FEB / JAN 2 0 1 3

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Struggle Against Austerity NYC Mayor Bloomberg’s attacks on school bus drivers and Canadian PM Harper’s Right-to-Work push highlight the continued assaults on the livelihood of working families.

OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE AMALGAMATED TRANSIT UNION | AFL-CIO/CLC INTERNATIONAL OFFICERS LAWRENCE J. HANLEY International President NEWSBRIEFS ROBERT H. BAKER International Executive Vice President OSCAR OWENS buses rolling at full service International Secretary-Treasurer again: Seven months after being locked out Codiac Transpo bus drivers, members INTERNATIONAL VICE PRESIDENTS of Local 1290, are back driving at full service. Many LARRY R. KINNEAR drivers are glad they are back to work and have Ashburn, ON – [email protected] put the lockout behind them. The two sides were JAVIER M. PEREZ, JR. Kansas City, MO – [email protected] embroiled in a nasty contact dispute before reaching an agreement, which included a pay increase and RICHARD M. MURPHY Newburyport, MA – [email protected] other improvements. BOB M. HYKAWAY Calgary, AB – [email protected] WILLIAM G. McLEAN Reno, NV – [email protected] JANIS M. BORCHARDT More mass transit for Lethbridge? The Madison, WI – [email protected] local newspaper says transit ridership PAUL BOWEN could be increased by making the Canton, MI – [email protected] system more accessible through improvements and KENNETH R. KIRK Lancaster, TX – [email protected] investment in the city’s bus system. The city’s new transportation master plan makes recommendations GARY RAUEN Clayton, NC – [email protected] that could increase the use of the system. The plan proposes reducing transfers, adding MARCELLUS BARNES Flossmore, IL – [email protected] more direct routes and the building more terminals in RAY RIVERA outer areas of Lethbridge to improve ridership. Lilburn, GA – [email protected] YVETTE SALAZAR Thornton, CO – [email protected] Ottawa and Gatineau transit ridership GARY JOHNSON, SR. up: More and more people are using public Cleveland, OH – [email protected] transportation to get around Ottawa and ROBIN WEST Gatineau according to a recent survey conducted by Halifax, NS – [email protected] the cities. Mass transit ridership shot up 9 percent JOHN COSTA from 2005 to 2011. The trend is expected to continue Kenilworth, NJ – [email protected] as work progresses on transit projects such as the CHUCK WATSON city’s $2.1-billion light-rail system. Syracuse, NY – [email protected] INTERNATIONAL REPRESENTATIVES ANTHONY WITHINGTON Sebastopol, CA – [email protected] DENNIS ANTONELLIS Spokane, WA – [email protected] INTERNATIONAL OFFICERS EMERITUS CLAUDIA HUDSON Oakland, CA – [email protected] International President Jim La Sala, ret. STEPHAN MACDOUGALL International President Warren George, ret. Boston, MA – [email protected] International Executive Vice President Ellis Franklin, ret. ANTHONY GARLAND International Executive Vice President Mike Siano, ret. Washington, DC – [email protected]

Subscription: USA and Canada, $5 a year. Single copy: 50 cents. All others: $10 a year. Published bimonthly by the Amalgamated CANADIAN DIRECTOR Transit Union, Editor: Shawn Perry, Designer: 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. MICHAEL MAHAR PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 40033361. RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO: APC Postal IN TRANSIT | 3 Rexdale, ON - [email protected] Logistics, LLC, PO Box 503, RPO, West Beaver Creek, Richmond Hill ON L4B 4R6. January/February 2013 JAN/FEB 2013 www.atu.org Vol. 122, No. 1

2 International Officers & General Executive Board NEWS Briefs RIGHT TO WORK, MR. HUDAK AND UNIONS 3 Index Page 4 Active & Retired Members Step Up for ATU Victims of Sandy 5 International President’s Message: 8 ATU Fighting Battle for All Members, All Unions 6 International Executive Vice President’s Message: It’s Up to Us 7 International Secretary-Treasurer’s Message: Spring Is Coming 9 How Many More Must Die? 10 The Struggle Against Austerity 13 New APTA Voter Survey Shows Strong Support for Investment in Transit Congress Rights A Wrong - Restores Commuter Tax Benefit THE STRUGGLE AGAINST AUSTERITY 15 Twin Cities Transit Workers Get Strong New Contract Cincinnati Bus Drivers Protest New Sick Leave Policy 16 Drivers and Riders Stand Stronger Together in Pittsburgh 10 17 US DOT Funds Detroit Streetcar Project and Bus Rapid Transit Network New Detroit Plan Would Shrink City, Create Green Space in Abandoned Areas 18 Streetcars Still Popular in Cities Across America 46 New Biodiesel Buses to Replace Most of Peoria’s CityLink Fleet 20 Filibuster Reform Founders on ‘Compromise’ 2012 ‘Most Valuable’ US Nantional Union? ATU, Of Course VIRGINIA GOV WANTS TO SCRAP GAS TAX, 21 Drivers, Riders Warned to Take Extra Precautions MARYLAND WEIGHING ALTERNATIVES During Flu Season 22 Suspect in NJ Transit Assault Case Arrested in North Carolina DC Driver Shields Don’t (Retro-) Fit Some Buses 14 23 Fiscal Cliff Deal Hits Middle Class Americans As Much As Wealthy Boston MBTA Crackdown Nabs 40% More Fare Evaders 24 Driver in Virginia Bus Crash to Serve 6 Years, Discount Operator Continues in New Company 25 Local President Issues Warning After Double-Decker Flips in Ottawa Halifax Drivers, Passengers Concerned About Safety of Articulated Buses TRANSIT RIDERSHIP SOARS, MORE INVESTMENT NEEDED 26 New Ontario Premiere Expected to be Strong Supporter of Public Transit 27 Metrolinx Asks “How Would You Like to Pay for That?” 19 28 Translations (Spanish) 30 In Memoriam 31 The 57th International Convention Notice 32 Please Give to ATU Members Still Suffering from Hurricane Sandy

IN TRANSIT | January/February 2013 3 Active & retired members step up for ATU victims of Sandy ATU helps New York members devastated by Hurricane Sandy, and now on strike

Local 1181-New York, NY, members Maria Gentile and Richard Krohley have had a tough couple of months to say the least. On October 29, Hurricane Sandy completely destroyed the first level of the couple’s Howard Beach, NY, house along with their two cars. They went over two weeks without power, hot water, lights or heat. They’re still fighting with their insurance company over claims and have received very little assistance. Now the two veteran New York City school bus drivers are going without paychecks because Mayor Michael Bloomberg has forced them to go on strike Local 618 President Paul Harrington and IVP Richard Murphy joined to protect their jobs (see story on strike). ATU Lime Rock Firefighter members who raised $3,500. And both Both Gentile and Krohley, who applied for and received money from the ATU Disaster Over $110,000 raised, so far Relief Fund, say that without the Union they would have never been able to make it through these ATU members, retirees and friends have stepped up to difficult times. the plate, contributing more than $110,000, so far, to the Relief Fund to help fellow members like Gentile and Krohley. Joined picket line despite hardship The Lincoln, RI, Lime Rock fire fighters, new members of Local 618 -Providence, RI, raised $3,500 for the fund “It shows my union brothers and sisters are behind with a “fill-the-boots” collection on their own time. me in good times and bad,” says Gentile, who despite Local 127-Los Angeles, CA, made a $10,000 donation her hardships has been on picket lines with Richard to the fund that was matched by the California since the strike began. “We were both deeply touched, Conference Board. But the majority of donations have especially with this strike, that our Union could help us come from individual members and retirees like Steve get our feet back on the ground after our home and cars Morrison, a retiree of Local 689-Washington, DC. were destroyed by the hurricane. I’ve been a member for 34 years and have never been prouder to be a member “When I heard the homes of ATU members were of ATU.” damaged by the storm, I wanted to help because that’s what I do,” said Morrison, who lives in Clinton, MD. Gentile and Krohley’s story is similar to many of “The ATU served me well during my years working at our east coast members, who are still recovering from WMATA and when my fellow brothers and sisters are the devastating impact of Sandy. Some, who are also in need the least I could do was contribute to the fund.” on strike in New York, have received money from the Disaster Relief Fund, others are waiting, and So, no matter how big or small, donations of any more are still expected to apply for the financial amount to the Disaster Relief Fund can help your assistance. fellow members and their families affected by the storm. Credit card donations can now be made on the ATU website (www.atu.org).

4 January/February 2013 | IN TRANSIT IN TRANSIT | January/February 2013 5 LARRY HANLEY, INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT atu fighting battle for all members, all unions

’m writing to you today from the picket lines of our Make no mistake this is an international war of Ischool bus drivers and matrons in New York City, attrition. The enemies of transit workers are blaming where the latest battle in the war on unions has taken workers for rising costs and budget shortfalls. In city center stage (see story on page 10). after city they claim ATU workers are paid too much and their benefits are too costly. No one should doubt that this is, indeed, a war; a war in which Billionaire Mayor Michael Bloomberg is trying to Slowly, but surely, they plan to de-unionize all public rob the wages and take away the jobs of our Local 1181 service work including public transit, and eventually members in order to keep taxes as low as possible for outlaw all collective bargaining or render it useless. those of his rich, privileged class. This is no different from what Governor Scott Walker, Passengers and school kids victims too R, did to public workers in Wisconsin, essentially repealing their collective bargaining rights. ATU members are not the only victims in this war. Our passengers, who have come to rely on dependable The same thing is happening in Atlanta, where a professional public transit, usually end up paying more “reorganization” of MARTA has been initiated as a tool for substandard service. to privatize their transit system and lower the wages of their workers now represented by Local 732. School children and their safe and reliable transportation are being used as pawns. It’s also happening in Canada, where Conservative politicians are looking for the right time to table right- The poor, who depend on mass transit more than others, to-work laws in the Ontario legislature. are most affected. Not only is their physical mobility restricted but also their social mobility is limited by the The particular strategy used against ATU in Canada has service cuts that prevent them from getting to jobs that been for provinces and localities to declare our work an would help them move out of poverty. “essential service” revoking our right to strike. This war helps the rich avoid paying their fare share of taxes, while complaining that those in poverty need to get off the government’s dime. ‘Transit theatre of war’ If nothing is done we can expect to see this battle plan This is the “transit theatre of war” in an overall campaign continually played out in one city after another for the against working people, driven by the money of the Koch foreseeable future. No one will be immune. brothers and their millionaire friends, and orchestrated by the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). Our mission is clear. We must fight with all we’ve got to Corporate interests in both countries are the profiteers. stop this process now in New York, Atlanta, and Ontario, not only for our members and passengers there, but for The struggles of our members in New York, Atlanta, and those who will be hurt by the anti-union battles that lie Ontario can appear to be local problems that don’t affect ahead if we don’t. other transit workers. But that’s because the enemies of Labor Unions made a strategic decision to deploy their forces at the state and provincial, rather than the federal levels.

IN TRANSIT | January/February 2013 5 BOB BAKER, INTERNATIONAL EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT

IT’S UP TO US

very clear message is being sent to labor unions And by the time you receive this magazine, you will Ain the United States and Canada by the corporate be reading about how the Republicans in Congress are interests who would turn the clock on labor law back a again daring to push the nation over another fiscal cliff hundred years or more: in order to extract another pound of flesh from workers. It doesn’t matter if you win a national election. Sisters and brothers, there is no depth to which the corporate interests of Canada and the U.S. will not go We will fight you in the states. We will fight you in in pursuit of lower costs and greater profits. the provinces. We will fight you in the courts. We will use our corporate war chest to buy our way into state and provincial courts and legislatures. We Fodder will turn public opinion against you. We will make you fight each other. And we workers are simply the expendable fuel they use to enrich themselves – easily replaceable fodder for the We will use the public’s ignorance about what we’re corporate machine. up to, and what unions do, to pass laws that will render Labor powerless against us. There are those who would say this is an exaggeration; that the scenario above could never happen again. We will eliminate paid health care, paid sick days, I would ask everyone to pay a visit to the non-union paid vacations, and pensions. operations run by the transit providers in our countries and see what employment is like at those properties. We will eliminate Obamacare, Medicare, Medicaid, and any kind of public assistance so that we can pay Realize that that’s where they want all of us, and that if even lower taxes. we don’t get active now, that’s where we’ll all be. We will push workers back into the ranks of the Know, however, that they may have money, but we’ve working poor, just like they were in the late 1800s. got members and a lot more voices than they have. And, if we all stand together and refuse to let this happen, That is the road to (our) prosperity. they can’t deny us. In the coming months the executive officers and the Ample evidence General Executive Board will be outlining a course of action to fight those who would force us back to the We have ample evidence that the campaign to destroy nineteenth century. labor unions is continuing unabated despite the victory of Electing leaders who won’t purposely hurt us was the the Democratic Party in the recent election. first step. The rest is up to us. Later in this issue you will read about how they are trying to rob the collective bargaining rights and labor In Solidarity, protections of our largest local – Local 1181 – in New York City. You will read about how they are scheming to take collective bargaining rights away from public service workers in Canada. Bob Baker

6 January/February 2013 | IN TRANSIT IN TRANSIT | January/February 2013 7 OSCAR OWENS, INTERNATIONAL SECRETARY-TREASURER

SPRING IS COMING

his is a very difficult time for some people. It’s All of this is as predictable as the change of seasons. Tstays dark outside longer than any other time of year. It’s cold. The traffic is bad. It can be very But that’s no reason to be down or depressed, because depressing. we’re making our plans also.

Winter can seem like a gloomy time we just have to endure between the holidays and spring. Nothing Dignity much seems to be happening. We plan on fighting to protect and improve transit Yet we know that’s not true. There’s a lot going on. funding in any national legislation that will be The angle of the sun changes as the light loiters just a considered in the coming year. little longer each day. The earth, plants and trees are We plan to fight to protect transit workers from violent changing; getting ready to bloom. The snow falling in assault, and to provide drivers with adequate bathroom the mountains will melt swelling the streams that rush breaks. to the rivers. We plan to fight to improve the wages, benefits and Lots of things are happening that we don’t notice. working conditions of all workers. Winter is far from a “dead” time of year. And we plan to fight to assure that employers accord all workers the God-given dignity they deserve. Plans are being laid For, just as surely as spring will come, workers will fight It’s like that in our political world too. Those who to improve their lives and the lives of their families. oppose public transit are laying their plans now. And that process can no more be stopped than the sun We know that there are those in Congress and in our can be prevented from warming the earth. provincial legislatures who plan to use the “austerity You can participate in that fight by making your budgets” our nations face as an excuse to reduce or even voluntary donation to ATU-COPE today. eliminate transit funding.

We know that more local governments will say they can no longer afford to operate their own transit systems and try to contract them out to private, non-union providers.

We know that courts will be asked to strike down our Section 13(c) collective bargaining rights in several cities in the United States, and declare transit in Canadian cities to be “essential services,” barring our members working there from striking.

IN TRANSIT | January/February 2013 7 Canadian Agenda Right to work, Mr. Hudak and unions

ith the passage of legislation to make Michigan PC deputy leader Christine Elliott says “right to work” Wa so-called “right to work” state, Progressive legislation will mean more jobs in Ontario, and higher Conservative (PC) leader Tim Hudak and several paying ones to boot. If that were the case, “right to of his caucus have jumped on the idea of doing the work” would make perfect sense. But let’s look at the same here. facts. Actually, “right to work” is an American idea, affirmed In the U.S., 24 states now have “right to work” legislation in the 1947 Taft-Hartley Act that amended the National on their books. According to the Economic Policy Labor Relations Act. It allows employees in a unionized Institute: “The effect on the average worker—unionized workplace to choose to forego paying union dues, yet or not—of working in a right-to-work state is to earn still get the wages and the benefits derived from the approximately $1,500 less per year than a similar worker collective bargaining agreements bargained by the union. in a state without such a law.” In other words, they can get the benefits even though Even the Wall Street Journal says “States that bar they are not paying the costs. Unions call them “free mandatory union dues tend towards more jobs but riders.” lower wages.” That may be a choice that Ontarians are willing to make. But they need to be told the true facts. The right believes, correctly, that if union dues are voluntary, many people will stop paying them (why pay for what you can get for free?) thus cutting off union resources so they cannot bargain or organize effectively. Tired, old songbook Union membership will drop, further weakening “Right to work” is just the latest salvo against unions unions. And in fact, in the U.S., all of this is exactly by the PC leader and his campaign team, made up what has happened. of some of the most prominent members of Mike Harris’ Whiz Kids. But this group always has always tended to use a whipping boy that they say has it Rand Formula better than everyone else, and shouldn’t. The aim is to stir resentment and translate that into a vote for Mr. Hudak has a problem here in Canada, however: the Mr. Hudak. so-called “Rand Formula” in Ontario, a compromise ruling by Justice Ivan Rand in 1946. Contrary to what Looked at from this perspective, Mr. Hudak’s crusade some uninformed PCs have been telling people, the against unions has nothing to do with “modernizing,” Rand Formula does not force anyone to belong to a but rather is part of a tired old songbook. union.

It does however say that if someone benefits from wage By Susanna Kelley, ontarionewswatch.com, December increases and benefits derived from a union, such as 17, 2012, excerpted with permission. collective bargaining, they must pay union dues - the opposite of the Taft-Hartley Act. In other words, Justice You can find Susanna here: @susannakelley View all of Rand said there should be no “free riders.” This is what Susanna Kelley’s columns. Mr. Hudak wants changed.

8 January/February 2013 | IN TRANSIT IN TRANSIT | January/February 2013 25 Local president issues warning after double- decker flips in Ottawa

conditions. The warning comes in response to a recent incident in which one of the new buses flipped over on its side into a ditch. Fortunately, the driver who was the only person on the bus, managed to crawl out through a window unhurt. Watson described the accident saying, “The wind blew him over... [to] where the plow had left its residue and so on, and then the bus started to hydroplane.” Watson said the driver then described losing control of the bus and toppling into the ditch “in slow motion.” The local is working with the transit agency to address the ocal President Craig Watson, 279-Ottawa, ON, is problem. Lwarning his members to take care when operating one of OC Transpo’s new double-decker buses in windy

Halifax drivers, passengers concerned about safety of articulated buses

oncerns are being expressed about the safety of Carticulated buses after one got stuck trying to turn a corner in Halifax, NS. Traffic came to a halt for most of the afternoon, as Metro Transit crews struggled to free the jackknifed “accordion” vehicle. Articulated buses can carry almost twice as many passengers than regular buses – a real advantage during rush hour on heavily used routes. But the coaches do have a bad reputation for getting into more accidents than other types of buses. Drivers complain that the buses have trouble on steep, slippery winter streets. “Climate is one thing, but also terrain. In “In snow or ice it is a problem,” agrees Local 508 where it is all flat, you don’t have a problem, but Shop Steward Paul MacDonald, who says the two- in Halifax where it is all hills we have an issue,” part construction of the buses makes them difficult he adds. to maneuver.

IN TRANSIT | January/February 2013 25 New Ontario premiere expected to be strong supporter of public transit

ntario’s Grits convened supported the idea of developing a long-range transit OJanuary 25-27, and plan for the province, and said that Liberals need to elected former transportation work more cohesively with Tory Leader Tim Hudak minister and NDP Leader Andrea Horwath. as the first woman and the first openly gay premiere of Ontario. If she follows through Proposals to improve Ontario on the statements she made, public transit public transit and ATU will have a strong advocate at the Referring to the GTA, one of the two leading contenders, head of Ontario’s government. , said that she believed that the federal Wynne said she would ask Toronto MPPs to sit down government should do more. “Every modern economy with federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty to work on out there has their federal government helping their public transit funding issues. biggest city on transit. Everywhere but Canada. We need to change this,” she said. “What other jurisdiction does not have the input and support of federal government in an incremental Former education minister Gerard Kennedy called the way?,” she asked. “The big thing I learned as minister small amount the federal government contributes to of transportation is you can’t take breaks of 30 years. Ottawa’s transit needs “criminal,” adding that Ottawa You can’t dig holes and fill them in, as we saw under the contributes only 15 cents of every dollar being spent on previous government, and still expect to get ahead.” Toronto’s new subways lines. “It doesn’t matter whether you live in Durham or whether you live in a small rural village,” he said, “You Long-range transit plan needed have transit and transportation needs.” Actually, all of the candidates vying for the premiership

MARK YOUR CALENDAR 2013 CAN-AM CONFERENCE The Peabody 149 Union Avenue, Memphis, Tennessee Tuesday, June 25 to Sunday, June 30, 2013 Details to Follow

26 January/February 2013 | IN TRANSIT IN TRANSIT | January/February 2013 27 Metrolinx asks Toronto ‘How would you like to pay for that?’

etrolinx, the umbrella organization for transit Online tool Min the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) is about to ask residents the same question a salesman asks you Metrolinx has even created an online tool to get people after you agree to make a big purchase: “…and, how involved at bigmove.ca that allows people to design would you like to pay for that?” their own transit system – and figure out how to pay for it. Metrolinx is asking citizens to join a “Big Conversation” about the “Big Move” – a poorly publicized “What we’re striving for,” Graser said, “is a really lively, transportation plan for the region. provocative conversation that gets people thinking about what it means.” Ontario has already committed $16 billion toward various parts of the $50 billion, 25-year plan. But, obviously more is needed.

Taxes, tolls, and fares, Oh my! The agency is anxious to engage the public in the plan because it’s about to do something no one wants to do – ask for a toll, a fare hike, or an increase in taxes. So, Metrolinx is inviting citizens to 12 regional roundtables to promote public investment in the plan and discuss how it should be paid for. In announcing the roundtables, though, Metrolinx made no mention of fares, tolls, or taxes. That’s because the public still doesn’t understand it, says Dina Graser, director of community and stakeholder relations. “Of course (the roundtables) will talk about the need for transportation investment, but they’re also really about getting people to understand not just who Metrolinx is, but what is The Big Move… People need to understand what they’re paying for before you get into the conversation of how you’re paying for it,” she explains.

IN TRANSIT | January/February 2013 27 L’ATU se bat pour tous les guerre. Nos passagers, qui en sont venus à dépendre d’un transport public professionnel et fiable, finissent habituellement membres et toutes les unions par payer plus cher pour un service de piètre qualité. Je vous écris aujourd’hui depuis les lignes de piquetage des Les enfants d’âge scolaire et leurs transports sûrs et fiables sont chauffeurs d’autobus scolaires et des matrones de New York, utilisés comme des pions. où la plus récente bataille dans la guerre sur les unions a pris le Les pauvres, qui dépendent plus que tout autre du transport devant de la scène (voir l’article à la page 10). collectif, sont ceux les plus touchés. Non seulement sont-ils Personne ne devrait douter qu’il s’agit, en effet, d’une guerre; restreints par leur mobilité physique, mais aussi sont-ils limités une guerre dans laquelle le maire milliardaire Michael dans leur mobilité sociale due aux réductions de services qui les Bloomberg tente de voler les salaires et de ravir les emplois de empêchent de se rendre vers des emplois qui les aideraient à se nos membres du Local 1181 dans le but de maintenir le plus sortir de la pauvreté. bas possible les impôts de ceux de sa classe riche et privilégiée. Ceci ne diffère pas de ce que le gouverneur Scott Walker, R, Cette guerre contribue à éviter aux riches de payer leur juste a fait subir aux travailleurs du secteur public au Wisconsin; part d’impôts, tout en se plaignant que les gens vivant dans la essentiellement en abrogeant leurs droits de négociation pauvreté doivent se décoller de l’argent du gouvernement. collective. Si rien n’est fait, nous pouvons nous attendre à voir ce plan de La même chose se produit à Atlanta, où une « réorganisation bataille se jouer de chaque ville à chaque village et ce dans un » de MARTA a été entreprise comme outil servant à privatiser avenir prévisible. Personne ne sera épargné. leur système de transport et à baisser les salaires de leurs travailleurs maintenant représentés par le Local 732. Notre mission est clairement définie. Nous devons nous battre d’arrache-pied afin de mettre un terme à ce processus maintenant C’est également le cas au Canada, où les politiciens en place à New York, Atlanta et en Ontario, non seulement pour conservateurs cherchent le bon moment pour présenter les lois nos membres et passagers qui y sont, mais aussi pour ceux et du droit au travail à l’Assemblée législative de l’Ontario. celles qui seront touchés par les combats antisyndicaux qui se La stratégie particulière utilisée contre l’ATU au Canada a été dessinent à l’horizon si nous n’agissons pas. de faire que les provinces et les localités déclarent notre travail un « service essentiel » révoquant notre droit de grève. Il n’en tient qu’à nous. « Le théâtre de guerre du transport » Les grandes sociétés envoient un message très clair aux Il s›agit du « théâtre de guerre du transport » au milieu d›une syndicats qui se trouvent aux États-Unis et au Canada et qui campagne générale contre les travailleurs – celle-ci alimentée veulent revenir des centaines d’années en arrière par rapport à par les frères Koch et leurs copains millionnaires – et orchestrée la loi du travail. par l’American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). Les • Peu importe si vous gagnez une élection nationale. intérêts des entreprises sont les profiteurs dans les deux pays. • Nous vous combattrons dans les états. Nous vous Les difficultés de nos membres se trouvant à New York, à Atlanta et combattrons dans les provinces. Nous vous combattrons en Ontario peuvent apparaître comme étant des problèmes locaux qui n›affectent pas d›autres employés du transport. Mais ceci est dans les tribunaux. parce que les ennemis des syndicats ont pris la décision stratégique • Nous utiliserons notre réserve monétaire pour ouvrir les de déployer leurs forces aux niveaux nationaux et provinciaux portes des tribunaux et des législatures des états et des plutôt qu›au niveau fédéral. provinces. Nous retournerons l’opinion publique contre Et ne vous y trompez pas : nous sommes en présence d’une vous. Nous ferons en sorte que vous vous combattiez les guerre d’usure internationale. Les ennemies des employés du uns contre les autres. transport blâment ceux-ci pour l›augmentation des coûts et l›insuffisance budgétaire. D›une ville à l›autre ils prétendent • Nous utiliserons l’ignorance du public quant à ce que nous que les travailleurs de l›ATU sont trop payés et que leurs voulons faire et ce que font les syndicats, pour passer des avantages coûtent trop chers. lois qui rendront les travailleurs impuissants contre nous. Lentement, mais sûrement, ils planifient la désyndicalisation • Nous éliminerons les soins de santé rémunérés, les congés de tout le secteur public – incluant le transport public –, et de maladie payés, les vacances payées et les pensions. éventuellement de proscrire toute négociation collective ou de • Nous éliminerons Obamacare, le régime d’assurance- rendre celle-ci inutilisable. maladie Medicare, Medicaid et toute forme d’aide publique afin de payer moins d’impôts. Les passagers et les enfants d’âge • Nous repousserons les salariés dans les rangs des travailleurs scolaire sont aussi des victimes; pauvres, comme ils étaient à la fin des années 1800. Les membres de l’ATU ne sont pas les seules victimes de cette • Ceci est la route vers la (notre) prospérité.

28 January/February 2013 | IN TRANSIT IN TRANSIT | January/February 2013 29 Amplement de preuves Nous savons pourtant que c’est faux. Il se passe beaucoup de choses. Nous détenons amplement de preuves que la campagne pour L’angle du soleil change alors que la lumière lambine un peu détruire les syndicats se poursuit sans répit malgré la victoire du plus longtemps à chaque jour. La terre, les plantes et les arbres parti Démocratique aux dernières élections. changent; ils se préparent à fleurir. La neige tombant sur les montagnes va fondre et gonfler les ruisseaux qui se précipitent Plus loin dans cette édition vous pourrez lire de quelle façon vers les rivières. ils tentent de voler les droits de négociation collective et les protections du travail de notre section locale la plus importante Il se passe beaucoup de choses. L’hiver est loin d’être une pé- – Local 1181 – à New York. Vous lirez de quelle façon ils riode « morte » de l›année. complotent pour subtiliser les droits de négociation collective des travailleurs de la fonction publique au Canada. Des plans se développent. Et au moment où vous recevrez ce magazine, vous pourrez lire comment les républicains au Congrès tentent de pousser C’est aussi comme ça dans le monde de la politique. Ceux qui encore une fois la nation vers un autre gouffre fiscal dans le but s’opposent au transport public développent leurs plans maintenant. d›extraire une autre livre de chair des travailleurs. Nous savons qu’il se trouve au Congrès et parmi nos légis- Sœurs et frères, il n›y a pas de limites pour les grandes sociétés lateurs provinciaux ceux qui planifient d’utiliser nos ������« ����bud- du Canada et des États-Unis, elles sont prêtes à tout pour gets d›austérité » auxquels nos pays sont confrontés comme baisser des coûts et obtenir des profits plus élevés. prétexte pour réduire ou même éliminer le financement des services de transport. Chair à canon Nous savons que davantage autorités locales diront qu›elles n›ont plus les moyens d›opérer leurs propres systèmes de transport et es- Et nous les travailleurs ne sommes qu’un carburant saieront de sous-traiter à des fournisseurs privés et non syndiqués. interchangeable qu’ils utilisent pour s’enrichir - de la chair à canon facilement remplaçable pour la machine corporative. Nous savons qu›il sera demandé aux tribunaux de rejeter les droits de négociation collective de la Section 13 (c) que nous avons dans Il y a ceux qui vous diraient qu’il s’agit là d’une exagération; plusieurs villes aux États-Unis, et de déclarer que le transport dans que le scénario ci-dessus ne pourrait jamais se reproduire. Je les villes canadiennes est un « service essentiel » empêchant ainsi à demande à tout le monde de rendre une visite aux opérations nos membres qui y travaillent de faire la grève. non syndiquées qui sont dirigées par les sociétés de transport dans nos pays et de voir à quoi ressemblent les emplois chez eux. Tout cela est aussi prévisible que le changement de saisons. Comprenez que c’est là qu’ils veuillent que nous soyons, et que Ce n›est cependant pas une raison d›être déprimé ou abattu, si nous ne prenons pas de mesures concrètes maintenant, c’est parce nous sommes également en train de faire nos plans. là que nous nous retrouverons tous. Sachez cependant qu’ils ont peut-être l’argent. Mais nous Dignité avons des membres et un plus grand nombre de voix qu’ils Nous prévoyons lutter pour protéger et améliorer le finance- en ont. De plus, si nous faisons front commun et refusons de ment des services de transport dans toutes les législations na- laisser cela se produire, ils ne peuvent s’opposer à nous. tionales qui seront considérées dans l’année à venir. Dans les mois à venir les hauts dirigeants et le Conseil exécutif Nous prévoyons lutter pour protéger les travailleurs du secteur général décriront un plan d’action pour combattre ceux qui de transport contre des agressions violentes et de fournir des nous forceraient à retourner au dix-neuvième siècle. pauses toilettes adéquates pour les conducteurs. Élire des dirigeants qui ne nous nuirons pas était la première Nous prévoyons lutter pour améliorer les salaires, les avantages étape. Le reste est entre nos mains. et les conditions de travail de tous les travailleurs. En solidarité, Bob Baker Et nous prévoyons lutter pour s’assurer que les employeurs accordent aux travailleurs la dignité que Dieu leur a donnée. Le printemps arrive Parce que, tout comme l’arrivée imminente du printemps, les travailleurs lutteront pour améliorer la qualité de leur vie et Cette période est très difficile pour certaines personnes. C’est celles de leurs familles. la période de l’année ou les journées restent sombres plus long- Et ce processus ne peut être arrêté. Tout comme on ne peut temps. Il fait froid. La circulation est dense. Ce qui peut s’avé- empêcher le soleil de réchauffer la terre. rer très déprimant. Vous pouvez participer à cette lutte en faisant un don volon- L’hiver peut sembler comme un temps triste et sombre que taire aujourd’hui à ATU-COPE. nous avons à endurer entre les fêtes et le printemps. Il semble qu’il ne se passe pas grand-chose.

IN TRANSIT | January/February 2013 29 In Memoriam Death Benefits Awarded November 1, 2012 - December 31, 2012

1- MEMBERS AT LARGE 272- YOUNGSTOWN, OH HARRIS H NGUYEN 1179- NEW YORK, NY WILMER BRUNDAGE WILLIAM J MASON GREGORY SMALLWOOD JOHN C HAANRAADTS PHILIP F CAVANAUGH JAMES HENRY SONNABEND PIERRE E JACOB JIP L DYCUS JR 279- OTTAWA, ON JOSEPH STARENCHAK JR MICHAEL J RENNA ROBERT P HILLER LUCIEN BOUDRIA MAX L HUGHES J L MARCEL RIENDEAU 694- SAN ANTONIO, TX 1181- NEW YORK, NY CURTIS W MC GLONE KARL STROHMAIER MARTIN VAN BURE DIKES MINDELSON ALRICHE TOMMY B THREET FILIBERTO G GALVAN DORITA BROWN JACK CORBITT WARREN 308- CHICAGO, IL ROBERT YBARRA MAJOR W HARTRIDGE DORSEY L WEDDINGTON DAVID L ALEXANDER LESLIE W HILL JR CLEMENTINE BROWN 713- MEMPHIS, TN JEAN JACOTIN 22- WORCESTER, MA JOSE A GREEN SILAS PARHAM JR FRITZ LAURENT ERNEST H THORPE MCKINLEY HOLMES TOMMIE SMITH SHANA MAZYCK JEFFERY KWIATKOWSKI MATTHEW M MC HALE 26- DETROIT, MI BOBBY L REEVES 725- BIRMINGHAM, AL GRACE PERRINO PHILLIP L GRASTY ERIC L SMITH ORVALLE G QUATTLEBAUM JOSEPH HENRY SESSA MARY A TAYLOR RALPH SESSA 85- PITTSBURGH, PA EUGENE TRIPP 726- STATEN ISLAND, NY FRED STAITI RICHARD DABECCO ARNOLD H WHITE LOUIS PIACENTINO GERALDINE S DEELEY THEODORE WILLIAMS 1220- RICHMOND, VA AMOS W DUNMORE 732- ATLANTA, GA CHRISTOPHER ARTIS 313- ROCK ISLAND, IL MARCUS F CLEMENTS 107- HAMILTON, ON FRED J KOONTZ JOHN E ISAACS 1235- NASHVILLE, TN STERLING R LINTOTT CHARLIE R KENDRICK JOSEPH JACKSON JAMES D RAMSAY 448- SPRINGFIELD, MA RICHARD MARTIN ARNOLD STEWART JEFFREY D BLACK WILLIAM SHIPP JR 1267- FT. LAUDERDALE, FL MARIO ROSA STANLEY SMALLS LOUISE MARIE CRAMER 113- TORONTO, ON CHARLIE HAYNES KENNETH ALLEN 568- ERIE, PA 757- PORTLAND, OR GINO BERTOLA JOSEPH E KONETSKY DAVID E CAHILL 1277- LOS ANGELES, CA DIAN BOLEN JORGE L CAO PATRICIA A ANDERSON JOHN BOLES 569- , AB VITRUVIUS H BROOKS PATRICK BRIANT ROMEO ALFRED BOURQUE 758- TACOMA, WA GREGORY R FRANTZ CLIFFORD THOMAS BROWN HEINZ K DEUTSCHER MARCIA LINVILLE NEVILLE CAMPBELL MIKE DYRDA 1309- SAN DIEGO, CA ROLANDS DULMANIS HYOUNGSUG Y KIM 788- ST. LOUIS, MO RUTH D MERSHON JAMES CLAUDE FALLS KING MAH RONALD L BLANKS GEORGE GABOR CLARENCE H HAENEL 1321- ALBANY & TROY, NY ROBERT H GOWANS 580- SYRACUSE, NY MARCIA A MITCHELL DELORES B BROWN HAROLD K HORTON WILLIAM R GUMMER VIRGIE R VAUGHN WILLIAM J KLEIN VERNON X HUGH RICHARD W WILLIAMS CLARENCE J WASSER SADRUDIN H KANJI 1324- SAVANNAH, GA RICHARD KAYE 583- CALGARY, AB 820- UNION CITY, NJ DARNELL CRAWFORD ANGEL KEYES KENNETH F GAMMIE LUIS A DELEON PHILIP LEGGIO STEVEN SHIH ALBERT MENKEN 1336- BRIDGEPORT, CT GORDON MACKIE PATRICK S OLAH MANUEL VAZQUEZ RODGER MC TAGGART 587- SEATTLE, WA RAYMOND THORPE DANNY MILLER VAN G HARKER 1342- BUFFALO, NY GIUSEPPE PANZINI ROBERT E LEACH 823- ELIZABETH, NJ FREDERICK C GRIESE ELWOOD S PEARSON NAPOLEON HOLLEY DANIEL R LESINSKI GERALD A POLLARD 588- REGINA, SK EARL A TONG CYRIL JAMES REYNARD DAVID WINSLOW PORTER 824- , NJ ROOSEVELT R WILLIAMS DOMENICO SALVAGGIO FRANCIS KUMINIEWICZ 589- BOSTON, MA 1385- DAYTON, OH JAMES HOLMES SHAW KEVIN H EDGINTON EDWARD A SOKOLOWSKI 825- ORADELL, NJ NATHANIEL L ROBERTSON FRANCIS J GALLAGHER JAGNANAN PRAGOAT ALEXANDER STEVENSON JOHN J O’LEARY ALVIN J SYMAK JAMES M QUINN 1433- PHOENIX, AZ 880- CAMDEN, NJ REX E GLASCO GINO VECELLIO PETER L WOOD SANTO R DE LUCA JAMES EASTERWOOD 192- OAKLAND, CA 591- HULL, QC LOUIS GOLDSTEIN 1447- LOUISVILLE, KY FAY SEIDELL ENGELAGE ADELARD BAKER EDWARD J MATUSIAK RICHARD COOPER GLORIA E PATTERSON DAVID G MONAHAN WILLIAM H HATFIELD JOE E REED 615- SASKATOON, SK JOHN PILIERE JOHN SIMMONS DONNELL L SAFFORD LAWRENCE EDWARD BACON HAROLD G WHARTON JR 998- MILWAUKEE, WI 1498- JOPLIN, MO 618- PROVIDENCE, RI DAVID E RILEY DONALD WINN 241- CHICAGO, IL ROBERT B BARKER FITZ J BARIFFE FRANK J FORTE 1001- DENVER, CO 1548- PLYMOUTH, MA RODOLFO S GARCIA PATRICIA A VAN PETTEN DENNIS M CAGIANESE SAMUEL J MARTINEZ LARRY JOHNSON GERALD HENRY SEADER FRANK E JONES 627- CINCINNATI, OH ERIC S WAUGH 1582- NIAGARA FALLS, ON ARE N MC MILLION ERIKA HOWARD DONALD J CANHAM NYDIA REYES FRANCIS HUFF 1005- MINNEAPOLIS & ST. PAUL, MN LESLIE B ROSS DANIEL P DREXLER 1700- CHICAGO, IL ERICH W SICHERT 682- FORT WAYNE, IN JIM DUNCAN JAMES ADAMS ALPHA J THOMAS CLEODIS BOYD MICHAEL A KRAKOWSKI VERNON RICHARD GRIMES EMILIO G TORRES ROBERT HILL JR EDWIN M LYSENG 1729- PITTSBURGH, PA 256- SACRAMENTO, CA 689- WASHINGTON, DC 1037- NEW BEDFORD, MA JOHN H MICHAELS ROGER M SCHAD CARL C GREEN JR MAURICE A COTE ROBERT G MORGAN

30 January/February 2013 | IN TRANSIT IN TRANSIT | January/February 2013 31 Amalgamated Transit Union In Memoriam Convention Delegates & Guests: Death Benefits Awarded November 1, 2012 - December 31, 2012 THE 57TH INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION will be held at Hilton San Diego Bayfront San Diego, CA August 25-30, 2013

Please be patient. No reservations available until the Convention Call is published in 2013

IN TRANSIT | January/February 2013 31 Amalgamated Transit Union AFL-CIO/CLC c/o Canadian Mail Exchange 2950 Stanley Ave Niagara Falls, ON L2E 6S8 Canada www.atu.org

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PRINTED IN U.S.A. PLEASE GIVE. Help needed for members still suffering effects of Hurricane Sandy

The ATU Disaster Relief Fund Mother Nature recently unleashed her wrath with devastating floods and high winds, and ATU members’ homes and property have been destroyed and damaged in the process.

When a crisis hits, ATU members do what they do every day on the job, in their communities, in their places of worship. They don’t ask questions about when and where and how. They just help out.

To help out our brothers and sisters along the east coast, please contribute to the ATU Disaster Relief Fund. Donations can be made online by visiting www.atu.org or by mailing a check to:

Amalgamated Transit Union Disaster Relief Fund 5025 Wisconsin, Ave., N.W. Washington, DC 20016 Attn: Lawrence J. Hanley

U.S. Contributors: Your contribution is tax deductible to the extent provided by law.