2014 November Visit online: www.atu587.com VOL. XXXVII, NO. 11 The President’s Report by President, Paul J. Bachtel BYLAW Amendment – Vote NO Kudos to the Page 3 AMAZING TRANSIT WORKERS Executive Board Page 3 YOU GOTTA SEE IT! AND Don’t Forget the PoPCORN! ough times often bring out or against the contract proposal at best. You need Officers who can Page 4 the best in people. Our Union and meet the responsibilities of both fight for your rights when Executive Board is a perfect the office to which he was elected? needed, and have the common sense U-UNION-UNITY-UNITED Texample. Knowing that they would Serving on the Executive Board to realize the only solution to some be maligned, harassed, and threat- isn’t easy. Your Representatives and problems can be reached by work- Page 4 ened, a huge majority demonstrated Officers are subject to an onslaught ing with management, not fighting the courage and integrity to rec- of personal insults and attacks, against them. Your elected Union REGARDING METRO DRIVER ommend a concessionary contract often from a small group of cow- Officers and members of the PACE RESTROOM BREAKS proposal by a vote of 14 to 2. The ards who, in the last election, ran committees have demonstrated that two Executive Officers who voted for office and lost. Hopefully, our common sense. Please thank them Page 5 against ratification also demon- membership will be wise enough to for their efforts when new policies strated courage in standing up for see these cowards for who they are; are implemented early next year. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR their beliefs against the majority. politically motivated incompetents You have, for the most part, Several who weren’t in attendance who, if in the future were elected hardworking, competent, Union Pages 6 & 7 at the August Executive Board meet- to serve as Union officers, would at Officers representing your interests. ing later joined the overwhelming best do nothing and at worst cause Unfortunately, due to the current MERAA 2014 HOLIDAY CELEBRATION majority in signing a letter to the irreparable harm. vocal hostilities, many have ex- membership recommending ratifi- Don’t like the previous offer, pressed a lack of desire to run for Page 7 cation of the proposed agreement. neither do we. We simply believe reelection. Perhaps Local 587 will In fact, other than one retired Ex- the offer is better than what we will join the many ATU locals across NO SUPER BOWL IN SEATTLE ecutive Board Officer with health receive from an interest arbitrator. the United States that elect new problems, there is only one member Don’t like the customer complaint and inexperienced Officers every Page 8 of the Executive Board who didn’t policy, neither do we. That’s why three years and as a consequence, attend the August meeting and we’ve joined with management in fall further and further behind their AN APOLOGY AND didn’t take a position on the contract a Partnership to Achieve Compre- fellow transit workers at like-sized A CALL FOR SOLIDARITY proposal. Perhaps that Executive hensive Equity (PACE) and have transit properties. It’s up to you. Board Officer can explain his lack worked collaboratively toward a Page 9 of attendance at the August Execu- much improved policy. Expecting In solidarity, tive Board meeting and subsequent an interest arbitrator to fix the cus- Paul J. Bachtel failure to take a public position for tomer complaint policy is fantasy President Business/Representative November 2014 The Month at a Glance Business of Executive Board the Membership Report At the October cycle of member- We the membership authorize, October 28, 2014 ship meetings the following busi- and request the President of ATU ness was addressed: 587 to negotiate an agreement which would facilitate an accelerated pro- All Officers were present with the 2015 in Phoenix, AZ paying travel, Motion: By Linda Averill that motional process where needed to exception of Ludwig Becker who was hotel, registration and per diem at ATU 587 endorse the Halloween accommodate this need. attending negotiations at CTS, Kevin an estimated cost of $3,000.00. action of no bus cuts, no fare hikes, Motion carried. Banks, Cherise Millhouse and Randy no labor concessions on Oct 31st by Steinman. Motion: By Ray Mason that up to Shop Floor 587 Caucus and ask the Motion: By Harold Batson that $500 to be allocated to the “Still No King County Labor Council to also the President convene the election Motion: By Michael Moore to au- Contract” campaign in the form of endorse the action — and for ATU committee ASAP so that the nomina- thorized the merging of ATU Local buttons. 587 as part of its support to make tion dates, the primary election and 1384 with Local 587. (Motion to be courtesy details available. general election dates can be set and voted on as a referendum vote thru Motion: By Alfonso Isla to donate Motion carried. posted in the News Review and at all the cycle of membership meetings) $500 to Puget Sound Sage as stated of the worksites at least three weeks in the budget. Motion: By George McCain that prior to the first day of January 2015. Motion: By Cory Rigtrup that up this is a request by the member- Motion carried. to $500 be allocated to the “Still No Motion: By Nate Chappelle to ship of Local 587, requesting that Contract” campaign in the form of send up to six members of the CISM the President of Local 587, cease The Membership approves the armbands to be distributed as soon (Critical Incident Stress Manage- and desist from entering into fur- proposal to change Bylaw Article as possible. ment) Team to a CISM Training from ther agreements, including but not VIII, Sections 1 and 6 regarding December 2-5, 2014 in Bellingham limited to Memorandums of agree- Dues and Assessments of the Local Motion: By Alfonso Isla to pay paying travel, registration and per ments, letters of agreements, Letters Bylaws. our annual $3,000.00 per capita pay- diem at a cost not to exceed $4,500.00. of Understanding, or any forms of ment to sound Alliance as stated in agreements between King County The Membership did not approve the budget. Motion: By Charles Miller to ap- Metro and ATU 587 which would the proposal to change Bylaw XII, prove $ 3,078.4 3 for pr i nt i ng flyer s a nd in any way perpetuate an increase Sections 1, 15 and 16 regarding Gen- Motion: By Verita Alexander buttons for the Safety Sake campaign. use of Part-time Transit Operators eral Election — Election of Officers to send up to two members to the Northwest Conference January 14-18, Motion: By Charles Miller that outside of the collective bargaining of the Local Bylaws. continued on page 3 agreement. We, the membership, further re- The Membership approved the quest that any additional perceived arbitration request of Tim Brickell. needs for extra help to cover special Membership Meetings: work on weekends, due to perception The following members were that there is a shortage of Full-time October pot draw winners: drivers available to do the work, be James Reese, charter meeting, Ken fi l le d by pr omot i ng Pa r t-t i me d r iver s Newton, Saturday meeting, Terence Tentative Agenda from the approved list of Part-time Richardson, afternoon meeting, CHARTER MEETING JEFFERSON TRANSIT drivers waiting to go full-time, by Pam Thompson, JTA meeting and Thursday, November 6, 2014 Monday, November 10, 2014 means of promotion to full-time Jeremiah Reeves at the CTS meeting. 8:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. status, using where needed, an ac- The Clallam County Rolling Pot was The Labor Temple, Hall #1 Port Townsend Community celerated promotional process. won by Karen Martin. 2800 1st Ave., Seattle, WA Center, 620 Tyler Street, Port Townsend, WA MORNING MEETING CLALLAM TRANSIT In Loving Memory… Friday, November 7, 2014 Tuesday, November 18, 2014 10:30 a.m. 7:00 p.m. As long as we live, they too will live; The Labor Temple, Hall #8 Vern Burton Memorial Building for they are now a part of us; as we remember them. 2800 1st Ave., Seattle, WA Port Angeles, WA ~ Jewish Prayer SatURDAY MEETING WEDnesDAY MEETING Lester Osborne, a retired First Line Robert Tuttle, a retired Transit Opera- Saturday, November 8, 2014 Wednesday, November 12, 2014 Supervisor, who last worked for Ser- tor, who last worked at Ryerson Base, 11:00 a.m. 3:30 p.m. vice Quality, passed away on October passed away on September 27, 2014. The Labor Temple, Hall #8 The Labor Temple, Hall #1 13, 2014. Brother Osborne joined the Brother Tuttle joined the Local 587 in 2800 1st Ave., Seattle, WA 2800 1st Ave., Seattle, WA Local 587 in June of 1981. He retired in August of 1990 but has been a member February of 2012. He was 57 years old. of ATU since 1969. He retired in sep- tember of 2010. He was 69 years old. Among Topics to be Discussed: Grievance and Arbitration Update Please notify the union office of any member’s passing so that this information may be shared with the rest of our union family. Unfinished Business:N one OFFICERS OF THE AMALGAMATED TRANSIT UNION, LOCAL 587: Articles/Letters to the editor PAUL J. BACHTEL Pres/Business Agent Vehicle Maintenance Position #1 Cory RIGtrup Letters/contributions must include printed Vehicle Maintenance Position #2 DAN KENNY names, signatures, work ID numbers, ad- email – [email protected] Vehicle Maintenance Position #3 RANdy SteiNmaN NEAL SAFRIN 1st Vice President/Assistant Facilities Maintenance AlfoNso Isla dresses and phone numbers that can be Business Agent / email – [email protected] Supervisors KEvin HEndricks special Classifications Eric Butler verified during working hours.