation reauthorization debate heats up issues – fixing the Postal Service and the Highway Trust Fund and fails to solve either problem.”

There is a sense of urgency about replenishing the trust fund because it could run out of money as early as July, sending 700,000 workers home without a job.

Meanwhile, Congress is debating what will be contained in the new bill, and how transit will be funded.

Surface transportation reauthorization bill An idea about how to shore up the flagging transit and highway Trust Fund developed in the House of Representative has run into trouble in the Senate.

Proposals run the gamut from President Obama’s forwardlooking increase in transit funding to others that simply maintain the status quo which is leading to a steady decline of the nation’s once-proud transportation system.

Several House members are proposing that money saved by eliminating most Saturday postal service over the next 10 years, could be transferred to the Trust Fund. But Senate Democrats are not impressed.

ATU and local and national organizations have formed a coalition interested in driving the discussion toward authorizing a national program that meets the needs of Americans.

“The proposal from House Republican leadership is a nonstarter,” says Senator Tom Carper, D-DE, who heads the Senate subcommittee that oversees highway programs.

“It kicks the can down the road yet again on two pressing

The coalition plans to keep the heat on from now until a bill is considered. So much of the future of transportation, and the nation, itself, will be determined by what ends up in this legislation. v

Canadian driver fatigue bill advances On the morning of May 13, 2014, ATU was FOUR votes away from getting the Hours of Service for Motor Coach Operators changed.

Later, Local President Allan Medd, 1624-Peterborough, ON, announced that they have all the votes they need to get the changes to Hoursof-Service regulations brought to the House of Commons. The MPs who are in support of the campaign have begun to draft the changes to present to the House.

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The changes the local has been advocating include a 10-hour maximum drive time per day, a 14hour maximum on duty per day, a 10-hour minimum of core rest between shifts and equipping all motor coach vehicles with electronic logging technology.

ATU believes current regulations and legislation work minimally at best and do not come close to lessening or preventing fatigue from occurring.

May/June 2014 | IN TRANSIT

In 2013, Transport Canada helped develop the North American Fatigue Management Program (NAFMP), which is a tool to educate drivers, their families and carriers about how to manage fatigue. Medd says this tool may compliment legislative amendments his local is backing, but on its own, it is essentially useless under the current Commercial Vehicle Drivers Hours of Service legislation. v

Transit workers, advocates rally, descend on Capitol Hill for transit funding Rev. Al Sharpton, Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-OH, International President Larry Hanley and other elected officials joined transit workers and advocates from 40 states, May 20, for a Capitol Hill rally to galvanize U.S. support for more, better and safer public transit.

After the rally, supporters stormed Capitol Hill to advocate increased funding of public transit in the U.S. surface transportation reauthorization bill, which is needed to replace the current legislation set to expire, October 1. Passage has become even more urgent as the transportation trust fund enabled by the legislation will run out of money by August.Â

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Needed: An urban agenda Other speakers included Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-OR, Rep. Marcia Fudge, D-OH, Jersey City (NJ) Mayor Steven Fulop, and Transport Workers Union International President Harry Lombardo.

“I think that if people take the time to explain that something has to be done to support our bridges, our roads and our transit, then the people will accept it. The idea that the United States Congress can’t act and increase the tax to fund all these important programs is ridiculous,” asserted Hanley.

“With our exploding urban populations, worsening traffic jams, young people forgoing cars, transit ridership at record levels and stressed public transit systems, we need a major urban agenda and investment to address the growing demand for public transit,” said Hanley.

“Today, National Transit Call Congress Day, workers and transit advocates are reaching out to riders across the country to encourage them to call their Members of Congress to urge investment in public transit. We’re here today not just defending the transit status quo, instead we Rep. E

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are fighting to give Americans the type of public transit they deserve.”

You can’t honor King without honoring transit workers Rep. Alan Grayson, D-FL, International Executive Vice President Oscar Owens, Transport Workers Union Executive Vice President John Samuelson, and Alicia

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May/June 2014 | IN TRANSIT

Jersey City (NJ) Mayo e, D-OH

r Steven Fulop

Williamson from Pittsburghers for Public Transit, also addressed the crowd.

son, Alicia William sit for Pub lic Tran Pittsb urghers

Sharpton may have summed up what the event was all about commenting, “This is not political. This is happening in red states and blue states, yet Republicans are gutting money from transportation programs.

“I marvel at how those in Washington can hang up Dr. King’s picture, and then turn around and discriminate against transit workers. What do you think Dr. King stood for? He didn’t stand for a monument on the Potomac. He stood for those who drove mass transit… You can’t honor him and dishonor the folks he gave his life for.”

While impressive, the rally was just the first salvo in a campaign that will continue throughout the rest of the year. v

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NYC school bus local has ongoing meetings with Mayor de Blasio

NEW REPORT

Privatization triggers ‘alarming race to the bottom’ for middle class

Leaders of Local 1181-New York, NY, is meeting with NYC Mayor de Blasio at City Hall to discuss the reinstatement of job protections removed by former Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

Bloomberg created chaos in the city and a school bus strike in February 2013, by eliminating long-held employee protections that ensured that the most experienced school bus drivers and matrons kept their jobs and retained their pay.

During his campaign de Blasio signed a letter stating that he would revisit the protections when elected. Local 1181 said the City Hall sitdown was “very productive and cordial,” adding that “both sides agreed to additional meetings on the topic in the very near future.” v

April 26, 2013 - Students from Cesar Chavez Public Charter School joined with community leaders, and ATU Local 689 members at a city council hearing asking council members not to privatize 20 public bus lines.

What would you say to someone who offered you an old 1968 Volkswagen Transporter in exchange for your brand, new Ford or GM truck, and told you that you were getting a better deal? Your response might not be printable.

That, however, is the “bill of goods” many communities are accepting when they agree to privatize or contract out essential public services to private, for-profit businesses.

At ATU we know all too well the failed examples of outsourcing transit systems.

From Fairfield, CA, to Augusta, GA, and Nassau County, NY, to Phoenix, AZ, privatization has resulted in service cuts, safety being compromised, and fares being raised.

That’s the conclusion of a new report called Race to the Bottom: How Outsourcing Public Services Rewards Corporations and Punishes the Middle Class recently released by the organization, “In the Public Interest.”

The report includes case studies from across the country in which the false promises of privatization have triggered an “alarming race to the bottom,” as far-away corporate executives benefit from lucrative government contracts while local communities suffer the consequences of lower quality services and middle class jobs being replaced with poverty-level wages – all inadvertently funded by local taxpayers. v The full report can be found at: http://www.inthepublicinterest.org/sites/default/ files/Race_to_the_bottom.pdf

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Attacks on Denver bus drivers increase, new app will help make everyone safer Targeting drivers threatens everybody Passengers who ride the bus frequently say they don’t like riding the bus due to safety concerns, but for some people they have no choice. One frequent passenger says “unruly passengers put everyone on the bus in jeopardy, but the driver is the initial target.”

Transit police say that new high definition cameras will replace very low resolution or non-working cameras on multiple RTD buses over the next two years.

As attacks on Denver’s Regional Transit District (RTD) bus operators and employees increase, new tools are being released that will help make everyone safer. A FOX31 Denver investigation team recently revealed how a rise in videotaped attacks on RTD employees is leading to new security measures, which will potentially create a safer environment for drivers and riders.

The number of assaults on RTD drivers has doubled within the last year. Records show 12 drivers, plus an additional 26 RTD employees were victims of physical violence or received death threats in 2013 while doing their jobs. The investigation revealed videotapes of a dozen other incidents which show drivers getting spit on, slapped, threatened with death, having hot coffee thrown in their faces, and hit with heavy objects.

New transit security app available RTD also announced that passengers will soon have the power to quietly report safety concerns with a new cell phone app called “Transit Watch”.

“People are hesitant to call 911 unless it’s a really big deal, so the app is perfect; direct contact,” says the Transit Police Commander. “The transit system belongs to all of us and this allows are riders to be involved with their own safety and the safety of the others around them.” v

Tulsa paratransit users oppose threatened cuts Thousands of Tulsa, OK, bus and paratransit riders rely on public transportation to live productive lives outside their homes, but proposed budget cuts would decrease the program’s hours of operation. Recently a group of concerned paratransit riders packed into the Town Hall to address the city council regarding the cuts. With more than 40 signed up, citizens had to wait outside, taking turns to enter and speak.

First to address the council was Judy Mattox, the leader of the group “Transit Matters” – a coalition of ATU members, bus riders, bicyclists, pedestrians and others who support a strong public transportation system in Tulsa. Transit Matters collected over 2,600 signatures on a petition opposing the proposed cuts. Many said shortened hours would create serious problems for Tulsa’s wheelchair community.

“Cutting these precious hours will cause us to lose our independence and freedom to be able to go to doctor appointments, college, vocational classes,” said one rider. “It is my life. I can’t go anywhere without it,” said another. Yet, another speaker summed it up saying, “Transportation is critical. It’s a deal maker or a deal breaker.” v IN TRANSIT

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ATUHEROES OREGON

OHIO

NORTH CAROLINA

Heroic bus driver saves toddler wandering in road

Toledo drivers use teamwork to help find missing elderly man

Raleigh bus driver helps catch NC State sex assault suspect

Thanks to the quick thinking and teamwork of two Toledo Area Regional Paratransit Service drivers a missing elderly man was found safe and unharmed. After attending church a woman boarded Local 697 member Maureen Wilcheck’s paratransit bus looking for an 80-year-old parishioner who had gone missing.

A man police say sexually assaulted a North Carolina State University woman was caught after an alert Raleigh bus operator recognized a passenger on his bus as the alleged assailant in a picture released to the media.

It’s every parent’s nightmare, but a Local 757 bus operator prevented it from being a lot worse.

A Portland, OR, driver is being hailed as a hero after he rescued a toddler wandering in the street after walking out of his family’s apartment.

Bill Clark, a TriMet driver for nearly seven years, and a former Greyhound driver for 10 years was quick to act.

Security cameras captured the incident at the exact moment Clark slammed on the brakes, and dashed into the road to retrieve the barefoot child, dressed in only a diaper and a t-shirt.

The toddler did not seem scared, but could not tell Clark where he lived, so the driver brought the boy on the bus and immediately contacted the police.

Local police tracked down the boy’s parents two hours later, and reunited the 2-year-old with his father, who had also called the police. Clark says he did what “anyone else should have done… I guess God put me in the right place at the right time.”

Transit police have submitted a commendation for Clark. v

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Wilcheck put out a radio call to other drivers in the area, and within minutes, fellow driver Lora Brooks spotted the man sitting near a bus stop in the company of two strangers.

Brooks said the man’s jacket didn’t quite match what she had heard on the radio, but the rest of the description was close enough that she stopped to check.

Clarence Whalen, head of security at Cedar Creeks’s West Toledo Branch said the TARPS drivers’ attentiveness “was a key component of finding the man quickly after his disappearance.”

The church was extremely grateful to the drivers and TARPS is considering commendations for Brooks and Wilcheck to recognize their heroic actions. v

May/June 2014 | IN TRANSIT

Police sent out a widespread alert and launched a massive search after the assault was reported.

A bus driver subsequently called the police to notify them that the suspect at large was on his bus. Campus Police officers were waiting when the bus pulled over on Salisbury Street, where the man turned himself in.

Bus drivers who often serve as the eyes and ears of communities across the United States and Canada routinely go above and beyond the call of duty – while moving millions of passengers where they need to go daily. v

Public transit poised for leading role in battling climate change For decades, DC Comics and Hollywood have captured the world’s imagination with tales of superheroes saving our planet from alien destruction. In the real world, however, aliens aren’t the problem. We’ve become our own worst enemy. Carbon emissions are our weapons of choice and together with our sedentary lifestyles; they’re destroying life, as we know it.

A new study released by the White House predicts that the extreme temperatures, floods, wildfires, and other natural disasters that have wreaked havoc on communities and transportation systems across the U.S. recently are only a glimpse of what’s to come, unless Americans get serious about changing their energy consumption and transportation habits.

Saving the world requires collective effort

However saving the world, it turns out, requires individual and collective effort. Fortunately, public transit is poised for a leading role. One person switching from a car to ride the bus, train or subway can cut annual carbon emissions by more than 4,800 pounds.

The report, Climate Change Impacts in the United States, highlights findings of the U.S. National Climate Assessment and cites the transportation sector as both a victim and contributor to the climate change problem. The report applauds jurisdictions that already integrate climate change into transportation planning and asset management, but says more “strenuous action by all major emitters” is needed.

So, next time you hear people groaning about climate change, remind them to take the bus and support greater investment in public transit. v

President Obama proposed news rules to limit carbon pollution from existing power plants, which is progress.

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Salem, OR, church proclaims ‘transit a right for all’

In 1968, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. famously said, “Urban transit systems in most American cities have become a genuine civil rights issue. If transportation systems in American cities could be laid out so as to provide an opportunity for poor people to get to meaningful employment, then they could begin to move into the mainstream of American life.”

A church congregation in Salem, OR, took the next logical step and

adopted a proclamation affirming that all residents have a right to public transportation. The “right” was expressed as the right to participate in community life.

No way to get to work For lower income families in Salem, cars are one of the biggest issues and a major reason they can’t get ahead.

Many facing serious debt end up losing their cars because they can’t

afford to keep them and then have no way to get to work.

The proclamation was created to put pressure on the local governments to recognize that having a “crippledfrom-birth, half-funded transit system is not just an economic burden for a huge number of Salem’s most vulnerable people but also an injustice that demands the attention of any person or group concerned with fairness and equity in Salem.” v

Edmonton considers monthly transit passes to low-income residents Recognizing the importance of access to public transit for all, the Edmonton (AB) Transit System Authority Board has proposed a monthly pass be made available for low-income earners. While public transportation may be a cheaper option than driving it is still out of reach for many people earning below what is called the Low-Income Cutoff (LICO).

“This will improve the lives of thousands of people within the city of Edmonton. That will improve the city itself,” said Bruce Robertson, acting chair of the Edmonton Transit System Authority Board.

“I think council would like to find a low-income pass program that can work and get it place in a reasonable period of time,” stated Mayor Don Iveson. v

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May/June 2014 | IN TRANSIT

ATU Out in Force at Kansas City Stand Up to ALEC Rally

Koch brothers attack public transit again First Nashville, TN, now Boston, MA. The Koch brothers’ latest bid to undermine public transit and push for privatization targets the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority (MBTA).

Boston The Pioneer Institute, a Koch-backed affiliate of the far-right State Policy Network, recently released a study saying the MBTA’s bus costs are out of control.

They cited MBTA’s current bus maintenance program, including relative cost per mile along with “excessive staffing and compensation levels, and a restrictive anti-privatization state law that drives up MBTA costs by effectively prohibiting it from competitively procuring less expensive bus repair services.”

Meanwhile the U.S. Department of Transportation recently named Boston’s MBTA one of the top 50 transit systems in the United States.

Transit workers and supporters joined hundreds of Missouri and Kansas workers and citizens in downtown Kansas City to protest the American Legislative Exchange Council’s (ALEC) anti-worker, anti voting rights and anti-public education agenda.

Nashville This (above) comes on the heels of the conservative billionaire brothers’ usual sneaky attack on Nashville’s proposed transit expansion plan. Through their notorious group, Americans for Prosperity, they successfully lobbied for legislation in the state senate that would make it illegal for buses to pick up or drop off passengers in the center lane of a state road – as the new transit plan is designed.

There seems to be no limit to how the Koch brothers will use their deep pockets to terminate essential public services for hard working people. v

Protestors rallied across the street from ALEC’s closed-door meetings between state legislators and corporate lobbyists. Through ALEC, global corporations and state politicians hammer-out “boilerplate” legal language that can be introduced in state legislatures the roll back collective bargaining rights and benefit corporate America. They are the group behind Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” gun law that created a national controversy with the shooting death of Trayvon Martin.

Not surprisingly ALEC is heavily funded by the Koch brothers who, along with global corporations work back channels with politicians to change state laws and push anti-worker legislation such as privatization of public transit, schools and more. v IN TRANSIT

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Funding cuts force agencies to buy more parts for aging fleets Sixty-four percent of transit agencies say a lack of dedicated federal funding and other state and local issues have forced them to buy more parts to maintain their aging fleets according to a bus maintenance survey by METRO Magazine.

Meanwhile, electrical (issues/training) remains the number one issue in maintenance shops throughout the U.S. and Canada for the second year in a row, with training and staffing each jumping into the top five as turnover rates continue to grow due to retirement.

Diesel still top type of propulsion Diesel remains the top type of vehicle propulsion for many fleets, while many continue to explore the usage of alternative propulsion, including hybrid-electric, natural gas, biodiesel and propane.

consisting of large metropolitan to small and rural transit agencies as well as university-focused systems. Questions covered topics ranging from fleet size to average age of their fleet, hours of training provided per year and how that training is delivered, and the top issues in their shops to what parts they buy most often.

Agencies varied in fleet size, with the largest maintaining 2,300 buses and the smallest 26, with the mean boasting a fleet of 285 buses. Meanwhile, respondents’ salary levels ranged from a high of $170,000 to a low of $65,000, with the mean earning $93,000. v The entire survey can be found at: http://bit.ly/1kMAQAp

Wide demographic For the fourth year, METRO sent out its survey to even more maintenance shops, spanning a wide demographic

President Hanley with retired Local 279-Ottawa member and sergeant-at-arms Marcel Malboeuf, and Hassan Yussuff, president of the Canadian Labour Congress. Yussuff spoke at the ATU Canadian Council meeting in Toronto on June 6.

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May/June 2014 | IN TRANSIT

People with disabilities struggle with inadequate public transit Twenty-four years after the U.S. Congress passed the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), people with disabilities still face more challenges than most riders accessing public transit. Accessibility, safety issues, basic self-reliance, and freedom of movement are often threatened by the harsh, budget-conscious realities of the public transit industry.

Persons with disabilities are often the first to see their options cut. Recent statistics show that 20% of the U.S. population has some kind of disability. Paratransit users, however, are still the smallest and most expensive (per rider) segment of transit ridership. Consequently, they are routinely underrepresented when budget-cutting decisions are made.

Unlike most riders, public transit is usually the only transportation option available to persons with disabilities.

And paratransit is over twice as likely (31% to 13%) to be inadequate.

Essential transportation in decline Essential transportation to work, school, and grocery shopping for persons with disabilities is in decline as paratransit budgets are cut, and service is outsourced to private companies. Recent statistics reveal that 56,000 individuals are now completely unable to leave home because of difficulties arranging transportation.

As ATU members know well attempts to reduce costs by diverting paratransit users to taxis create real safety risks for riders whose disabilities are not immediately obvious to untrained drivers. And deferred maintenance can lead to paratransit users riding unsecured in unsafe vehicles.

Providing equal transportation service for this often unseen and underserved community is not an act of charity – it’s the law.

By law, paratransit users deserve the same consideration as any other public transit user. As such, public transit agencies must stop balancing their budgets by putting paratransit users’ lives at risk. v

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Salt Lake local grieves new bus cameras The Utah Transit Authority is putting new security cameras on its buses. That’s great news – right?

Not so fast says Local 382-Salt Lake City, UT. “Is this an invasion of privacy? How are they going to use these films? How long do they keep the tapes? Who gets to review the tapes? All those sort of issues have never been addressed or negotiated with the union,” an attorney representing the local says, adding, “You cannot unilaterally alter working conditions without sitting down and talking with the exclusive bargaining agent for the employees.”

The local filed a grievance with UTA after the agency rejected the union’s own security camera proposal. UTA says it is willing to negotiate with the local, which could prevent the grievance from going to arbitration. v

Helping ATU Locals Harness the Power of the Internet for FREE ATU has launched a new service, TransitWeb, to set up a free state-of-the-art website for local unions. This new innovative program includes: EASE OF USE User-friendly rich features, varied design template options, and ease of use for updates and changes.

FRESH CONTENT Easily update your website with fresh content, photos and even videos.

SUPPORT Free training to learn how to easily update and maintain your website.

NO COST TransitWeb is a FREE program for all local unions, the full cost is covered by ATU International.

FLEXIBILITY TransitWeb has been developed for ATU local unions.

We’ll help you make your website fit your needs.

To get your website up and running today contact: communications@atu.org.

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May/June 2014 | IN TRANSIT

Súmese a la campaña

emprendidas por muchos sindicatos locales. Quiero hacer llegar mis saludos a sus funcionarios y a sus miembros por una tarea bien realizada.

En Toledo, OH, un sindicato local está convocando a sus miembros para emplear el poder de su comunidad para hacer valer su derecho a la dignidad humana. En Providence, RI, un local consiguió, gracias a la presión ejercida por parte de conductores y miembros, que la legislatura estatal inyectara 2 millones de dólares en ayuda operativa al sistema.

Continuemos expandiendo nuestras iniciativas. ATU International está preparada para capacitar a más miembros y a proporcionar el liderazgo necesario para realizar la tarea. Así que a todos los miembros les digo: “iSúmense a la iniciativa ahora para mejorar el tránsito, preservar el respeto hacia el trabajador y fortalecer nuestro sindicato!”. v

En tres provincias, en 18 estados y en el distrito de Columbia, los sindicatos locales proporcionaron a sus miembros una capacitación efectiva de ATU. Más de 6000 miembros han sido capacitados desde enero. Esta cifra supera en más de diez veces la cantidad de personas que capacitábamos anteriormente.

Desde mayo, nuestros locales han involucrado conductores en siete provincias, en más de 28 estados y en el distrito de Columbia. Desde Olympia, WA, hasta St. Catharines, ON; desde Erie, PA, hasta Concord, CA; desde Saskatoon, SK, hasta Bangor, ME; y tantos otros lugares en el medio, nuestros sindicatos locales han desarrollado una actuación sin precedentes en toda América del Norte, nunca antes vista por este sindicato.

ATU hace que las cosas sucedan Vestidos con camisetas de ATU, los miembros se reunieron y realizaron paseos con los funcionarios electos. Y repartieron más de 650 000 panfletos para alentar a los conductores y a quienes apoyan el tránsito a que exijan más a sus legisladores: un transporte público mejor y más seguro.

Estas son las acciones de un sindicato revigorizado. Este sindicato está haciendo que las cosas sucedan.

Pero, podemos y debemos hacer mucho más para defender y desarrollar nuestros sistemas, y proteger a nuestros conductores y a nuestros miembros.

Visite www.atu.org para obtener más información sobre las últimas novedades de ATU.

Movimientos e instituciones En el recinto sagrado de las organizaciones sindicales, se respira nerviosismo e incertidumbre al percibirse una caída del 11 por ciento de los miembros sindicalizados en la fuerza laboral estadounidense. ¿Están las organizaciones sindicales organizadas? ¿Son un movimiento o una institución? ¿Y cuál es la diferencia?

Las organizaciones sindicales se fortalecieron en los EE. UU. durante las luchas que tuvieron lugar entre 1917 y 1930.

Aunque Herbert Hoover ganó la elección presidencial de 1928 prometiendo que habría “un pollo en cada olla y un carro en cada garaje”, los hombres, las mujeres y los inmigrantes en su conjunto pronto aprendieron, según palabras de mi abuela, que “ni siquiera tenían una olla donde orinar”. Y entonces, a fuerza de necesidad, desarrollaron una ideología conjunta de esperanza y compartieron su pasión interna de apostar por el cambio.

Ya hemos comenzado Hemos comenzado a transitar por la senda de la solidaridad con nuestras comunidades; la senda hacia el poder real. En esta publicación, serán testigos de las destacables iniciativas IN TRANSIT

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Hanley, el presidente internacional, ha exhibido frecuentemente la película “At the River I Stand” e invita a los miembros a verla. La película documenta dos meses memorables en el año 1968. Lo que empezó como una disputa laboral entre las trabajadores de la sanidad afroamericanos y la estructura de poder del hombre blanco de Memphis, se extendió hasta convertirse en una devastadora tragedia con el asesinato del Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. y en una lucha nacional por la justicia racial y económica.

Momento decisivo Esto marcó un momento decisivo en el movimiento por los derechos humanos. Julian Bond, cuando presidió la NAACP, dijo: “La película revela cómo los movimientos de los afroamericanos y los movimientos sindicales ganaron al luchar juntos!”. Las luchas de los Trabajadores Agrícolas Unidos de Cesar Chavez durante los boicots de la uva son otro ejemplo.

Hay un fuerte argumento que sostiene que los movimientos fortalecieron a la Asociación de Sindicatos y a los sindicatos que se transformaron en instituciones que buscan preservar los logros conseguidos por los movimientos.

Sí, es cierto que los sindicatos pudieron ampliar los derechos y los beneficios de los trabajadores a través de la negociación. ¿Pero hubiera sido esto posible si el público no se hubiera concientizado de la ineludible realidad de los problemas? ¿Habrían sido posibles sus logros sin un punto de inflexión que disparara los eventos? La historia de los trabajadores de la sanidad de Memphis es un excelente ejemplo de esto.

Los sindicatos asistieron a los referidos grupos financiera y estratégicamente. Al hacerlo, los sindicatos se ganaron la aceptación de la comunidad en sentido más amplio y con esto lograron obtener ganancias para todos.

Las lecciones aprendidas de la historia Nuestro ATU reconoce las lecciones aprendidas de la historia. Sabemos que para mantener nuestra profesión en un plano más alto y para continuar proporcionando un vía de tránsito de una vida de pobreza a una vida de clase media, tuvimos que cambiar.

El cambio no es fácil; la vía no es ni será siempre tranquila.

Y sí, hay muchos escépticos y muchos que se sientan a un

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May/June 2014 | IN TRANSIT

lado para ver qué pasa.

Para formar un sindicato más perfecto, nosotros, la gente, estamos acercándonos a los conductores; estamos formando un movimiento dentro de nuestros países que nos ayudará a todos.

Estos últimos meses, he tenido el privilegio de asistir a varias conferencias y reuniones partidarias. Agradezco a cada uno de ustedes, en Canadá y en Estados Unidos, que se han puesto a la altura de las circunstancias y han abrazado el cambio que necesitamos. He tenido el privilegio de trabajar lado a lado con muchos de ustedes. Invitemos a aquellos que aún no se han sumado.

Los dejo con esta reflexión: “Sindicalicemos cada lugar de trabajo, cada pueblo, cada conductor de la vuelta. Nada podrá detenernos; no hay marcha atrás. Avancemos juntos. ¡Ni un solo paso hacia atrás!”. v

Visite www.atu.org para obtener más información sobre las últimas novedades de ATU.

Un caso poco conocido amenaza a los sindicatos del sector público de EE. UU. La Suprema Corte de Justicia de EE. UU. tiene que decidir sobre un caso poco publicitado que podría tener ramificaciones de largo alcance para los sindicatos del sector público. En Harris c/ Quinn, se presentan tres asistentes de atención domiciliaria (de 20 000) representados por la Fundación Nacional de Defensa Legal para el Derecho al Trabajo (NRTW, por sus siglas en inglés) para impugnar una ley de Illinois que exige que se asocien al sindicato y que paguen las cuotas sindicales.

Aunque una mayoría no disputada de estos trabajadores votó por sindicalizarse en 2003, los demandantes argumentan que “forzarlos” a sindicalizarse es inconstitucional porque

no son empleados públicos representados por los sindicatos en Illinois, sino que son empleados de los pacientes de Medicaid a los que asisten.

Reivindican que la negociación colectiva con el estado equivale a realizar una petición al gobierno. En consecuencia, argumentan que aunque son empleados públicos, negociar en su nombre tiene motivaciones políticas y que no deberían verse obligados a apoyar tal situación a través del pago de cuotas.

negociación, los estándares para los asistentes de atención domiciliaria han mejorado.

Sin embargo, en su cruzada ideológica para destruir los derechos laborales, la NRTW vería con buenos ojos que la mayoría de estos trabajadores vulnerables se volvieran a sumergir en la pobreza y revertiría las mejoras en los servicios de atención domiciliaria que se les proporcionan a los mayores y a los pacientes discapacitados”.

Sin argumentos No cabe argumentar acerca de los beneficios obtenidos a partir de la sindicalización de los trabajadores de la atención domiciliaria en Illinois.

John A. Logan, profesor y director del programa “Estudios sobre el Trabajo y la Mano de Obra” en la Universidad Estatal de San Francisco, en un artículo publicado el 29 de mayo en The Hill, manifiesta: “La sindicalización y la negociación colectiva han transformado la vida de los asistentes de atención domiciliaria. Antes de la negociación colectiva, los asistentes percibían 7 dólares por hora y no tenían beneficios. Este año, recibirán 13 dólares por hora más beneficios”.

De acuerdo con el Centro Legal Nacional de la Mujer, los asistentes de atención domiciliaria sindicalizados reciben una compensación y beneficios mejorados de manera regular, cuentan con procedimientos de pago más eficientes, cuentan con un procedimiento para presentar quejas, tienen un mayor acceso a la capacitación, y una influencia más fuerte a la hora de dictar normas. En cada uno de los estados que ha otorgado derechos de

Implicaciones Resultan bastante obvias para todos las implicaciones que supondría un fallo de la Suprema Corte que impidiera que se exija a los empleados de cualquier sector público integrarse a los sindicatos en los que votan sus compañeros.

No cabe duda de que dicho fallo amenaza a los sindicatos de trabajadores del sector público, a las personas a las que atienden y, eventualmente, también podría afectar a los miembros de ATU. Me parece raro que un caso tan importante haya suscitado tan poco interés por parte de la opinión pública. Por lo tanto, realizo mi aporte para que usted sea consciente de esta situación, con la esperanza de que nuestra comprensión informada de los asuntos involucrados nos impulse a tomar las acciones necesarias en el momento oportuno.

Esto es parte de lo que necesitamos hacer como parte de la acción en favor del tránsito que todos debemos emprender durante el resto del año. v Visite www.atu.org para obtener más información sobre las últimas novedades de ATU.

There’s a big wide world out there, and it’s tough to keep up with all the events which can affect your profession and your livelihood.

One of the easiest ways to stay informed is by visiting: www.atu.org.

Don’t stay in the dark!

Find out what’s going on.

Visit www.atu.org.

IN TRANSIT

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In Memoriam Death Benefits Awarded March 1, 2014 - April 30, 2014 1- MEMBERS AT LARGE JOHN L BERBERICH WILLIAM E DAVIE THOMAS G ERICKSON WILLIAM ALBERT HEISE HENRY HOLMES JR GEORGE L SOWERS THOMAS F WILLIAMS 85 - PITTSBURGH, PA JOHN F CHRISTIAN WILLIAM PAUL DANCHIK MICHAEL B GUNYAK RALPH M JOHNSON ROBERT P KNIPP JR ROBERT A MORRILL DANIEL F RODGERS WM ALLEN RUDISON RICHARD L SISMOUR JOHN E WALSH CHARLES E WHITNEY 107 - HAMILTON, ON ERIC LEACH 113- TORONTO, ON LAWRENCE R COX ALLAN DAVIES JOSEPH FROST MARTIN W GARLAND THOMAS C KELSIE MICHAEL M MAGUIRE PREDRAG MATOVIC ALAN MC LELLAN DONALD MERRIMEN ROBERT T MILLIKEN ROBERT PICARAZZI KENNETH POSTLES JAMES RISSIS WILLIAM ROBINSON LISA SAGE ROBERT WARREN TUCKER NORMAN G WILSON 128- ASHEVILLE, NC EUGENE LESTER STANLEY 134- VANCOUVER, BC HARRY G PEARCE 192- OAKLAND, CA MARK P BEITIA ROBERT D COBB ODIE L COLLINS

PATRICIA WELCH JUDITH WOLFE 265 - SAN JOSE, CA TRACI BAUER EDWARD C JOHNSON RAMON ROBLES 268 - CLEVELAND, OH JOSEPH P MISEJKO 279 - OTTAWA, ON MIKE J DOXTATER PAUL DUFORD ANDRE LALONDE KENNETH C NORTON 281- NEW HAVEN, CT VICTOR ROSE 308- CHICAGO, IL VINCE J FRATTO RAFAEL M GALLARDO RODRIGO GONZALEZ ANDREW JOHNSON ALFONSAS LAURAS ROBERT C MORMAN VALERIE J ODOMS LEO C RICHMOND RAMONA A ROBERTSON HATTIE H SANDRELLA CHARLES SPEARS HITMON STOCKTON JR EDNA WIMBERLY 425- HARTFORD, CT JOSEPH BOURQUE PAUL DE BACCO ANTHONY J SOBOL 569- EDMONTON, AB JOHN ELOCK JOHN J RYCHLO 583- CALGARY, AB IVAN C BOYARTCHUK JOHN C CURRIE DAVID OSBORNE 587- SEATTLE, WA JOHN A AKERLY DONALD O DREGER ROBERT F SHERIDAN JAMES B TURNER

241- CHICAGO, IL MATTHEW AMMONS WILLIAM BENUZZI LENNEL BOLDEN EFINGENIO CAMACHO SERGIO CANDELARIA MERVIN J CHACHERE JOSEPH DORNSEIFER HESLER G GRESHAM ROBERT H KENDRICK JR NICHOLAS M KILLION LUTHER B LEE HECTOR LOPEZ ARTIE L MATSEY KERMIT P MITCHELL JR DENIS J O’DONOGHUE RONALD A PAWLICKI FRANCIS J SCHAEFER BARBARA THIRSTON

589- BOSTON, MA JOHN P BARRETT RICHARD A BENS EDWARD M CRONIN THOMAS F DOYLE WAYNE DUNCAN MELVIN S ELIAS LAUREN J JERZYLO FRANCIS G LACOURSE LOUIS A LEBBOSSIERE LEO T O’BRIEN PAUL REPPUCCI BERNARD J SMITH DEBRA J SPLAINE GEORGE C WILMOT

256 - SACRAMENTO, CA STELLA M FAULKNER RICHARD E TUCKER DANIEL T VICTORIO SR

618- PROVIDENCE, RI ALPHONSA A COOK KEVIN D KENNEY LAWRENCE J O’BRIEN

616- WINDSOR, ON PATRICK MCCARTHY RONALD E SEGUIN

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689- WASHINGTON, DC HARRY R ADAMS JR JOSEPH R BERTLING FRANKLIN E BOSWELL ARNOLD R BRADLEY BILLY K CLEM DONWOOD J FRYE DAVID A HYMES RESLYN H JACKSON BENTON EDWARD KEYS CHARLES W OVERTON KENNETH R PARKER THOMAS T PATTON CECIL W PERKINS JOSEPH J ROBERSON JOHN C ROGERS CLIFTON T SIMS JR JAMES SPRATLEY BOBBY G WARD

ESTO PERRY RONALD T REIL KENNETH A ROJAHN ANTHONY ZAGAR

KENDRA D DIGGS CRAIG D RAY GEORGE L SIPES JAMES J SVEHLA

1001- DENVER, CO KENNETH E DILS JAMES M FLANAGAN MARK D RICHARD CHARLES R WALLER

1338- DALLAS, TX EVERETTE L CHEEK CHARLES A MOSS JR

713- MEMPHIS, TN MELVIN R FOSTER

1177- NORFOLK, VA ANNIE L SMITH

726- STATEN ISLAND, NY JOSEPH JAMES RICHARD LA CASSE JOSEPH R PEDERSEN

1181- NEW YORK, NY GLORIA ARROYO FLORENCE BADOLATO JEAN M BARNES MONA BUTLER ANGELINA CATALDO CLAUDE F CHESTANG JR PATRICK T CONNOR BARBARA DAILEY JOHN DELIVER ANTHONY DIMINO ROBERT A FERRARA THOMAS M GAETA ANTHONY GIARDINA ANN GITTO ALICE M HALLIGAN DELORES HENNESSEY JOSEPH ISBY DOLORES LO GUIDICE JOSEPH MATTHEWS YVROSE MERISIER MARIE MOISE CHARLES F MURRELL CARLINE NELSON FRANCES ROSA FRANK ROVITTI GRACE A TARANTINO ROLAND TERRANOVA JEANNE H TOUSSAINT MARTIN WIECHELS ALMA WILLIAMS

732- ATLANTA, GA HENRY C FEARS 757- PORTLAND, OR BRIAN V BILYEU PAUL R JOHNSTON HARRY J JORDAN LEROY I LEESON 758- TACOMA, WA RICHARD A NELSON 788- ST. LOUIS, MO VERNON L BAKER WALTER M FRITZ III WILLIAM L RATTLER ROBERT G ZOELLNER 819- NEWARK, NJ SAKINAH L ANDREWS BILL BILJAK GERALDINE NELSON JAMES B VESEY HOWARD WITHERS 824- NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ EMANUEL LEWIS BOWER EDWARD MILLER 825- ORADELL, NJ JACOB M VAN HOUSEN 842- WILMINGTON, DE BETTY J JOSWICK 846- ST. CATHARINES, ON BARRY RACEY 880- CAMDEN, NJ FRED DAUM HAROLD DIX MICHAEL O’CONNOR MARK K SCOTT 956- ALLENTOWN, PA CRAIG V BELTZNER 998- MILWAUKEE, WI RICHARD BURETTA DAVID L CRAWFORD JOHN T DAY

1005- MINNEAPOLIS & ST. PAUL, MN RICHARD C BRATTEN JAMES H ELFSTROM RICHARD A HOIUM TERRANCE J KELLEY FRANCIS C NYBERG WAYNE E SCHEELK

1225- SAN FRANCISCO, CA ROGER W ALLSTON LILTON GROVE PUCKETT 1249- SPRINGFIELD, IL GERALD BROWN EDGAR CEARLOCK 1277- LOS ANGELES, CA RALPH FLETCHER BILLY B HWANG JAMES T MANIER JOSEPH SPREIN 1279- JOHNSTOWN, PA JAMES SCHELLHAMMER 1287- KANSAS CITY, MO STEVEN G CAMP CAROL CERVANTES CHARLES Q EUBANKS 1300- BALTIMORE, MD ANTHONY L BUTLER

1342- BUFFALO, NY PAUL F KULNISZEWSKI JAMES NOELK 1374- CALGARY, AB MARTIN WILMER GREEN ALEXEI V ICHINE MELISSA MAC DONALD GEORGE MC KINNEY JOHN LORY RENOUF ERKKI RUOTSALO ROBERT S WALSH 1385- DAYTON, OH JOHN W MASON JR 1447- LOUISVILLE, KY OMAR H COX 1462- ST. JOHN’S, NL JOHN T PRICE 1464- TAMPA, FL DONALD H PAWLACZYK 1505- WINNIPEG, MB STEVE DANKEWICH WILLIAM FUHR HELMUT PENNER STANLEY GEORGE WEST 1548- PLYMOUTH, MA ANTHONY F GRAPPI 1572- MISSISSAUGA, ON JAMES A BYRNE CHRISTOPHER DOWDING 1573- BRAMPTON, ON BRIAN D’SILVA 1575- SAN RAFAEL, CA RICHARD K COOK MILTON E FREITAS 1587- TORONTO, ON MARK KULAK HUGH L WALTERS 1614- DOVER, NJ JOHN J MC HALE 1700- CHICAGO, IL ERNEST J BEVERLIN ALLEN M BROWN LAWRENCE T O’REGAN WILLIAM L REYNOLDS JOSEPH R TAYLOR 1733- VERNON HILLS, IL DANIEL J QUINTANILLA 1754- LAWRENCE, KS JAMES HENRY

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