The Presorted Standard U.S. Postage Paid Austin, Texas Permit No. 01949 Circulation Villager Verification Council This paper can A community service weekly Since 1973 be recycled 1223-A Rosewood Avenue Austin, Texas 78702 TPA Vol. 36 No. 24 Website: theaustinvillager.com Email:
[email protected] Phone: 512-476-0082 Fax: 512-476-0179 November 7, 2008 Councilman Mr. President!! Martinez offers a solution to transit labor negotiations Austin City Council Member Mike Martinez today was joined by elected officials and community leaders at Plaza Saltillo to propose an alternative to the current con- tract being negotiated be- RAPPIN’ tween Star Tran and Amal- Tommy Wyatt gamated Transit Union (ATU), Local 1091. Last week the ATU announced a work Now the stoppage by its members be- ginning Nov. 5. work begins! The proposed plan is for No one can doubt that two years (July 2007 - July November 4, 2008 will go 2009) with a retroactive pay down as a turning point in increase of 3 % for 2007 - 2008 America. The election of and an increase of 2.5% for Barack Obama raised our 2008-2009. status at home and abroad. Other components of American image has the plan include: been tarnished in the last * Accept Star Tran’s few years, because of our proposed health care package arrogant attitude and our * Eliminate proposed belief that we have the right tiered wage system to tell everyone else in the * Conduct an indepen- world how to handle their dent audit of Capital Metro by affairs. And we have not a mutually agreed upon au- been shy about inserting our ditor to be completed prior to will and beliefs in the af- July 2009 fairs of other countries Council Member when they do not operate Martinez asked ATU mem- according to our standards.