December 2019
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SERVING ORGANIZED LABOR IN OREGON AND SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON SINCE 1900 INSIDE OUTSIDE PAGES NORTHWEST HE TOFFICIAL PUBLICATIONBULLETIN OF LABOR Amalgamated Transit Union PRESS Local 757 VOLUME 120, NUMBER 23 PORTLAND, OREGON DECEMBER 6, 2019 Vice President’s Report President’s Roundup Fighting for Apprentices at TriMet By Jonathan Hunt need to value the women and men that make our By Shirley Block Dear Sisters & Brothers. transit system run. I would like to thank every- We would like to hear from those who were Brothers & Sisters. one who joined us for the Veter- promised an apprenticeship pathway when being C-TRAN and Valley Transit Policy Changes for the Good! ans’ Day Parade! hired at TriMet. We are going to hold TriMet ac- ATU mourns the loss of Inter- countable. We would also like to hear from those Happy to hear that C-Tran has modified its rules on riding the national Financial Secretary Os- of you who have gone through an Apprenticeship bus to specifically include hate crimes in it list of prohibited activ- car Owens. Shirley and I at- Program at TriMet and what it’s meant to you and your families. Please contact the ATU Local 757 https://www.columbian.com/news/2019/nov/14/c-tran-adds-hate-ities. For more information, please go to this web site: tended his funeral in Oakland California. ATU International office at 503-232-9144 to share your story. crimes-to-conduct-rules/ will be honoring Oscar at ATU I hope everyone enjoyed a wonderful Thanks- We all need to get on board with C-Tran. There are too many op- Headquarters in Maryland on January 18, 2020. I giving. I want to remind everyone that on Saturday, erator assaults in the workplace. am honored to be attending. December 14, Santa and Mrs. Claus will be landing Mark Brotherton and Randal Son, Valley Transit officers, are We are currently in negotiations with TriMet, in Portland at the Oregon AFL-CIO building on working with their General Manager Angie Peters to create their and it is not going well. Our apprenticeship pro- 32nd and Powell. Please join us for photos with Santa. Children will also receive an unwrapped first Light Duty Policy. Good job to you both. Walla Walla has much grams are under attack. TriMet wants to remove present. Please keep an eye out for the postings! more than sweet onions. They have a great transit system with re- them from the contract completely. This is unac- As we finish out this year, I want to wish each of markable employees. ceptable and your negotiating team is working on solutions to this problem that TriMet created. We you a Merry Christmas and very Happy New Year. TRIMET Management Revolving Door Has anyone noticed the revolving door of both management and Secretary Treasurer’s Report union folks leaving TriMet? Well, I can tell you the Union side is pay- ing close attention to the way the company is wasting taxpayers’ dol- lars. Be advised, we are some of the taxpayers. United Health Care concerns Some are leaving on their own and some are being terminated. It’s very expensive to bring employees in, train them, and out the door By Mary Longoria need on your health schedule to keep yourself they go. This culture tells me someone in charge doesn’t have a clue Sisters & Brothers. healthy. to what is going on. Instead of the right people at the table you have I also want to remind retirees that the 2020 I’ve had a few telephone calls Medicare Part B Premiums may be changing. If a new group of heavy rail managers trying to re-invent the wheel. regarding TriMet’s Retiree United Health Care your Part B premiums change, you must provide (UHC) and the lack of doctors that are available, TRIMET: Safety First? updated premium rates to the TriMet Benefits De- especially in the Vancouver, Washington area. I partment. Valid proof of premiums includes let- Let me first talk about the Operator Safety Notice that was put out spoke with our benefits person and they reached ters mailed to you by the Social Security Admin- by TriMet for Halloween safety. Sure, your employer can tell you not out to United Health Care. They said that depend- istration titled one of the following: to paint your face for Halloween. But at a time when they have just ing on how you search the UHC website you will • Your New Benefit Amount dropped the worst contract proposal in TriMet history and their em- have different results. If you need help finding a • Important Information ployee morale is in the toilet? I’m sorry that they chose to take some- provider, please call the Union Office and we will • Information About Current Social Security thing so fun and simple away from you, and under the guise of get you in contact with our benefits coordinator, Benefits “safety.” If they truly cared about your safety, we would have seen she will be able to step you through the website. I want to wish everyone Happy Holidays! Be THAT in the contract proposal instead of a long list of takeaways! I hope everyone has scheduled their doctors’ safe while celebrating! We repeatedly have unsafe coverage in both dispatch and control, appointments before the end of the year. For peo- If at all possible, check politics at the door! Just meaning we are operating the entire system shorthanded. If a call ple over 50 you get several new tests that you came in from an operator from bus or rail and no one to reply when my opinion for Happier Holidays. assistance is needed, what does the operator do? They are told to NEVER have access to their phones when in the operating area. Well, guess what folks? This can be a huge problem if someone is attacking Santa Claus is Visiting the Union! you and you need help. This is not the only place where they are short staffed. The road supervisor group is also short. That is our go-to group out in the field Santa Claus will be handing out presents that needs to be out when there are buses on the road in service. I to all of our ATU 757 children and have complained and fought over TriMet saying SAFETY FIRST. But do they really mean that or ON TIME PERFORMANCE? grandchildren, 16 and under. Please join Change doesn’t scare me, but the changes TriMet is making are us for a cup of hot cocoa and cookies! not thought out, not smart, and not made with your best interest in Saturday, December 14th mind. When I tell you change doesn’t frighten me, please understand being of my age, color and gender, I’ve seen a lot of change. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. my years of being brought up in the south in the early ’50s to my decades working for TriMet, I can take change and make it work on Oregon AFL-CIO Building any day. I will never hide from change, but will always fight against 3645 SE 32nd Ave. changes that harm you and put your safety at risk. Portland, Oregon PAGE 2 | December 6, 2019 | ATU LOCAL 757 BULLETIN/NW Labor Press ATU Local 757 Officer Reports Drop-Down Menus on Home Page: “TriMet I’ve had several instances where the em- Santa Party, which is being held at the AFL- TriMet Center Contract Update, 10.10.201”’ (both sides of ployee was called in for a time-loss discipline CIO building on 32nd and Powell. So, bring Contract Proposals) and “Training” (helpful meeting while their FMLA/OFLA was pend- the kids by and get a picture with Santa and Transportation and informative videos on a variety of impor- ing or was approved, but their time-loss was get a gift and some food and drinks. As reported by tant topics. Although some say they are for never adjusted on their employee record. Re- Until next time, stay safe and take your DARIN HAGEY Stewards, in reality, we are all Stewards of cently, I met with the shagging crew and their breaks! Hello Brothers & Sisters, and for ATU 757), and “Events,” for upcom- supervisor and I showed them how to check ing Charter Meetings, Good time to check in their time-loss record. ATU and TriMet are As we move into winter and the Holiday with our Elected Officers. The best one for working on getting a step-by-step procedure Season, please remember it’s all the more im- most Bus Ops are the Tuesday, 10 a.m. at so when you log in you can check your time- TriMet Merlo portant to relax and enjoy and take care of ATU Office, NE Couch & 18th. The next loss record, as well as check your vacation, yourselves. And take advantage of those Transportation meetinghttps://www.labornotes.org/store/books is Tuesday, Dec.10. floating holiday, and holiday vacation bank. RDOs as we move into the Holiday Season, Maintenance negotiations will meet on As reported by The Tough Weather Season, The Cold & Flu Above web address is for some helpful December 5th and 19th. Those are the dates MICHAEL McCURRY Season, beginning in November! and informative books and general info on that are locked in for sure. Realistically, the TriMet system works be- unions, and ways to fight for the things that Lastly, we’ve been having a lot of retire- Hello my Union Siblings, cause of you working hard for the company matter most for us: Safe Working Conditions, ments in the last couple of months.