OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE AMALGAMATED TRANSIT UNION|AFL-CIO/CLC
SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2015 UNITY BREEDS SUCCESS INTERNATIONAL PROVIDES ESSENTIAL SUPPORT IN THE FIGHT FOR TRANSIT WORKERS ACROSS US AND CANADA
TRANSIT FUNDING
PRIVATIZATION LEGISLATION
HEALTH AND SAFETY TRAINING
ORGANIZING PENSIONS
BUS DRIVER BATHROOM ASSAULTS BREAKS INTERNATIONAL OFFICERS LAWRENCE J. HANLEY International President JAVIER M. PEREZ, JR. NEWSBRIEFS International Executive Vice President OSCAR OWENS Milwaukee transit workers ratify new contract International Secretary-Treasurer After a 3-day strike, the rejection of two contract offers, and months INTERNATIONAL VICE PRESIDENTS of stalled negotiations, Milwaukee transit workers finally ratified a new 3-year contract with the Milwaukee Country Transit System LARRY R. KINNEAR Ashburn, ON – [email protected] (MCTS). “Milwaukee’s transit system is the economic backbone of RICHARD M. MURPHY the region. We will always fight for a fair contract that puts our Newburyport, MA – [email protected] riders first, retains full-time, professional transit workers and moves BOB M. HYKAWAY Milwaukee forward,” says James Macon, president of Local 998, Calgary, AB – [email protected] representing the workers. The new contract included steady wage increases and the transit JANIS M. BORCHARDT system’s pledge not to hire part-time drivers, a big sticking point in the labor dispute. Madison, WI – [email protected] PAUL BOWEN Canton, MI – [email protected] Local 107, ATU Canada rewards man KENNETH R. KIRK for act of kindness Lancaster, TX – [email protected] With school shootings, the growing refugee crisis and other bad GARY RAUEN news in this world, random acts of kindness usually go unnoticed. Clayton, NC – [email protected] But a man in Hamilton, ON became the toast of the Internet after MARCELLUS BARNES he held hands with a man with special needs on a public bus. Flossmore, IL – [email protected] A photo of his touching gesture was posted on Facebook and RAY RIVERA immediately went viral. Local 107 and ATU Canada wanted to Lilburn, GA – [email protected] acknowledge the man, a 21-year-old student, for his kindness and presented him with a check YVETTE TRUJILLO Thornton, CO – [email protected] to help pay for his education. GARY JOHNSON, SR. Cleveland, OH – [email protected] Show your ATU pride, new items on ROBIN WEST Halifax, NS – [email protected] ATU online store JOHN COSTA We’ve added some cool new items on to the ATU online store. Kenilworth, NJ – [email protected] Everyone could use a sporty new camp shirt and never lose your CHUCK WATSON keys with an ATU bus keychain. There’s also a great ATU lapel pin Syracuse, NY – [email protected] and even an ATU spiral notebook to keep important notes. There CLAUDIA HUDSON are plenty of other items too, including an awesome mechanic’s Oakland, CA – [email protected] shirt, the comfortable polar fleece, and our member favorite leather BRUCE HAMILTON jacket. There’s something for everyone in your household. So show your ATU pride and shop at New York, NY – [email protected] the ATU online store at http://atu.imagepointe.com/atu/ MICHELLE SOMMERS Brooklyn Park, MN – [email protected]
INTERNATIONAL REPRESENTATIVES INTERNATIONAL OFFICERS EMERITUS ANTHONY WITHINGTON Sebastopol, CA – [email protected] International President Jim La Sala, ret. International President Warren George, ret. DENNIS ANTONELLIS Spokane, WA – [email protected] International Executive Vice President Ellis Franklin, ret. STEPHAN MACDOUGALL International Executive Vice President Mike Siano, ret. Boston, MA – [email protected]
ANTHONY GARLAND Subscription: USA and Canada, $5 a year. Single copy: 50 cents. All others: $10 a year. Published bimonthly by the Washington, DC – [email protected] Amalgamated 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. ANTONETTE BRYANT ISSN: 0019-3291. PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 40033361.RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES Oakland, CA – [email protected] TO:APC Postal Logistics, LLC, PO Box 503, RPO, West Beaver Creek, Richmond Hill ON L4B 4R6. SESIL RUBAIN New Carrollton, MD – [email protected] IN TRANSIT | www.atu.org 3 SEPT/OCT 2015 CONTENT Vol. 124, No. 5
15 Survey reveals health and safety concerns of locals 17 School districts facing shortage of school bus drivers 18 Calgary members launch ‘Easy Rider’ campaign to combat assault Winnipeg Locals asks for police on buses 19 ATU HERO: Driver dedicates his hero’s medal PENSIONS ARE A PROMISE THAT THE 4 to man he says is the ‘real hero’ BOSS WANTS TO BREAK 20 ATU joins Nuns on the Bus tour rally in DC The ‘Fight for 15’ is a fight for all workers 21 Vice president helps rollout new Detroit buses Ferguson report: transit key to expanding opportunity 22 HOW THEY DO IT: Milwaukee members, riders call for restoration of transit funding Monroe, LA, members, riders form coalition to LOCALS HONE SKILLS AT BARGAINING AND 16 push for transit funding CONTRACT CAMPAIGNS TRAININGS ATU pleased MO governor’s RTW veto sustained Phoenix bus drivers reject poor contract offer 24 Even AAA says Americans want more 2 International Officers & General Executive Board public transportation ATU wins ILCA labor press awards Study reveals 75% of Americans support 3 Index Page using tax money for transit 6 Safe US Bus Funding Campaign kicks 25 Aspen Local concerned about possible hiring into high gear of TransDev negotiator 7 Legislative Agenda: Punching Back 26 Jackson transit workers decry “Outsourcing” of JATRAN 8 Niagara Coalition puts ‘Union that makes things happen’ motto into practice 27 TARTA to provide bus service for Toledo public schools 9 International President’s Message: This is your Union 10-year old boy sets an example for all 10 International Executive Vice President’s 28 Translations (Spanish) Message: Mobile app-based transit - Save the Date - 58th International Convention should we care? 31 In Memoriam 11 International Secretary-Treasurer’s Message: 32 ATU Makes Historic Move to New Headquarters ATU must lead - whether we like it or not 12 New Organizing Victories from Coast to Coast 14 ATU’s bathroom break fight bringing changes to transit industry, but much more progress needed
IN TRANSIT | www.atu.org 3 Pensions are a Promise That The Boss Wants to Break HOW AND WHY ATU LOCAL 836 IS FIGHTING BACK AND IMPACTS ALL MEMBERS
Step back in time to the United States of 1934. The great stock market crash of 1929 had decimated the savings of millions of workers, and the federal government was scrambling to find a way to get working families back on their feet. For older Americans, the picture was especially bleak. More than 50% of senior citizens lived below the poverty line and opportunities to make new income were almost non-existent. In 1935, U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act into law to create a safety net that would at least ensure those who had devoted their lives to working hard wouldn’t end up on the streets. Since its creation, it Grand Rapids, transit CEO Peter Varga plans to rob workers of their has been celebrated as one of the most successful federal pensions even as he gets a hefty raise. programs in American history. Today, fewer than 10% of seniors live in poverty. bottom line of history and focus only on the bottom But Social Security has been far from perfect. After its line for this fiscal year. creation, it left almost half of American workers without Right now, ATU members at Local 836 in Grand Rapids, protection. Many women, people of color, government MI, are fighting these anti-worker and anti-senior forces. employees, farm laborers, teachers and nurses were not For more than 30 years, bus drivers and mechanics there covered by the act. Even after decades of expansion, those have earned and retired with a modest defined benefit who receive payments today have a very hard time keeping pension. Market bubbles burst, stocks collapsed and pace with the cost of living, especially as healthcare, recovered, recessions came and went, but their pension housing, and transportation costs explode in cities today. endured while other plans – like 401Ks or other defined contribution schemes–evaporated. Thanks to long, hard struggles fought by unionized workers for generations including ATU, retiring Defined benefit pension plans are strong because the Americans have been able to able to add to their Social risk of the market is diffused across a large pool of Security payments with a defined benefit pension. participants and their employer. Defined contribution plans, on the other hand, shift all of the risk onto the individual employee. Public sector bosses like Grand Pensions and social security Rapids transit system CEO Peter Varga love this, arguing under attack that it is the “wave of the future” and more “fiscally responsible.” Anyone who has read a history book, however, These two sources of income combined have provided a knows the truth: this is a return to an old America when secure, dignified retirement for millions of our neighbors. people worked until they died or were disabled on the But today, both are being assaulted by political parties job, when seniors pushed out of the workplace stood on and public and private sector bosses who ignore the bread lines instead of fighting their old boss.
4 September/October 2015 | IN TRANSIT IN TRANSIT | www.atu.org 5 But the 300 members at Local 836 aren’t just fighting University’s United Students Against Sweatshops chapter for a secure retirement, but a better one. organized a “flash mob” to interrupt the city’s major art festival and show support for Local 836 members. They know that – despite promises that they could make a fortune by gambling savings on the market - defined benefit pensions will actually deliver a better retirement. According to financial analysis firm Milliman, traditional They didn’t leave their fight to just a few pensions deliver almost 25% greater returns than members, either. 401Ks over a 30-year period. Another risk management Rank-and-file volunteers of every age are waging it every firm, Towers Watson, found that between 1995 and day. Jay DeShane, who is not yet vested in the pension, 2011 defined benefit plans outperform their peers by 76 wants to see it saved so his family can focus on raising basis points. their kids, rather than worrying about keeping the lights Inspired by their brothers and sisters at Local 788 in on after he retires. When one agency board member St. Louis, who last year fought and saved their defined said the union needed to let its members vote on its anti- benefit pension in the face of unjust and racist behavior by pension proposal, Jay confronted her directly, “I’m not going to vote on any proposal that does not have a defined management, Local 836’s leadership and rank-and-file benefit.. and if I do, it’s going to be no, and I’m going to decided to fight backhard . When The Rapid’s out-of- ask everyone to vote the same way.” touch Board of Directors voted in a single day to raise rider fares 16%, to deny drivers a contract extension, Trula Schutt, 70, who was hoping to retire next year, is and to raise the CEO’s pay to $203,000, members put fighting alongside him. She confronted Grand Rapids the pedal to the metal. Mayor George Heartwell at a city meeting. If they went forward with their pension-cutting plan, she said, “I’m They held multiple jam-packed rallies, putting the fight going to be driving that bus until the day I die.” on everyone’s radar in the city and surrounding areas. Heartfelt testimony from members and their families Despite illegal threats from management and violations brought tears to the eyes of city commissioners. The of their First Amendment rights, members did not back few bold politicians remaining in western Michigan down. They have distributed thousands of leaflets to stepped up to the plate, writing op-eds and making riders, football game attendees, and even the neighbors of public statements supporting our right to a secure and Board members. dignified retirement. As their fight continues, support is rolling in from across the country. U.S. Senator and presidential candidate Bernie Sanders sent a powerful letter in early October, saying:
“Let me be absolutely clear: when you put the pensions of working people at risk, you are making inequality worse, not better. You are making these families and the communities they support weaker, not stronger. That is not the America we want…I am proud to stand alongside the working families of Grand Rapids and to remind their management that pensions are a promise!” The battle over pensions impacts all ATU members because if management or your private contractor hasn’t come for your pension already then you can be sure they will. And you can be assured the International will be with you in that fight, but like the members of Local 836 and 788 all members must get involved. A “funeral for the middle class” (above) united our Because there is strength in numbers and members struggle with that of Grand Rapids Symphony Orchestra engaging riders and community allies in our fights is members, fighting against a wage freeze of their own. One critical to the success of all our campaigns. v weekend, 100 students from nearby Grand Valley State
IN TRANSIT | www.atu.org 5 Safe US Bus Funding Campaign kicks into high gear
ATU members across the U.S. are engaged in a campaign to to shift some of their scarce local operating funds to the fight for increased funding for buses, which is jeopardizing capital side. This will leave a gaping hole in operating the safety of drivers and riders. budgets causing more service cuts and potential layoffs.
In 2012, Congress reduced dedicated bus capital funding Locals have been hitting the streets, bus stops and transit by half a billion dollars per year, and over the past few years centers to inform and engage riders and members. As transit systems have been unable to replace aging vehicles, part of the campaign members are asking riders to sign which are well past their useful life. postcards calling their elected officials to increase dedicated bus capital funding to levels consistent with documented The United States Senate passed their six-year transportation national needs so that transit agencies large and small no bill. That legislation does not fix the 2012 bill. The U.S. longer have to choose between routine maintenance and House of Representatives has unveiled its six-year bill. Now putting service on the road. both chambers of Congress are meeting in a conference to decide the fate of this and other transit issues and send a From New Jersey to California to Ohio Locals have been bill to the President. collecting these cards and delivering them to elected officials in their district offices. Check the ATU website Without funding increases, aging buses will stay on the for the latest developments in this critical campaign. v road, raising major safety issues, forcing transit systems
6 September/October 2015 | IN TRANSIT IN TRANSIT | www.atu.org 7 LEGISLATIVE AGENDA
Punching Back
Beginning in the summer of 2014, ATU members all across America finally said, “Enough is enough!” Too many times, bus drivers have been punched, stabbed, held at gunpoint, and spit upon while sitting behind the wheel. Assaults against bus operators are at an all-time high, and Members of Congress needed to hear about it. And so they did, over and over again. During the past year, ATU locals have been meeting with key lawmakers in a critical campaign to protect the lives of our members, sharing their stories through pictures, newspaper clips, videos, and unfortunately, battle scars. Finally, on October 22, the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure listened, voting to approve legislation requiring the Federal Transit Administration to issue rules forcing U.S. transit systems to protect operators from assault. All options will be on the table, including bullet proof barriers, driver side doors, panic buttons, and other ideas. International President Larry Hanley testifying to Congress.
Major victory for transit safety legislation Work still to be done It is likely the most significant safety legislation affecting The assault provision was included in theSurface transit operators since 1893, when ATU lobbied for a Transportation Reauthorization and Reform Act of 2015, law requiring closed vestibules in response to the death a six-year bill to renew the federal transit program. of several drivers who lost their lives due to exposure The Senate version of the bill does not include the in freezing cold temperatures while standing on open language. Soon, the two chambers will likely meet to streetcar platforms. negotiate a compromise, and ATU members will once again be called upon to educate lawmakers about the Testifying on Capitol Hill last year, International President need to include the assault language in the final bill. Based Larry Hanley called the assault of bus operators an on recent history, there is no doubt that transit workers “epidemic.” “People don’t like paying more for inferior will be up to the task. v service, so quite often they take out their frustrations on the drivers. In the past five years, we have seen a dramatic increase in the level and intensity of senseless attacks on defenseless operators. Drivers have been punched, slapped, stabbed, shot, and have had bodily fluids thrown upon them. And they are confronting all of this while trying to safely steer their vehicles through traffic, protecting the lives of passengers, pedestrians, and other drivers who are seriously distracted by today’s hand- held gadgets,” Hanley stated.
IN TRANSIT | www.atu.org 7 Niagara Coalition puts ‘Union that makes things happen’ motto into practice
“We want to make ‘Transit means getting to a job’ transit here accessible and affordable,” says “There’s lots of people who are down and out,” says Local President Patty Furry. “And whose only mode of transportation is a bike Furry, 1633-Welland, if they’re able to ride it. Transit means getting to a job, ON, explaining the getting to school, and getting to their appointments reason members of three on time.” ATU Locals have come In addition to the cost of public transportation, the together to form the group focuses on making sure there are schedules that Niagara Transit Coalition. meet the needs of the community, and the time it takes to They particularly want to travel from one place to another on the bus. be advocates for those who struggle to make ends meet, persons with disabilities, and seniors for whom public transit is an ‘We want to speak with one voice’ essential part of life. We’re all a part of this community,” says Recording They see them on their buses every day – people who Secretary Chris Byford, 846, “and we want to speak are on public assistance; people who are alone on a fixed with one voice.” income; part-timers and minimum wage workers; people without money; people without a job. Byford points to one common work commute in the area, saying, “If you’re working there and making minimum wage, it costs you an hour’s wage to get there and back.” ‘I want to do something’ One reason these members are so passionate about improving transit is that at some point they’ve all been in ‘Things need to change’ the position of their most vulnerable passengers. “The region used to be strong in manufacturing,” “We’ve never forgotten what that’s like,” says Local says Byford. “And now there’s more and more precarious President Margaret Gilbert, 1582-Niagara Falls, ON. “I jobs.” see it every day. I listen. I care enough that I want to do something.” “It used to be that people came out of high school and they could go to GM, make a decent wage, have The Niagara Transit Coalition is bringing in more a boat, take a vacation,” says Byford, who struggled individuals and community organizations into the financially for a long time. “I see people like that now. coalition to put ATU’s motto, “A union that makes things It’s tough. It’s sad. It’s something I can relate to, and happen” into practice. things need to change.” v For instance, they’re promoting low fares for low- wage riders, which other systems, like Calgary (AB) Transit provide. Local President Robert Llord, 846- St. Catharines, ON, says Calgary seniors can get an annual pass for $95 (even less for low income seniors) much less than the $57 per month St. Catharines seniors pay.
8 September/October 2015 | IN TRANSIT IN TRANSIT | www.atu.org 9 LARRY HANLEY, INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT
This is your Union
The International Union may seem like a far away Behind the curtain building in Washington to many members. But, we, All of these efforts are backed up by support staff at and our staff are involved in the lives of our members headquarters that provides the resources needed to get deeply, and every day. We have stepped up our work over the job done in the field. In the end, all that work is for the last several years in fighting to get our members a one purpose: to make the lives of workers and riders better. raise, retirement security, stopping assaults, getting real bathroom breaks, improving healthcare, organizing new The people who ride our services, from school children workers and getting more funding for transit. in New York, to the seniors in Vancouver, the dialysis patient in Delaware, to the hipster riding a bus Though quite proud of our work, we continue to live or train in the Bay Area in California – they all depend in a harsh political environment in both Canada and on our members every day. And behind the curtain, our the United States. We live in a time when billionaires members depend on our international staff who in turn feel cheated when workers live well. This Union is not support our Local officers and members in making their standing its ground, we are moving forward every day. In job a little less stressful and maybe easier. this magazine we chronicle some of those efforts. Be assured that we work every day to do all the things I Often the International works in a supporting role with mentioned in my first sentence and also that this Union Local officers and they, more than the members, see is run by its members and people like me who came up our work. In the U.S. the International is responsible through the ranks. for the day-to-day legislative work of the Union. We also assist Local officers in the states and provinces We are transit workers, school and paratransit workers, bus when called upon. In Canada, we have a Canadian drivers and mechanics who feel every day the concerns of organization – ATU Canada – which leads the national our members. I think that once in a while that needs to be v lobbying efforts. said. This is your Union – be proud of it! Please visit www.atu.org for more information and the latest ATU news. Look closely But look closely and you will see the influence of our Washington (soon to be Silver Spring, MD) based staff, and our leaders in the field – international vice presidents and representatives working to organize internally and lead contract and other battles everywhere.
We have a very professional organizing staff that is racking up victories from coast to coast. Over the last two years we have cranked up our Health and Safety Department. Here we are working on bathroom breaks, transit worker assaults and the fight to clear up blind spots on our buses.
IN TRANSIT | www.atu.org 9 JAVIER PEREZ, JR., INTERNATIONAL EXEC. VICE PRESIDENT
Mobile app-based transit – should we care?
For those who may not know, “Uber Technologies many times, is rude, and then lets you hope that your cab Inc. is an American international transportation network will show up. company headquartered in San Francisco, CA. The company develops, markets and operates the Uber mobile app, which allows consumers with smartphones to submit Should we prepare? a trip request which is then routed to Uber drivers who use their own cars.” Many of our locals represent members whose transit systems operate line haul service, para-transit service and Initially an Uber user must download the app, input the deviated route services. We are not cab drivers, should we credit card information to be used, select a percentage tip care? Should we prepare? Prepare for what? amount to apply to all trip purchase then you done. One simply taps on the Uber app and advises of location and Uber now has a service called Uber Pool which uses the selects the level of vehicle luxury you want, from Uber X, a same app technology to pool riders heading in the same small car to an Uber limo. direction together. The cost is higher than bus fare but Uber says they provide leather-seating, worktables, Wi-Fi, The app sends you notice of exactly how long it will take and extremely courteous drivers. for your ride to arrive, who your driver will be and a 1287 phone number to reach the driver if needed. Wait times Local -Kansas City, MO, has been in negotiations with an employer who is seeking to offer this type of service are usually no longer than six minutes. Once your Uber in through a public private partnership arrangement with a arrives, you get in, travel to your destination get out and company called Bridj, utilizing ATU operations employees. walk away. There is no monetary transaction to conduct. Bridj calls its self a “pop up transit service”, that prides itself Its all been handled by your initial Uber set up. on “not being your grandmother’s transit system; check it out (http://www.bridj.com/). Pretty slick Its not just coming to a place you call home, it’s here. And that’s why we should and do care. v Sounds pretty slick and it is. However we are seeing more and more articles and news reports about how the Uber Please visit www.atu.org for more information and the effect is undermining taxis. latest ATU news. Cab drivers and companies argue that while they have to pay for operation medallions, are required to carry higher limits and types of insurance, and special licenses Uber drivers are not. Uber (who has deep ties to the Obama administration) argues that their technology has made them “market disruptors” and the clamor against them is akin to the clamor of typesetters when the printing press came along. Further it is said the cab companies should have evolved out of a service that makes you call, puts you on hold too
10 September/October 2015 | IN TRANSIT IN TRANSIT | www.atu.org 11 OSCAR OWENS, INTERNATIONAL SECRETARY-TREASURER
ATU must lead – whether we like it or not
The Canadian election Those are the times when government decisions are made and legislative votes are taken that can have a far-reaching The disappointing results for the NDP in the recent impact on our lives. Canadian election should not dissuade the party’s supporters among our members from continuing to fight for public transit and labour. Electoral politics is a marathon – not a sprint. A crucial moment I know that 11 weeks seemed like a long campaign to Canadian members are now entering a really crucial my Canadian sisters and brothers, but for an American moment in which everyone will be needed to stop federal, candidate that wouldn’t be enough time to clear his or her provincial, and municipal governments from selling public throat before a debate. transit and transit labour out to the lowest bidder. Seriously, though, NDP supporters should feel encouraged The Union is doing everything possible to stop this threat by how much they accomplished in a very short period of to our jobs, but it cannot succeed unless everyone gets time. Progressive policies were discussed positively on a involved. national level, and, for the first time it wasn’t ridiculous to And, why not? We have the opportunity to show the world think that Canada’s labour party could form a government. that ATU has only just begun to fight. v Please visit www.atu.org for more information and the Hold Trudeau’s feet to the fire latest ATU news. There’s no doubt in my mind that Tom Mulcair’s popularity pulled Justin Trudeau closer to Labour. The Liberal leader tried mightily to position himself as a friend of working families – and apparently succeeded with a lot of trade unionists. Our job now is to hold his feet to the fire. If Trudeau is a true friend of Labour he won’t advocate public-private partnerships as a way to build and operate public transit, as he has previously advocated.
Members must take the lead But for him to change his mind he needs to hear from Canadians – a lot of them – who tell him that they don’t want P3 programs. And whether we like it or not, that will only happen if ATU members take the lead and keep at it during times when there is no election to focus our attention.
IN TRANSIT | www.atu.org 11 New Organizing Victories from Coast to Coast UNORGANIZED TRANSIT WORKERS REACH OUT TO JOIN ATU
ATU members sometimes take for granted the wages, Working in the transit industry today without a union benefits, working conditions, and job security we have contract means you work strictly at the whim of the boss, fought for -- and defended -- for many decades. It’s good have no recourse to resolve unfair treatment, and can be to remember that none of the benefits of union membership fired at any time for no reason at all. fell out of the sky, or were the result of employers suddenly deciding to be fair and generous. It’s easy to forget this The growing privatization trend pushed by politicians until workers without any union at all reach out to ATU and corporations is designed to magnify the downward and we hear their nightmare workplace reports and stories. pressure on wages and benefits, and it’s therefore no surprise There is a real and very significant difference between ATU that the private contractor workforces are those joining workplaces and those with no union at all. ATU in the greatest numbers. There are some remaining public transit agency workers who are not organized, and these groups are also reaching out to ATU for help ATU scores organizing victories with their own difficult situations. Our ranks grew significantly this year as we scored strong organizing wins across the country including Aspen, CO, Do you know a transit worker who West Palm Beach, FL, and Indiana, PA, just to name a few. (See map for all ATU organizing wins) These were needs a union? hard fought victories with international staff and locals New union organizing is hard work, and it is often working hand-in-hand. complicated by employers who threaten and discriminate against workers who want the benefits of a union contract. The ATU family welcomes our new members, and we ATU local leaders and members participated in all the stand ready to support them in the next phase of their successful campaigns listed here, with a number of them organizing – the push for a first union contract. stepping up and playing a critical role from start to finish. Many employers refuse to accept the fact that democratic There is strength in numbers; reaching out to unorganized majorities have voted or chosen ATU to be their union. workers in our industry is one way to defend the gains your These employers resist the bargaining process, and ATU local has made at the bargaining table. continue to conduct what amount to ongoing anti-union campaigns aimed at exhausting the workers and ultimately You might find workers in your area or even at your punishing them for their choice. workplace in need of union representation. There are even more unorganized transit workers who drive paratransit Union organizing is never really “done”, since these new groups will still need to be trained and supported to vans, school buses, commuter coaches and tour buses, enforce their initial contract, and begin to represent the and different kinds of shuttles. new members in the workplace. It’s hard, but worthwhile. What can you do? Every ATU property in the U.S. and Canada can trace back its origins to some similar process. Talk to these workers and ask them if they are satisfied with their pay rates, their benefits, and their on-the-job treatment.
Thousands of unorganized When you find interest – and you will – contact ATU International at [email protected] transit workers ATU International provides advice, counsel, and support However, thousands of non-union transit workers in North for union organizing every day across North America. America today continue to work for poverty wages, enjoy few benefits, and are subjected to horrendous working conditions. It all starts with someone breaking the ice and talking to the They have no on-the-job protections or independent unorganized workers about why they should join ATU. v representation when dealing with their employer.
12 September/October 2015 | IN TRANSIT IN TRANSIT | www.atu.org 13 ATUATU ORGANIZINGORGANIZING VICTORIESVICTORIES
Toronto, Ontario, Local 113 TTC 55 workers New York, NY, Local 1181 MVP 216 workers Grand Junction, Colorado, Local 1774 MV 41 workers Stockton, California, Local 276 MV 55 workers Hunterdon and Warren Counties, New Jersey, Local 1614 First Transit 29 workers Hanford, California, Local 1027 MV 57 workers West Palm Beach, Florida, Local 1577 First Transit 115 workers Fresno, California, Local 1027 Economic Opportunities Commission 135 workers Joshua Tree, California, Local 1704 Morongo Basin Transit Authority 33 workers Austin, Texas, Local 1091 Ride Right/MTM paratransit 84 workers Aspen, Colorado, Local 1774 Roaring Fork Transit 120 workers Indiana, Pennsylvania, Local 1279 IndiGO Indiana County Transit Authority 55 workers
IN TRANSIT | www.atu.org 13 ATU’s bathroom break fight bringing changes to transit industry, but much more progress needed
Few people would take a job in which they risked death to use a bathroom, but that is the situation facing bus drivers around the world today. It’s not only a disgrace; it’s a human rights violation that must be stopped. Last December a Miami-Dade County Transit driver died attempting to get to a bathroom in the five minutes she was allotted. She left the motor running as she ran to the driver’s side window to pull the lever to close the door. In her haste she had forgotten to set the parking brake. The bus ran over and killed her as she struggled to control it from the driver’s window. less declared it a matter of human rights. With input from The same thing happened in 2004, when a Portland, ATU, the International Labor Organization recently held a OR, driver, rushing to use the bathroom forgot to set meeting on health and safety endorsing bathroom access for the parking brake, closed the door, and the bus moved all transport workers. Also at the behest of the ATU, the FTA forward pinning her between the vehicle and a bus sign, and TRB have taken up the issue. killing her instantly. Still, too many properties demand slavish adherence to computerized schedules, rather than treating their employees ATU made bathroom breaks an issue in a humane fashion. Tragically, few would blame these deaths on anything but There have been victories, such as in Seattle, WA, where the driver error if the International and our locals hadn’t initiated work of Local 587 resulted in the state Department of Labor the campaign against the miserable conditions that drivers and Industries fining King County Metro. endure which endanger their health, and the safety of themselves and their passengers. Since then the agency has hired a “comfort station coordinator” to address the issue. But that doesn’t, necessarily When International President Larry Hanley instigated mean the problem is solved. ATU’s campaign to secure adequate bathroom breaks and facilities for transit workers in 2011, it was a problem few TheWashington Post shocked the nation’s capital in June with acknowledged. As Hanley put it, “I think the bathroom an article about the bathroom struggles of Metro drivers break problem persists because of our natural discomfort there. But, Local 689 told the Post that they were still having with talking about the issue.” troubles with Metro over the issue in October. “We need to be more aggressive in making sure that clean When questioned by the media, most agencies feign surprise, restrooms and sufficient time to use them are negotiated claiming their operators can use a bathroom anytime they into our contracts, and that those provisions are enforced,” want – without punishment. he said. “It’s an important health and safety issue that really Drivers know that just isn’t true, and are fighting to build should be regarded as a human right.” decent breaks into the breakneck schedules that wreck their That is what has been happening in local after local, since health over time. then. And hundreds of news reports have emerged increasing It may be that the most significant thing ATU has done is awareness of the issue. From Bangkok to London there are to make bathroom breaks, and the humane treatment of reports of similar problems. transit workers an issue that cannot be ignored in contract Up until 2011, no international figure had ever spoken so negotiations, or the media. While progress has been made, openly and forthrightly about this important issue, much the fight continues. There is no turning back. v
14 September/October 2015 | IN TRANSIT IN TRANSIT | www.atu.org 15 Survey reveals health and safety concerns of locals
Over 125 locals responded to a union-wide health and Know your safety rights safety survey ATU sent our earlier this year. The results were revealing. Knowing your safety rights at work is the job of every member. Earlier this year a 10-page booklet was sent to Chief among the health and safety concerns of well over 90% all locals on how to run effective safety committees. The of respondents were: International is ready to follow this up with training of your local safety committee, safety stewards and activists. Operations: • Stress • Hypertension You’ll learn how to start immediately. Then we can follow • Assault • Diabetes that with training and step-by-step guidance to improve • Bathroom access • Vehicle safety the health and safety of your members.
Maintenance: • Air quality • Chemical exposure Many locals ask for training • Back injuries • Hearing loss Health and safety training has been completed in some locals and has been scheduled in others. Please contact the Some, but not all locals have been successful in getting office of the international president to arrange for your management to address health and safety (see article on health and safety training and other assistance if you have page 14) problems and provide training. not already done so. v Progress is being made in bathroom access, but there needs to be more attention paid to this problem.
Musculoskeletal disorders Our knowledge that poorly designed and poorly maintained vehicles cause musculoskeletal disorders, combined with the news that federal budget cuts are making it more difficult for agencies to buy new buses, leads many to worry that physical problems will increase as poorly maintained buses remain on the streets longer than they should. As a result our members will pay the price in acute as well as debilitating injuries.
Don’t let this happen to your members Don’t let this happen to your members. It can be prevented, but management has to be responsible for a safe and healthful workplace. Our job is to see that they provide that. Almost 70% of those who responded had a joint health and safety committee, but many had not been trained recently or met with management in a long time.
IN TRANSIT | www.atu.org 15 Locals hone skills at Bargaining and Contract Campaigns Trainings
“The training was eye opening and very informative. I learned new skills for collective bargaining and negotiating contracts that will serve my Local well in the future,” said one attendee at the Canadian training. “I now realize the importance of getting all our members involved and that we need to think outside the box to achieve that. We also need to build coalitions with our riders and community advocates because without them we would not have a job. I now feel empowered to make a difference for my Local and my Union.”
As part of ATU’s next generation of innovative training programs for leaders and members more than half of ATU locals across the U.S. and Canada have taken part in the Collective Bargaining and Contract Campaigns Training. This training is another step in the charge given by the 2013 International Convention to educate and train our members in new skills and strategies to make our locals stronger, empower members to get involved, and prepare for the battles that lie ahead. Through a combination of plenary sessions, breakout workshops and hands-on training exercises, the Collective Bargaining and Contract Campaigns Training With the International putting the finishing touches on is conducted by international staff and a wide range the new state-of-the-art ATU Tommy Douglas Conference of experts in the fields of negotiations and contract Center, the Union will be offering the Collective Bargaining bargaining. Among the topics covered are Strategies for and Contract Campaigns Training and other innovative Building Power through Contract Campaigns, Preparing education programs at the new center to leaders and for Bargaining: Knowledge of Power, Mapping Members, members in the coming months and year. If you’re interested Employers, Allies and Opponents, and The Nuts and Bolts contact your Local officers and tell them you want ATU of Collective Bargaining. training or email us directly at [email protected] v This training offers both the seasoned local union leader and new officers an exciting opportunity to learn and improve negotiating skills and also expand their Local’s power and presence in their community. One of the most recent Collective Bargaining and Contract Campaigns Trainings took place in Toronto, ON, with representatives from every Canadian local in attendance prior to the ATU Canada convention. The participants were energized by the training for their next contract negotiation and learned why mobilizing members to get involved and building alliances with community groups is critical.
16 September/October 2015 | IN TRANSIT IN TRANSIT | www.atu.org 17 SCHOOL DISTRICTS FACING SHORTAGE OF SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS
Giving children a good education is critical to the future by the U.S. Departments of Education, Transportation of any country, but if kids can’t get to school safely and on and Labor. time it will certainly hurt the cause. That is the problem facing many school districts across the United States as One of the most interesting findings is that over a 10- many have a shortage of experienced school bus drivers. year period (2012 to 2022), the second-highest number of transportation job openings will be for school or Fox Valley school districts in Illinois started the school year special client bus drivers, projected at 330,699 openings. with new buses, but not enough drivers to operate them. The report also shows a big demand for bus and truck This has meant that sports teams have been running late mechanics and diesel engine specialists, with a projected to after-school events or that mechanics sometimes drive 86,850 job openings over the 10-year period. buses instead of working on repairs. The report also shows the range of the transportation A shortage in school bus drivers in the Metro Nashville workforce, revealing an important trend in the school Public School district has caused problems for thousands bus industry. For the broad sector of transit and ground of students. The district started the school year down 55 passenger transportation (which includes school drivers, but that number has skyrocketed to 143 open bus transportation, transit, charter, taxi service and others), the driver positions. This has resulted in delays at the stops, age distribution shows that 63% of the workers in transit which has caused students to be late getting to school, and and ground passenger transportation are above age 45, back home. and retirement will loom large in the future. So the problem is just going to get worse as the industry will What may surprise many, but not school drivers or experience an increase in retirements. transit workers, is the reason for this growing problem–an improving economy. How to deal with the problem? Raise the wages for school bus drivers to make it a more attractive job. After all, what’s more important than making sure our children get School bus driver pay low a good education? Getting them there safe and on time is half the battle. v It has become harder for school districts to attract enough people to drive yellow buses, because they have lower pay than jobs driving other types of large vehicles. Now, a new federal report shows that openings for school bus drivers will continue to be one of the nation’s top transportation workforce needs in coming years. The report, titled “Strengthening Skills Training and Career Pathways Across the Transportation Industry,” was jointly released
IN TRANSIT | www.atu.org 17 Calgary members launch ‘Easy Rider’ campaign to combat assault
behaviour. “They say ‘we need to send a message, we need to be safe in our workplace,’” he says. “So we’ve followed the procedures and here were are.”
Drivers being spit on
Ratcliffe says his drivers have endured everything from threats to coffee and beverages thrown at them, to punches and being been spit upon. He says these kinds of things don’t happen to other people at their place of work. “You don’t see someone come into an office environment and Local 583 has launched an “Easy Rider” advertising campaign spit on somebody else and yet that does happen in the on billboards and bus shelters in Calgary, AB. operator work station.”
Local 583-Calgary, AB, wants all of their passengers to be “We did a lot of research,” he says, “we did focus groups “easy riders.” They’ve launched a new campaign – complete with our operators and got their opinions, we did an with billboard and bus shelter advertisements – aimed omnibus survey with the public and got their opinions a eliminating the violence against drivers that every and that leads us to where we are today.” ATU member knows has increased greatly in recent years. There have been 80 assaults upon Calgary drivers since Ratcliff has also met with Calgary Transit officials about April 2014. the campaign and intends to develop plans to deal with the problem. v Local President Rick Ratcliff says his members are rightfully concerned about assaults and riders’ bad
Winnipeg Local asks for police on buses
“There is almost a complete lack of respect out there for Staten Island example the transit system,” says Local President John Callahan, 1505-Winnipeg, MB, adding that having a firm police For support Callahan cites the transit system in Staten presence on buses “not only provides safety for our members, Island, NY, which deploys a combination of uniformed and but for the public as well.” undercover officers who ride buses on a rotating basis.
Local 1505 wants Winnipeg to provide police officers to “They had an over 80% decrease in on-board assaults and patrol its buses. The local president told the police board over 90% decrease in fare evasions, and they’ve maintained that there have been 45 confirmed assaults on bus drivers so those numbers,” he says. far this year, compared to 39 incidents in 2014. Callahan said he has spoken with the Winnipeg Police “Violence on transit buses,” he says, “generally peaks at Association about how to place officers on transit buses at around 4 p.m. and later in the evening.” Assaults, drug little or no extra cost. deals, “grab-and-runs,” happen all the time, and the number of fare evaders is growing. Several city councillors have backed his proposals. v
18 September/October 2015 | IN TRANSIT IN TRANSIT | www.atu.org 19 ATU HERO Driver dedicates his hero’s medal to man he says is the ‘real hero’
“Mr. Cottingham went to go run and once he fell, the assailant then got on top of him and repeatedly stabbed him,” said Epps. As people fled onto the bus to get away from the horrific attack as it unfolded, Epps called 911.
Loss of life would have been greater
Delaware DOT Secretary Jennifer Cohan called Cottingham “a hero” and said she felt certain the loss of life would have been greater, had he not intervened.
Renaldo Epps, 842-Wilmington, DE, was awarded the state Epps, 42, of Wilmington, accepted the Challenge Medal, DOT’s Challenge Medal for his heroism in sheltering a woman, “on behalf of Thomas Cottingham, who is the real victim her baby and local bystanders on his bus to protect them from a and the real hero.” knife-weilding attacker who stabbed and killed another heroic man who intervened to save their lives. Epps addressed elected officials at the ceremony about the underlying issue in the attack, asking them to “Please send DART bus driver Renaldo Epps was awarded the Delaware more money to mental health issues.” Department of Transportation Challenge Medal for his Although the driver had seen crime at Rodney Square heroism in whisking a mother and her baby to the safety before, he he had never seen such extreme violence. “He was of his bus when being threatened by a man with a knife. on top of him, just stabbing and stabbing and stabbing.” Tragically, Epps was not able to save another hero who rushed to save the woman and her baby before Epps got Dedicating the medal to Cottingham “was just beautiful,” there, and was stabbed to death as a result. said Local President Lillian Shavers, 842-Wilmington, DE. What Epps did was important and probably saved lives, Epps witnessed the incident in which 27-year old Thomas but Cottingham gave his life protecting strangers, she said. Cottingham intervened between the assailant and the woman, telling him, “You don’t know her. Leave her Epps, who nodded in agreement, adding, “He is the alone. Leave her alone,” as he helped her to onto the bus hero.” v with her stroller. The assailant then stabbed Cottingham in the throat in front of the bus door, and proceeded to stab him twice in the back.
There’s a big wide world out there, and it’s tough to keep up with all the events which can affect your profession and your livelihood. One of the easiest ways to stay informed is by visiting: www.atu.org. Don’t stay in the dark! Find out what’s going on. Visit www.atu.org.
IN TRANSIT | www.atu.org 19 ATU joins final Nuns on the Bus tour rally in DC
International staff was also in attendance to help raise support for the DC paratransit drivers. On their 13-day tour, the sisters hosted 33 events in seven states to “connect with real people — and to hear about the injustices they encounter daily,” according to the Nuns on the Bus website. The theme of the fourth annual trip: “Bridge the Divides, Transform Politics.” “If we can’t face and bridge the divides here, where else can we expect it to be done?” asked Sr. Simone Campbell, leader of the bus tour and executive director of NETWORK, a Catholic social justice lobby. Local 689 member Karen Reed spoke at the Nuns on the Bus DC rally to draw attention to the poor treatment of MetroAccess The rally saw a number of struggling Americans sharing drivers and riders. their stories. The 2015 Nuns on the Bus tour concluded in Washington, “We walked off our job because federal contractors make DC, with a rally on the National Mall hours ahead of billions in profit, but workers live in poverty,” said Bertrand Pope Francis’ arrival in the United States. Local 689 Olotara, a federal contract worker employed as a cook at member Karen Reed spoke at the event highlighting the U.S. Senate. v the poor treatment of MetroAccess drivers and riders.
The ‘Fight for 15’ is a fight for all workers
The “Fight for 15” minimum wage movement is spreading union workers – are laboring long and hard for totally rapidly around the United States as workers as diverse as fast inadequate pay. food employees and college instructors have decided they’ve had enough of working long hours for non-living wages. Many union members may be tempted to think that’s just ATU fighting for members making less not their issue because they haven’t personally worried about than $15/hour the minimum wage since they were teenagers. Right now, ATU is fighting for members making less than $15 per hour. These include: “junior” drivers in several cities, paratransit operators, university shuttle bus drivers, Half of all US workers customer service representatives, cleaners, custodians, make less than $15/hour school bus drivers, utility and service workers. Most people, however, would be Privatization has been the engine driving this trend, and astounded to discover that nearly half foreign multinational transit providers and their friends in of all workers in the U.S. make less Congress are working hard to make this the norm in the than $15 an hour. transit industry. That’s right – minimum wages aren’t just for kids working Creating a $15 per hour floor for employees in the United summer jobs any more. All across America workers – even States will help all workers no matter what they make. v
20 September/October 2015 | IN TRANSIT IN TRANSIT | www.atu.org 21 Vice president helps rollout new Detroit buses
“This isn’t an investment in buses, this is an investment in ‘It was heartbreaking’ the people of Detroit, this is an investment helping them move into the middle-class,” said Vice President Joe Biden, The lack of adequate bus service had become critical in De- who was on hand for the city’s roll-out of the last of its new troit. “People stood on street corners in the freezing cold buses provided by the federal government. for hours and at times the buses would show up and the buses would be full and they’d still leave them on the street corner. It was heartbreaking,” says Mayor Mike Duggan. During a dinner with the vice president early in Duggan’s term, Biden turned to the mayor and asked, “‘If I can do one thing to help Detroit, what would it be?” Duggan said “We need buses,” and Biden replied, “Of all the things I thought you were going to ask me for, I would not have guessed buses was the first priority.” But that was the one thing the mayor knew the city needed before it could get back on its feet again.
The vice president cited one of the recent studies demon- Assault strating the connection between public transit and getting to a good job, saying, “It’s not early education, it wasn’t Local 26 President Fred Westbrook, took advantage of other things … they wrote transportation is the single the moment to remind the public that more needed to strongest factor in the changes that someone [needs to] be done to protect operators and passengers from violent move up the economic ladder.” assault on transit. v
Ferguson report: transit key to expanding opportunity
The Ferguson Commission issued a report in that listed education, and employment. Moreover, public transit the lack of public transit among several problems that affects how long it takes many low-income citizens to get lead to racial inequality in the St. Louis, MO, area. The to work, and in research from Harvard, commuting time commission was appointed by Governor Jay Nixon to has emerged as the single strongest factor in the odds of investigate the conditions that impede racial equality and escaping poverty. The longer an average commute in a progress in the region in the wake of the unrest caused by given county, the worse the chances of low-income families the fatal shooting of Michael Brown, Jr., by a police officer there moving up the ladder’ (Chetty & Hendren, 2015).” in Ferguson on August 9, 2014. The commission confirmed reports from other areas around Transit = economic benefits the country that a lack of public transit to good jobs makes it almost impossible for residents of poor neighborhoods to “Effective public transit, and the mobility it enables, can find employment that lifts them out of poverty. also provide economic benefits to the region as a whole. Transit reduces household expenses; attracts talent and The commission said, in part: business; and in leading people to drive less, has the “Public transit is a key to expanding opportunity for all St. potential to decrease traffic congestion, air pollution, and Louisans. A safe, reliable, affordable, and efficient public roadway wear and tear (Osborne, 2015). v transportation system can increase access to health care,
IN TRANSIT | www.atu.org 21 Milwaukee members, Monroe, LA, members, riders riders call for restoration form coalition to push for of transit funding transit funding
Saying public transit is a civil right the Milwaukee Transit Thousands of Louisianans in the City of Monroe and the Riders Union (MTRU) and Local 998-Milwaukee, WI, Parish of Ouachita, rely on buses, trains and trolleys each rallied outside of the Milwaukee County Courthouse to day to get to work, school, the doctor and other daily tasks. demand the county board restore transit funding to Yet many can’t get where they need to be because bus, train improve transit running times on express routes. and trolley service is being slashed, and there is not enough money to fund public transit. To address this problem Local 1160–Monroe, LA, is working with riders, employees and Monroe businesses to form a coalition to push for new legislation to increase funding for public transit throughout the state of
“Everyone in a major city needs transportation,” says Local President James Macon, pointing out that Miller Brewing headquarters left town a few years ago because public transportation wasn’t up to par. He continued that a robust bus system is critical because“…to bring new business in you’ve got to have transportation. Everyone can’t drive a car.” Louisiana. The new group will be launching a campaign to reach out to riders, the community, and elected Riders and drivers also called for a comprehensive plan officials about the important role a robust public to install more transit hubs across Milwaukee County. transportation system plays in stimulating and growing The hubs would allow riders to wait for buses inside local economies. v during the very cold winter months. “A bold vision is needed to address the lack of access to bathrooms for drivers and to provide an indoor waiting space for riders at key transfer points” said an MTRU organizer and rider. “Riders often endure waiting times of 30-45 minutes or longer in freezing conditions.” v
22 September/October 2015 | IN TRANSIT IN TRANSIT | www.atu.org 23 The Local called on Transdev to bargain a fair and ATU pleased MO governor’s just contract that is good for riders and the city, and that recognizes the commitment and hard work these RTW veto sustained employees put in every day to safely transport the citizens of Phoenix to and from work, school, the doctor and other Local President Michael Breihan, 788-St. Louis, MO, important tasks. is one of many union members happy that the Missouri House sustained Governor Jay Nixon’s veto of a right-to- After months of stalled negotiations that began in April, work (RTW) bill passed by the state legislature. members had voted 95% to authorize a strike. The drivers and Local maintain that they do not want to strike, but will do what is in their legal power to get the respect they deserve.
ATU members Alease Dailes, Alicia Richardson Felicia Clayton, and Local President Michael Breihan, 788-St. Louis, MO, came to Jefferson City, MO, to show their support of Gov. Jay Nixon’s veto of legislation that would have made Missouri the country’s 26th right-to-work state. Photo by Amanda Nero. Phoenix city bus drivers protest outside Phoenix City Hall. Photo by Nick Oza/The Republic
He and his members joined other trade unionists who lobbied hard to defeat attempts to override the veto. The Quality, safe, reliable service override campaign failed by 13 votes. “Bus operators do not want to strike, but this is about While glad that the RTW threat is over for the time ensuring quality, safe, reliable bus service for the people being, Breihan says, “It’s been a long hard fight, but we of Phoenix and fair treatment of workers,” says Local know in our hearts that this is going to be coming back President Bob Bean. “They take taxpayer dollars and push next year.” v employees out on strike for no other reason than to increase the profit margin.” ATU has requested through the federal mediator that Transdev return to the table in an attempt to settle the Phoenix bus drivers reject dispute through binding arbitration. v poor contract offer
Demanding the city intervene to stop the bullying tactics of foreign for-profit bus service contractor Transdev and settle a fair contract, members of Local 1433-Phoenix, AZ, overwhelmingly rejected the company’s last, best contract offer. The vote sends a loud and clear message to Transdev and the City of Phoenix that bus drivers will not be bullied and demand respect.
IN TRANSIT | www.atu.org 23 Even AAA says Americans want more public transportation
A significant majority of • Conducting routine maintenance and repair of roads Americans (70 percent) and bridges, such as fixing potholes, repaving roads, believe the federal government etc.: 91 percent rate as important. should invest more than it does now for roads, bridges and mass transit systems, according to a new survey by AAA. The results also 70% support expanding show that only 38 percent of Americans believe that public transportation Congress is taking the necessary steps to ensure that our roads, bridges and transit systems will meet the needs of • Expanding public and shared transportation, such as the nation. buses, commuter rail and support for car-pooling: 70 percent rate as important. AAA also asked the public to rank its priorities for transportation funding. Conducting routine maintenance • Reducing traffic congestion and travel time by of roads and bridges overwhelmingly topped the list, yet expanding lanes and adding lanes reserved for all categories included in the survey received significant high-occupancy vehicles: 65 percent rate as support. The complete rankings include: important. v
Study reveals 75% of Americans support using tax money for transit
The American Public Transportation Association Value added (APTA), in conjunction with the Mineta Transportation Institute (MTI), recently released a study, which The study also highlights the value public transportation underscores the public’s need for access to reliable adds to communities: public transportation and demonstrates broad support • for investment in the nation’s aging transportation More than 80% agreed that public transportation infrastructure. provides an affordable way for people to get around; • More than 82% believe public transportation Its analysis shows that over 75 percent of Americans provides people with vital connections to important support using tax dollars to create, expand and resources like jobs, schools, and medical facilities; and improve public transportation in their communities, and that close to 70 percent believe Congress should • Roughly 80% said that public transportation increase the level of investment in public transportation connects people to jobs, and thus helps to fuel infrastructure. economic growth and development. v
24 September/October 2015 | IN TRANSIT IN TRANSIT | www.atu.org 25 Aspen Local concerned about possible hiring of TransDev negotiator
Local President Ed Cortez, Wanted: Quicker wage progression 1774-Aspen, CO, is con- cerned about the possible Local 1774 wants to negotiate a quicker wage progression hiring of labor negotiator to their top hourly rate. Thomas Hock by the Roaring Fork Transportation Author- “All we want is to reach a wage cap… sooner than later,” ity for upcoming collective Cortez says. “Right now, it’s taking between 13 to 15 years bargaining negotiations with to reach [the top wage]. … Some people say 20 [years].” the union. Cortez says that, so far, RFTA has been “civil and Hock is the labor relations professional,” but that the Local isn’t afraid to “take the vice president of TransDev, gloves off” if they have to. a multinational transit provider that has done everything it can to lower union wages and benefits, if not bust unions since it started providing private transit Pay increase management services in the U.S. and Canada under the name of Veolia years ago. In October the Roaring Fork Board voted to increase starting driver salaries beginning January 1. Cortez believes Hock is chiefly responsible for the contentious labor that could sew discord among his members because new negotiations that took place between the Bay Area employees would be making the same as those working for Rapid Transit (BART) system in San Francisco, CA, and many years. Local 1555-Oakland, CA, and its other labor unions in 2013. “It’s very, very insulting to all the drivers,” explains Cortez. “It’s motivated by the need for more drivers because people are making more money as carpenters.” ‘Proven union-buster’ Cortez has requested that a member of the RFTA Board be present for all contract negotiations. “This man is a proven union-buster, whose only intent is to crush any and all unions. He is hired to dismantle “I think it would be worthwhile,” he said, “and it would or destroy,” Cortez says. “These are harsh words I use, certainly give the board members a better perspective as to but if you Google Tom Hock, you can read for yourself what the day to day operations are with RFTA, and might about the controversial and underhanded tactics used even open some eyes as to why we may have made such a by this person, who’s destroyed reputations, and cost big deal out of the hiring of Mr. Hock.” v the taxpayers of California hundreds of thousands of dollars, and may have indirectly caused the deaths of two employees.” Cortez is referring to a tragedy in which two BART track workers were accidentally struck and killed by a subway train that was operated by a nonunion trainee during the BART strike. BART was later fined $210,000 for safety violations in the deaths.
IN TRANSIT | www.atu.org 25 Jackson transit workers decry “Outsourcing” of JATRAN
“When you outsource critical community services like public transit to private companies it’s the bottom line that comes first not serving the people,” says Alphonso Burns, Jr., president of Local 1208, representing JATRAN workers. In addition the city has abandoned employees by violating their legal obligation to pay for employees’ accrued sick time. The city claims that responsibility lies with former JATRAN management contractor PTM of Jackson. However their management agreement with PTM clearly states, ‘All operating expenses shall be an obligation of and paid by the city. The city’s obligation to pay all operating expenses of the Transit System shall survive the termination or expiration of this agreement.’ The Jackson City (MS) Council’s decision to hire private contractor National Express to operate and manage “This is a blatant violation of the city’s management JATRAN is threatening the service for and safety of riders agreement with PTM and an insult to their hard working while it abandons workers. JATRAN employees. There are veteran bus drivers that have worked 25 years and taken only five sick days and Under this new contract the city council merged the now the city says you’re ‘#%$ out of luck in getting that operations of “HandiLift” paratransit service with regular sick pay from us’,” Burns added. v JATRAN service, which has resulted in seniors being stranded without rides because of a lack of experienced drivers and properly equipped buses. STAYCONNECTED For the latest ATU News and Action Alerts please check out the ATU’s social media network www.facebook.com/ATUInternational www.youtube.com/user/stpatuorg www.twitter.com/ATUComm www.flickr.com/photos/atuinternational/
26 September/October 2015 | IN TRANSIT IN TRANSIT | www.atu.org 27 TARTA to provide bus service for Toledo public schools
TARTA trustees have agreed to a contract to provide 54,000 bus-hours of service during the current 180- day school year, plus storage and maintenance of TPS yellow buses. Federal Transit Administration rules require that buses no longer needed for one transit agency’s operations, but still operational and with “equity” remaining from federal funds used to pay for them, be made available to other transit agencies. Besides 21 from Columbus, 13 from Cleveland, and three from Akron, TARTA obtained seven surplus buses from the Butler County Regional Transit Authority, which operates The Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority (TARTA) has in and around Hamilton, Middletown, and Oxford, OH. hired additional drivers and mechanics, promoted existing part-time drivers to full-time, and obtained 44 second- Students in elementary schools will be transported in hand buses from transit authorities across Ohio, to cover yellow TPS buses, but high school students, as before, will the service it has agreed to provide Toledo Public Schools be given passes to ride TARTA service. v (TPS) for the next two years.
10-year old boy sets an example for all
The deer in the photo lost her eyesight — but she gained a friend in a 10-year-old wearing a t-shirt with the Local 241-Chicago, IL, logo. A Reddit user posted the photo of the deer living in his suburban Chicago area. Every morning before school, the boy walked the deer and guided her to grass patches to make sure she got enough food.
The photo went viral being viewed more than half a million times in the first four hours. The deer was picked up by a local animal rescue group to be treated by a vet and released in a controlled forest preserve.
ATU salutes this boy for his compassion and setting an example of how to treat animals and people.
If this is your son, or if you know he’s the son of an ATU member please let us know by emailing [email protected].
IN TRANSIT | www.atu.org 27 de los sanitarios, para prevenir los asaltos a los empleados Este es su Sindicato de transporte y en la lucha para aclarar los puntos ciegos Para muchos de nuestros miembros, el Sindicato en los camiones. Internacional podría darles la impresión de ser un edificio que está muy lejos, localizado en Washington. Pero nosotros y nuestro personal realmente estamos involucrados día a Detrás del telón día en la vida de nuestros miembros. Hemos intensificado nuestro trabajo en los últimos años en una lucha constante Todos estos esfuerzos están respaldados por el personal para conseguir que nuestros miembros reciban aumentos de apoyo en la sede, los cuales proporcionan los recursos de sueldo, tengan mejor seguridad de jubilación, para necesarios para realizar el trabajo en el campo. Al final, todo detener las agresiones, para obtener descansos reales para ese trabajo tiene un solo propósito: mejorar la vida de los usar los sanitarios, para mejorar el cuidado de la salud, para empleados y los pasajeros. Las personas que usan nuestros la organización de los nuevos trabajadores y para conseguir servicios son, desde niños de escuela en Nueva York, las más fondos para el transporte. personas mayores en Vancouver, el paciente de diálisis en Delaware y hasta los intelectuales que viajan en autobús Aunque estamos muy orgullosos de nuestro trabajo, o en tren en el Área-de-la-Bahía en California; cada día continuamos viviendo en un entorno político hostil en todos ellos dependen de nuestros miembros. Y detrás del Canadá y en los Estados Unidos. Vivimos en una época telón, nuestros miembros dependen de nuestro personal en que los multimillonarios sienten que están siendo internacional, que a su vez apoyan a nuestros funcionarios engañados cuando ven que los trabajadores viven mejor. del Local y a los miembros en hacer sus trabajos un poco Este Sindicato no cederá su postura, continuaremos menos estresantes y tal vez más fáciles. avanzando cada día. En esta publicación les informaremos sobre algunos de estos esfuerzos. Tenga la seguridad de que nosotros trabajamos todos los días para llevar a cabo cada una de las actividades enumeradas en A menudo, el Sindicato International trabaja ayudando a la primera frase y asimismo que este Sindicato está a cargo los oficiales del Local, y ellos, aún más que los miembros, de los miembros que como yo, ascendieron en posición por ven nuestro trabajo. En los Estados Unidos, el Sindicato medio de trabajar en todos los puestos. Somos trabajadores Internacional es responsable de la labor legislativa del de transporte, de autobuses de escuelas, de para-transporte, Sindicato, día a día. También ayudamos a los funcionarios conductores de autobuses y mecánicos que toman en del Local en los estados y en las provincias cuando nuestra consideración día a día las preocupaciones de nuestros ayuda es solicitada. En Canadá, tenemos una organización miembros. Creo que de vez en cuando hay que decir esto. canadiense: ATU Canadá, la cual conduce los esfuerzos de Este es su Sindicato, ¡siéntase orgulloso de éste! v cabildeo nacionales.
Observe detenidamente La aplicación móvil de Pero observe detenidamente y verá el impacto que nuestro personal y nuestros líderes de campo (localizados en transporte, ¿nos debería de Washington [que pronto estarán localizados en Silver Spring, importar? MD]), tales como los vicepresidentes internacionales y los Para aquellos que no saben: “Uber Technologies Inc. representantes, están creando para organizar internamente es una compañía americana con una red de transporte y encabezar los contratos y las batallas por doquier. internacional con sede en San Francisco, California. La Nosotros tenemos personal de organización bastante compañía desarrolla, promociona y opera la aplicación profesional que está acumulando victorias de costa a móvil de Uber, que permite a los consumidores con teléfonos costa. En los últimos dos años hemos incrementado inteligentes (smartphones) que presenten una solicitud de los esfuerzos en nuestro Departamento de Salud y de viaje de transportación, la cuál es entonces enviada a los Seguridad. Aquí estamos trabajando en recesos para el uso conductores de Uber, quienes usan sus propios vehículos.”
28 September/October 2015 | IN TRANSIT IN TRANSIT | www.atu.org 29 Al principio el usuario de Uber debe de descargar mudanzas, servicios de para-transporte y los servicios la aplicación en su teléfono inteligente, ingresar la desviados de ruta. No somos choferes de taxi, ¿nos debería información de la tarjeta de crédito a usar, y seleccionar de importar? ¿Deberíamos de prepararnos? ¿Prepararnos la cantidad de porcentaje de propina que aplicará a todo para qué? viaje de transportación que comprará. Y eso es todo lo que Uber ahora tiene un servicio llamado Uber Pool se tiene que hacer. Así, la persona simplemente ingresa la [Agrupación Uber] que utiliza la misma tecnología de aplicación de Uber, indica la ubicación y selecciona el nivel aplicaciones para agrupar pasajeros los cuales viajan en de vehículo de lujo que desea, desde un Uber X, o un coche la misma dirección. El costo es más alto que la tarifa pequeño hasta una limusina de Uber. del autobús pero Uber dice que proporcionan asientos La aplicación envía la notificación de exactamente de piel, mesas de trabajo, Wi-Fi y los conductores son cuánto tiempo tomará para que llegue el conductor extremadamente corteses. a recogerle, quién será su conductor y un número de El Local 1287 en la Ciudad de Kansas, en Misuri, ha estado teléfono para llamar al conductor si es necesario. Los llevando a cabo negociaciones con un Empleador que está tiempos de espera generalmente no son de más de seis tratando de ofrecer este tipo de servicio a través del arreglo minutos. Una vez que el conductor de Uber llegue, usted de la Asociación Público-Privada, con una compañía se subirá en el carro, viajará a su destino, se saldrá del llamada Bridji, utilizando los empleados de operaciones de carro y entonces se alejará. No se llevará a cabo ninguna ATU. Bridji se llama a sí mismo un “servicio de transporte transacción monetaria. Todo se ha manejado durante la pop-up [aparecer inesperadamente]”, que se enorgullecen configuración inicial con Uber. de “no ser un sistema de transporte para abuelas”, échale un vistazo en http://www.bridj.com/. v Bastante ingenioso
Suena bastante ingenioso y lo es. Como quiera que sea, han surgido más y más artículos e informes de noticias acerca de cómo el efecto Uber está socavando a los taxis. Las empresas ATU debe tomar la iniciativa, de taxi y los conductores tiene como argumento que ellos tienen que pagar por las licencias de operación, por nos guste o no nos guste requerimientos que llevan límites más altos en los seguros La elección canadiense y tipos de seguros y licencias especiales para conducir, mientras que los conductores de Uber no tienen los mismos Los resultados de la reciente elección canadiense fueron decepcionantes para el Partido Democrático Nacional requerimientos. Uber (Quién tiene profundos lazos con el (NPD), pero no deben de disuadir a los partidarios del gobierno de Obama) sostiene que debido a su tecnología se partido entre nuestros miembros a seguir luchando por el volvieron los “desestabilizadores del mercado” y el clamor transporte público y el trabajo laboral. La política electoral en su contra es similar al clamor de los tipógrafos en contra es un maratón - no una carrera a toda velocidad. de la creación de la imprenta. Para mis hermanas y hermanos canadienses, sé que 11 Además se dice que las empresas de taxis deberían de semanas les puede dar la impresión de que la campaña lleva involucrarse en una carrera diferente, ya que como servicio, mucho tiempo, pero para un candidato estadounidense esto hacen que usted los llame, lo pongan en espera, muchas no le daría tiempo suficiente para aclararse la garganta antes de un debate. veces son groseros y entonces lo dejan con la esperanza de que el taxi a la mejor irá por usted. Esto es verdad, aunque los partidarios de NDP deben sentirse alentados por lo mucho que han logrado en un período tan corto de tiempo. Las políticas progresistas ¿Debemos prepararnos? se discutieron de manera positiva a nivel nacional, y, por primera vez no se consideró que era ridículo que el Partido Muchos de nuestros Locales representan a miembros que Laborista de Canadá podría formar un gobierno. operan sistemas de transporte con líneas de servicio de
IN TRANSIT | www.atu.org 29 Máxima presión en Trudeau
No existe ninguna duda en mi mente, que la popularidad de Tom Mulcair causó que Justin Trudeau se acercara más al Partido Laborista. El Líder del Partido Liberal intentó a través de la fuerza, posicionarse como un amigo de las familias de trabajadores, y al parecer tuvo éxito con una gran cantidad de sindicalistas de la industria. Nuestra tarea ahora es mantenerle bajo la máxima presión. AMALGAMATED TRANSIT UNION Si Trudeau es un verdadero amigo del Partido Laborista, no abogará por las compañias público-privadas como CONVENTION DELEGATES una forma de fomentar y operar el transporte público, & GUESTS tal como lo había abogado anteriormente.
Los miembros deben tomar la iniciativa Pero para que Trudeau cambie de opinión, tiene que SAVE THE DATE escuchar a los canadienses, a muchos de ellos, quienes le dicen que no quieren programas de compañías público-privadas. Y nos guste o no nos guste, eso sólo sucederá si los miembros de ATU toman la iniciativa THE 58TH y persisten a través de los momentos cuando no existe la elección de poner nuestra atención en el tema. INTERNATIONAL Esos son los momentos en los que las decisiones del gobierno se hacen y se toman votos legislativos CONVENTION que puedan tener un impacto de largo alcance en nuestras vidas. will be held at
Un momento crucial Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel October 3 – 7, 2016 Los miembros canadienses están entrando ahora en un momento muy crucial en el que se necesitará que detengan a los gobiernos federales, provinciales y Information about Traveling to Canada municipales a que no pongan a la venta el transporte público y el trabajo de transporte al licitante que dé An international destination of choice, Toronto is easily el más bajo ofrecimiento. accessed by land, water and air. Don’t forget to ensure you have a valid passport at all times. American citizens returning El Sindicato está haciendo todo lo posible para detener home should also be aware that there are new customs esta amenaza a nuestros empleos, pero no puede tener éxito a menos que todos se involucren. requirements in effect. For more information, visit the websites of: ¿Y por qué no? Tenemos la oportunidad de mostrar al mundo que ATU acaba de comenzar a luchar. v Citizenship and Immigration Canada http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/index.asp U.S. Department of State (Passport Information) http://www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/english.html
30 September/October 2015 | IN TRANSIT IN TRANSIT | www.atu.org 31 DeathIn Benefits Memoriam Awarded July 1, 2015 - August 31, 2015
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ATU Makes Historic Move to New Headquarters Establishes New Conference Center in Silver Spring, MD
A new era for ATU begins as international headquarters moves past American and Canadian activists with the goal of going from Washington, DC, to the campus formerly occupied by back to their communities to do the same.” the AFL-CIO’s National Labor College, in Silver Spring, MD. The new address for the ATU International headquarters is The ATU has established a new conference center on the campus to train future generations of leaders in the labor and progressive ATU INTERNATIONAL movements at the state-of the-art facility. 10000 New Hampshire Avenue “This is a historic moment for ATU as we move our Silver Spring, MD 20903 headquarters and launch the new center,” says International 301-431-7100 President Larry Hanley,. “Future generations of organizers Fax: 301-431-7117 will learn from the brilliance, strength and courage shown by