In Transit - September/October 2007

w

w

.

a

t

u

.

o

r

g

Official Journal of the Amalgamated Transit Union AFL-CIO/CLC

INSIDE THIS ISSUE: 55th Convention

Delegates Re-elect ‘Dream Team,’ Dedicate Funds to Organizing

PENNSYLVANIA

From Desperation to Dedicated Funding

Congress Passes Transit Security Legislation

2 0 0 7

sept/oct

w

AMALGAMATED TRANSIT UNION INTERNATIONAL OFFICERS WARREN S. GEORGE International President

MESSAGE DU PRÉSIDENT INTERNATIONAL PAR WARREN S. GEORGE ATU : Un Bon Pas en Avant En réfléchissant sur les trois années à venir, je me rends compte que nos délégués ont pavé le chemin de l’avenir de l’ATU. Si je paraphrase ce que j’ai mentionné à vos délégués :

International Executive Vice President

MICHAEL J. SIANO

• •

OSCAR OWENS

•

International Secretary-Treasurer

International Vice Presidents TOMMY MULLINS Roanoke, VA – mullins@atu.org

JOSEPH WELCH Syracuse, NY

RODNEY RICHMOND

New Orleans, LA – rrichmond@atu.org

DONALD T. HANSEN

Tenino, WA – dhansen@atu.org

ROBERT H. BAKER

Washington, DC – bb@atu.org

LARRY R. KINNEAR

Ashburn, ON – lkinnear@atu.org

RANDY GRAHAM

Gloucester, ON – rgraham@atu.org

JAVIER M. PEREZ, JR.

Kansas City, MO – jperez@atu.org

RICHARD M. MURPHY Braintree, MA

BOB M. HYKAWAY

Calgary, AB – bhykaway@atu.org

CHARLES COOK

Petaluma, CA – ccook@atu.org

WILLIAM G. McLEAN

Reno, NV – wmclean@atu.org

RONALD J. HEINTZMAN

Mt. Angel, OR – rheintzman@atu.org

JANIS M. BORCHARDT

Madison, WI – jborchardt@atu.org

PAUL BOWEN

Canton, MI – pbowen@atu.org

LAWRENCE J. HANLEY

Staten Island, NY – lhanley@atu.org

KENNETH R. KIRK

Lancaster, TX – kkirk@atu.org

•

Nous sommes ici pour améliorer la vie de nos membres ; Nous sommes ici pour faire grandir et donner de la force à notre syndicat de façon à pouvoir servir de façon encore plus efficace nos membres pendant les trois prochaines années et plus encore ; Nous sommes ici pour aider nos membres à s’organiser, à venir en aide à la communauté, à avoir des actions politiques et à participer à toutes les autres activités de notre syndicat ; Nous sommes ici pour maximiser les opportunités qui se présentent à nous… et pour en créer d’autres.

Organisation La seule façon qui nous permette d’avoir plus d’impact à la table des négociations et dans les coulisses du pouvoir est de s’assurer que notre syndicat grandisse. En conséquence, les officiers du Syndicat ont décidé de transformer notre culture en organisation… et de créer un Département Organisation à l’ATU. Nous voulons concentrer nos efforts sur les bons groupes de travailleurs : les populations grandissant rapidement et composées des employés du para transit et les conducteurs de bus scolaires.

En neuf mois seulement nous avons eu presque 1000 nouvelles adhésions grâce au dur labeur de plus de 30 de nos sections syndicales.

Politique Grâce aux nouveaux alliés que nous avons dans de nombreux postes, nous avons finalement été capables de faire passer une loi qui permet à nos membres de se protéger eux-mêmes et de protéger leurs passagers des attaques terroristes. C’est vraiment une indignité que six ans se soient écoulés entre 9/11 et le passage de la loi H.R. Mais c’est cependant un tribut au pouvoir politique et législatif des opérations de l’ATU qui nous a permis d’obtenir la plus grande victoire depuis le début de ce siècle.

Nous avons obtenu 3,4 milliards de dollars de subventions pour les systèmes de transport de transit et 87 millions pour accroître la sécurité des compagnies de transport par bus. Nous avons réellement gagné sur le plan de la formation, en ce qui concerne les nouvelles exigences pour les délations et la protection des employés et nous gardons les protections du 13(c) pour tous les nouveaux programmes subventionnés.

Nous avons été des artisans de l’histoire du Canada avec de vastes changements dans le financement des transports en commun.

Les délégués ont agi. Ils ont approuvé la mise en place des fonds spéciaux pour le Département Organisation de l’ATU pour que notre capacité soit encore plus renforcée à l’avenir.

Rien de ce qu’ils ont fait à cette convention n’était plus important. Et rien ne rapportera plus de dividendes.

L’ATU doit se mettre en situation de n’abandonner aucun employé et aucun lieu de travail du secteur des transports en commun.

Nous devons nous fixer comme objectif, qu’avant notre rencontre pour la prochaine Convention en 2010, nous aurons 200 000 membres.

Je remercie les délégués d’avoir soutenu l’objectif de l’ATU et de faire face, avec nous, à un avenir prospère.

UN MENSAJE DEL PRESIDENTE INTERNACIONAL POR WARREN S. GEORGE ATU: La Correcta Marcha a Seguir A medida que yo reflexiono sobre los próximos tres años, me doy cuenta que sus delegados han pavimentado el camino para = el futuro de la ATU. Aquí hago un parafraseo lo que declaré antes sus delegados: Nosotros = estamos aquí para tomar una acción que mejorará las vidas de nuestros miembros.

Nosotros = estamos aquí para hacer crecer y fortalecer a nuestra unión, a fin de que podamos servir a nuestros miembros aun más efectivamente sobre los próximos tres años y mucho más allá.

Nosotros = estamos aquí para movilizar a nuestros miembros en las campañas de organización, en el alcance a la comunidad, en la acción política y en todas las otras áreas de nuestra operación.

Nosotros = estamos aquí para potenciar al máximo las oportunidades que están ante nosotros….y para crear nuevas oportunidades.

Organización

GARY RAUEN

La única manera en que nosotros podemos obtener más influencia en la mesa de negociaciones y en los corredores del poder es haciendo que nuestra unión crezca aun más. Así, pues, los dirigentes ejecutivos se dedicaron a transformar nuestra entera cultura de organización….y crearon el Departamento de Organización de la ATU.

International Representatives

Nosotros estamos enfocando a los grupos correctos de trabajadores: poblaciones de rápido crecimiento de empleados de paratransito y operadores de autobuses escolares. En solamente nueve meses, hemos ganado casi 1,000 nuevos miembros gracias a la ardua labor de más de 30 de nuestras uniones locales.

Clayton, NC – grauen@atu.org

GARY MAURER

Atlanta, GA – gmaurer@atu.org

RAY RIVERA

Lilburn, GA– rrivera@atu.org

MARCELLUS BARNES

Flossmoor, IL – mbarnes@atu.org

YVETTE SALAZAR

Thornton, CO – ysalazar@atu.org

Acción Política Debido a que tenemos nuevos aliados en tantas posiciones, finalmente nos fue posible la promulgación de legislación que les concede a nuestros miembros las herramientas para protegerse a sí mismos y a sus pasajeros contra ataques terroristas. Es = una desgracia que más de seis años pasaron entre 9/11 y la promulgación de H.R. 1. Pero = es un gran tributo al poder de las operaciones políticas y legislativas de la ATU = que hallamos realizado nuestra más grande victoria en lo que ha transcurrido de este nuevo siglo.

Ganamos la batalla en obtener $ 3,400 millones en subvenciones de financiamiento para los sistemas de tránsito y $ 87 millones para que las empresas de autobuses por carreteras puedan fortalecer nuestra seguridad. Ganamos también una verdadera capacitación, nuevas protecciones para empleados y para aquellos que denuncian prácticas ilegales y corruptas dentro de sus organizaciones, y también preservamos las protecciones del inciso 13 (c) para todos los nuevos programas de subvenciones.

Nosotros hicimos historia en el Canadá con un cambio radical en el financiamiento del tránsito.

Canadian Council ROBIN G. WEST

Canadian Director 61 International Boulevard, Suite 210 Rexdale, ON M9W 6K4 director@atucanada.ca

Los delegados actuaron. Ellos aprobaron una dedicada fuente de financiamiento para el Departamento de Organización de la ATU, a fin de que nuestra capacidad sea fortalecida con solvencia y más responsablemente aun en el futuro.

Ninguna otra cosa que ellos hicieron en esta convención fue de mayor importancia. Y nada vendrá a rendir mayores dividendos.

La ATU debe asumir la actitud de que nosotros no dejaremos atrás a ningún trabajador del tránsito y a ningún sitio de trabajo.

Nosotros debemos adoptar la meta de que para cuando llegue la fecha de nuestra próxima convención en el 2010, nosotros tendremos más de 200,000 miembros.

Yo les doy las gracias más expresivas a los delegados por el apoyo que le han brindado a esta importante meta de la ATU, y los insto a que unidos confrontemos nuestro rico y prometedor futuro.

2

IN TRANSIT

www.atu.org

A MESSAGE FROM THE INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT

ATU: THE RIGHT MOVE

FORWARD As I reflect on the next three years, I realize that your delegates have paved the way for the ATU’s future. To paraphrase what I stated to your delegates at the 55th Convention: We’re here to take action that will improve the lives of our members.

We’re here to grow and strengthen our Union, so that we may serve our members even more effectively over the next three years and beyond.

We’re here to mobilize our members in organizing, community outreach, political action and every other area of our operation.

We’re here to maximize the opportunities before us ... and create new opportunities.

Organizing The only way we can gain more clout at the bargaining table and in the corridors of power is by growing our Union. So the executive officers set out to transform our entire culture of organizing... and created the ATU Organizing Department.

‘...we will leave no transit worker behind.’

We are focusing on the right groups of workers: fast-growing populations of paratransit employees and school bus operators. In just nine months, we gained nearly 1,000 new members thanks to the hard work of more than 30 of our local unions.

Politics Because we have new allies in so many positions, we were finally able to pass legislation that gives our members the tools to protect themselves and their passengers from terrorist attacks. It’s a disgrace that more than six years passed between 9/11 and the enactment of H.R. 1. But it’s a tribute to the power of the ATU’s political and legislative operations that we achieved our greatest victory so far of the new century.

We won $3.4 billion in funding grants to transit systems and $87 million for over-the-road bus companies to strengthen our security. We won real training, new whistleblower and employee protection requirements, and we preserved our 13(c) protections for all new grant programs.

We made history in Canada with a sea-change in transit funding.

The delegates acted. They approved a dedicated source of funding for the ATU Organizing Department so that our capacity is reliably strengthened even further into the future. Nothing they did at this Convention was more important. And nothing will pay greater dividends.

The ATU must take the attitude that we will leave no transit worker and no transit workplace behind.

We must set a goal that by the time we meet for our next Convention in 2010, we will have over 200,000 members.

I thank the delegates for supporting this important ATU goal, which will allow us to confront our rich future together.

www.atu.org

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2007

3

sept/oct

2007 w w w . a t u . o r g

Contents 2

International Officers & General Executive Board

International President’s Message in French & Spanish

3

International President’s Message ATU: The Right Move Forward

4

Magazine Index

5

International Executive Vice President’s Message Let’s Roll Up Our Sleeves

6

International SecretaryTreasurer’s Message Training Responsible Officers

7

News from the Front Lines ATU - Organizing into the Future

8

Amalgamated Transit Union 55th Convention Delegates Re-elect ‘Dream Team,’ Dedicate Funds to Organizing

Vol. 116, No. 5

7

8 16

13 Resolutions of the The 55th Amalgamated

Transit Union International Convention 14 Your Executive and International Officers 15 The 55th Amalgamated Transit Union

International Convention Committees 16 Legislative Report

Pennsylvania - From Desperation

to Dedicated Funding 18 Canadian Agenda:

Canadian Labour Congress Urges

Workers to Make the Better Choice

7 ATU — Organizing into the Future Delegates Re-Elect ‘Dream Team,’ 8 Dedicate Funds to Organizing Legislative Report: Pennsylvania 16 From Desperation to Dedicated Funding Canadian Labour Congress Urges 18 Workers to Make the Better Choice

19 Congress Passes Transit

Security Legislation 20 ATU Celebrates Labor Day 21 Know Your Rights:

Guide to Accessing the Funeral

or Dismemberment Benefit 22 Focus on Wellness:

Scams and Supplements 23 The Amalgamated Transit Union

2008 Scholarship Competition 25 Amalgamated Transit Union Cares

Peterborough Local Makes Paratransit

Client’s Dream Come True 26 Arbitration Decisions 27 Local News 29 Coming ATU Events 30 In Memoriam 32 Proud to Be ATU

ATU Idol Rocks 55th Convention!

4

IN TRANSIT

18

The Amalgamated Transit Union

2008 Scholarship Competition IN MEMORY OF: JACKIE B. BRECKENRIDGE (see page 23)

Subscription: USA and Canada, $5 a year. Single copy: 50 cents. All others: $10 a year. Published bimonthly by the Amalgamated Transit Union, Editor: Shawn Perry, Assistant: Paul A. Fitzgerald. Editorial Office: 5025 Wisconsin Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20016-4139. Tel: 1-202-537-1645. Please send all requests for address changes to the ATU Registry Dept. ISSN: 0019-3291, USPS: 260-280.

PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 40033361. RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO: B&M Mailing Service Limited, 35 Van Kirk Drive, Unit 15, Brampton, Ontario L7A 1A5, E-MAIL-BMCOMM@PATHCOM.COM The objects of this International Union shall be to organize Local Unions; to place our occupation upon a higher plane of intelligence, efficiency and skill; to encourage the formation in Local Unions of sick and funeral benefit funds in order that we may properly care for our sick and bury our dead; to encourage the organization of cooperative credit unions in the Local Unions; to establish schools of instruction for imparting a practical knowledge of modern and improved methods and systems of transportation and trade matters generally; to encourage the settlement of all disputes between employees and employers by arbitration; to secure employment and adequate pay for our work, including vacations with pay and old age pensions; to reduce the hours of labor and by all legal and proper means to elevate our moral, intellectual and social condition.

To engage in such legislative, political, educational, cultural, social, and welfare activities as will further the interests and welfare of the membership of the Organization.

To seek the improvement of social and economic conditions in the United States and Canada and to promote the interests of labor everywhere.

www.atu.org

A MESSAGE FROM THE INTERNATIONAL EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT

Let’s Roll Up Our Sleeves Thanks for Putting Your Faith in Me As I write this, just days after returning from Las Vegas, I can still feel the energy and excitement that emanated from our 55th Convention. But before I begin, I would like to thank each one of the delegates who put their faith in me to continue serving as International Executive Vice President for the next three years. Ever since I was elected shop steward of Local 821 in Jersey City, NJ, more than four decades ago, I have been honored to serve the members of this great Union.

And whether it was a tight race, or as in this case, a unanimous vote, I have never taken my responsibilities lightly. Even after 45 years, I still look forward to addressing the challenges that face us every day. So, once again, thanks for the opportunity to serve.

Five Cents Makes Sense I commend the Convention delegates for approving our proposal to dedicate five percent of our per capita taxes for organizing so that we can continue to grow our numbers. International President George has set the bar high – a total of 200,000 members by our next Convention in 2010. With the right plan, and now, the necessary resources, I have no doubt that we can meet and exceed our goals.

‘who says you can’t buy anything for a nickel ...’

By dedicating just five cents of every dollar toward organizing (without raising dues), there is much that we can achieve. Most importantly, we will be able to increase the size of our staff. We have been doing extraordinarily well with the part-time staff that we currently have on board. Now, with the ability to turn some of those people and others into full-time organizers, we can reach new heights.

Keep in mind, I am not talking about just anybody. It makes little sense to hire organizers, send them off for a weekend of training, and tell them to go out and organize a non-union workplace, where they will face seasoned union-busters. This is a formula for failure.

Members Are Our Most Effective Organizers We need to use our most precious asset for organizing: ATU members. If we are ever going to take on the major European non-union corporations that have invaded the transit, paratransit, and school bus industries throughout North America, we will need an enormous pool of organizers from our own ranks.

Transit and school bus workers – not paid staff – are the ones who can best tell unorganized workers in our industries, in simple terms, why it pays to belong to ATU. They can also deal with the anxieties and fears that non-union workers have about joining, because union members once had to face the same problems and overcame them.

Who says you can’t buy anything for a nickel anymore?

www.atu.org

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2007

5

A MESSAGE FROM THE INTERNATIONAL SECRETARY-TREASURER

Training Responsible Officers Now that the Convention is over, we need to focus on one of the most important jobs we do at the International office: training new officers to be more effective at their jobs. This is particularly important when it comes to our local financial secretaries who hold your money in order to spend it for the benefit of the membership.

‘we want all of our local officers... to be armed with the tools they need...’

We will be holding two seminars over the coming year for new financial secretaries and for those who have held their positions for a long time but have never had proper training. We want all of our local officers in this ATU to be armed with the tools they need to do their job.

Between Training Seminars We also realize that sometimes elections occur between the training seminars. As a result it can be several months until a newly-elected financial secretary receives in-person training. To help in these situations, we will be putting a shortened version of the financial secretary training online so all financial secretaries will have access to the materials as soon as they are elected. This also lets those who have been in office for many years brush up on their training or to see if there is any new information available.

On-Line Registration Now Available Another innovation we are now providing is online registration for the financial secretary seminars.

We realize that as more of our local unions have access to the internet we need to make their jobs easier by providing online tools.

Cross-Training Finally, we will be offering a shortened version of the financial secretary training to our newly-elected local presidents. This provides these officers with the necessary cross-training so they understand the job of the financial secretary. Too often in our locals, the chief officer will question how or why his or her financial secretary is following certain procedures. Cross-training enables your officers to work as a team.

I look forward to the next three years, and I thank the delegates (and the members who sent them to the Convention) for having the faith in me to re-elect me for another term. I understand that my job is to insure that the treasury of this great Union works for the benefit of our members.

It is an honor to be able to do this.

6

IN TRANSIT

In turn, I have also been instilled with your trust, as have your elected local officers. Over this next term, I intend to train your financial secretaries to do the best possible job for you — the ATU members.

www.atu.org

E DUC AT E . A G I TAT E . MOB I L I Z E .

ORGANIZE N E W S

F RO M

T H E

AT U

F RO N T

L I N E S

ATU — Organizing into the Future The delegates to the 55th International Convention voted unanimously for the permanent funding of the Organizing Department.

Several locals were recognized for their organizing efforts, including Locals 256-Sacramento, CA; 615-Saskatoon, SK; 757-Portland, OR; 1001-Denver, CO; 1005-Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN; 1321-Albany & Troy, NY; 1577-West Palm Beach, FL; 1587-Toronto, ON; 1603Bethlehem, PA; and 1764-Washington, DC. However, there are many more locals which have led or assisted with successful campaigns. These include Locals 19-Colorado Springs, CO; 241-Chicago, IL; 308-Chicago, IL; 448-Springfield, MA; 627-Cincinnati, OH; 685-Brantford, ON; 689-Washington, DC; 732-Atlanta, GA; 846-St. Catharines, ON; 1028-Des Plaines, IL; 1091-Austin, TX; 1181-New York, NY; 1300-Baltimore, MD; 1309-San Diego, CA; 1433-Phoenix, AZ; 1572-Mississauga, ON; 1582-Niagara Falls, ON; and 1733-Vernon Hills, IL. While 1,300 transit workers have chose ATU during the last 10 months, there is still much more work to be done. International President Warren S. George challenged Convention delegates to pick up the pace of organizing throughout Canada and the United States. The entire body accepted that challenge.

BRANTFORD, ON Since the Convention, over 200 transit workers won ATU representation rights. In Canada, Local President Phil Hotte, 685-Brantford, ON, successfully led a group of 18 paratransit operators to victory. With almost universal support, the drivers stayed united even though management fired a driver and lied to the workers about ATU. Not only did Local 685 win the organizing drive they also won the driver’s case and she returned to work.

ROCHESTER, MN Local President Michelle Sommers, 1005-Minneapolis/ St. Paul, MN, led almost 60 operators and dispatchers to victory in September. The transit workers at Rochester City Lines (located about 60 miles south of Minneapolis) voted four to one for ATU. During this organizing drive the local recruited worksite leaders to make up the organizing committee. Rank and file member organizers staffed the campaign and motivated the workers to stand up to management’s threats.

www.atu.org

GLENVIEW, IL Fifty-Seven Laidlaw Glenview paratransit drivers voted 4 to 1 to join Local 1733, Vernon Hills, IL. Local President Pennie Johnson led the drivers to an amazing victory. With the recent merger of Laidlaw and First Group, Local 1733 approached the drivers from the newly-merged property. Throughout the campaign, Johnson educated the drivers about ATU and the protections of a union contract. With the assistance of the local officers and members of 1733, and the member organizers from Locals 241 and 1028, Local 1733 welcomed the brand new bargaining unit into the ATU family.

CINCINNATI, OH Local 627-Cincinnati, OH, successfully organized 15 dispatchers and reservationists at MV Transportation. Financial Secretary Sharon Anderson led the campaign. With nearly unanimous support, ATU was voluntarily recognized by MV. Local 627 President Mark Bennet reports that with the addition of this unit, Local 627 will represent over 95% of all of the non-supervisors on the property.

SPRINGFIELD, MA Financial Secretary/B.A. Ross Kiely, 448-Springfield, MA, organized a unit of 140 MV Transportation operators, dispatchers and service workers. MV voluntarily recognized Local 448. After recruiting leaders for the in-house organizing committee, the Springfield employees led their co-workers to victory. Now, the local is preparing to negotiate its first contract.

There are currently active campaigns taking place in Regina, SK; Toronto, ON; Denver, CO; Seattle, WA; Portland, OR; New York, NY; Pittsburgh, PA; Allentown, PA; Tacoma, WA; Atlanta, GA; Sacramento, CA; Stockton, CA; and Bozeman, MT.

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2007

7

AMALGAMATED TRANSIT UNION

55TH CONVENTION DELEGATES RE-ELECT ‘DREAM TEAM,’ DEDICATE FUNDS TO ORGANIZING ATU’s campaign to advance the cause of human dignity took a giant leap forward at the Union’s 55th International Convention which met from September 17 – 21, 2007. Delegates from all over the United States and Canada, meeting at Bally’s Las Vegas in Nevada, voted unanimously to dedicate five percent of the Union’s per capita tax income to a new Organizing and Activism Fund created specially to support those bourgeoning ATU programs. Indeed, organizing and growing the Union was the consistent theme of the ATU’s 55th Convention.

nearly 1,000 new members into the Union in just nine months. Statistics such as these created enthusiasm for the Union’s new program to help workers discover the meaning of the Convention theme: ATU – The Right Move.

Beyond passing the funding for organizing new members, the delegates made several changes that tightened up language in the ATU Constitution and General Laws. They also added language to Section 14.2 to clarify that meeting requirements shall not make a member ineligible to run for office “due to service in the uniformed military services of the United States or Canada. In addition, sections of the Constitution were amended to protect our members against corruption or racketeering involving the union or an individual officer’s status in the union.

As the Convention convened, International President Warren S. George was introduced by International Secretary-Treasurer Oscar Owens, as a man whose legacy would be “bringing organizing to new heights” with the creation of the ATU’s Organizing Department.

The Convention also unanimously re-elected what some delegates called the ATU’s “dream team”: International President Warren S. George, International Executive Vice President Michael J. Siano, and International Secretary-Treasurer Oscar Owens.

All of the previously-elected International Vice Presidents were unanimously re-elected. Incumbent International Vice President Gary Rauen was elected for the first time.

The Convention celebrated the news that the new Organizing Department and ATU member-organizers were successful in bringing

8

IN TRANSIT

For his part, International President George declared that “the state of our Union is getting stronger every day,” listing the Organizing Department as just one of many other accomplishments of the last three years. Organizing took center stage, however, as a succession of speakers lauded the ATU for its successful new program.

RESTORING THE AMERICAN DREAM AFL-CIO President John Sweeney praised George, thanking him for showing other unions how organizing “is done.” Few unions, he said,

www.atu.org

Sweeney Organizing Awards Member-Organizer Awards could boast a history that spans three centuries. However, the ATU, he continued, isn’t just getting older, it is getting “bigger, better and stronger.”

The more successful a union is in organizing, the more successful it will be at the ballot box. In his speech AFL-CIO President Sweeney listed health care, good jobs, and the freedom to form and join unions as the three priorities Labor will pursue in the months preceding the 2008 elections. He challenged the delegates to work, not just to “change the channel” from the “nightmare” show of the Bush administration, but to “restore the hope, promise and optimism of the American dream.”

SWEENEY ORGANIZING AWARDS International President Warren S. George and President Sweeney presented the ATU Organizing Award named after the federation president to the following locals:

Acuff relayed the importance of voting a president into the White House who will sign and enforce the Employee Free Choice Act (a bill to allow workers to form unions through a simple card-check process).

Acuff brought the delegates to their feet proclaiming that it was time to take on this fight to advance “human dignity,” adding, “With solidarity and unity, we can do this.”

International Executive Vice President Siano and Acuff presented Member-Organizer Awards to: Dan Bichel, 615-Saskatoon, SK Jon Hunt, 757-Portland, OR Michelle Sommers, 1005-Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN Steve Green, 1321-Albany & Troy, NY Gary Padgett, 1603-Bethlehem, PA

Local 256-Sacramento, CA Local 1001-Denver, CO Local 1577-W. Palm Beach, FL Local 1587-Toronto, ON Local 1764-Washington, DC

‘WE CAN DO THIS’ AFL-CIO Organizing Director Stuart Acuff congratulated the ATU on creating a first class organizing department. “We thank you,” he said, “for showing all of us what can be done.”

Acuff inspired cheers and a standing ovation from the delegates, speaking passionately about the need for new energy and a new vision of what it means to grow a union by instilling an organizing culture within the entire membership.

www.atu.org

The “Member-Organizer of the Year Award” was presented to Dan Sundquist, 1001-Denver, CO.

‘‘WELCOME’ IS ALL OVER THIS UNION’ No one in that hall would have thought that anyone could equal the enthusiasm generated by Acuff. But that thought quickly dissolved as

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2007

9

International Secretary-Treasurer Owens introduced Clayola Brown, president of the A. Phillip Randolph Institute.

The delegates cheered as President Brown literally danced onto the stage – very much at home with her fellow trade-unionists. “‘Welcome’ is all over this union,” she proclaimed, as she began expanding on the themes introduced by Acuff.

And he continued: “We started to see changes with the ’06 elections, but November 2008 is ‘D-Day.’ Union members need to get ready to work like never before to help set a new agenda. We need to create a filibuster-proof Senate… Above all, we need a president with a mission to fight for and help the American people.”

Next year, he proclaimed, “we need to send a clear message that it is ‘redemption hour’ in America. We need political leaders with a new agenda of fairness, decency and protection of workers’ rights.”

He implored the delegates to work harder than ever before to make it happen.

DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN Several Democratic presidential candidates asked the delegates for their help in making “it happen” in their bids for their party’s nomination.

Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-OH, gave a passionate speech and thanked the ATU for its support on many issues over the years.

Brown declared that Labor’s fight is “long overdue. Everything we have ever won has come through struggle. We are sick and tired of people taking advantage of us. Now we are saying ‘No More!’ – my labor is worth something.”

“Employers say that they gave us all that we have,” she continued, “We say, ‘No!’ We gave them the best years of our lives and made them rich!”

Brown brought the delegates to their feet again declaring, “You are warriors. You are champions, and I salute you.”

POLITICAL ACTIVISM Not to be outdone, ATU member-activists went to work in 2006, and helped elect labor and transit-friendly candidates all over the U.S in what proved to be a historic overhaul of Congressional leadership.

One direct result of our activists’ work, International President George said, is that Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-CA, has not only become the Speaker of the House, but that she has become the “best Speaker working people in this country have ever had.”

Another result, George explained, was that transit security has become a top legislative priority with $3.4 billion in funding passed for the next four years for transit, and $87 million for over-the-road bus companies.

‘D-DAY’ No one is known to be a more forceful speaker on the need for political activism on behalf of transit workers than AFL-CIO Transportation Trades Department President Ed Wytkind, and he did not disappoint.

He was just warming up when he told the Convention, “When transit labor speaks with one voice, we get things done.”

10

IN TRANSIT

He told the delegates that he decries the notion of city governments that privatization is the answer to improving local services. He said he also strongly supports transit labor’s Section 13(c) collective bargaining rights and opposes contracting out union work.

As part of his platform, Kucinich said that major investments in transportation and alternative fuels were important to rebuild America for the future.

Kucinich predicted that the most important debate in 2008 will center on health care. “We must do everything we can to break the hold that private insurers have over politicians in this country, and work toward providing Medicare for all,” he said, adding that this would remove the question of health care from the bargaining table.

He concluded by saying that the U.S. needs leadership in the form of a Democratic President and a Congressional majority which respects working people so that we can restore our nation and make the American dream a reality. He asked for ATU’s support in the upcoming elections in order to “keep America rolling.”

www.atu.org

In British Columbia where one agency persisted in trying to privatize health care workers, a court ruled that collective bargaining was a constitutional right which could not be tampered with.

Other presidential candidates sent videos or were represented by surrogates who spoke on their behalf. Most notable among the surrogates was former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack, co-chair of Sen. Hillary Clinton’s campaign, and a former candidate himself, who urged the delegates to support her candidacy.

Other presentations were made on behalf of presidential candidates Sen. Joe Biden, D-DE; Sen. Chris Dodd, D-CT; former Sen. John Edwards, D-SC; Sen. Barack Obama, D-IL; and Gov. Bill Richardson, D-NM. The ATU has not yet endorsed any candidate for president.

ATU-COPE AWARDS International Secretary-Treasurer Owens read the list of those locals which had received ATU-COPE awards for making the highest contributions to COPE, or having the highest level of participation in COPE for locals in their size-category: Local 85-Pittsburgh, PA Local 164-Wilkes-Barre, PA Local 519-LaCrosse, WI Local 587-Seattle, WA Local 726-Staten Island, NY Local 843-Bellingham, WA Local 1179-New York, NY Local 1235-Nashville, TN Local 1575-San Rafael, CA The Convention also acknowledged Herb Dill, president of 788St. Louis, MO, and Dale Anderson, president of 519-La Crosse, WI, who received the ATU-COPE Patriot Award on behalf of their locals.

‘DEMOCRACIES ARE BUILT BY STRONG UNIONS’ Canadian workers were well represented at the dais by Canadian Labour Congress President Ken Georgetti.

With a union density rate of 32.4 percent in Canada – one of the highest percentages in the world – Georgetti has reason to be proud.

In his address he explained how those numbers helped spur recent victories won by Labour “north of the border”:

www.atu.org

Parliament has also revised its criminal code to include stiff penalties for “corporate killing” by employers who cause death or injury to workers.

Raiding of pensions by corporations has been outlawed. During restructuring or bankruptcy proceedings, a company cannot change wage or pension obligations.

“Our unions in Canada are well organized and motivated,” he said.

We must keep up the good work, because “democracies are built by strong unions.”

SEA-CHANGE In the arena of Canadian transit, Michael Roschlau, president and CEO of the Canadian Urban Transit Association, described the “seachange” in Canadian transit funding which has taken place since he last spoke to the ATU Convention in 2004.

The CUTA head listed nine major federal and provincial sources of transit funding which have been created in the last three years, and declared that it was the partnership between CUTA and the ATU which has made that funding possible.

Roschlau reviewed the work that the two organizations have done to counter the rising tide of violence against transit workers in Canada, including the development of a database of violent acts against transit workers. That database will be used to convince legislators to take further action against this new, personal form of terrorism.

LABOR/MANAGEMENT COOPERATION Roschlau’s American counterpart, Bill Millar, president of the American Public Transportation Association (which represents transit systems) addressed the delegates as well. Millar said that he is excited about the fact that public transportation is a growing and changing industry.

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2007

11

The key, he said, to keeping up with technological advances within the industry is training. He serves on the board of the Community Transportation Center which, with ATU, is developing new training programs with a “career ladder” approach to address the long-term changes that are coming. He is very proud of the successful labor/management collaboration between the ATU and ATPA.

issued to the delegates. The delegates then voted either concurrence or nonconcurrence with the committee recommendations.

SOLIDARITY FOREVER That the ATU will prevail was made evident by the energy and commitment that was felt throughout all of the proceedings. When not taking part in sessions, delegates and guests perused the ATU History Room which continues to grow with new archival material every Convention. Delegates also participated in the “ATU Idol” show (see back cover), in which ATU’s own performed to the enthusiastic delight of their fellow Convention-goers.

The ATU spirit was palpable at the Convention’s adjournment as the delegates filled the hall with the strains of that great labor anthem, “Solidarity Forever.” As they departed back to their locals there was no doubt that the Union would not only prevail, but thrive, because after all, ATU is, indeed, “The Right Move.”

NEW LABOR, NEW TECHNOLOGY New technology was at the heart of the address by Transport Workers Union President Jim Little.

Little’s speech concerned “New Labor” – a term gaining currency which applies to labor unions which exercise all of the political and technological tools available today to advance their members’ interests.

Little warned that if Labor does not “put its arms around technology” it may get stuck in a “virtual sweatshop” in the future.

“The future will be what we make it,” asserted Little, “TWU and ATU will work together, and in solidarity we will prevail.”

HARD WORK Much of the hard work of the Convention was done by committees made up of delegates who considered resolutions, appeals of decisions of the International President and General Executive Board, and amendments to the ATU Constitution and General Laws submitted to the Convention. Each committee took the time to hammer out their recommendations on those submissions which they delivered in reports

12

IN TRANSIT

www.atu.org

Resolutions of the

The 55th Amalgamated Transit Union International Convention Las Vegas, NV, September 17 – 21, 2007

The following resolutions below were passed by the delegates to the 55th Convention of the Amalgamated Transit Union. All of the resolutions have been paraphrased because of space limitations. All resolutions were submitted by the Amalgamated Transit Union unless otherwise specified.

Resolution A – Organizing, to continue to make organizing a top priority at all levels of the Union; to develop specific organizing plans and provide the research necessary to ensure successful campaigns; and to identify, train and utilize volunteer organizers.

Resolution B – School Bus Campaigns, to use political and community pressure to drive up standards for school bus workers; and to organize at least 1,000 new school bus employees within the next three years.

Resolution C – Transit Workforce Development Programs, to continue to work closely with the Community Transportation Center to expand training opportunities for ATU locals and transit workers and to propose a comprehensive transit workforce development program as part of the reauthorization of SAFETEA-LU. Resolution D – Stopping Violence against Transit Workers, to continue to work to stop violence against transit workers through legislation, labor-management partnerships and collective bargaining language requiring training to deal with violence.

Resolution E – Restroom Breaks for Transit Operators, to continue to promote the passage of state legislation to provide for appropriate restroom breaks and convenient restroom facilities for transit employees.

Resolution F – Addressing Global Warming and the Energy Crisis, to work with other groups to promote the environmental benefits of transit; and to educate lawmakers and policy makers about public transportation as an alternative to automobile use.

Resolution G – Curbside Bus Operations, to continue to work with industry and Labor to urge governments to enforce laws and regulations against curbside operators; and engage community and other groups to join our efforts to stop unfair and unsafe competition by curbside operations.

Resolution H – Reauthorization of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, and Efficient Transportation Equity Act – A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-

www.atu.org

LU) – to craft a SAFETEA-LU reauthorization proposal by 2008; to work with the AFL-CIO’s Transportation Trades Department throughout the process; and to educate locals about the new bill’s programs, and ensure that the bill’s funding levels and programs are achieved each year.

Resolution I – State Legislative Agenda, to continue to assist ATU state legislative boards in promoting the ATU’s state legislative agenda; and to add items to the ATU state legislative agenda in consultation with state conference boards.

Resolution J – Privatization, to oppose transit industry and government policies favoring forced privatization or competitive bidding of mass transit; to work to ensure that any integration of private and public transit service is designed to meet local needs and protect ATU jobs and collective bargaining rights.

Resolution K – Ensuring Fairness for School Bus Workers, to support legislation to protect school bus workers whose jobs are privatized or contracted out, which ensures that school bus transportation is provided by the highest quality workforce, compensated at a reasonable level; and that bidding be done according to a standard process with an eye to protecting the safety of students.

Resolution L – Building ATU-COPE, to continue to encourage all locals and conference boards to raise funds for ATU-COPE; and to redouble ATU’s efforts to reward members and locals who participate in ATU-COPE. Resolution M – ATU Votes 2008, to encourage all locals in battleground states to participate in the AFL-CIO’s Labor 2008 program; and to assist locals in those states with implementing the Labor 2008 Ten-Point Program; and to educate ATU about the elections.

Resolution N – Employee Free Choice Act, to support passage of the EFCA; and to work for the election of 2008 House, Senate, and Presidential candidates who support the bill.

Resolution O – Child Care, to make information on local child care available to members; to encourage locals to bargain for child care assistance; to work with child care advocates on state and national policies that help low income families with child care

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2007

13

costs and promote the expansion of the Family Medical Leave Act and similar laws; and to lobby for raising the cap on U.S. dependent care pre-tax expense accounts.

war; to support policies to improve the health and welfare of veterans; and to support a timetable for the quickest possible withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq, consistent with their safety.

Resolution P & S (combined)– Fair U.S. Immigration Policy (Resolution S submitted by Local 694-San Antonio, TX) to support efforts to enact sensible and comprehensive immigration reform which will include a new program of legalization for immigrants already in the U.S. which keeps families together and treats immigrants with respect; to reject shifting the blame of low wages or the depletion of the middle class on undocumented workers; to create a legal means for future workers to come to the U.S; to reunite families and secure our borders while protecting native and foreign-born alike; to guarantee civil rights and continue to organize immigrant workers into unions, promote civic participation, including encouraging citizenship, voter registration and participation in the political process; to reject the fast-track approach Congress has taken; to conduct educational programs on immigration and to promote awareness of current immigration legislation.

Resolution R – Honoring the ATU’s New Orleans Members, to honor all of ATU’s members in the New Orleans area for their courage and perseverance despite the gravest of circumstances; and to continue to provide assistance to those as well as the ATU statewide legislative conference board in an effort to bring our members back to the region; and to continue to work with the AFL-CIO to improve the quality of life for all individuals living in the New Orleans area.

Resolution Q – End the War in Iraq, to express the ATU’s profound gratitude and admiration for the men and women in uniform who deserve better than to be sent to fight in a misguided and avoidable

Resolution T – Affordable Housing (submitted by Local 265-San Jose, CA) to support state and federal funding of affordable housing, and to support the National Affordable Housing Trust Fund currently before Congress.

Resolution U – Stress (submitted by Local 26-Detroit, MI) to investigate the full impact of stress on urban bus operators; and to produce a summary document detailing the cause and effect of stress as well as recommendations for corrective measures; and to make the document available to help negotiate better contracts and working conditions.

Your Executive and International Officers

The executive and international officers elected September 20, at the 55th International Convention are, from left, in the first row, International Vice Presidents Kenneth R. Kirk, Paul Bowen, International Executive Vice President Michael J. Siano, International President Warren S. George, International Secretary Treasurer Oscar Owens, International Vice Presidents Tommy Mullins, and Janis M. Borchardt.

From left, in the middle row, are International Vice Presidents Gary Rauen, Robert H. Baker, Javier M. Perez, Jr., William G. McLean, Richard M. Murphy, Joseph Welch, and Larry R. Kinnear. From left, in the back row, are International Vice Presidents Donald T. Hansen, Ronald J. Heintzman, Lawrence J. Hanley, Bob M. Hykaway, Charles Cook, Randy Graham, and Rodney Richmond.

14

IN TRANSIT

www.atu.org

The 55th Amalgamated Transit Union International Convention Committees

AppealS

COPE

Credentials

Laws

Balloting

Safety & Security

Resolutions

Rules & Order

Organizing

International President’s Report

Int. Secretary-Treasurer’s Report

General Executive Board Report

www.atu.org

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2007

15

LEGISL A TIVE

R EPO R T :

P E N N S Y LV

From Desperation to D

It all started in the fall of 2002 when then-gubernatorial candidate Ed Rendell, D, came to a meeting of the ATU Pennsylvania Joint Conference Board in State College, PA. The Nittany Lions football team was playing just minutes away that Saturday, but Rendell made a special trip to introduce himself to the ATU. As mayor of Philadelphia with a history of privatization, some in the group were skeptical.

Rendell said all the right things. He would fight for bus and rail funding.

He would not push for transit privatization. And Labor would always have a seat at the table.

And so they did. On November 10, 2004, the Conference Board organized a massive rally in the State Capitol in Harrisburg, calling for a dedicated source of funding for mass transit. More than 500 people joined ATU members from across the commonwealth, including transit riders’ groups, Transport Workers’ Union (TWU) members from Philadelphia, and people with disabilities. The ATU also conducted a massive postcard campaign involving transit riders from across the state.

Those policies would have been a welcome change from previous governors. Under Tom Ridge, R, – who had recently become the first head of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security – public transportation systems in Pennsylvania had suffered through stagnant funding for many years.

More than 416 million passengers travel to work, school, medical appointments, and other destinations on Pennsylvania’s transit systems each year. For many people, especially seniors and people with disabilities in both urban and rural areas of the state, there is simply no other option.

ATU TOOK A CHANCE ON RENDELL

Soon after the rally, Rendell and several members of the legislature announced a $110 million plan that would have increased fees paid by motorists to raise funds for public transit. Republicans, however, refused to agree to the plan. No money was found to fill transit budget deficits.

The ATU decided to take a chance by supporting Ed Rendell for governor.

In November of 2002, he was elected.

‘FLEXED’ AND STRESSED

By 2004, transit systems across the state were running huge deficits.

The infrastructure of the commonwealth’s 74 transit systems – both bus and rail – was crumbling, and a major shortage in operating funds had created a crisis situation. In order to address a $30 million deficit for the 2004-’05 fiscal year, the financially strapped Port Authority of Allegheny County in Pittsburgh announced plans for the largest fare increase and most far-reaching service cuts in its 40-year history. But it was not just the big cities that were in danger. Without legislative action, transit systems from Scranton to Allentown to Johnstown were facing cuts.

By 2005, a series of fare hikes and massive service cuts were announced for transit systems across the state. Unable to reach a deal with the legislature to bail out the transit agencies, Governor Rendell took matters into his own hands and “flexed” more than $400 million in federal highway funds in order to fill the transit budget gap. While road builders screamed, the ATU and transit activists across the state praised the governor for his leadership.

“That’s when I realized that we had to get the entire state involved,” said new Conference Board President Patrick McMahon, 85-Pittsburgh, PA. We’ve got 22 locals across the commonwealth. Lawmakers needed to hear from all of us.”

16

IN TRANSIT

Yet, this action was only a one-time fix. Recognizing this, the governor issued an executive order creating a Transportation Funding and Reform Commission to assess the state’s transit and highway funding needs.

While this was a positive development, the ATU was concerned that the commission was directed to review “competitive contracting” options as part of an overall review of the transit agencies’ operational structures.

“That’s all we needed at that point,” said McMahon. “Not only were we facing massive layoffs through service cuts, but now we had to deal with

www.atu.org

ANIA

Dedicated Funding the possibility of our members losing their jobs through contracting out.

That was the most stressful time of the entire campaign.”

continued to play a leading role in the campaign to secure transportation funding, tying the issue to negotiations over the delayed state budget.

‘AFTER AWHILE THEY REALLY GOT INTO IT’

VICTORY

By 2006, the commission was holding hearings across the state, and ATU took advantage of the opportunity to testify on numerous occasions. “We believe that with a dedicated source of funding, proper governance, creative mechanisms to increase ridership, and the right priorities, public transportation can keep Pennsylvania’s economy thriving and provide a lifeline to millions of people who for whatever reason do not own or drive an automobile,” McMahon said at one of the hearings.

Finally, by the summer of 2007, the wait was over. Governor Rendell signed a landmark transportation bill that will provide about $300 million in new funding for mass transit this fiscal year, with the total rising steadily until 2016. The money will come from future toll increases, rental car fees, and a portion of the state sales tax. Due to Labor’s opposition, and the governor’s neutrality, the privatization measures called for in the commission report did not materialize.

In the fall of 2006, the ATU organized a special meeting of the Conference Board in Hershey to prepare for what promised to be an event-filled year. Editorial after editorial dismissed the transit issue as a “Philadelphia-Pittsburgh” problem. Governor Rendell, who addressed ATU members at the meeting, said we had to make sure that our members from across the state, especially those in smaller cities, took the message to their legislators.

ATU therefore began a statewide education campaign, meeting with lawmakers of both parties, letting them know that transit funding was a critical issue. ATU members sent letters to the editor, knocked on doors, and made lots of phone calls. “People who never did anything political in their lives told me that after awhile, they really got into it,” said McMahon. “They said it was fun.”

By this time, the Conference Board also had an ATU member – Financial Secretary Sabatino DiNardo, 85 – working the halls of the legislature as a lobbyist on a full time basis. “You need to have a presence in the Capitol,” said DiNardo. “If you’re not politically active, someone else will eat your lunch.”

In 2007, with no more money to spare, the layoffs in Pittsburgh began, and most of the state’s transit agencies released doomsday budgets projecting major fare increases, service cuts and layoffs in the event that the legislature did not create a dedicated source of funding for transit.

Following the release of a comprehensive report by the Transportation Funding and Reform Commission, which found massive shortages in transportation funding, Governor Rendell set forth his plan to raise money for transit through a new tax on oil companies. The ATU supported the governor’s controversial plan. Throughout the year, Rendell

www.atu.org

For ATU members, more transit operating assistance hopefully means better contracts for years to come. Rendell predicted the law will solve mass transit’s funding problems “for at least the next decade.”

In the end, the governor was true to his pledge made five years earlier.

ATU Pennsylvania Joint Conference Board members

Throughout the campaign, ATU members in Pennsylvania suffered through rallies in freezing temperatures, tough contract negotiations, and many stubborn legislators in pursuit of a bill to provide dedicated funding for transit. “I’d do it again in a heartbeat,” says McMahon. “If we don’t stand up and fight for ourselves and our passengers, who will?”

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2007

17

canadianagenda Canadian Labour Congress URGES WORKERS TO MAKE THE BETTER CHOICE In a rousing and passionate speech before the ATU 55th International Convention, Ken Georgetti, president of the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC), discussed the importance of political activism

by Canada’s unionized workers.

“People who work for wages are the majority,” said Georgetti.

“They constitute the majority of citizens. And they constitute the majority of people who vote. So politicians should be attuned to their interests.”

Care. All five issues are addressed in length on the Better Choice website at www.betterchoice.ca.

Georgetti credits this campaign with producing many of the recent political and legislative accomplishments seen by the labour movement. “Brothers and sisters, in the 2006 elections we got great results,” he exclaimed at the ATU Convention. “In those districts, more workers looked at the parties’ position on workers’ issues. More workers voted. More workers voted in large numbers for the party that responded properly to these issues.”

A BETTER POSITION OF STRENGTH Even though a Conservative government was elected, said Georgetti, “we – as trade unionists – are in a better position of strength to put pressure with regard to these issues on the government and Members of Parliament,” he said.

‘WHO’S ON YOUR SIDE?’

Georgetti further stressed that it is just as important for union members to be educated and politically active in between elections as it is during election campaigns. “Our political activism in our communities must become as important as union activism in our workplaces;” urged Georgetti, “a daily, year-round activity – not just a burst of campaigning at election time. Brothers and sisters, we can match our workplace bargaining successes in the political arena.”

In an effort to put worker issues at the center of the political stage, the CLC launched its Better Choice campaign. The campaign urges workers to make the better choice when they vote by looking at the candidates’ and parties’ positions on five crucial worker issues and then asking, “Who’s on your side?”

The five issues at the center of the campaign are Jobs, Education and Skills Training, Pension Protection, Pharmacare and Child 18

IN TRANSIT

www.atu.org

Legislative Victory Alert

Congress Passes Transit Security Legislation WASHINGTON, DC, August 31 – After the ATU aggressively fought for its passage for six years, Congress finally enacted comprehensive transit and over-the-road bus security legislation that includes a number of the ATU’s top priorities for increasing the security of our nation’s public transportation systems.

“This bill is an overwhelming victory for U.S. transit workers,” declared ATU International President Warren S. George.

The bill, H.R. 1, was signed into law on August 3. The bill includes significant funding for transit and over-the-road bus security initiatives, requires security training for employees, includes Section 13(c) transit labor protections for new grant programs, and sets out new whistleblower and other employee protections for transit workers. We have outlined the relevant provisions in the bill below:

TRANSIT & OVER-THE-ROAD BUS SECURITY FUNDING • Authorizes $3.4 billion over four years for capital and operating grants to transit systems • Authorizes $87 million over four years for grants to over-theroad bus companies • These grants will be available to transit and over-the-road bus companies for both capital and operating expenses, including costs associated with training.

• Section 13(c) transit labor protections are included in both the transit and the over-the-road bus grant programs.

Security and Emergency Response Training: Ensuring that frontline workers receive meaningful security training has been a top priority of the ATU for several years and this legislation clearly delivers on this issue.

• All transit security grant recipients and all over-the-road bus companies will be required to provide training to their frontline employees in emergency response and preparedness techniques and procedures.

www.atu.org

• Training must be updated regularly and must comply with training regulations developed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in coordination and consultation with transit labor.

• DHS will have until August 3, 2008 to issue the regulations (February 3, 2008 for over-the-road bus employee training).

Once the regulations are issued, transit systems will have a year and a half to develop, adopt and fully implement a training program that complies with the regulations. At the latest, transit systems must complete training of all employees by February 2009.

Whistleblower and Employee Protections: New and expanded protections for transit and over-the-road bus employees are now some of the strongest in federal law and will provide workers with a fair and timely process to adjudicate whistleblower complaints.

• These protections prohibit a transit agency or overthe-road bus company from discharging, demoting, suspending, reprimanding, or otherwise discriminating against an employee who reports security and safety breaches, refuses to violate safety or security rules, or who refuses to work when confronted with a hazardous safety or security condition that presents an imminent danger of death or serious injury.

Background Check Protections: Currently, transit agencies are not required by federal law to conduct criminal background checks on transit employees. Under this law, if the DHS issues any guidance or recommendations to transit employers (including contractors) on the performance of background checks, the guidance or recommendations must include the following protections and limitations: • Maximum look-back periods for background checks • Limit checks for only certain defined permanent and interim disqualifying offenses • Workers must be afforded an appeal and waiver process

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2007

19

Security Screenings: While the legislation does not require transit and over-the-road bus companies to conduct background checks on employees, it does require DHS to check all transit employee names against the consolidated terrorist watchlist and to conduct an immigration status check on all employees.

• Includes protections for employees who are wrongfully discharged as a result of this check.

SECURITY STRATEGIES, ASSESSMENTS AND PLANS • DHS and the Department of Transportation (DOT) must establish a national strategy and assessment for securing public transit. As part of this review, DHS is required to consult with labor organizations representing public transit employees.

SCHOOL BUS SECURITY • DHS is required to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the security risks of the nation’s school bus transportation systems. The report will include a review of public and private systems, an assessment of actions already taken to address security risks, and what additional actions and investment are necessary to improve security.

• In conducting the risk assessment, DHS is required to consult with various stakeholders including labor organizations representing school bus drivers.

For more information on this legislation and transit and overthe-road bus security, contact the ATU Legislative Department or go to http://www.atu.org.

• In addition to this national plan, DHS will conduct or supplement security assessments for transit providers and over-the-road bus companies that will identify security vulnerabilities including an assessment of current employee training practices and emergency response.

ATU Celebrates Labor Day Bloomington, IL, Local Participates in Labor Day Parade Mike Matejka, 752-Bloomington, IL, sent in these pictures of ATU’s participation in Bloomington’s Labor Day Parade. Below, left, is the Moore family. “The dad,” he says, “is Andrew Moore, 752, his son Nicholas is in the stroller, wife Joannie is next to Andrew.” The woman on next to Joannie is unidentified.

a horse and buggy to honor our past and after the parade was over people were given free horse and buggy rides for about three hours.

Labor Comes Out to Support Decatur Local at Parade Local President Nanette Ruffin, 859-Decatur, IL, wrote us the following: “One of the reasons we had a great turnout at the parade is that we are in a standstill in our negotiations. The members turned down the last offer we received from the company.

Peoria Local Provides Retro Transit on Labor Day

“Our members have shown great strength and support within our small local. We had a rally in front of the Civic Center before the City Council meeting and again had a good turnout from our members and other unions. At present, we are among the lowest-paid transit operators in Central Illinois, and the company wants us to pay a portion of our insurance…

Local President Ron Cox, 416-Peoria, IL, sent us some photos that were taken at the Labor Day Parade in Peoria, IL. Local 416 rented

I am proud of Local 859 for its standing together in unity to receive a fair raise.”

20

IN TRANSIT

www.atu.org

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS: Guide to Accessing the Funeral or Dismemberment Benefit

q

Editor’s Note: Readers may want to keep a copy of this page with their important papers.

As part of its commitment to serving transit employees, the ATU provides a funeral benefit to assist in the proper burial of deceased members. This article serves as a guide to ease access to this benefit.

The benefit becomes unavailable if claims are not settled within seven (7) years from the date of death, or within two (2) years following a dismemberment.

Section 27 of the ATU Constitution and General Laws provides for a one-time $1,000 benefit for either dismemberment or funeral costs. Members and nonmember feepayers in good standing qualify for the assistance after their one-year anniversary with the Union.

“Dismemberment” is defined by Section 27.1 of the ATU Constitution as the loss of a hand at or above the wrist, the loss of a foot at or above the ankle joint, or the loss of the sight in both eyes.

To obtain the benefit, a claimant must contact the local financial secretary, or in the case of members-at-large the International Secretary-Treasurer, and provide:

Recipients should be aware that there may be tax implications for the recipient of the benefit and appropriate tax professionals should be consulted.

1) an original or certified copy, of the member’s or feepayer’s death certificate, or in the case of dismemberment benefits, a doctor’s certificate with records of the date of the accident; and 2) a copy of the funeral bill with the current payment status.

The payment status must be current to avoid unnecessary delay in receiving the death benefit because the Union’s first obligation is to pay the funeral home, and next to pay the individual who paid the funeral bill. Any remaining balance will then be distributed according to Section 27.9 of the ATU Constitution. If no will or testament has been made by the deceased, payment of the remaining benefit will be made to the widow or widower, or if there is none, to the children and grandchildren of the member or feepayer.

www.atu.org

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2007

21

Scams

Supplements

We all wish we could just take a pill, drink a powdered drink or rub on a gel to lose weight, lower our cholesterol, or get rid of cellulite.

But let’s face it, its just not that easy!

Nonetheless, we continue to fall for the tricks and scams presented to us by the supplement industry. And they are banking on our mistakes – to the tune of $22 billion of OUR money!

The multi-billion dollar supplement industry claims that they can offer relief of symptoms ranging from weakened immune systems, failing memories, fatigue and obesity, to name just a few. They tout the “latest” research, never explaining that this “research” was done on mice, not humans, and was conducted by “researchers” who are being paid by the companies selling the products!

SUPPLEMENTS WORKING AGAINST US Not only are these supplements not working, they are actually working against us! For example, drinks and supplements used to curb your appetite can actually raise your blood pressure, heart rate and put you at greater risk for heart attacks and strokes. In addition, many of these supplements can render your medications ineffective or double the potency of your medication.

Unlike drug companies, which must prove to the Federal Drug Administration that a drug is both safe and effective, a company marketing a supplement does not have to provide FDA with any evidence that their product is safe or effective.

Before you buy-in to the next scam or supplement, make sure the product you are taking is safe! Check the website for alternative medicine at the National Institutes of Health at www.dietary-supplements.info.nih.gov.

Make sure YOU don’t get scammed into taking the easy but expensive way out.

You have better things to do with your money!

22

IN TRANSIT

www.atu.org

The Amalgamated Transit Union

2008 Scholarship Competition IN MEMORY OF: JACKIE B. BRECKENRIDGE The 2007-2008 scholarships are in remembrance of former International Vice President Jackie B. Breckenridge, who was appointed International Representative in 1985, and was elected International Vice President in September of the following year. He was re-elected to that position at every subsequent Convention until his death in 2003. This year, the program will consist of five scholarships each in the amount of $5,000. In addition, a $2,000 scholarship may be awarded to a vocational school applicant.

R

U

L

E

S

A

N

D

ELIGIBILITY

APPLICANTS MUST BE EITHER:

1.

a member of the ATU in good standing; OR

the child (whether natural or legally adopted) or stepchild of a member or of a deceased member who was in good standing at the time of his or her death.

2.

P

C

E

D

U

R

E

S

Valid applications for the ATU Scholarship Program MUST include the following:

• Completed Official Application Form

• Scholarship Questionnaire

• Written Essay

THE APPLICATION FORM

Applicants must be high school seniors planning to enter college (or technical or vocational post-secondary school) for the first time following graduation during the 2007-2008 school year, or previous high school graduates who have never undertaken post-secondary school­ing.

1.

3.

ATU Scholarships are NOT available to the following persons:

those who do not intend to work without interrup­tion toward a bachelor degree or graduation from a technical or vocation­al school,

2.

those who are attending or have already attended college, technical or vocational school,

spouses and/or grandchildren of members,

those who are fully funded for tuition, fees, and books from other sources.

www.atu.org

O

APPLICATION PROCEDURES

ATU International Officers, International Representatives, staff, and other employees or their depen­dents, and

R

3.

4.

Official Application forms can be obtained from any ATU local union or through the ATU Scholarship Program Office, 5025 Wisconsin Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC, 20016-4139, Tel: (toll free) 1-888-240-1196.

You may also use the copy published in our In Transit magazine.

Completed applications must be sent by first class mail to the ATU Scholarship Program Office at the above address.

Applications must be POSTMARKED NO LATER THAN JANUARY 31, 2008. Late applications will not be accepted.

Upon receipt of the application by the ATU Scholarship Program Office, applicants will receive the following materials by return mail:

• Scholarship Questionnaire • Bibliography of Suggested References for the Essay

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2007

23

SCHOLARSHIP QUESTIONNAIRE 1.

2.

3.

2.

Applicants, and/or their parent or legal guardian, must sign the authorization statement for the release of the information requested in the Scholarship Questionnaire.

The form should then be presented for completion to the principal or headmaster of the secondary school attended by the applicant.

Applicants are responsible for ensuring that this form is returned to the ATU Scholar­ship Program Office POSTMARKED NO LATER THAN MARCH 15, 2008.

Essays must be sent, preferably with the ­Scholarship Question­naire, by first class mail to the ATU Scholar­ship Program Office, POST MARKED NO LATER THAN MARCH 15, 2008.

DEADLINES All deadlines will be strictly enforced. Any applica­tion which is incomplete or is not postmarked on time will not be considered.

SELECTION OF SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS

ESSAY

The ATU International shall appoint a Selection Commit­tee of community, academic, and labor leaders. No ATU officer, member, staff or employee shall participate in the final selection process.

1.

Applicants will be judged on the basis of their scholas­tic record, involvement in community, extra-curricular activities, and the quality of the essay submitted.

Applicants are required to write an essay of no less than 500 words and no more than 750 words in English, French or Spanish on the subject of:

“Organized Labor’s Contribution to the Welfare of the People of the United States” (for residents of the United States)

OR

“Organized Labour’s Contribu­tion to the Welfare of the People of Canada” (for residents of Canada)

The Committee shall select five academic scholarship winners and five alternates, and one technical or vocational scholarship winner and alternate.

Decisions of the Committee shall be final.

If a recipient is disqualified due to a failure to fulfill all Scholarship Program requirements, the ATU Scholarship will be awarded to the next qualified alternate.

NOTE: The essay will be evaluated on an analysis of the topic - the facts and arguments - that are presented as demonstrating that the student understands the topic, and the effectiveness of the essay in demonstrating how organized labor benefits everyone, whether they are union members or not. Grammar, style, organization and presentation will also be evaluated.

The recipient(s) will be notified by mail of their award and will also be given a form to complete in order to obtain the scholarship funds. Upon the return of the required information, a check will be issued to the university or vocational school in the appropriate amount. The award will be restricted to the payment of tuition, books, and associated fees.

CUT HERE

The Official 2008 Scholarship Application Form RETURN COMPLETED APPLICATION POSTMARKED NO LATER THAN JANUARY 31, 2008 TO: ATU SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM, AMALGAMATED TRANSIT UNION, 5025 WISCONSIN AVE, NW, WASHINGTON, DC 20016 Please Print or Type

High School Address:

Name of Applicant: (First) (Middle)

(Last)

Name of Principal:

Address:

List in order of preference, the accredited colleges, technical or vocational institutions to which you are applying for admission (no abbreviations):

Phone Number: Name of Sponsoring ATU Member:

1.

ATU Member’s Local Union Number:

2.

Relationship of ATU member to applicant:

3.

(Self, Child, Stepchild)

High School: Month & Year of Graduation:

24

IN TRANSIT

I hereby certify that to the best of my knowledge and belief the above information is true and correct.

Applicant’s Signature Date

www.atu.org

PETERBOROUGH LOCAL MAKES PARATRANSIT CLIENT’S DREAM COME TRUE Local 1320-Peterborough, ON, helped make the dream of one of its Handi-Van clients become reality. Russell Lake has been riding the Handi-Van service in Peterborough for years. His smile, sense of humour and happy temperament are qualities which have gained him many friends in the local.

Lake is a huge fan of The Price Is Right. He is quick to admit that his hero is host Bob Barker. Lake often dreamed of going to Hollywood to watch a taping of the show, but money constraints along with his confinement to a wheelchair made the dream seem unachievable. With the announced retirement of Bob Barker in June, Lake’s dream was quickly fading.

A VERY WORTHY CAUSE Local 1320 was approached to see if it would make a donation to make Lake’s dream come true. The members agreed that this was a very worthy cause and voted unanimously to sponsor Lake for the entire trip. The local was very much encouraged in this project by International Vice President Larry Kinnear.

On April 19, Lake celebrated his 45th birthday at the Community Living Peterborough Centre. Although he knew that there would be a cake, he didn’t expect the extraordinary surprise brought by Local 1320 President Gary Sager.

Sager presented Lake with two round-trip airline tickets, tickets for the taping of The Price Is Right on April 30, and a cheque to cover the hotel and expenses for two people in Hollywood. Lake was also given several T-shirts to wear on the trip.

The Centre had asked the local media to record the event. Cameras flashed while the media interviewed Lake who was beaming his big patent smile.

Local 1320 Executive Board Member Bob Jackson said, “By being sensitive to the needs of others, we can give something back to the community we serve and validate that the ATU has a big heart.

Helping to make Russell’s dream come true has given our membership a really warm feeling and a great deal of pride in being ATU.”

www.atu.org

The Community Living Peterborough Centre presents a gift of appreciation to Local 1320-Peterborough, ON, on September 24, for sponsoring paratransit client Russell Lake on his dream trip to Hollywood. From left, is the Centre’s Chief Executive Officer, Jack Gillan; Lake; Centre President Alex Webster; and Local 1320 President Gary Sager.

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2007

25

Arbitration Decisions Local 113 and Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) ISSUE: Was just cause established in demoting a driver and prohibiting him from applying for further operating positions in the case of an elderly woman struck and fatally wounded by a streetcar?

SUMMARY: On June 19, 2006, the grievant was operating a Queens Westbound streetcar. At approximately noon, grievant stopped at the intersection of Lakeshore and 5th Street to allow passengers to enter and exit the car. At the time, the light was red. Once all passengers had exited or taken their seats, the light turned green and the grievant headed into the intersection. Suddenly, grievant heard screams from the sidewalk and immediately stopped the car. Upon exiting the vehicle, grievant saw an elderly woman trapped underneath the front of the streetcar asking for help. Paramedics and firefighters were called to extract the woman, who later died. Responding to the grievant’s call for emergency assistance, a Line Supervisor and a Mobile Supervisor from TTC reported to the scene and began an investigation. The pair of TTC officials took numerous photographs of the accident scene and the streetcar. None of the witnesses on hand were interviewed by TTC officials, as the officials felt their evidence “would be irrelevant” to the investigation. The TTC officials noted that the car was in full working order and that the crossover mirrors allowing the operator to see the surrounding area were in proper position. The TTC officials therefore concluded that the grievant was at fault for the accident, reasoning that the grievant had not checked his mirrors prior to entering the intersection as required.

The grievant was subsequently terminated from employment. A short time later the grievant was reinstated with the limitation that he be disqualified from operating duties within the TTC. Testimony from the grievant indicated that he had in fact checked both crossover mirrors prior to entering the intersection, and that he “had no idea where the woman could have come from.” The grievant argued that the woman was of small stature and could have easily been in a blind spot not visible to the crossover mirrors. The employer argued that the crossover mirrors had no blind spots and were “100% effective” at displaying the surrounding environment to the operator.

HOLDING: Arbitrator R. Jack Roberts found there to be insufficient grounds for establishing just cause for the disciplinary actions taken by the employer. Roberts was given a first hand demonstration of the blind spots present in the streetcar crossover mirrors, and determined that there was a reasonable doubt as to whether or not the operator could have seen the elderly woman crossing into the intersection. The case presented by the employer was found to be “unpersuasive” and the operator was ordered fully reinstated without restriction.

Local 441 and Des Moines Metro Transit Authority ISSUE: Did the employer violate the Collective Agreement by terminating an employee for insubordination and failure to adhere to safety regulations pertaining to faulty drop lights.

SUMMARY: The grievant reported a faulty drop light in the garage area to the PM Supervisor, and was directed to “tie it up, send it to the ceiling and write it on the [note] board.” The grievant testified that he tied the light up and sent it to the ceiling, but did not write it on the board.

It was argued by the employer that failure to write the light malfunction on the notation board constituted a direct violation of safety regulations.

Additionally, the employer argued that by failing to follow the full order of the PM Supervisor that the grievant was guilty of insubordination, in accordance with the MTA Maintenance Department Employee handbook. The employer felt the insubordination established just cause for dismissal under the contract.

The grievant testified that the working policy of the garage was simply to tie the light and send it up to the ceiling, or to report it to a supervisor. Accordingly, if the there was a violation of safety procedures it was the fault of management for not making the policy clear to garage personnel. The grievant alleged that under the MTA Maintenance Department Employee handbook Section 26: Preventable Accidents, the punishment for a first time offense was limited to a simple written warning. Therefore, according to the grievant, the employer had not established just cause for dismissal.

HOLDING: On October 27, 2006, arbitrator Wayne Newkirk found that “MTA’s termination of grievant’s employment does not meet the standard of Just Cause” as required by the Collective Agreement. “[Grievant’s] election not to write it up was technically insubordination but not inconsistent with the working rule honored by mechanics.” The grievant’s employment was subsequently ordered restored.

26

IN TRANSIT

www.atu.org

LOCAL 583 - Calgary, AB

Calgary Civic Cafeteria Co-Operative Association Local President Michael Mahar and International Vice President Bob Hykaway report settlement.

TERM:

4 year

1/1/01 - 12/31/04

WAGES: Chef

4/1/04 - $16.40

Grill Cook 4/1/04 - $9.22

NOTE:

The contract was ratified by a vote of 18 to 3.

LOCAL 714 - Portland, ME

Regional Transportation Program, Inc. (Administrative & Dispatcher) Local President Joseph Gaudette and International Vice President Richard Murphy report 1st agreement.

TERM:

1 year

9/1/07 - 9/30/08

WAGES:

Administrative Position 10/1/07 - 43¢ - 3.0% - $15.00 (was $14.57)

Lead Dispatcher 10/1/07 - .5408 - 3.0% - $18.569 (was $18.0283)

PENSION:

Employer matches first 5% of employee contribution

VACATION:

15+ years of service - 16 hours/month (was 15)

NOTE:

The contract was ratified by a unanimous vote of 6 to 0.

LOCAL 757 - Portland, OR

Clark County Public Transportation Benefit Area Local President Jon Hunt and International Vice President Ron Heintzman report settlement.

TERM:

3 year

9/1/07 - 8/31/10

WAGES:

Top Operator 9/1/07 - 75¢ - 3.5% - $22.21 (was $21.46) 9/1/08 - 77¢ - 3.5% - $22.98 9/1/09 - 81¢ - 3.5% - $23.79

Paratransit Operator 9/1/07 - 91¢ - 5.0% - $19.18 (was $18.27) 9/1/08 - 87¢ - 4.5% - $20.05 9/1/09 - 80¢ - 4.0% - $20.85

H & W:

Opt out. 67% of one party premium and/or $20/monthly for dental plan Employer contributions: single $413, 2 party $826, family $1,239

SICK LEAVE: Part-time: 3 hours/month (was 1)

3+ years of service, 6/hours/month

Cash out leave in excess of 250 hours @ 35%

ABBREVIATIONS

NOTE:

www.atu.org

Fitness program - reimbursement for gym membership DOT physicals - 2 hours pay

allow = allowances COLA = cost-of-living allowance d/b/a = doing business as ’ee(s) = employee(s) eff = effective ’er = employer eve = evening FMLA = Family Medical Leave Act FT = full-time H&W = Health & Welfare CDL = Commercial Driver’s License LI = Life Insurance

hr = hour ins = insurance max = maximum med = medical mi = mile min = minimum mo = month PT = part-time pmt = payment prem = premium mgt = management reg = regular

S&A = sickness & accident SL = sick leave svc = service unif = uniform yr = year wk = week w/=with @=at +=plus x=times SB = school bus OT = overtime

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2007

27

LOCAL 758 - Tacoma, WA

LOCAL 846 - St. Catharines, ON

Local President Isaac Tate and International Vice President Don Hansen report settlement.

Local President Alan Burrows and International Vice President Randy Graham report settlement.

TERM:

3 years

TERM:

3 years

WAGES:

Top Operator 1/1/06 - 2.25% 1/1/07 - COLA (2.25% - 4.0%) 1/1/08 - COLA (2.25% - 4.0%)

WAGES:

Top Operator 1/1/07 - 66¢ - 3.0% - $22.67 (was $22.01) 1/1/08 - 68¢ - 3.0% - $23.35 1/1/09 - 70¢ - 3.0% - $24.05

LOCAL 758 - Tacoma, WA Paratransit Services (Longview)

Top Mechanic 1/1/07 - $1.28 - 5.0% - $26.79 (was $25.51) 1/1/08 - $1.32 - 5.0% - $28.11 1/1/09 - 84¢ - 3.0% - $28.95

Local President Isaac Tate and International Vice President Don Hansen report settlement.

H & W:

$10 fee cap on all prescriptions Dental: 80% coverage, $2,000 maximum

TERM:

3 years

UNIF. ALLOW.: Provided

WAGES:

Top Operator 6/1/06 - $10.98 6/1/07 - COLA 6/1/08 - COLA

City of Longview

Dispatcher

6/1/06 -

6/1/07 -

6/1/08 - HOLIDAYS:

St. Catharines Transit Commission

1/1/06 - 12/31/08

6/1/06 - 5/31/09

1/1/07 - 12/31/09

SHOE ALLOW.: $70, to $120 in 2009/Maintenance - $125 NOTE:

$11.29 COLA COLA

Shift Differential - 50¢/hour Training Rate - $1/hour - New language on use of cameras - not for discipline

LOCAL 998 - Milwaukee, WI

Floaters may be used in 1 hour increments.

Milwaukee Transport Services, Inc.

Local President Richard Riley and International Vice President Janis Borchardt report interest arbitration award.

LOCAL 779 - Sioux City, IA

TERM:

3 years

Local President Rick Scott and International Representative Marcellus Barnes report settlement.

WAGES:

Top Operator 4/1/07 - $1.3881* - 6.8% - $21.7281 (was $20.34) 4/1/08 - $.16488 - 0.7% - $21.89298 4/1/09 - $.1612 - 0.7% - $22.05418 * includes COLA of $1.28

Top Mechanic - Specialist 4/1/07 - $1.5403* - 6.8% - $24.1803 (was $22.64) 4/1/08 - $.18105 - 0.7% - $24.36135 4/1/09 - $.18135 - 0.7% - $24.54270 * includes COLA of $1.42

H & W:

HMO: Employee contributions $43/individual - $112/family to $70/individual - $180/family by 2010

PPO: Employee contributes 8%, to 10% by 2010

City of Sioux City (Sioux City Transit System)

TERM:

3 years

7/1/07 - 6/30/10

WAGES:

Top Operator 7/1/07 - .7833 - 4.25% - $19.2073 (was $18.424) 7/1/08 - .8163 - 4.25% - $20.0236 7/1/09 - .8510 - 4.25% - $20.8746

Top Mechanic 7/1/07 - .8478 - 4.25% - $20.8018 (was $19.954) 7/1/08 - .8841 - 4.25% - $21.6859 7/1/09 - .9217 - 4.25% - $22.6076

H & W:

100% employer for single Employee pays $20/month for employee + 1 and family plans.

4/1/07 - 3/31/10

LOCAL 1064 - Terre Haute, IN

City of Terre Haute, Indiana Transportation Utility

LOCAL 821 - Jersey City, NJ Broadway Bus Owners Association

Local President Alvin Dingle and International Vice President Larry Hanley report settlement.

TERM:

3 years

8/21/06 - 8/20/09

WAGES:

Top Operator 8/21/06 - 8/22/07 - 30¢ - 1.8% 2/2/08 - 30¢ - 1.8% 8/2/08 - 30¢ - 1.7% 2/2/09 - 35¢ - 2.0%

-

$16.85 $17.15 $17.45 $17.80

$16.55

Local President Charles Harvey and International Vice President Paul Bowen report settlement.

TERM:

2 years

1/1/07 - 12/31/08

WAGES:

Top Operator 1/1/07 - 61¢ - 4.1% - $15.60 (was $14.99) 1/1/08 - 50¢ - 3.2% - $16.10

Top Mechanic 1/1/07 - 58¢ - 3.7% - $16.41 (was $15.83) 1/1/08 - 50¢ - 3.0% - $16.91

TOOL ALLOW.: $400

LIFE INSUR.: $7,500

SHOE ALLOW.: $75, $100 - mechanics

VACATION:

12 years of service - 4 weeks 16 years of service - 5 weeks

LOCAL 1095 - Jackson, MI

HOLIDAYS:

Add Martin Luther King Day

SICK LEAVE: 1 day/year, with carryover & buy back @ retirement

28

IN TRANSIT

City of Jackson Transportation Authority Local President Nate Gibbs and International Vice President Javier Perez report settlement.

www.atu.org

TERM:

3 years

10/1/05 - 9/30/08

WAGES:

Top Operator 10/1/05 - $15.03

Top Mechanic 10/1/05 - $18.05* * with certification

H & W:

S & A:

Veolia Transportation (was Health Ride Connecticut) Local President Robert Dawkins and International Vice President Richard Murphy report settlement.

TERM:

4 years

Employee contribution $12.97 single $31.77 employee + 1 $35.66 family

WAGES:

Top Operator 6/1/07 - 76¢ - 4.6% - $17.25 (was $16.49) 7/1/08 - 50¢ - 2.9% - $17.75 7/1/09 - 75¢ - 4.2% - $18.50

60% up to $500/week Long term - 60% up to $5,000/month maximum

H & W:

1/1/10 - Employer to pay 55% (was 50%)

LIFE INSUR.: $20,000 full-time, $5,000 part-time PENSION:

LOCAL 1336 - Bridgeport, CT

457k Plan - employee contributes 4% of gross pay

7/1/06 - 6/30/10

SICK LEAVE: 1/1/08 - 5+ years of service, 8 days/year (was 7) BEREAVEMENT: Add step-sibling, step-grandparent & guardian

TOOL ALLOW.: $500

NOTE:

UNIF. ALLOW.: Mechanics - boot & coat allowance - $450

Operators - $450

LOCAL 1363 - Providence, RI

NOTE:

Instructor pay - $2/hour Shift Differential - 50¢/hour

Record review - limited to 24 months (was entire work record) The contract was ratified by a vote of 9 to 6.

Bonanza Bus Lines (Peter Pan)

Local President Robert Horton and International Vice President Larry Hanley report settlement.

LOCAL 1328 - Raleigh, NC

TERM:

3 years

Local President John Bullock and International Vice President Gary Rauen report settlement.

WAGES:

Top Operator 7/3/06 - $18.12 (was $18.12) 7/31/08 - $18.12 7/3/08 - 36¢ - 2.0% - $18.48

ATC Vancom Management Services, LP (Capital Area Transit)

1/1/07 - 12/31/08

7/31/06 - 7/30/09

TERM:

2 years

WAGES:

Top Operator 1/1/07 - 53¢ - 3.0% - $18.18 (was $17.65) 1/1/08 - 45¢ - 2.5% - $18.63 7/1/08 - 47¢ - 2.5% - $19.10

Mileage

7/31/06 - .56/mile

7/31/07 - .56/mile

7/31/08 1¢ - 1.8% - .57/mile

Top Mechanic 1/1/07 - 60¢ - 3.0% - $20.63 (was $20.03) 1/1/08 - 52¢ - 2.5% - $21.15 7/1/08 - 53¢ - 2.5% - $21.68

Top Mechanic 7/31/06 $22.56 (was $22.56) 7/31/07 $22.56 7/31/08 - 45¢ - 2.0% - $23.01

H & W:

Employer contribution up to $505/employee/month (to $554 on 1/1/08)

H & W:

Employer 70%, Employee 30%

SICK LEAVE: Maximum 1,400 hours (was 1,300)

LIFE INSUR.: Maximum $25,000

BEREAVEMENT: Add step and foster children

PENSION:

TOOL ALLOW.: $425

SICK LEAVE: 1 day/year and then additional day each year of contract

UNIF. ALLOW.: $400

BEREAVEMENT: 3 days immediate family, 2 days for in-laws & grandchildren

NOTE:

TOOL ALLOW.: $400

Leaderman - $1/hour bonus

Company 401(k), company match up to $12/week

UNIF. ALLOW.: $250

LOCAL 1336 - Bridgeport, CT Laidlaw Transit, Inc. (Wilton, CT)

Local President Robert Dawkins and International Vice President Richard Murphy report settlement.

TERM:

2 years

9/1/08 - 6/30/10

WAGES:

Top Operator - Run rates 9/1/07 - 50¢ - 1.0% - $51.00 (was $50.50) 9/1/08 - $1.53 - 3.0% - $52.53 9/1/09 - $1.58 - 3.0% - $54.11

BONUS:

Daily bonus - $5/shift up to $50/week for attendance Perfect attendance & accident free receive 3 bonus days at end of school year.

OVERTIME:

Extra time worked beyond shift: 15-30 minutes - 1/5 of daily rate 30+ minutes - additional 1/5 daily rate Drivers on “double” run compensated 1/3 of run rate

LIFE INSUR.: $20,000 (was $10,000) HOLIDAYS:

Add Good Friday in 2009 - (7) total

NOTE:

The contract was ratified by a unanimous vote of 16 to 0.

www.atu.org

2007

Schedule of Upcoming Events October 22 22nd Annual MS Golf Tournament

Rockville, MD

October 27 - Financial Secretary Seminar November 1 Silver Spring, MD

November 13 - 17 Arbitration Seminar

Silver Spring, MD SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2007

29

In Memoriam

Death Benefits Awarded July - September 2007

1- MEMBERS AT LARGE CARROLL A. DELLINGER GENEVA L. GROFF WALTER JACKSON KELLEY JIMMIE H. LE VAN JOHN C. MAHON WARREN G. MANKE WILLIAM F. MORRISON CECELIA B. MYERS ROBERT E. NESS CHARLES NILSEN ALLEN L. OWEN EDWIN G. PETERSON HERMAN D. PRATER HAROLD PAUL RICHARD JOHN M. ROBERTS ROBERT G. WOOD CHARLES J. ZIMMERMAN 22- WORCESTER, MA ACHILLE C. LETIECQ LEON J. SHEA 26- DETROIT, MI GAROLD HORNING HAROLD STUCKEY EUGENE G. WICHAR JULIAN R. WILLIAMS WALTER YOUNG 85- PITTSBURGH, PA BARBARA J. ANTIMI DONALD CASPER BAUR ANDREW BREGER DAVID T. CASHELL UMBALDO CIOTTI GEORGE E. HURRAY, JR. FRANK L. ISENBERG, JR. HARRY AMOS KONKLE WILFRED SANTILLO JAMES T. SEFTON 107- HAMILTON, ON HERMAN BOURQUE ROBERT BEDFORD SNOW 113- TORONTO, ON GERHARD AULICH WILLIAM R. BEATTIE ROYSTON BRYER EDWIN H. CAMERON ANTONIO GARITO HENRY CHARLES GRECH ROBERT J. GRIFFITH JOHN KIRVAITIS HANS W. E. KRESSMANN JOHN LASKOVSKI KENNETH J. LEFEBVRE JOHN WILLIAM ROWE NICHOLAS SANTORO EDDY SOKOWSKI

30 30

INTRANSIT TRANSIT IN

134- VANCOUVER, BC ROBERT M. CRAWFORD

382- SALT LAKE CITY, UT ROBERT P. DUNYON

192- OAKLAND, CA HARLAN L. GRAP CLARENCE E. NORRIS ROBERT E. STEFANONI

425- HARTFORD, CT FRANCIS O. DeLUCA JEAN M. ROCHELEAU

241- CHICAGO, IL DELBERT D. ASHFORD LAWRENCE B. GIRLICH ROBERT E. HODGES ZUBAIR HOOD MADISON HORTON, JR. FRANK HRUBY JOHN A. KURINEC THOMAS A. McCANN PRINCE E. PATTON CARMELLA PETRELLA THEODORE I. RAYMOND, JR. DARRYL RICHARDS RONALD SINGLETON THOMAS J. SPRATT EDWARD SPRINGER STERLING THARP, JR. JOHN E. WALLS STANLEY M. WRIGHT 256- SACRAMENTO, CA RICHARD BARTHOLOMEW 265- SAN JOSE, CA WALTER L. BRILL DONALD J. HOUSMAN MARVIN G. LAKE FRANK A. MAROTTA JOSEPH L. McCOY WALTER P. THACHER 268- CLEVELAND, OH HOWARD S. BEAMER HARRY LA RUE WALLACE W. SCHORK CARMAN VALENTE DANIEL J. VITAS JOHN WOTOWSKI 279- OTTAWA, ON DONALD R. BEAULIEU ALEKSANDAR TESANOVIC 281- NEW HAVEN, CT JAMES A. BROWN 282- ROCHESTER, NY JAMES STEWART 308- CHICAGO, IL EDDIE B. BURTON HERBERT S. HARRIS SEVERINO RUIZ CHOONG S. SHIM

443- STAMFORD, CT MELBA GREENE 448- SPRINGFIELD, MA EDWARD M. AVERY 508- HALIFAX, NS JOHN T. CHURCH 519- LA CROSSE, WI CONRAD G. NOHR 540- TRENTON, NJ KIRBY A. CARTER, JR. ARCHIE RUE 558- SHREVEPORT, LA KENNETH EDSEL NASH 568- ERIE, PA HAROLD B. HAMILTON 569- EDMONTON, AB HAROLD R. WHITE 583- CALGARY, AB ARCHIBALD M. COUPLAND PETER WIENS 587- SEATTLE, WA JESSE E. CAIN T. ROY CLARKE WAYNE L. DAHL RALPH E. DARK 589- BOSTON, MA JOSEPH BEATTY JAMES N. BRIDGEMAN DOMINIC J. CARFAGNO AMALIO M. CURCIO ANTHONY J. FITZGERALD WILLIAM H. GILBERT PAUL X. HARTERY WALTER J. JASIE, JR. RALPH T. JONES HAROLD B. KENNEDY RICHARD KING JOHN J. McGRATH JOHN R. O’BRIEN WILLIAM R. O’MALLEY ALBERT J. PONDELLI ELWIN A. SILLOWAY GEORGE E. SNOOK VICTOR J. VISGANIS JOSEPH J. WALSH

616- WINDSOR, ON MERVIN T. CLIFFORD JEROME J. CLOUTIER 618- PROVIDENCE, RI JOHN T. GAFFNEY GORDON HUNTER 627- CINCINNATI, OH VERNON D. CLEM JOHN C. MARTIN HERBERT McCOY LAWRENCE H. MYERS

819- NEWARK, NJ HAROLD S. CHAFFEE CECELIA PETER ROBERT E. SMITH ROBERT F. WEBB 823- ELIZABETH, NJ MICHAEL PATRICK JOHN N. WELTER 824- NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ FRANK BOYLE GAETANO PUGLIESE

682- FORT WAYNE, IN BOB R. IRWIN FRANK SHEPHERD

825- ORADELL, NJ RICHARD MEYER RICHARD WERNLI

685- BRANTFORD, ON VERNON BARNARD

842- WILMINGTON, DE ELIZABETH S. PRICE

689- WASHINGTON, DC REGINALD M. COLLINS RUDOLPH V. COOPER WOODROW C. FLEMING RAYMOND STACY MELVIN HELEN R. MERRITT GERALD EDWARD SAAR JOSEPH H. SMITH GALEN M. SUMMERS DOUGLAS X. THOMAS CHESTER V. WASIELEWSKI ELMER R. WHITSETT 690- FITCHBURG, MA JOHN HARRIGAN 694- SAN ANTONIO, TX JOSE GOMEZ 725- BIRMINGHAM, AL WILLIAM L. SIMPSON 732- ATLANTA, GA BENJAMIN F. WATERS 757- PORTLAND, OR FLORA V. COOKE BOOKER T. MORELAND, JR. CAROL L. PETERSEN TOM R. ROBBINS FRANKLIN SOSAYACHANH 788- ST. LOUIS, MO WARREN G. BERTRAND ROBERT L. CAMPBELL SHANTE S. DAGGS RICHARD W. EIMER MATTHEW J. MUELLER FRANK H. SAUCIER

880- CAMDEN, NJ ROBERT ECKEL JAMES M. GAGNON KIM J. KUNI JOHN T. LARMORE ROSE PITALE EDWARD WATSON 998- MILWAUKEE, WI LAVERNE L. NYTES RONALD SHAFER 1001- DENVER, CO ROBERT R. BYER SHIRLEY J. GORDON ROBERT LEE VIGIL 1005- MINNEAPOLIS & ST. PAUL, MN WILLIAM BOOK LAWRENCE J. DODDS LELAND M.NELSON STANLEY E. WESTLUND 1070- INDIANAPOLIS, IN CALVIN E. WELDON 1177- NORFOLK, VA BURRELL AUSTIN JONES 1179- NEW YORK, NY ROBERT BULLARD 1181- NEW YORK, NY FANNY CARLANTONE HARRY COHEN PASQUALE P. COPPOLA ANTHONY DE MAIO CALVIN C. EASTWOOD CHARLES FIORE WILLIAM FOWLER MARIE E. GIORDANELLA

www.atu.org www.atu.org

DOROTHY HICKS CAIN McDANIEL ANTHONY C. MOSCOLA ANTHONY PASQUARIELLO 1197- JACKSONVILLE, FL ARTHUR W. NOBLES 1220- RICHMOND, VA THOMAS I. JOHNSON EDWARD E. STEELE 1225- SAN FRANCISCO, CA KENNETH G. LENHART ALFRED WILLIAM PAUL 1235- NASHVILLE, TN WILLIAM A. FRIERSON HUBERT O. ROBERTSON 1241- LANCASTER, PA PAUL MURR TRIMBLE 1249- SPRINGFIELD, IL LESLIE D. CLAYCOMB, SR.

1277- LOS ANGELES, CA GENE I. KENNING TOSHIO OKAMOTO 1279- JOHNSTOWN, PA EDWARD GRASSA 1293- LINCOLN, NE BERNARD W. CHAPMAN 1300- BALTIMORE, MD FRANK P. BAUMMER SAMUEL J. BROWN WILLIAM BUFFALOE, JR. PRESTON D. INGLE GEORGE T. MC ADAMS HENRY G. MEINSCHEIN TERESA RIGBY 1317- CLIFTON, NJ LAWRENCE J. WITKOS 1336- BRIDGEPORT, CT JAMES F. FULLER, SR.

1342- BUFFALO, NY HENRY BASZCZYNSKI SHERWOOD M. CHRISTIAN PEGGY J. TERRANOVA 1360- TOPEKA, KS CHARLES W. DISHNER 1363- PROVIDENCE, RI ALLEN COLBURN

JOHN G. HENDERSON KENNETH LEWIS 1447 - LOUISVILLE, KY BENITA A. CHILES 1464 - TAMPA, FL BRIAN P. HUMPHREYS 1493 - RALEIGH, NC REGINALD W. BUSSEY

1374- CALGARY, AB DENNIS J. McNEILL WILLIAM BRIAN WRIGHT

1499 - MUNCIE, IN JIM L. STROUD

1385- DAYTON, OH WILLIAM CHOATE SARAH M. HEMMERICH

1505 - WINNIPEG, MB GEORGE M. DEMKIW REGINALD L. JACKSON

1415- TORONTO, ON ANDRE AMIREAULT ARTHUR I. BUCHANAN EMILE DUPUIS CLAUDE GAUTHIER

1517- IDAHO FALLS, ID RAY R. SANDERS 1557- HULL, PQ GARRY YOUNG

1575- SAN RAFAEL, CA WAYNE K. NELSON MERLIN L. SNOWDER 1591- BROWARD COUNTY, FL DONNA L. NUNLEY IRENE SUMMERS 1605- CONCORD, CA TRILOCHAN SINGH 1700- CHICAGO, IL HELEN V. ENGEL GEORGE J. JAMESON CLYDE S. LANCASTER ANTHONY MAZAIKA ROBERT A. MC LAFFERTY DALE THOMAS NAYLOR ROBERT E. RAISCH-KENNEDY 1759- EVANSTON, IL PETER KANDAREV

What is MUMS:

Multi-Union Membership System (MUMS) is the ATU-endorsed membership software that allows a local to take charge of its data.

Why use MUMS:

Features that you will find in MUMS: Membership (ATU Monthly Reporting and much more) Standard and Ad-Hoc Reporting Label Printing Work Locations and Job Titles Activity Tracking (meetings, etc...) Political Action Organizing Grievance Tracking

Who is using MUMS:

MUMS is being used by over 100 ATU locals.

Do I get phone support:

ATU International subsidizes 30 minutes per month of phone support as long as you continue to file your Monthly Reports using MUMS in a timely manner.

How can I get MUMS:

Step 1:

Request a free 60 day trial of the actual program. (Become familiar with how MUMS can help you)

Step 2:

Request a free load of your data from the ATU International Office. It will be installed electronically.

Step 3:

Process four consecutive Monthly Reports and receive a 50% rebate of the purchase price of MUMS from the ATU International Office.

Who do I Contact: Contact Van Elgort Information Systems to get your free trial.

Phone Number: (818) 718-9900

MUMS Contacts: Alton Reed (Installations/Support) Richard Van Elgort (President) Website: www.mums2000.com What does MUMS cost: Single User (under 300 members) ---->

Single user (over 300 members) ------>

Networked System ---------------------->

$795.00 $995.00 $1,295.00

Note: You can be eligible for a 50% rebate of the purchase price of MUMS from the International Office if you use MUMS to file your Monthly Reports in a timely manner.

www.atu.org

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2007

31

PROUD TO BE ATU Moving the U.S. and Canada Safely

Rocks 55 Convention! th

ATU International Conventions are necessarily serious affairs. After all, delegates must consider and vote upon matters that will impact the lives of 185,000 people and their families for years to come.

Yet, if anyone thought that a gathering of these serious-minded local leaders would be a dull and boring affair, the ATU Idol Show put that idea to rest. In fact, the Idol Show blew the doors right off that idea altogether!

Delegates and guests packed the room where the Idol Show was performed, ready to have a good time. Fifteen delegates presented their best renditions of pop and rock favorites to the enthusiastic cheers of their fellow Convention participants.

Each performance was reviewed by a panel of critics as in the popular TV show, and the final decision was made by the audience.

Lawrence Green, 1400-New Orleans, LA, was named “ATU Idol� for 2007. Second and third place went to Karen Maxwell, 589-Boston, MA; and Mike Parkinson, 741-London, ON; respectively.

The other participants were Jim McCubbin, 1433-Phoenix, AZ; Robert Dawkins, 1336-Bridgeport, CT; Walter Butler, 689-Washington, DC; Garry Queale, 279-Ottawa, ON; Anthony Cordiello, 1181-New York, NY; Brian McGuire, 1342-Buffalo, NY; Rosemary Haloon, 589-Boston, MA; Nanette Ruffin, 859-Decatur, IL; Kevin Barrett, 85-Pittsburgh, PA; David Robinson, 689-Washington, DC: Claude Huff, 1385-Dayton, OH; and Nathan Hall and Joseph Farmer, 689-Washington, DC.

Amalgamated Transit Union

AFL-CIO/CLC 5025 Wisconsin Ave., NW Washington, D.C. 20016 www.atu.org

PRINTED IN U.S.A.

NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID WASHINGTON, D.C. PERMIT NO. 2656