OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE AMALGAMATED TRANSIT UNION|AFL-CIO/CLC

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2018 ORGANIZE There are 100 riders for every active member in your city. What are YOU waiting for?

A/C in the summer No Wait, these are and heat fumes issues we care in the More bus on the A about too! winter bus No service mechanically insects safe bus on the bus INTERNATIONAL OFFICERS LAWRENCE J. HANLEY International President JAVIER M. PEREZ, JR. International Executive Vice President NEWSBRIEFS OSCAR OWENS International Secretary-Treasurer AC Transit drivers push for more protection after shooting Like most transit workers across North America, dealing with riders INTERNATIONAL VICE PRESIDENTS who are angry, drunk and even violent has become part of the job RICHARD M. MURPHY for AC Transit bus drivers in the Bay area in California. However, Newburyport, MA – [email protected] when someone recently shot out the back window of a bus, Local JANIS M. BORCHARDT 192-Oakland, CA decided enough is enough. The Local is demanding Madison, WI – [email protected] better safety standards through and, possibly, arbitration, PAUL BOWEN Canton, MI – [email protected] as past requests to the transit agency have been ignored. Local 192 KENNETH R. KIRK is one of the more than 140 Locals that have passed the resolution Lancaster, TX – [email protected] to fix the bus driver workstation. MARCELLUS BARNES Flossmore, IL – [email protected] Winnipeg Local calls for a review of flawed electronic fare card system RAY RIVERA Lilburn, GA – [email protected] The City of Winnipeg has cut corners in implementing its electronic YVETTE TRUJILLO fare card, Peggo, which is run on an outdated system. Local Thornton, CO – [email protected] 1505-Winnipeg, MB is calling for a review and audit of Peggo. GARY JOHNSON, SR. “Unfortunately, we warned about this quite some time ago… Cleveland, OH – [email protected] They purchased a system that was outdated,” said Local President ROBIN WEST Aleem Chaudhary. “These glitches were and are a daily problem.” Halifax, NS – [email protected] The Local says riders adding money on the cards online or by phone JOHN COSTA can be delayed by 24-48 hours, and many riders board buses with a Kenilworth, NJ – [email protected] pre-paid card that doesn’t work. CHUCK WATSON Syracuse, NY – [email protected] CLAUDIA HUDSON Maine bus drivers testify against autonomous buses Oakland, CA – [email protected] BRUCE HAMILTON In Maine, a bill in the state legislature would pave the way for , NY – [email protected] driverless buses. However, bus drivers are telling state legislators MICHELLE SOMMERS to put the brakes on the bill. Local 714-Portland, ME members Brooklyn Park, MN – [email protected] voiced their concerns at a hearing in the state capitol. “Safety is JAMES LINDSAY our biggest concern. We deal every day with people. A lot of times Santa Clarita, CA – [email protected] we are dealing with ADA passengers, people with disabilities, and EMANUELE (MANNY) SFORZA we have big questions about how people are going to be serviced,” Toronto, ON – [email protected] said one bus driver. “This comes down to customer service and JOHN CALLAHAN safety of our passengers. What happens if somebody falls on the bus? What happens with Winnipeg, MB – [email protected] wheelchairs? Who will strap those wheelchairs in? What happens if, god forbid, someone falls INTERNATIONAL REPRESENTATIVES out of a wheelchair? We do so much more than just drive the bus.” DENNIS ANTONELLIS Spokane, WA – [email protected] INTERNATIONAL OFFICERS EMERITUS STEPHAN MACDOUGALL Boston, MA – [email protected] International President Jim La Sala, ret. ANTHONY GARLAND International President Warren George, ret. Washington, DC – [email protected] ANTONETTE BRYANT International Executive Vice President Ellis Franklin, ret. Oakland, CA – [email protected] International Executive Vice President Mike Siano, ret. SESIL RUBAIN New Carrollton, MD – [email protected] Subscription: USA and Canada, $5 a year. Single copy: 50 cents. All others: $10 a year. Published bimonthly by the CURTIS HOWARD Amalgamated Transit Union, Editor: Shawn Perry, Designer: Paul A. Fitzgerald. Editorial Office: 10000 New Hampshire Atlanta, GA – [email protected] Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20903. Tel: 1-301-431-7100 . Please send all requests for address changes to the ATU Registry Dept. ISSN: 0019-3291. PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 40033361. RETURN UNDELIVERABLE ATU CANADA CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO: APC Postal Logistics, LLC, PO Box 503, RPO, West Beaver Creek, Richmond Hill ON L4B 4R6. PAUL THORP Brampton, ON – [email protected] IN TRANSIT | www.atu.org 3 JAN/FEB 2018 CONTENT Vol. 127, No. 1

9 ATU welcomes the newest groups to Vote Yes! for the ATU family in 2016 & 2017 15 How automation of transit could worsen racial inequality 16 Poll reveals DC-area residents blame management for WMATA’s woes 17 With assaults on bus drivers up, Ottawa Local pushes for protective driver shields 23 Maryland Bill would make assaults on bus FIRST JOINT INDUSTRY COUNCIL FORMED drivers a felony 18 Longtime ATU international communications director retires Winnipeg Local blames province for proposed transit cuts 19 1% got 82% of wealth created in 2017, poorest half got nothing 20 Free transit increases ridership, tackles urban ills 21 A Local 113-Toronto, ON, bus driver goes UNIFOR STRIKES AGAIN, RAIDS UNITE HERE 26 above and beyond LOCAL 75 IN TORONTO Milwaukee bus driver helps woman in labor 22 Worcester, MA, Local mobilizes riders in fight for transit funding 2 International Officers & 24 Trouble in Music City: Good transit vs. more General Executive Board transit in Nashville News Briefs 25 Calgary boy celebrates 9th birthday on a bus 3 Index Page 27 Safety comes first for Kelowna BC bus 4 Winnipeg City Councillors take drivers in harsh winter transit challenge 28 Translations (Spanish) 5 International President’s Message: 31 In Memoriam Training 32 ATU Latino Caucus pitches in for Puerto Rico 6 International Executive Vice President’s hurricane relief efforts Message: Mass Transit has certainly been in the news of late 7 International Secretary-Treasurer’s Message: The first casualty of war 8 ATU Organizers - Union Special Forces Mississauga transit program helps low-income families

IN TRANSIT | www.atu.org 3 Winnipeg City Councillors take transit challenge in 2018

With the tragic shooting death of Local 1505-Winnipeg Councillor Matt Allard set his own transit challenge member Irvine Jubal Fraser on the job, other concerns pledging to ride to work every day for a month and about driver safety, an increase in bus fares and other transit check out every bus route running through his ward. issues, Winnipeg Transit made major headlines in 2017. “I expect I’ll learn quite a bit by being a user every day of the service. I plan to talk to residents and drivers In response, the Winnipeg Free Press put out a challenge and really just document anything that I think is to City councillors as a New Year’s resolution, that they interesting,” he said. commit to riding the bus to and from work once per month, to get better acquainted with the service. Currently only one councillor takes the bus to work daily. First-hand opportunity to see safety Of the 16 councillors, 11 were on board, although three issues for drivers of those accepted conditionally. In addition, Mayor Brian Local 1505 is eager to see how the councillors’ bus challenge Bowman said he won’t participate directly, but pointed out pans out and hopes it creates change for the better. he tries to take Winnipeg Transit as often as possible. “They’ll have the first-hand opportunity to see the issues that are surrounding the drivers for safety,” said Local President Aleem Chaudhary. “And at the same time, I think it will be a positive thing for the councillors themselves to be able to ride the bus with their fellow constituents and be able to interact with them.” v

Winnipeg City Councillor Matt Allard

4 January/February 2018 | IN TRANSIT IN TRANSIT | www.atu.org 5 LARRY HANLEY, INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT

Training

We have spent a lot of time and resources training local member in your city. What are you waiting for? Start a officers, and increased that over the last several years since rider organization, get connected to one if it exists! we own a training center. We have introduced a few different ideas to our officers. The issues of our members and our riders, at the fundamental level, are the same. But often we let politicians and bosses turn our riders against us. This should be a topic at every union hall. School bus Locals Training for negotiations need to know and work with parents, transit and First, is that we should not casually agree to “bargaining paratransit Locals with riders and special needs advocates. As local budgets and the federal budget cut transit, we rules.” They are usually designed to neuter the union. need a bigger voice. It is right there waiting for you. Sometimes Locals agree, for example, to not talk to their own members during bargaining.

This is suicide. Anti-worker forces We urge your officers to open communication with the The anti-worker forces are coming again to take away your members. That’s not to say that every word in bargaining is right to have a strong voice at work through your Union. made public, but the members must know what issues are Backed by billionaires and given huge budgets to destroy at stake and the tone of the bargaining. This should come unions, they will get their U.S. Supreme Court to change from your president, not independently from other people the rules to allow freeloaders to not pay union dues. at the bargaining. And their counterparts in Canada will be watching what Second, we cannot give up the right to talk to the press. No happens in the U.S. as they make plans to do the same. contract should be “negotiated” in the press, but when we have issues of public concern, we cannot give up our right ATU has led the way in preparing for this, but please to speak out – ever. consider that the power of the union is not just in organizing our coworkers, it’s in organizing the people with whom we Third, with a shrinking labor movement and constant share a third of our lives – our passengers. attacks on unions, we must, must, must build relationships with our riders. Transit and our Union are under attack. Any Local Union in need of help in organizing riders should call my office. We are fully committed to this effort. That affects us and our riders. There was never a more Next issue, we will salute the rider groups and Locals they natural alliance than us with our riders. work with. v

Malpractice It is malpractice if our Local Unions ignore the power of organizing our riders. There are 100 riders for every active

IN TRANSIT | www.atu.org 5 JAVIER PEREZ, JR., INTERNATIONAL EXEC. VICE PRESIDENT

Mass Transit has certainly been in the news of late

Amazon is offering a $5 billion dollar investment and passenger safety and convenience they can provide. Left touting 50,000 new jobs for its Headquarters 2. One of out of its braggadocio is that, not all Transit consumers its stated requirements is for the community to have a good can afford the entry price of their ticket to ride, the smart transportation network. Mass Transit is key in moving the phone nor its pricing scheme. promised 50,000 new jobs. “Among the reported 17 metro areas finalist chosen, fewer than half are transit-and-walking Jarret Walker a transit consultant recently penned an article hubs. Columbus, Indianapolis, Nashville, Austin, and for “City Lab,” suggesting that, “…so much writing on the Raleigh all rely almost exclusively on local bus networks to topic of Uber and disruption right now, is that transit move today’s transit riders. Dallas, Pittsburgh, Atlanta, and agencies are at risk of being “swept away.” The assumption Miami can only boast of limited rail networks. And across all is that transit agencies are like IBM’s PC business facing the nine of these metros, only Pittsburgh sees even 5 percent of challenge of Apple, or GM facing the challenge of Toyota. its commuters take transit to work.” Cities from both our Claiming that transit agencies are monopolies deepens this countries have jumped into the bidding war offering millions impression, since everyone wants to break a monopoly, of dollars of incentives. Many of the incentive are upgraded except those who profit from it.” airports, transit systems and access to free ways. “But transit agencies are not businesses. They are not I’m amazed at the frenzy, given the lack of Transit and monopolizing a profitable business and preventing others infrastructure investment many of these same communities from entering. They are running an unprofitable service for have failed to make for its current stakeholders. Toronto has reasons unrelated to profit: the functioning of a dense city, not offered incentives. The Ontario government announced it the liberty of its citizens, and connecting disadvantaged would boost “support for students in the science, technology, people to opportunity. Nobody has proposed a way for the engineering and mathematics disciplines, including artificial private sector to deliver, profitably, on all of those goals.” intelligence, to continue to build a highly skilled workforce and support job creation and economic growth, that will help the region whether the firm comes or not” Time will tell if is Is 2018 the Year of increased spending campaign rhetoric or the real deal. on infrastructure? Only time will tell. What is certain is that ATU has been at the forefront of legislation and actions to protect our Are TNC’s Uber and Lfyt disrupters? membership and the public we serve. We also will continue In the year 2000, Ubercab entered the taxicab market in to place our crafts on a higher plane. In 2016, ATU began San Francisco. Shortening its name to Uber in the years organizing Uber Drivers in NY. To date approximately since the company has expanded across the 14,000 have signed up. and the world. A brief conversation with any cab driver We will need to be politically vigilant and lead the validates the disrupter label within the taxi industry. But conversation in both our countries as the debate progress. v what about Mass Transit? Yes, Uber and others have sought to penetrate our industry. It has sought to syphon Please visit www.atu.org for more information and the off work with its oft-stated argument of first and last mile latest ATU news.

6 January/February 2018 | IN TRANSIT IN TRANSIT | www.atu.org 7 OSCAR OWENS, INTERNATIONAL SECRETARY-TREASURER

The first casualty of war

“Truth is the first casualty of war.” And, as a Vietnam the Trump tax revision was passed. It reminds me of the veteran, I understand why misinformation is put out on a way employers will offer their employees a $1,000 signing battlefield. Confusing enemies or getting them to believe bonus during contract negotiations instead of giving them something that’s not true saves lives. a real raise. That’s one of the oldest tricks in the book.

The Trump administration must believe they are waging Desperate workers often jump at the chance to have a war. That’s the only way I think they can justify the small windfall, not thinking that a raise is permanent, contradictory and false statements they issue almost daily. and would provide them with far greater wages over time. This is not the usual “spin” we expect from politicians. Nevertheless, the news was seen as evidence that “happy These comments persuade people to believe something days are here again” because of Trump. that’s false to generate support, or to defeat “enemies.” Big business hasn’t seen fit to increase wages as their profits have soared in the recent recovery. How would giving them even more money change that? Vulgar tirade One only needs to look at their ardent support for the case The president’s recent vulgar tirade about Haiti and African being brought before the Supreme Court this year that will countries is a case in point. greatly weaken unions to realize that they have no intention His words were no accident. Like a radio “shock jock” who of meaningfully increasing wages. says outrageous things to increase ratings, Trump knew We’re being played, manipulated, and distracted by Trump’s exactly what he was doing. And he got exactly the response vulgar, confusing, and contradictory sideshow, and the he wanted. illusion that by bestowing the bulk of our nation’s wealth Trump says racist things he knows his base will love. At the on the already obscenely rich, we will all get rich ourselves. same time he thinks he can confuse the public and thwart Nonsense! We must fight this assault on working families his “enemies” by claiming that it’s all “fake news,” and with everything we’ve got. v cynically issuing a proclamation praising Dr. King.

Truly, however, it doesn’t matter what exact words he used, or even, whether or not he’s a racist. What matters is that Please visit www.atu.org for more information and the he has no problem stoking racial hatred, and denying it latest ATU news. later. That should outrage us all.

The oldest trick in the book I had to laugh when I saw the news reports that several big businesses gave their employees a $1,000 bonus after

IN TRANSIT | www.atu.org 7 ATU Organizers - Union Special Forces

In the military, there are special forces - Navy Seals, Green Most of what we do is helping workers build power, but Berets. They are sent in to work in the most difficult in new organizing you start from scratch. circumstances at great personal risk, where results matter. They change lives, starting the process of raising wages In ATU we have a group of organizers. They are unsung and lifting people. In the last seven years, they have heroes who work long hours, motivated by a real love of organized more than 6,500 members in the ATU. ATU and our movement. Self-starters, they usually work alone. They not only work to build ATU, but to bring I want to pause and say thank you to Marylin Williams, the benefits of union membership to low paid, poorly Dan Sundquist, Natalie Perez and Mike Harms – v treated workers. The ATUs special forces.

They show up before sunrise at dark, unfamiliar bus yards In solidarity, and garages to meet people they do not know and recruit them to our movement. They face hostile bosses, crooked lawyers, sometimes police harassment. That takes courage and challenges and many human qualities. It’s stressful Lawrence J. Hanley work but for believers it’s rewarding. International President

Mississauga transit program helps low-income families

Mississauga single mother of three, Sophia Samuels, works two jobs to provide for her family and depends on public transit to go to and from work, but sometimes she can’t afford a bus ticket because of bills.

Thankfully, she has been able to take advantage of a support program where food banks can buy transit tickets at half price and distribute them to those who need them.

The Mississauga discount-ticket idea began in 2016 as an experiment but was recently made permanent because it has been so successful in helping those who rely on public transit. The Reverend Canon Jennifer Reid

With the size and sprawl of cities growing, it’s no surprise buy cut-rate tickets to distribute as they want is rare. that the average Canadian household spends more on transportation than anything else except shelter. And transportation costs are unrelated to income level – both Great way to make money stretch wealthy and low-income residents pay the same price “We try to give them away where we can,” said Reverend to ride transit. So, poor people tend to spend a greater Jennifer Reid of St. Peter’s Anglican, Erindale, one of the proportion of their money on transportation. churches that participates through a food bank, where Ms. While a number of cities have adopted a low-income transit Samuels gets her tickets. “It’s such a great way to make our fare for people in need, the idea of allowing food banks to money stretch.” v

8 January/February 2018 | IN TRANSIT IN TRANSIT | www.atu.org 25 • a guarantee that new transit jobs are public sector, Right wing Koch brothers oppose good-paying, ATU-represented jobs transit referendum • 10-minute headways on the 14 busiest bus routes, and expanded hours of service It faces total opposition from rich right-wingers who would rather transit didn’t exist. At center stage in the • specifics on how the mayor plans to deliver 31,000 Nashville fight is the Koch brother funded, Libertarian units of truly affordable housing by 2025 Cato Institute, which has a knack for opposing nearly The concern driving PATHE is that without these every local debate over transit expansion, arguing against commitments, “Let’s Move Nashville” will become a investments in rail and bus service. “gentrification train,” benefitting wealthy, white, or choice Local 1235 has no intention of helping anti-transit transit riders while displacing and further impoverishing billionaires kill the plan. Instead, they and PATHE are laser poor, African American, or transit-reliant residents. focused on ensuring that the mayor’s plan leads to good v “Let’s Move Nashville” will move to a referendum later transit, good housing, and good jobs. this year before heading into a lengthy process of decision- making.

Calgary boy celebrates 9th birthday on a bus

Most kids have their birthday parties at a swimming pool Amateur Calgary transit historian or their backyard, but one Calgary boy wanted to hold his Despite his age, Hamilton is an amateur historian on the at a Calgary Transit bus depot. Calgary Transit fleet, pointing out the older model he loves Nine-year-old Alec Hamilton, a potential future is in the “old Olympic design.” ATU member, has loved trains since he was two, but Calgary Transit fleet manager Russell Davies was very became fascinated with buses when an older model bus impressed with Hamilton’s knowledge of the buses and the picked him up from school one day. system. “It’s kind of incredible and he’s got a job if he wants After he learned that Calgary Transit was retiring his one, actually,” Davies said. favorite bus, he asked the transit agency if he could hold Davies says a unique event like Hamilton’s birthday his birthday party on the bus. reinforces the critical role transit plays in the lives of the nearly 280,000 Calgarians who use and depend on public transit to get around every single day.

“We know how important we are to them and every so often we need to let them know that you’re important to us,” he said. “It’s not just 280,000 people, it’s 280,000 Alecs or 280,000 grandparents.” v

IN TRANSIT | www.atu.org 25 Canadian Agenda

Unifor strikes again, raids UNITE HERE Local 75 in Toronto

In 2018, the labour movement is expected to face When UNITE HERE reluctantly imposed trusteeship on unprecedented assaults on our basic right to organize from Local 75 – at the request of the local’s executive board and politicians doing the bidding of billionaires. In response, after a year of attempted dispute resolution – Dias pounced unions like ATU are investing their resources in building once again, using the same old playbook. “American a labour movement that crosses barriers and borders. After invasion,” and, “We want union democracy,” he cried. all, the only way to beat money that stretches around the world is with a labour movement that does the same.

Unfortunately, not everyone sees it that way. For the past Fact versus fiction year, Unifor – Canada’s largest private sector union – has The picture that Dias paints is one in which big, bad been on a crusade to grow even larger, not by organizing international unions charge like storm troopers into locals, new members, but by raiding other unions. It’s an anti- dismiss everyone, seize whatever they can grab, and install democratic campaign masquerading as a democratic their own officers. movement, and it’s already giving global corporations and public agencies the upper hand in upcoming negotiations. But facts are stubborn things, as Dias learned the hard way last year when his attempted raid on Local 113 failed. Last year, Unifor President Jerry Dias launched an It didn’t take long for members to realize that the effort unsuccessful raid on Local 113-Toronto, ON, with the was actually a greedy, anti-democratic power grab by two assistance of a disgruntled Local president who lost his union leaders who put personal gain before the interests election to become an ATU international vice president. of members. Dias hoped Local 113 members could be persuaded to leave ATU if a few misleading figures shouted “democracy” In the case of UNITE HERE Local 75, the picture is fast and condemned any affiliation with U.S. unions. becoming clear, as well. Turmoil in the local started in 2016, when factions emerged at the Local that brought The plan backfired when ATU’s General Executive Board monthly executive board meetings to a standstill. Dozens trusteed Local 113. Along with most of Local 113’s elected of complaints from members began pouring into UNITE officers and stewards, the trusteeship exposed the Unifor plot HERE’s international, alleging undemocratic practices, and that had been going on behind the scenes for some time. even charges of racism leveled against the Local president. Now, Dias is at it again. This time his target was UNITE In April 2017, a majority of Local 75’s elected executive HERE Local 75, which represents more than 8,000 board requested that UNITE HERE trustee the Local. workers in Toronto. As with Local 113, Dias found a Instead, over the next year, the international did everything disgruntled local union president at odds with most of her it could to resolve the disagreements. Little progress was elected executive board. made. Concern mounted that the disputes would weaken

26 January/February 2018 | IN TRANSIT IN TRANSIT | www.atu.org 27 the Local’s hand in coming collective bargaining with its multinational hotel employers. Safety comes In December 2017, UNITE HERE’s international executive committee trusteed first for Kelowna Local 75 to restore its stability and prepare for negotiations.

The Local president responded by changing the locks on the union hall and BC bus drivers removing 12 elected executive board members on trumped up charges. She then used her new, hand-selected board to take action against other officers and pass in harsh winter a motion opposing the trusteeship.

With a brutal winter dumping snow Unifor raids are a boss’s best friend across Kelowna, BC, Local 1722- In January 2018, Unifor withdrew from the , Kelowna, BC, is reminding the riding the largest federation of labour unions in the country and presided over by a public that safety is the number one Unifor member and Dias ally. Despite its enormous influence within the CLC, concern for bus drivers. Unifor claimed the body wasn’t democratic enough. The truth is that Unifor left so it could be free to raid UNITE HERE Local 75. In a letter to the editor in the Daily Courier, Local President Scott Dias quickly entered the fray with his usual attempt to divide and conquer. Lovell points out that bus stops are Within hours, Unifor organizers were confronting UNITE HERE members dangerously packed with snow and outside their workplaces, insisting they sign cards for this new union. that the Local has requested the hard- working city crews thoroughly clear Sadly, Unifor’s campaign won’t bring a single unorganized worker into a union. all bus stops for the safety of drivers In February, Unifor’s misguided, heavy-handed and deceptive campaign was and riders. dealt a serious blow as thousands of workers at 17 of 24 Greater Toronto Area in play voted to stay with UNITE HERE Local 75, rejecting Unfor’s raid attempt. While four went with Unifor and the remaining three are pending as of press time, significantly, Unifor didn’t go after workers at 24 other hotels. Trained professionals doing a difficult job

There’s a better way forward “We are trained professionals sometimes doing a very difficult job in incredibly Raiding is the well-worn path of failing union leaders. ATU and successful unions difficult driving situations,” his letter like it have a better idea. ATU has invested in organizing and mobilization, growing says. “It is overwhelmingly noticeable our ranks to 199,000 transit workers across Canada and the U.S. that our community’s seniors and We launched a multi-local campaign in Ontario to “Keep Transit Public” and mobility challenged passengers are resist privatization by Metrolinx, and we did it with support from multiple CLC avoiding transit because of the added affiliates. We also rolled out a coordinated bus operator workstation campaign, perils of access.” with more than 140 Locals passing resolutions demanding their governments Noting that snow removal budgets and employers address fatal flaws in bus design. are already over budget, Lovell writes, “In future winters, we hope this Our joint industry councils, intended to unite Local unions who share private sector employers, are beginning to elect their own leadership. Soon, these challenge can be overcome and all democratically-elected JIC leaders will engage in ATU’s first-ever, national our community can utilize the public bargaining with these employers. transit system. In the meantime, please continue to be very cautious in our As ATU is demonstrating, there is a better path forward for the broader bus stops especially when boarding or movement: organize the unorganized, grow the international labour movement, off-loading from a bus. Your safety is and engage in coordinated action against the bosses. v our No. 1 concern.” v

IN TRANSIT | www.atu.org 27 souvent les politiciens et les patrons retourner nos usagers Formation contre nous. Cela devrait être un sujet de discussion dans chaque syndicat. Les sections locales des travailleurs du Nous avons consacré beaucoup de temps et de ressources transport scolaire ont besoin de connaître et de travailler à la formation des agents locaux, et plus encore au cours avec les parents, les transports en commun, les sections des dernières années, depuis que nous possédons un centre locales du transport adapté, en collaboration avec les de formation. Nous avons soumis quelques idées à nos usagers et les défenseurs des personnes à besoins spéciaux. dirigeants. Comme les budgets locaux et le budget fédéral coupent dans le transport en commun, nous avons besoin d’une voix plus forte. Cette offre n’attend que vous. Former pour mieux négocier Premièrement, nous ne devrions pas accepter à la légère les « règles de négociation ». Elles sont souvent conçues dans Forces anti-travailleurs le but de neutraliser le syndicat. Il arrive parfois que des Les forces anti-travailleurs reviennent encore à la charge sections locales acceptent, par exemple, de ne pas parler à pour vous enlever votre droit d’avoir une voix forte au leurs propres membres durant les négociations. travail par le biais de votre syndicat. Soutenues par des Pur suicide. milliardaires et dotées d’énormes budgets pour détruire les syndicats, elles obtiendront de la Cour Suprême des Nous exhortons vos dirigeants à maintenir une États-Unis qu’elle modifie les règles, permettant aux pique- communication ouverte avec les membres. Cela ne veut assiettes de ne pas payer de cotisations syndicales. pas dire que chaque mot de la négociation doit être rendu public, mais les membres doivent connaître les enjeux et Et leurs homologues canadiens surveilleront ce qui se passe le ton de la négociation. Cette information devrait venir aux États-Unis alors qu’ils prévoient faire de même. de votre président, non indépendamment des autres Le SUT a ouvert la voie en s’y préparant, mais considérez que participants à la négociation. le pouvoir du syndicat ne consiste pas seulement à structurer Deuxièmement, nous ne pouvons renoncer à notre droit de nos collègues, mais aussi à inclure les personnes avec lesquelles nous adresser aux journalistes. Aucun contrat ne devrait être nous partageons un tiers de nos vies – nos passagers. « négocié » dans la presse, mais lorsque nos préoccupations Toute section locale qui a besoin d’aide pour l’organisation sont d’intérêt public, nous ne renoncerons pas à notre droit des usagers est invitée à appeler mon bureau. Nous nous de parole – jamais. engageons pleinement dans cet effort. Dans le prochain Troisièmement, avec un mouvement syndical qui se rétrécit numéro, nous rendrons hommage aux groupes d’usagers et v et les attaques constantes contre les syndicats, nous devons aux sections locales avec lesquelles ils travaillent. absolument, impérativement établir des relations avec nos usagers. Le transport en commun et notre syndicat sont sous attaque. Cela nous affecte tous, nous et nos usagers. Il n’y a jamais eu d’alliance plus naturelle que celle que nous Premier conseil industriel mixte avons avec nos usagers. Une page d’histoire a été écrite en janvier dernier, lors de la création du premier conseil industriel mixte (JIC) du SUT Faute professionnelle et de la tenue de sa première réunion. Le JIC est composé de sections locales partout aux États-Unis et au Canada qui C’est une faute professionnelle si nos sections locales représentent les travailleurs de la MV Transportation. ignorent leur pouvoir de former nos usagers. Pour chacun des membres actifs de votre ville, il y a cent usagers. Qu’attendez-vous ? Démarrez une organisation d’usagers ou connectez-vous à l’une d’entre elles s’il en existe ! Approche innovatrice dans l’industrie Les préoccupations de nos membres sont fondamentalement Cette réunion se produit après des années d’expérience les mêmes que celles de nos usagers. Mais nous laissons syndicale locale avec des compagnies de transport privées

28 January/February 2018 | IN TRANSIT IN TRANSIT | www.atu.org 29 contractées pour gérer un nombre croissant de systèmes Un pas de plus de transport en commun. Sous la direction du président Le JIC nouvellement formé – le MV Transportation Council international Larry Hanley, le syndicat a élaboré une approche – a poussé ses préoccupations un pas plus loin, rencontrant innovatrice à la négociation et aux relations patronales- les dirigeants de la MV afin d’amorcer un dialogue sur des syndicales avec les sociétés multinationales telles que MV. questions comme les appels d’offres, les contrats, le chiffre Au cours des dernières années, les dirigeants de telles sections d’affaires, les conditions de travail et d’autres enjeux. Les locales ont reçu des directives sur les stratégies éprouvées futurs conseils de chaque compagnie de transport privé se pour traiter avec ces géants de l’entreprise. Ils ont été réuniront et éliront des dirigeants au cours des prochains informés sur les antécédents professionnels et les relations mois. Les sociétés de transport multinationales ont également d’entreprise avec les gouvernements locaux. Les formations accepté de rencontrer leurs conseils respectifs. ont également couvert le langage contractuel et les tactiques De toute évidence, la façon avec laquelle le SUT traite ces de négociation efficaces. entreprises a changé. Nous avons planifié. Nous avons mis L’un des problèmes majeurs identifiés par les sections locales la table. Nous sommes prêts. v JIC réside dans les arrangements pris par les entreprises dans leurs contrats municipaux. Les sections locales ont été frustrées par les affirmations des entreprises selon lesquelles leur capacité à négocier est limitée par leur contrat, ou par Notes discordantes dans la l’absence de langage contractuel, exigeant qu’une entreprise respecte les normes de rendement. « Music City » : qualité contre Conséquemment, l’International exhorte les sections locales quantité de transports en à participer à la formulation des demandes de propositions (DP) et des ententes de revenus avant qu’elles soient commun à Nashville présentées au public. C’est ce qu’a fait la section locale 128 – Asheville, NC Un nouveau projet d’expansion du transport en commun qui connaissait avec des problèmes récurrents avec la First dans la ville plutôt mal desservie de Nashville au Transit. L’horaire d’entretien était mal établi, voire pas du Tennessee est comme une douce musique aux oreilles de tout, par l’entreprise. La flotte était tombée dans un tel plusieurs. Malheureusement, le maire ne danse pas sur la délabrement que des VUS étaient utilisés pour fournir le même musique que les travailleurs locaux du transport service, et le roulement de personnel était élevé. en commun. La façon de procéder de la Ville aura des répercussions importantes sur la façon dont les travailleurs aborderont l’expansion du transport en commun, où qu’ils soient. Mesures adoptées Grâce à une campagne conjointe avec des groupes Pour comprendre ce qui se passe à Nashville, on doit communautaires, la section locale a réussi à intégrer le comprendre la différence entre ceux qui demandent comité de DP, suggérant le langage compris dans la DP. La davantage de transports en commun et ceux qui section locale a également été invitée à siéger au comité de demandent de bons transports en commun. Ce débat sélection, obtenant ainsi une voix et un vote au comité qui ressemble à celui touche le Travail depuis les cinquante choisit la prochaine entreprise à diriger le système. dernières années : plus d’emplois ou plus de bons emplois ?

Une situation semblable à Escambia County, en Floride, a Les travailleurs gagnent maintenant moins et travaillent plus donné l’occasion à la section locale 1395 – Pensacola, FL que jamais. Les syndicats peuvent-ils célébrer la baisse des de se faire entendre dans l’élaboration d’un contrat client. taux de chômage lorsque les nouveaux emplois créés sont pour la plupart à faible salaire, sans avantages sociaux et dans Ainsi, le SUT se bat pour les salaires, la sécurité et les des industries nuisibles à la société dans son ensemble ? À conditions de travail au-delà de la table de négociation, quoi sert un emploi s’il ne permet pas de payer les factures exigeant et gagnant une voix dans le processus qui aide à ou d’améliorer le sort de nos communautés ? déterminer le résultat des offres contractuelles.

IN TRANSIT | www.atu.org 29 Lorsque le docteur Martin Luther King fils s’est rendu Des emplois bien rémunérés, à Memphis, il y a cinquante ans, pour s’adresser aux représentés par le SUT travailleurs de l’assainissement en grève, il a constaté des parallèles dans les luttes pour les droits civils et la justice La PATHE a formulé ses demandes, noir sur blanc, parmi économique. Dans son discours du 18 mars 1968, il lesquelles on retrouve : déclarait : « Car nous savons qu’il ne suffit pas d’intégrer • la garantie que les nouveaux emplois dans le les comptoirs-repas. À quoi sert à un homme de pouvoir transport en commun seront des emplois du secteur s’asseoir à un comptoir-repas intégré s’il n’a pas assez public, bien rémunérés et représentés par le SUT d’argent pour se payer un hamburger ? » • des intervalles de 10 minutes sur les quatorze trajets De même, cela ne suffit pas de créer un emploi si ce n’est les plus achalandés et un prolongement des heures pas un bon emploi. Cela ne suffit pas de créer une nouvelle de service ligne ferroviaire si ce n’est pas une bonne ligne ferroviaire. Alors, qui décide de ce qu’est un bon emploi ou un bon • des détails sur la façon dont le maire prévoit livrer système de transport en commun ? 31 000 unités de logement réellement abordables d’ici 2025 Pour la section locale 1235 – Nashville, TN et ses alliés de la People’s Alliance for Transit, Housing, and Employment Ce qui préoccupe la PATHE est que sans ces (PATHE), la réponse est claire : c’est le peuple qui décide. engagements, « Let’s Move Nashville » deviendra un train Et la seule façon pour le peuple de se faire entendre est d’embourgeoisement qui profitera aux usagers blancs, d’unir leurs voix. riches et privilégiés tout en déplaçant et en appauvrissant davantage les pauvres, les Afro-Américains et les résidents qui dépendent du transport en commun.

« Let’s Move Nashville » Le projet « Let’s Move Nashville » fera l’objet d’un référendum plus tard cette année avant d’être lancé dans un Leur cible est le maire de Nashville, Megan Barry, un long processus de prise de décision. démocrate qui a proposé le projet de transport en commun « Let’s Move Nashville » (Transportons Nashville) qui demande de nouveaux centres de transport en commun, plusieurs lignes ferroviaires, de nouvelles taxes pour soutenir Les frères Koch s’opposent au le travail et une toute nouvelle agence pour superviser référendum sur le transport le tout. en commun Nashville a désespérément besoin de plus de services de Le référendum fait face à une vive opposition de la part transport en commun. Mais comme nous l’avons vu dans des riches partisans de la droite qui préféreraient ne pas de nombreuses villes, un nouveau service de transport avoir de transport en commun. Au centre de l’arène en commun mal implanté peut s’avérer nuisible. Si le dans le débat de Nashville se trouve le Libertarian Cato nouveau système réintroduit la privatisation du transport Institute, institution financée par les frères Koch, qui a en commun, se finance à partir d’impôt supplémentaire le don de s’opposer à presque tous les débats locaux sur pour les pauvres au lieu des riches, suscite le l’expansion des transports en commun, s’opposant aux développement du luxe en déplaçant les familles à faible investissements dans le service ferroviaire et d’autobus. revenu, ou se concentre uniquement sur les usagers de choix et non sur ceux qui dépendent du transport en La section locale 1235 n’a aucunement l’intention de laisser commun, qui aide-t-il réellement ? ces milliardaires anti-transport public faire échouer ce projet. Avec l’appui de la PATHE, ils se concentrent à fond Les membres de la section locale 1235 ainsi que leurs pour s’assurer que le projet du maire se concrétisera en un partenaires de la PATHE ont un message simple pour bon système de transport en commun, de bons logements le maire Barry : nous avons besoin d’un transport en et de bons emplois. v commun et nous avons besoin qu’il soit bien fait.

30 January/February 2018 | IN TRANSIT IN TRANSIT | www.atu.org 31 DeathIn Benefits Memoriam Awarded November 1, 2017 - December 31, 2017

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ATU Latino Caucus pitches in for Puerto Rico hurricane relief efforts

With the federal government recently cutting off hurricane relief aid for Puerto Rico, many residents continuing to live without electricity, and others struggling to obtain food and water, the ATU Latino Caucus launched a drive to help the people of the storm-ravaged island. The Caucus launched a relief effort during the Latino Caucus annual Conference in Seattle, WA, a week after the hurricane hit. A raffle was held, and the Caucus donated $1,000 to raise more than $3,000 in relief funds. They collected more than 30 pallets of water, non-perishable food items, clothing, household goods, and other necessities. Half of the funds went to The National Museum of Puerto Rico Arts and Culture in Chicago and the other half went to Mar Azul Church in Puerto Rico, which is affiliated with the CAIAC Family Reflection Church in Orlando. The International pitched in, providing financial assistance for the transportation of the donations to Florida after funding fell through. “ATU members have a long history of helping those in need, and our Latino Caucus is continuing that legacy,” said International President Larry Hanley. “I applaud the Caucus board for mobilizing this relief effort to help the people of Puerto Rico who are still in desperate need so many months after this disaster.” v