DAILY PROCEEDINGS AMALGAMATED TRANSIT UNION 58TH CONVENTION, TORONTO, ON – OCTOBER 5, 2016

Blind spot campaign International President Hanley brought the delegates from Local 569-Edmonton, AB, up to the stage before he introduced a video on the Union’s campaign against blind spots on buses caused by the poor design and huge left hand mirrors, mounted in critical sight lines that have been causing needless death and injury across the U.S. and Canada.

Coincidentally, Brother Hanley reported that a pedestrian had been struck and killed by a bus in Edmonton, AB, the previous evening.

Day Three started with an invocation by Rev. Christina Yanko from the Toronto Buddhist Church.

The meeting began with a video recap of day two of the convention, followed by a special video message from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Appeals Committee Report Committee Chair Esker Bilger, Jr., 689-Washington, DC, delivered the Appeals Committee Report.

The committee considered Appeal No. 1, of Frank Lacey, 26-Detroit, MI. Brother Lacey asserted that the Local improperly failed to run elections for two offices, Amarjeet Sohi because only one eligible candidate was nominated. After Local President Steve Bradshaw, 569-Edmonton, AB, and careful consideration of the appeal, the committee voted International Vice President Bob Hykaway, then unanimously to recommend that the Convention deny the introduced Amarjeet Sohi, MP-Edmonton Mill Woods, appeal of Brother Lacey and uphold the decision of the minister of Infrastructure and Communities in the federal International President and GEB. The delegates subsequently government, and member of Local 569, who addressed the voted concurrence with the committee recommendation by Convention regarding the infrastructure accomplishments and voice vote. goals of the Trudeau Administration.

The committee also considered the appeal of Carlos Harris, As a former Edmonton bus operator, Sohi extended his 241-Chicago, IL, and the collective appeal of six other Local thoughts and sympathies to both the driver and the family of 241 members, which were merged into one in Appeal No. the pedestrian killed in Tuesday’s accident. And as a fellow 2, that challenged the GEB decision to impose discipline union member, Sohi said he recognizes the importance of the on the appellants for violating their obligations under the labour movement. Constitution and General Laws, Local 241 Bylaws, ATU Sohi, an immigrant from India described how ATU changed policies, and generally accepted practices. The delegates his life, providing both transportation to places like libraries voted concurrence with the committee’s recommendation to that helped him improve his life, and employment to support deny the appeal by voice vote. himself as well. AMALGAMATED TRANSIT TRANSIT UNION UNION 57TH 58TH CONVENTION CONVENTION — SAN — DIEGO, TORONTO, CA ON ATU DRIVING JUSTICE

It wasn’t always easy. Sohi led a two-year door-to- The committee commended the outstanding work door campaign to organize his property for Local 569, of the Board, and noted its close collaboration with eventually becoming a local board member. the international president and ATU staff in achieving its goals. Today, he said, he has become the minister of infrastructure – because of infrastructure, itself. The Convention adopted the report by voice vote at the recommendation of the General Executive Board Report Public transit, he explains, saves time, and helps us enjoy Committee. the time we have to live happier, healthier lives. “Each of you,” he declared, “have helped someone, offered them a helping hand, without thinking about it.” ATU training videos “On behalf of the federal government,” he said, “I want to International President Hanley spoke about the upsurge say ‘Thank you’.” in ATU education and training that has taken place over the last three years, and the challenge of reaching many small locals who can’t afford to send someone some International President’s distance to receive it. The international president showed Report Committee a video featuring Bill Barry, a labour studies professor working with TDCC, who has produced six videos of John Lee, 589-Boston, MA, delivered the report of ATU training that can be shown in locals that haven’t the International President’s Report Committee that been able to send members to ATU training sites. commended the international president for the expansion of the Union’s education and training program and creation of the Tommy Douglas Conference Center (TDCC).

The committee also recognized the political and legislative accomplishments of the last three years including passage of the landmark FAST Act by the U.S. Congress, and acknowledged the high level of legal services provided to our Locals.

The committee was impressed by the growth of the Union over the last three years, asserting that ATU is, indeed, stronger than ever. Jonathan Lange The Convention adopted the report by voice vote, as was recommended by the International President’s Report International President Hanley introduced Jonathan Committee. Lange, a senior organizer with the Industrial Areas Foundation, who has worked closely with many ATU Locals on critical campaigns. Lange spoke on the history of his organization and the strength it gained from its General Executive affiliation with Labor. Board Report Committee Lange reviewed the legacy of the Reagan Administration, Local President Calvin Kennedy, 1324-Saavannah, GA, which made it acceptable for corporate interests to try and presented the report of the General Executive Board bust unions. Since then, Lange said, an entire generation Report (GEB) Committee. The committee listed the many of union leaders has been “playing defense.” accomplishments of the Union taken at the instigation of the GEB, and how those actions will contribute to the “I’m here to tell you,” Lange said, “it’s time to ‘play renewal of the labour movement in both of our countries. offense,’ and yours is a union that can do this.” 2 AMALGAMATED TRANSIT UNION 58TH CONVENTION — TORONTO, ON ATU DRIVINGSO MUCH JUSTICE MORE

Lange praised ATU for taking the offense in places like called for the recall of the state’s governor over the Flint Atlanta, GA; Washington, DC; and Vancouver, BC; and water crisis. said that when ATU began the TDCC it sent a strong message that the Union intended to go on offence. She also praised the Union for backing Bernie Sanders. “We salute you for that,” Brown said. Playing offense will require doing things in a new way, he said, adding, that we need to train our members to listen, “ATU – you should be proud of yourself,” she declared, and reach out to workers before they are in crisis, to bring “ATU truly drives justice!” more people into our movement.

“I’m tired of playing defense,” Lange said. “I want to play offense with ATU. Let’s get to it!”

Lara Skinner Next the delegates heard from Dr. Lara Skinner, associate director of the Worker Institute at Cornell University, director of the “Labor Leading on Climate Institute,” and Clayola Brown co-author of Strong Unions – Sustainable Transport. International Secretary-Treasurer Oscar Owens next Dr. Skinner led the delegates through a presentation introduced Clayola Brown, president of the A. Philip affirming the reality of and danger posed by climate Randolph Institute, who began her talk, saying, “It’s change around the world. good to be back in ATU’s house again! Your Union is the union I can always count on.” But, she said that the crisis offered a real opportunity for ATU, and unions in general. Buses are 10 times more Sister Brown recognized several members in the hall for efficient than cars. The biggest bang for the buck is in the their individual achievements, and congratulated the transit industry. So, for ATU the potential exists for more Union on its recent growth. work in expanded transit operations that significantly reduce CO2 emissions into the atmosphere. Brown also spoke of the endurance of members who continue to do their job serving the public even when And that, she says, also presents the opportunity to reduce under assault by passengers. “That’s not unusual,” she economic inequality through good union jobs, and more said, “that’s who ATU is.” transit also means more access to jobs for the poor, she reminded the Convention. She also wanted the delegates to know how union leaders took notice when ATU bought the Labor College and “We have a planet crisis,” she said, “and transport will be turned it into the TDCC – a “great facility.” a major factor in alleviating it.”

She extolled the Union’s leadership in the wider Unfortunately, because of corporate opposition, we’re progressive realm citing the outspoken position of Local headed in the wrong direction. President RiChard Jackson, 836-Grand Rapids, MI, who 3 AMALGAMATED TRANSIT TRANSIT UNION UNION 57TH 58TH CONVENTION CONVENTION — SAN — DIEGO, TORONTO, CA ON ATU DRIVING JUSTICE

So, we have to re-frame the debate to make acting on GARY MAUER ORGANIZING AWARDS climate change all about jobs and economic development. International President Hanley presented the Gary Mauer And she suggested that in the future we’ll want to be able Awards to three Locals for outstanding achievement in to give the right answer when we’re asked, “Which side organizing: were you on? Local 689-Washington, DC Local 1027-Fresno, CA ATU-COPE Awards Local 1577-West Palm Beach, FL International Executive Vice President Javier Perez, Jr., presented the ATU-COPE awards to the Locals for outstanding achievement in raising funds for COPE: Laws Committee Report CHAIRMAN’S AWARD Laws Chair and Local President Jackie Jeter, 689- (for Local’s raising the highest dollar amounts) Washington, DC, presented the report of the Laws Membership Local Committee: 50 or less: 1395-Pensacola, FL 201 - 800: 1287-Kansas City, MO AMENDMENT 1 801 - 1,500: 618-Providence, RI The Convention adopted by voice vote the committee’s 1,500 + : 726-Staten Island, NY recommendation of concurrence with Amendment No. 1, submitted by the international president, which gives PRESIDENT’S AWARD Locals the option of increasing their initiation fee for (for Local’s with the highest percentages of membership to as much as $500, if they so desire. member participation in ATU-COPE) Membership Local 50 or less: 1209-New London, CT 201 - 800: 704-Little Rock, AR 801 - 1,500: 694-San Antonio, TX 1,500 + : 85-Pittsburgh, PA PATRIOTS AWARD (for highest individual contribution to ATU-COPE) Local President Michael Breihan, 788-St. Louis, MO

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AMENDMENT 2 Brother Urata congratulated the Union on adding 3,000 new workers over the last three years, and looked After some debate, the Convention adopted by voice forward to the ITF’s use of the new Tommy Douglas vote the committee’s recommendation of concurrence Center next year. with Amendment 2, submitted by the international president, which revises Section 48 of the Constitution Urata also addressed the Uber phenomenon that’s and General Laws as necessary to conform to the bylaws taking place in Europe, where 50% of the places Uber of ATU Canada. wanted to operate rejected their business model. “We are in a global economy where an injury to one is an injury to AMENDMENTS 3 AND 4 all,” he said. He closed his remarks declaring, “Long live The Convention adopted the committee’s recommendation the ATU!” of concurrence of Amendments 3 and 4, that revise the After a few announcements about the evening’s events, language in the ATU Obligation and the Constitution the Convention recessed until 9:00, Thursday, October 5. and General Laws to include transgender, transsexual and intersex persons, in addition to the current inclusion of our lesbian, gay and bisexual brothers and sisters.

RESOLUTION 5 The Convention adopted the committee's recommendation of non-concurrence with Resolution 5, submitted by Local 1320- Peterborough, ON, which would have amended Section 19.3 Strike Benefits of the Constitution and General Laws to permit Locals to pay the per capita tax for their retired members.

Mac Urata The delegates heard from Mac Urata, secretary of the ITF Inland Transport Section, who thanked ATU for its support of its international campaigns on behalf of transport workers.

Urata described the campaigns it has successfully undertaken around the world, and listed the projects ITF expected to pursue in the coming year. 5