OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE AMALGAMATED TRANSIT UNION | AFL-CIO/CLC
NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2014 INTERNATIONAL OFFICERS LAWRENCE J. HANLEY International President JAVIER M. PEREZ, JR. NEWSBRIEFS International Executive Vice President OSCAR OWENS International Secretary-Treasurer
INTERNATIONAL VICE PRESIDENTS ATU wins ILCA media awards LARRY R. KINNEAR For excellence and distinction in communications ATU Ashburn, ON – [email protected] was honored to receive six 2014 Labor Media Awards RICHARD M. MURPHY from the International Labor Communicators Association Newburyport, MA – [email protected] (ILCA). ILCA says winners represent some of the best and BOB M. HYKAWAY Calgary, AB – [email protected] most inspired work in labor communications and that the WILLIAM G. McLEAN awardees are to be congratulated in promoting the highest Reno, NV – [email protected] standards of labor journalism. JANIS M. BORCHARDT Madison, WI – [email protected] “The ATU is honored to receive these prestigious awards,” says International President PAUL BOWEN Larry Hanley. “With the fast moving, changing and ever expanding media world, Canton, MI – [email protected] we recognize the importance of effectively and creatively communicating with our KENNETH R. KIRK members and the public. I’d like to commend our communications staff, writers, Lancaster, TX – [email protected] GARY RAUEN graphic designer and cartoonist for their excellent work.” Clayton, NC – [email protected] MARCELLUS BARNES The awards included: Flossmore, IL – [email protected] RAY RIVERA • 1st Place: Best Design Internet, “ATU International Website” Lilburn, GA – [email protected] • 1st Place: Best Cartoon, “Struggle Against Austerity” YVETTE SALAZAR Thornton, CO – [email protected] In Transit Jan/Feb 2013 GARY JOHNSON, SR. Cleveland, OH – [email protected] • 1st Place: Saul Miller Award / Political Action, “What Works - ATU ROBIN WEST Members Shaking Things Up All over U.S. and Canada” Halifax, NS – [email protected] In Transit May/June 2013 JOHN COSTA Kenilworth, NJ – [email protected] • 2nd Place: Best Design Magazines, “Struggle Against Austerity” CHUCK WATSON In Transit Jan/Feb 2013 Syracuse, NY – [email protected] CLAUDIA HUDSON • 2nd Place: Best Editorial or Column, “Atlanta Transit Bill Harkens Back to Oakland, CA – [email protected] the Days of Jim Crow” BRUCE HAMILTON New York, NY – [email protected] • 3rd Place: Best Front Page/Cover, “Struggle Against Austerity” MICHELLE SOMMERS In Transit Jan/Feb 2013 Brooklyn Park, MN – [email protected]
INTERNATIONAL REPRESENTATIVES ANTHONY WITHINGTON INTERNATIONAL OFFICERS EMERITUS Sebastopol, CA – [email protected] DENNIS ANTONELLIS International President Jim La Sala, ret. Spokane, WA – [email protected] International President Warren George, ret. STEPHAN MACDOUGALL International Executive Vice President Ellis Franklin, ret. Boston, MA – [email protected] International Executive Vice President Mike Siano, ret. ANTHONY GARLAND Washington, DC – [email protected] ANTONETTE BRYANT Subscription: USA and Canada, $5 a year. Single copy: 50 cents. All others: $10 a year. Published bimonthly by the Oakland, CA – [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. ISSN: 0019-3291. PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 40033361.RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES CANADIAN DIRECTOR TO:APC Postal Logistics, LLC, PO Box 503, RPO, West Beaver Creek, Richmond Hill ON L4B 4R6. MICHAEL MAHAR Rexdale, ON - [email protected] IN TRANSIT | www.atu.org 3 NOV/DEC 2014 CONTENT Vol. 123, No. 6
13 International observes moment of silence in memory of slain Canadian soldier 14 Boston operator returns wallet containing $1,700 Poor job access compels people without cars to drive Sprawl, bad transit increase unemployment 15 NOLA retirees’ benefits jeopardized in pension dispute MEMBERS VICTORIOUS OVER LOCKOUT 4 Portland Local hits ‘reset’ with TriMet IN ONGOING SASKATOON SAGA 16 How They Do It: Locals active everywhere 17 Toronto Local: ‘Stop begging - start demanding federal transit funding’ 18 ATU Heroes 19 Dallas members complain unfair pay, poor conditions Mayor Rahm brings the hammer down on CTA workers State fines Metro for restroom violation for Seattle bus drivers TORONTO ELECTS TORY MAYOR IN 7 20 New Sudbury Handi-Transit policies ignore VIRTUAL TRANSIT REFERENDUM persons with mental disabilities Paratransit survey: Ridership, ‘travel 2 International Officers & General Executive Board training’ increasing NEWS Briefs 21 Report: Millenials’ shift to public transit is permanent 3 Index Page Poll: More Americans prefer public transit 5 Commitment + Coalition = Victory to road building 6 Wynne happy with Tory election 23 Movement to raise minimum wage 8 Canadian Agenda: ATU applauds Second gains momentum Reading passage of anti-assault bill 24 New York Local mourns loss of 9 International President’s Message: recording secretary Richer than you’ll ever be 25 Public transit: Infrastructure and investment that 10 International Executive Vice President’s knows no boundaries Message: Restructuring plan succeeding Private transit buses roll into Toronto in the trenches 26 Regina struggles to find mechanics 11 International Secretary-Treasurer’s Message: Transit use growing in smaller Canadian cities This is the fight we trained for 27 Hamilton to install security cameras, 12 Kelowna members hold moment of silence possibly shields for slain passenger Thunder Bay specialized transit strike averted 12 Terror boards bus in fatal Texas shooting 28 Translations (Spanish) Driver assaults up in Edmonton 31 In Memoriam 13 Citizens getting wise to outsourcing predators 32 Cartoon: Ten Reasons We’re Against Unions!
IN TRANSIT | www.atu.org 3 Members victorious over lockout in ongoing Saskatoon saga
Local 615 has emerged the winner in a high stakes game of Eventually, the SLRB decided that the lockout was, indeed, “chicken” with the City of Saskatoon, SK, and Saskatoon a violation of provincial labour law, and ordered the City to Transit management. Following a scenario that has played make no changes to the pension. out in ATU contract negotiations throughout North America, the City is demanding that the Local accept wage With the earlier grievance settled, Saskatchewan Transit proposals that don’t keep up with the cost-of-living, and notified the public that they intended to force a new, legal changes to their pension plan that would likely decrease lockout. But, the council and Saskatoon residents had had future benefits. enough, and told Transit not to lock out their employees again. Local 615 members returned to work after a month- The City continued to follow the script performed at long lockout, and transit riders had their service back. transit properties in so many cities by refusing to budge With solidarity and guts, Local 615 members stood on the retirement issue in negotiations they have dragged strong together, and reversed a lockout that was imposing out over many months. Then in a bold move designed to unnecessary harm on them and their passengers. increase pressure on the Local, Saskatoon Transit locked out its employees, shuttering public transit service in the city. Long-standing dispute Two days later, in what they may have thought was a deft move, the city council unilaterally changed the pension from The Local has shown extraordinary courage and resolution the current defined benefit plan to the defined contribution throughout negotiations, resisting the pension changes the plan Local 615 has been rejecting in negotiations. City has tried to force on them since their contract expired, December 31, 2012 – especially since all eight other city labour unions have accepted the revisions. Not so fast But the pension isn’t the only problem. Local 615 members are paid so little that many of them qualify for affordable Not so fast, said the Local, which just happened to have a housing and public assistance. grievance under consideration by the Saskatchewan Labour Relations Board (SLRB). ATU filed a grievance, reminding Last spring, with negotiations going nowhere, 94% of Local the board that provincial labor law forbids employers to 615 members voted to give the Local strike authorization, lock out their workers while a grievance is being considered. which they have not used.
4 November/December 2014 | IN TRANSIT IN TRANSIT | www.atu.org 5 actuarial valuation process, and not in real dollars. And as a matter of fact, the analysis showed that the City’s June 2014 update did not reflect the pension fund’s positive investment gains during 2013 - 2014. If the positive investment gains had been reflected, the report said, it is likely that the plan would have been presented as fully funded!
Victory
When the SLRB ruled the lockout illegal it, ordered the City to allow its employees to return to work and In May, over 94% of members voting rejected a proposed compensate them for lost time at work. contract offering some wage increases, while retaining the pension changes they don’t want. Then the transit The City subsequently overruled Saskatoon Transit’s authority, put another proposal on the table that 91% of plan for a new, legal lockout – a great victory for Local Local 615 members rejected because it included the same 615 members. pension provisions. Local President Jim Yakubowski explained that his members were being asked to “sell off” their pension plan and that was unacceptable, asserting, “Our members are not willing to give that up – especially for a wage package that still leaves us at the bottom of the pay scale.”
Bus breakdowns, cancelled routes
The labour dispute, this summer, took place against the backdrop of increasingly unreliable service provided by Saskatoon Transit. Buses broke down with one actually catching on fire (thankfully, with no injuries), and seven routes were temporarily shut down. The problem – not It’s not over enough mechanics to maintain the City’s aging bus fleet. The City had the temerity to blame the local union for the But the dispute is not over. The City is appealing theSLRB breakdowns, saying it just couldn’t attract good mechanics ruling. And the board decided that Saskatoon Transit because it could not offer applicants the higher wages workers are only entitled to compensation for the two contained in their contract proposal until the Local agreed weeks that its employees were illegally locked out prior to to it. October 3, when the SLRB rendered its decision on the Local’s previous grievance.
But, the local was actually locked out an additional two Need for pension changes challenged weeks, and may end up filing another grievance to regain compensation for those lost wages as well. Two days after the lockout began, the city council voted to impose the pension changes they were demanding in Then, there’s the problem of reaching settlement on a negotiations with the Local. Speaking before the council, new collective bargaining agreement that still remains a Local President Yakubowski questioned whether the challenge. Until then Local 615 members will be working $6.7 million pension deficit the City cited to justify the without a contract for wages that don’t pay the bills. retirement changes was real. Check back with the ATU website, atu.org, for the latest Yakubowski released a report by pension experts revealing updates in this ongoing saga. v that the City’s deficit figures reflected changes in the
IN TRANSIT | www.atu.org 5 Wynne happy with Tory election
“It’s not common when you compete for the same seat in the legislature with somebody that you necessarily emerge with a good relationship and emerge as people who can work together and I would say as friends,” Tory told a crowd at an event attended by both officials. Toronto mayor-elect John Tory and Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne appeared for the first time together publicly after Tory’s election, November 5. BERNARD WEIL / TORONTO STAR ‘Huge anticipation’ “Hallelujah!” “I have huge anticipation of the opportunity to work with That’s what Ontario’s Liberal Premiere Kathleen Wynne Premier Kathleen Wynne and with her government to exclaimed when she heard the news that Progressive advance the interests of Toronto,” he said. Conservative John Tory was elected mayor of the province’s Hopefully Tory will work with Local 113 and their recently biggest city – Toronto. “Congratulations to John,” she said. released plan on how to improve Toronto’s once world “I’m very pleased for him and I look forward to working renowned transit system (see story on page 17). v with him.”
Political observers remarked about the friendly relationship between the PC mayor and the Liberal premier who beat him in a 2007 election to represent Don Valley West.
6 November/December 2014 | IN TRANSIT IN TRANSIT | www.atu.org 7 Toronto elects Tory mayor in virtual transit referendum
Toronto voters went to the polls and elected Progressive Funding fantasy? Conservative (PC) candidate John Tory mayor to succeed the incumbent Rob Ford, who dropped out of the race Paying for it, of course, is the hard part, and the plans after being diagnosed with cancer. of all of the candidates hinged on finding new funding – something Canada’s tax-averse populace doesn’t like to Ford’s mayoralty, which featured a revolving door of staff think about. members, admissions of illegal drug and alcohol abuse, and embarrassing verbal gaffes, generated more American Tory, a Progressive Conservative, says that his most curiosity than ever before in a Canadian election. ambitious idea, “Smart Tracks” – an $8 billion, 22-stop “surface subway” project using existing provincial GO Ford’s brother, Doug, who ran in Rob’s stead, came in Transit tracks – will be built without raising property second, ahead of the early frontrunner, Olivia Chow. The taxes. New Democratic Party (NDP) candidate slipped behind both Fords in the polls, as Tory surged ahead. Rather, the new mayor says, he’ll get $5 billion from Queen’s Park, and borrow $2.6 billion that the City will pay back as its property tax base increases. Tory is also Focus on public transit committed to the former mayor’s plan to abandon the fully funded light rail addition to the Scarborough line in The most important aspect of the race for ATU favor of a more expensive subway extension. members was the intense interest it provoked in public transportation. Transit has been a problem in Toronto since Ontario “downloaded” financial responsibility for Time to deal with ATU the public service onto the City a decade ago. Local 113-Toronto, ON, fed up after hearing every Subsequent cuts in maintenance, service, and capital possible idea about how to improve Toronto’s once world expenditure have frustrated the system’s ability to stay renowned transit system, recently released a plan on how apace of population growth and economic expansion in to improve the system. The report, Toronto’s Transit the region. As a result, rush hour has become a nightmare Future, analyzes in detail the many challenges facing the in this transit dependent municipality. TTC and provides dozens of specific recommendations for addressing them. v The mayoral election became a referendum on the candidates’ transit agenda in a city that desperately wants to move beyond all the talk to actual infrastructure improvements.
IN TRANSIT | www.atu.org 7 Canadian Agenda
ATU applauds Second Reading passage of anti-assault bill
With violent assaults on bus drivers and riders on A decade of work the rise, ATU members are applauding movement on legislation to punish attackers for their actions. The Mahar further says: “ATU Canada has been working House of Commons unanimously passed the Second tirelessly on this initiative for over 10 years; meeting with Reading of Bill S-221. Now that it has been debated and Senators and Members of Parliament from all parties. voted upon, the bill has been referred to the House of Our resolve never wavered and now with the incredible Commons Justice Committee. ground that Senator Runciman and now MP Chisu have made toward making Bill S-221 become law, along with Bill S-221 would amend the Canadian Criminal Code members of the Opposition, we are doubly committed to to make it an aggravating circumstance that a judge further engage with Members of Parliament to insure that must consider if the victim in an assault case is a public this bill receives Royal Assent in 2014.” transit operator, which is defined to include drivers of not just city buses and streetcars, but also school buses, The passage of such a bill has been a priority of ATU taxi drivers, ferries and subways. Canada for close to a decade as each year over 2,000 of our members have been the victims of life altering and career ending assaults. Timely passage Safety of the public This is very timely as yet another ATU driver, this time with OC Transpo, was recently punched after requesting ATU is pleased with Senator Runciman’s comment that, payment of a fare. The police did their job and the suspect “No one should face the violence that threatens bus and was arrested. This bill would provide the judge the tools taxi drivers on a daily basis. We also have to consider the to apply a more severe sentence than currently required. risk to the safety of the broader public in these cases – passengers, other motorists, pedestrians – when someone The legislation was introduced in the Senate this past May is assaulted while driving a vehicle down a busy city by Progressive Conservative (PC) Senator Bob Runciman street.” (Thousand Islands-Rideau Lakes), and introduced in to the House of Commons in September by MP MPs from coast to coast have had these same conversations Corneliu Chisu, PC (Pickering-Scarborough East). It is and ATU members are grateful for their ongoing support widely believed that no other private member’s bill ever in helping put this through Parliament. This is not transversed the Senate and House so quickly. “We are a partisan issue; Conservatives, New Democrats and grateful to Mr. Chisu who has agreed to sponsor this bill Liberals have all introduced similar private members’ bills in the House of Commons,” says ATU Canadian Director and the unanimous votes in the Senate and now in the Mike Mahar. House of Commons support this. v
8 November/December 2014 | IN TRANSIT IN TRANSIT | www.atu.org 25 LARRY HANLEY, INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT
Richer than you’ll ever be:
We are not perfect. Nobody is. But, the heart of the ATU is persistence. In a world that too often resembles a hurricane the belief that we are stronger together than apart. That’s a watch, they are sunshine and roses. The next time you see value. We value people over profits and care about our larger them, thank them for not giving up, give them a big hug family: the Union. Easy for me to say. and a smile and remember that –if it weren’t for them, we’d be at the mercy of the bankers, the brokers and those who As one year ends and another begins, I want to salute the seek to divide and exploit us all. people in the ATU who make it worth being called a union. I often ask Local officers, “Are we running a union or a In 2015 our message to the Koch brothers and the politicians mailing list?” And all over our Union officers and members who don’t share our values will mimic those of George Bailey have risen to the occasion and answered that question this in “It’s a Wonderful Life”: year in a way that should make us all proud. In St. Louis and George Bailey: “Just a minute... just a minute. Now, hold Saskatoon, most recently, and in Atlanta ATU members took on, Mr. Potter. You’re right when you say my father was to the phones and the streets, and in fighting for themselves no businessman. I know that. Why he ever started this and their community they made the world a better place. cheap, penny-ante Building and Loan, I’ll never know. Our work requires courage. Robert Kennedy said, “Few But neither you nor anyone else can say anything against men are willing to brave the disapproval of their fellows, his character, because his whole life was... why, in the 25 the censure of their colleagues, the wrath of their society. years since he and his brother, Uncle Billy, started this Moral courage is a rarer commodity than bravery in thing, he never once thought of himself. Isn’t that right, battle or great intelligence. Yet it is the one essential, vital Uncle Billy? He didn’t save enough money to send Harry quality of those who seek to change a world which yields away to college, let alone me. But he did help a few people most painfully to change.” get out of your slums, Mr. Potter, and what’s wrong with that? Why... here, you’re all businessmen here. Doesn’t it Somewhere in the ATU tonight a steward or officer will make them better citizens? Doesn’t it make them better question themselves about the sacrifice they made in 2014 customers? You... you said... what’d you say a minute ago? for their coworkers. Was the time they lost with their family They had to wait and save their money before they even even noticed? Does anyone know even how hard it can be to ought to think of a decent home. Wait? Wait for what? lead others? Somewhere reading this I hope there are some Until their children grow up and leave them? Until they’re members who took on their leaders in a harsh or unfair way so old and broken down that they... Do you know how who might realize that although we might have differences, long it takes a working man to save $5,000? Just remember we are all on the same side. And I hope our officers will re- this, Mr. Potter, that this rabble you’re talking about... dedicate themselves to trying more to understand that they they do most of the working and paying and living and are leading in the toughest of times. dying in this community. Well, is it too much to have them work and pay and live and die in a couple of decent Again, our Local and International officers are not perfect. rooms and a bath? Anyway, my father didn’t think so. But they are the group who have the courage to enter the People were human beings to him. But to you, a warped, moral conflict, and to sacrifice and to lead. They are willing frustrated old man, they’re cattle. Well in my book, my to risk the censure of their colleagues and to make the father died a much richer man than you’ll ever be!” world a better place. They seek to change a small portion of events, and in their pursuit of ideals, remind us how difficult Thanks to all of you who make me proud. That’s what the it is to sail against the wind. They are the young at heart, ATU is about. Happy Holidays………and Onward! v blessed with a mixture of idealism, grace under pressure and
IN TRANSIT | www.atu.org 9 JAVIER PEREZ, JR., INTERNATIONAL EXEC. VICE PRESIDENT
Restructuring plan succeeding in the trenches
In the states, the election is behind us, yet still we hear the The process has energized the membership. What ATU is noise from the talking heads about the gloom and doom of doing has been called not only a gain for ATU, but for all the Democrats and the euphoria of the Republicans. of the working class. We in the ATU are leading the way for all of Labor. We, the ATU, have much to be thankful for, cause to celebrate, and accomplishments to be proud of. Seventy percent of ballot initiatives supporting public transit were successful. Fight for transit will be won in the trenches Our members spoke out against ill-conceived streetcar plans that would take work away from members and While we are proud to be ATU, and of our recent gouge the public. Those plans were defeated. accomplishments, our efforts in part have been firehouse emergencies and resuscitation campaigns. One thing the ATU members and staff, through our mobilization actions elections made clear – the fight over public transit projects and alliances, not only saved the pension for our Local 788 and the dollars needed to support them will be won or lost members in St. Louis, but also laid the groundwork for a in the trenches of our communities. contract ratification after many years of spinning wheels. In calendar year 2015, we have many contracts coming Our Local 732 members in Atlanta ratified their contract up for renewal in addition to lingering negotiations still by approximately 88% of the vote, achieving an agreement underway. We have learned from our recent efforts. We that once seemed unlikely. need to plan, educate and fight smarter, and become more Our members at Local 615 in Saskatoon, SK, are back to proactive. work and fighting for a fair contract and pension, after an Plans are well under way to expand our capacity to provide unwanted lockout. training and assistance as well. How do you cost out a This all came on the heels of a fight and eventually a contract? What effect does Obamacare have on insurance successful contract effort for our Local 1287 members in provisions? What does it mean to be an expert in transit Kansas City, MO. in our home community, and are we willing to go the extra mile with our transit allies? Every local must commit to a culture of learning and Experiencing restructuring success follow through. Our members deserve no less. Prior to our Convention I referred to our restructuring Let’s enjoy the holiday season while knowing that 2015 is plan as being “Amazon-like.” Meaning one can surf the the year we move our restructuring to the next level. v online giant’s web pages and see an item, but still have the Please visit www.atu.org for more information and the urge and need to touch and see the product in person. latest ATU news. Now we have seen, felt, and lived through the struggles and success of our convention-approved restructuring program. Members see the results first hand and the benefits are tangible.
10 November/December 2014 | IN TRANSIT IN TRANSIT | www.atu.org 11 OSCAR OWENS, INTERNATIONAL SECRETARY-TREASURER
This is the fight we trained for
I’m sure you’ve heard it said that when “things get tough This was no more true than it was in Toronto, where – the tough get going.” Well, ATU and all of Labor in the residents elected the Progressive Conservative candidate, United States can expect things to get tough over the next John Tory, to succeed Rob Ford as mayor. two years as a result of the GOP rout of the Democratic Party in this year’s midterm elections. Tory’s election was enthusiastically welcomed by Ontario’s Liberal Premier Kathleen Wynne, who can be expected to work with Tory on fixing the City’s and the province’s public transit system. An all-out war on the president What is not clear is whether or not these former opponents Despite all of the pro forma conciliatory speeches they plan to extend, and re-build the system with public/private gave after the election, you can expect the Republican partnerships that usually require that they be allowed to leadership in Congress to ratchet up their animus against run what they build with non-union labor. President Obama to fever pitch. No matter what the premier and the mayor say, there will It will start with whatever action the president takes on be powerful interests, just as there are in the United States, immigration – which the majority will use as an excuse that will see this as an opportunity to increase their profits to declare all-out war on the president’s ability to govern. by rolling back the rights of Labour in Canada. In the meantime, the corporate-sponsored Members of So, we have our work cut out for us in both countries. Congress and those now controlling many statehouses will Let’s get to work. v use their new power to hammer away at federal and state labor law, and to de-fund public transit. P.S: Happy holidays to you and your family during this lovely time of the year. May peace and joy be yours now, While this is not what any of us wanted, it is the fight we and throughout 2015. have been training for. And, no union is better prepared for this fight than ATU. Please visit www.atu.org for more information and the latest ATU news. So, U.S. members, it’s time we “get going.” We’ll be fighting as hard as anyone for what we believe in, and continue to train more of our members to do so, as well.
Public transit needs recognized in Canada We have the same threats in Canada as we have in the United States, but there are some reasons to be optimistic about the future. Most candidates in all of the Canadian elections this fall recognized the need for more and better public transit.
IN TRANSIT | www.atu.org 11 Kelowna members Terror boards bus in fatal Texas shooting hold moment of silence for slain passenger
“Kelowna transit lost its innocence last night.” That’s how Local President Les Milton, 1722- Kelowna, BC, Photo by John Davenport, San Antonio Express-News above, described the city’s reaction to the apparently random stabbing and Terror boarded a bus in the form of a passenger who became hostile with several death of Caesar Rosales, 55, a business riders after getting on a VIA bus in San Antonio, TX, on Veterans Day. systems analyst on board a Kelowna bus. The alleged assailant has been Fellow passengers say that after taking a seat the belligerent challenged the man apprehended. sitting across from him demanding, “What are you looking at?” At the Local’s request, all city buses That’s when the other bus patrons say the alleged assailant pulled out a gun and pulled over for a minute of silence to shot the man dead. The suspect then demanded that the operator stop, and pay respect to Rosales who was well bolted the bus with a woman who was with him. known to ATU members. Neither the driver nor any other passengers were hurt. As of press time the police “Caesar’s death is a tragic thing,” had not caught the suspect. v explained Milton, “so we wanted to do something to show our respect and it will allow us to have some closure.”
Drivers want bus taken out of service Driver assaults up in Edmonton Drivers feel so strongly about the Bus driver assaults are up in Edmonton, AB, as they are all across North tragedy that they’ve asked that America. There were 50 assaults in Edmonton in 2013, including incidents the bus be taken out of service in in which drivers were spat upon, attacked, or threatened. That represents an Kelowna. “It’s been a big process for increase from 2012, and 2011. us. Regular drivers know more about their passengers than they know their Eighty percent of the occurrences were instigated by a dispute over fare. In a spouses,” says Milton. lesser percentage of cases riders appeared to be taking their personal frustrations out on a driver. ‘Never had anything like Local President Steve Bradshaw, 589-Edmonton, AB, would like to see this happen before’ some proactive measures taken to stop the violence, as well as the “reactive” enforcement that prosecutes assailants after the fact. “We’ve been running since 1977, and we’ve never had anything like this The local president is hoping that the City’s new smart card system, which will happen before,” says Milton. “It’s take fare collection totally out the hands of operators will reduce the violence. very new to us, but it brought us into Reduction of assaults on drivers will not only make drivers safer, but the fold with Calgary, Edmonton provide added protection for passengers, other drivers, and pedestrians in and Vancouver.” v Edmonton. v
12 November/December 2014 | IN TRANSIT IN TRANSIT | www.atu.org 13 Citizens getting wise to outsourcing predators
throughout Pennsylvania fighting outsourcing attempts. The Altoona City Council voted unanimously to abandon a water privatization proposal. In October, the Philadelphia City Council killed a proposal to sell the Philadelphia Gas Works, the municipally owned gas utility. And last year activists and community members pressured Allentown leaders away from leasing the city water system to a private company.
Community-led campaign Reading voters affirmed the proposed charter amendment Citizens are finally following ATU’s lead and getting wise by a margin of three to one. Our Reading, Our Water, a to privatizing predators. community-led campaign, collected 1,800 signatures from Reading, PA, residents voted in the midterm election Reading residents to put the question to the ballot and to amend the city charter to guard against future attempts to then made more than 4,000 attempts to contact voters in outsource the City’s municipal utilities and infrastructure, the weeks before the election to educate them about the approving a ballot measure that will require a public need to pass the ballot measure. referendum before any sale or lease of City assets valued at Communities looking to safeguard their public assets $10 million or more. against the threat of privatization can use the Reading The Reading vote adds to a string of victories in communities victory as a model. v
International observes moment of silence in memory of slain Canadian soldier
ATU international headquarters staff joined their sisters and brothers in Canada in a minute of silence at 9:30 a.m., October 23, in memory of Cpl. Nathan Cirillo, 24, the soldier who was slain by a terrorist gunman the previous day while guarding the National War Memorial in Ottawa, ON. v
IN TRANSIT | www.atu.org 13 Boston operator Poor job access compels returns wallet containing $1,700 people without cars to drive
Many people without cars are opting to carpool, or borrow vehicles to get to work, rather than riding public transit, the most recent Census numbers show. The study observed the commuting habits of the 6.3 million workers who own no private vehicles at home, which accounts for 4.5% of all workers. The issue stems from an environment that promotes vehicle usage over transit. Thanks to a lack of job clustering, people in zero-vehicle households tend to find they’re only connected to 40% of jobs within a 90 minute commute. And although cities like New York, San Francisco, and Chicago have a larger number of zero-car households, people in areas such as Dallas or Detroit have much larger percentage of zero-car driving rates. The study proves that we need to keep fighting for larger public transit investments, along with purposed urban development in order to fix the issue. v
Richard Cooper, 589-Boston, MA, above, made quite a discovery while driving his MBTA route, October 23. A passenger had left behind a wallet, containing $1,735. Cooper, a 28-year T employee, immediately contacted MBTA Bus Dispatch about the discovery. He delivered the wallet and money to the Sprawl, bad transit increase inspector at the Sullivan Station, who turned it over to a supervisor at the unemployment Charlestown bus garage. Next step: connecting the wallet with its rightful owner. A day later, on The 1960’s theory of job sprawl and “spatial mismatch” is no longer a theory. Friday, a Charlestown resident called A “recipe for unemployment,” says the Economist in its coverage of a new study, the T to report her wallet missing. combines ingredients like job sprawl, suburban zoning, lack of affordable After she verified her name and the housing near job centers, and inadequate transit. The study, proves with pinpoint contents of the wallet, a bus supervisor accuracy that these issues are indeed connected. reunited the woman with her wallet and its contents. Not surprisingly, With carefully controlled factors, the study shows that a 50% increase in she had been taking the T to make neighborhood accessibility led to a 4.2% shorter period of unemployment a deposit at her bank when she lost overall, which rose to 7% for job-seekers who earned at least 90% of their the money. former wage. People able to commute long distances by car before being laid off found new jobs sooner, and were more likely to find a job that nearly replaced Boston Carman Richard Cooper’s their previous income. honesty and responsibility give us another reason to be “proud to be Transit workers may not find any of this information surprising, but at least now ATU.” v the the issue can no longer be ignored. v
14 November/December 2014 | IN TRANSIT IN TRANSIT | www.atu.org 15 NOLA retiree benefits jeopardized in pension dispute
The benefits of New Orleans, LA, members who retired or They were supposed to begin their terms were vested in their agency’s pension plan before 2008, are in October 2012, but the pension in jeopardy as a result of a dispute between their former plan’s attorney and board rescinded the employer and the Regional Transit Authority (RTA). The 2011 vote and voided the agreement Transit Management of Southeast Louisiana Inc. (TMSEL) with RTA. pension plan has sued the RTA, alleging that the agency RTA subsequently sued for has failed to make $27.5 million in payments to the plan representation in state court in over the past 22 months. February 2013, but the case TMSEL agreed to take responsibility for the pension when was moved to federal RTA was created in the 1980s, as long as it operated the court because the dispute transit system for the agency. RTA agreed to make the fell under the national payments should that relationship ever be dissolved. Employee Retirement Income Security Act. Left with no way to make payments Shortly before that lawsuit, the RTA stopped its Essentially, that’s what happened in 2008, when RTA payments to the pension contracted its bus and streetcar service out to French plan, jeopardizing the multinational operator Veolia, which took most of TMSEL’s retirement benefits of former employees with it. Left without a contract, TMSEL almost 2,000 retirees and had no way to make the pension payments. their families. In Transit will continue to follow RTA agreed to pick up the payments – but insisted that this story . v it be allowed to appoint its own representatives to the TMSEL pension board. The pension board voted to do so.
Portland Local hits ‘reset’ with TriMet
For the first time in ten years, Portland, OR, transit workers have voted for a new contract. The members of Local 757 ratified a six-year deal with TriMet, which covers around 2,000 workers and 1,200 retirees. Hansen says the settlement hits the “reset button” on the Local’s relationship with the agency. “We’ve had a very contentious battle for quite some time now,” he said, “and we’ve been able to settle and draw a line in the sand and hopefully move forward.” Local President Bruce Hansen praised his bargaining team and the state conciliator for mediating the settlement as both sides moved forward to resolve long-outstanding issues. The deal includes wage increases and other improvements. Hansen noted that there is still one big hurdle, but remains optimistic after reaching this new contract. “The gigantic elephant in the room is TriMet’s 44 years of failing to fund its promises to its current and future retirees. That is the issue that needs to be addressed in the next two years. It is my hope that the new trend towards cooperation will make that happen.” Stay tuned to www.atu.org for future development on this issue. v
IN TRANSIT | www.atu.org 15 HOW localS active THEY DO IT everywhere
Winnipeg students join workers Toledo transit workers protest plans to push for transit to outsource paratransit
Transit workers and university students in Winnipeg, MB, The Toledo Area Regional Paratransit Service (TARPS) joined hands to demand adequate public transit service for is looking to outsource the weekend portion of their their city. Many students rely on buses to get to and from service to private companies, claiming that outsourcing school each day. will solve the problem of a shortage of drivers. Local 1505 members marched with “We Are One” signs, Local Financial Secretary/Business Agent Carly Allen, and students wore bus-shaped costumes as both groups 697-Toledo, OH, vows to fight the outsourcing efforts, spoke at the rally. They called for expanding bus rapid citing 30% turnover as the reason for the shortage transit, and the purchase of more buses to improve the in drivers, and low pay as the underlying cause of the quality, reliability and safety of public transit for both turnover. TARPS drivers are paid considerably less drivers and riders. than their TARTA counterparts, despite that fact that operating paratransit equipment arguably requires “It’s more than just riding the bus, it breaks down social more work. v barriers,” says Local President John Callahan. “Invest in public transit and watch our city grow.”
ATU camel in Cleveland for transit worker demonstration
ATU’s now famous 15-foot camel traveled to Cleveland in November to join transit workers at a demonstration outside the headquarters of the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority. The members of Local 268-Cleveland, OH were out in force calling on management to address concerns about bathroom breaks, safety violations, assaults on transit workers, coaches without working radios and horns, and failure to bargain in good faith. Stay tuned for updates about the fight.
16 November/December 2014 | IN TRANSIT IN TRANSIT | www.atu.org 17 Toronto Local:‘Stop begging – start demanding federal transit funding’ LOCAL 113 ISSUES MAJOR REPORT ON STATE OF TORONTO TRANSIT AND WHAT MUST BE DONE TO FIX IT
Report recommendations include the following: • Spend $2.7 billion over the next 10 years to keep the system in a state of good repair • Allow fares to increase with inflation. • Increase service and reduce wait times and overcrowding on surface routes. • Expand overnight bus and streetcar service in 2015. • Undertake a “serious advocacy campaign” for a national transit strategy before the 2015 federal election. • Provide better service for people with mobility challenges. Having heard every possible idea about how to improve transit from all manner of politicians running for office, it was about time that Toronto heard from the real public ‘We must speak with one voice’ transit professionals, the workers who operate the system – the members of Local 113-Toronto, ON. “Whatever our different political allegiances may be, we must speak with one voice to all federal parties: ‘Don’t try to The 10,000 operations and maintenance workers at the distract us with a multitude of tax breaks, regional rivalries Toronto Transit Commission (TTC), presented a 160-page and socially controversial hot buttons. Tell us exactly what report – Toronto’s Transit Future – analyzing in detail the you are going to do to help fix transit in Canada’s largest many challenges facing the TTC that provides dozens of city, right now and into the future,” Kinnear asserted. specific and costed-out recommendations for addressing them. ATU has launched a special website: TorontoTransitFuture.ca, which contains the full report, a separate 32-page summary, “Toronto’s transit crisis is worse than most people realize,” a short introductory video, and social media feedback warns Local President Bob Kinnear. “It’s time to stop features. v begging and start demanding.” Mayor-elect John Tory called the report, “a very constructive contribution to the discussion,” adding, “This was a very well thought out piece of work….”
IN TRANSIT | www.atu.org 17 ATUHEROES ATU’S EVERYDAY HEROES ARE HEROES EVERY DAY
Are ATU members braver and more compassionate than most people? Judging from the stories people send us every month that would seem to be the case. Here are the latest we’ve received:
Local 627-Cincinnati, OH Local 842-Wilmington, DE Bus operator Jontay Love, 627- It’s not always easy to tell the difference Cincinnati, OH, was driving late one between someone who is sleeping and a night, when he heard gunshots. Then, person who is having a medical emergency, spotting an injured man on the ground but Jackie Herbert, 842-Wilmington, DE, calling for help, he alerted the authorities took the time to find out. and stayed with the victim until police and an ambulance arrived. Herbert was operating his route when a passenger informed him that he had a “I wanted to help keep him calm. “sleeper” in the back. Herbert attempted I didn’t want him to panic or go into shock,” Love said. to wake the man without success, called “911” and waited SORTA presented Love with its STAR Award, which with the rider until EMTs arrived. Herbert received a certificate acknowledges employees who demonstrate exemplary of recognition for saving the life of a rider in cardiac arrest. service to Metro and the community.
Local 819-Newark, NJ Local 618-Providence, RI Rasahida Davis, 819-Newark, NJ, ATU is proud of three of our was driving her bus when she noticed Lime Rock firefighters, members that one of her regular passengers was of Local 618-Providence, RI, having trouble breathing. who recently saved an 86-year- old Pawtucket man who She called the control center and likely suffered a heart attack at the saved the woman’s life by performing Twin River Casino. They CPR. Davis was presented with a NJ were honored by their fellow Transit Distinguished Service Award for her quick action. v firefighters, local officials, and the man they saved.
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.
18 November/December 2014 | IN TRANSIT IN TRANSIT | www.atu.org 19 Dallas members Mayor Rahm brings the hammer down complain of unfair on CTA workers pay, poor conditions It’s been well documented that Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel has been no friend of Chicago Transit Authority workers and working families. Rahm has had his stool pigeon CTA President Forrest Claypool doing his dirty work by firing a record number of employees. Claypool sacked over 900 transit workers between 2011 and mid-2014. However the agency’s reasons and process have been inconsistent, causing serious concerns for workers. With the Chicago mayoral election set for February 2015, many workers question the political motivation behind the crackdown.
148 reinstated so far Not all of those dismissals have been justified. 148 of the fired drivers have been reinstated through arbitration and area locals are in the process of getting more Transit workers hit the streets people back to work. outside of Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) headquarters and a recent Many of the cases involve rail operators making an error by not berthing the Board meeting to protest the misuse train properly at the platform and other minor offenses. of cameras on buses, inequitable One operator with more than 25 years’ experience and a spotless record was working conditions and other issues. fired for stopping a train at the wrong spot, opening the doors, then quickly closing them. v Adding fuel to the fire, the Board recently approved a $100,000 retention payment for DART CEO Gary Thomas and made undisclosed changes to the contracts of other top officials. State fines Metro for restroom violation DART claims the cameras are meant to keep riders and drivers safe, but for Seattle bus drivers DART management has been using the video to harass and spy on As reported in last month’s In Transit, lack of bathroom breaks for Seattle, WA, operators. bus drivers is causing them to resort to extreme measures like wearing adult diapers while driving in urine soaked seats. In addition, DART pulled a fast one After complaints for many years by Local 587, the Washington Department of on the members of Local 1338 by Labor and Industries finally took notice and fined King County Metro Transit increasing their health care costs by for failing to provide bus drivers enough locations and time to adequately use 7% and refusing to carry spouses if the restroom. The department called the violation a serious breach of worker their job offers insurance. protection laws. “How long will you try to make Drivers have resorted to urinating in water bottles and the “potty dance” to keep DART look good off the backs of their composure, which causes serious traffic and safety hazards, as well as long- your employees and treat us like term health issues to the kidneys and digestive system. dogs?” asks one driver. King County Metro has to submit an improvement plan to the state before the It’s time for justice at DART. v end of the year. v
IN TRANSIT | www.atu.org 19 New Sudbury Paratransit survey: Ridership, Handi-Transit policies ignore ‘travel training’ increasing persons with Paratransit ridership is up as 14.8 million riders were transported in 2013, mental disabilities according to a new survey of U.S. and Canadian paratransit providers by METRO magazine. Could you imagine sending your Sixty-six percent reported an increase child with a brain injury or mother in their 2013 ridership numbers, with dementia to walk down the averaging 13%. The largest ridership road, through your town and to the increase reported was 60%. far-corner of the city and catch several buses to reach a destination? More than half of respondents (55%) reported having a “travel training” program in place, and 13% said they are looking into creating one. Reasons given in favor of the program include providing better customer service and alleviating customers fears about riding public transportation.
66% use taxis
Sixteen percent of respondents reported using taxis to supplement their fleets. Less than half of those said the service was helpful in accommodating riders that didn’t qualify for paratransit, but have special needs.
44% use outside contractors Unfortunately that’s the new reality With efforts to outsource paratransit in Atlanta, Toledo and other cities, it’s no that people are facing because of a surprise that 44 percent of survey participants use private contractors to deliver new Sudbury Handi-Transit policy rides, with the top two companies being MV Transportation and First Transit. in Ontario. Until recently, people Fifty-four percent of operators claim their programs have helped cut costs by qualified for Handi-Transit by moving more riders to their fixed route system. having a doctor fill out a two- page form saying they required it. A total of 12,028 vehicles are represented in the survey, with the smallest fleet Concerned that the system was coming in at one vehicle and the largest comprised of 6,000. The average fleet size being abused, Sudbury completely is 151 vehicles, and the median is 30. changed the policy. While buses still had the largest piece of the overall fleet pie at 69%, this appears The process now includes a six- to be a downward trend continuing from last year. Vans accounted for 23% of the page application, a determination fleet breakdown, a significant drop from last year’s 43%. of eligibility by city employees, and an assessment by a physiotherapist. The new parameters only measure Surprise: Money is biggest problem physical disability, not mental. It will come as no surprise that operators say costs and funding remain the top This leaves Alzheimer’s patients, challenges. Demand was the second-highest challenge with regard to providing terminally ill people in their 80’s, the service. Limited resources, customer expectations and service area issues were also developmentally challenged, those listed. suffering from traumatic brain injury, and all others with similar disabilities Some less-cited issues included lift maintenance, issues with maneuvering vehicles without public transport. v or mobility devices safely within a restricted space, and lawsuits. v
20 November/December 2014 | IN TRANSIT IN TRANSIT | www.atu.org 21 Report: Millenials’ Shift to Public Transit is Permanent
Mounting evidence is showing that the Millennial Census data shows that the share of 16 to 24 year-olds generation’s dramatic shift away from driving is more traveling to work by car declined by 1.5 percentage points than temporary. between 2006 and 2013, while the share of young people getting to work by public transportation, on foot or by While the 2000s saw a marked decrease in the average bicycle, or else working from home, had increased. number of transit miles traveled by young Americans, a new study explains that those trends appear likely to Millennials consistently report greater attraction to less continue even as the economy improves in light of the driving-intensive lifestyles — urban living, residence in consistency of Millennials’ preferences of not driving “walkable” communities, and openness to the use of non- to work, and the continued decrease in per-capita driving driving modes of transport — than older generations. among all Americans. Fewer getting driver’s licenses Big implications for policymakers Fewer young people are getting their driver’s licenses than “Millennials are different from their parents, and those even a few years ago. The percentage of high school seniors differences aren’t going away,” says a U.S. PIRG co-author of with driver’s licenses declined from 85 percent to 73 the report. “After five years of economic growth with stagnant percent between 1996 and 2010. driving, it’s time for federal and state governments to wake up Millennials are the largest generation in number and they to growing evidence that Millennials don’t want to drive as will be the chief users of the transportation investments much as their parents did. This change has big implications that get made over the coming decade. If this trend and policy makers shouldn’t be asleep at the wheel.” continues, it will be the most monumental shift in travel The report includes many findings that suggest that trends since the 1950s. v Millennials’ shift away from driving over the last decade is continuing:
Poll: More Americans prefer public transit to road building
Public transit ridership is at record levels and it’s been well documented that Millennials are forgoing cars and riding public transit in record numbers. Now a new poll shows more Americans favor government expansion of public transit over road building to reduce traffic congestion. Conducted by ABC News and the Washington Post, the poll found stronger support for public transit among urban residents than suburbanites, however both still prefer transit. Public transit was a key issue in many of the midterm elections. v
IN TRANSIT | www.atu.org 21 WHOPPER OF A DEAL... WHY YOU’RE PAYING BURGER KING’S TAXES
What’s tax inversion and why do ATU members need to be fair share of taxes. ...My attitude is, I don’t care if it’s legal. concerned about it? It’s wrong.” Tax inversion, or corporate inversion, is the relocation of a corporation’s headquarters to a country with a lower tax rate while it retains its material operations in a higher-tax country of origin. Bottom line, it’s a company finding a way to avoid paying higher taxes. The most recent example of this legal tax avoidance scheme took place August 26, when U.S.-based Burger King merged with the Canadian coffee and donut chain Tim Hortons, in a deal that will create the third-largest fast food restaurant company in the world. Burger King will move its headquarters to Canada, which has a corporate tax rate of 15 percent, while the top U.S. corporate marginal tax rate is 35 percent. Treasury Secretary Jack Lew has been examining ways the Administration can deter companies from fleeing Since 2013, nearly 20 companies have or are in the process the U.S. for lower tax nations and in September took of completing a merger with a foreign corporation to avoid steps to curb the process. Acting on behalf of the paying U.S. taxes. Administration the Treasury Department enacted new rules on inversion. Senator Bernie Sanders, I-VT, spoke out after the Burger ‘I don’t care if it’s legal. It’s wrong.’ King merger was announced saying that corporate inversion “shows the disdain that corporations have for the President Obama questioned the patriotism of inverted American public.” v companies, calling them “corporate deserters” who are abandoning their country “just to get out of paying their
22 November/December 2014 | IN TRANSIT IN TRANSIT | www.atu.org 23 Movement to raise minimum wage gains momentum
All workers have a stake American workers’ productivity continues to climb, but wages are at their lowest point since 1948. “Black Friday” may eventually become better known as a day of protest than a day of spending frenzy. That’s because U.S. Walmart employees again chose that day to Minimum wage today less than 1969 demonstrate against their employer. ATU members across the nation joined the massive protest against the retail $15,080 – that’s the yearly income of people earning the giant.Walmart workers, many who earn poverty-level U.S. federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour – which is wages and have irregular and part-time hours, are calling $3.70 less per hour than the buying power of the minimum on the company to end retaliation against employees who wage in 1968. Even more startling – the average minimum are asking for $15 an hour and a full-time schedule. wage worker today is 35 years old. Like all workers, ATU members have a big stake in this McDonald’s employees have joined Walmart workers at the campaign, as the low wages paid by the nation’s largest forefront of the movement to establish the $15 minimum employers create a downward pressure on all employee wage. compensation in America. The burger chain knows that it pays its workers so little Walmart’s employees are among the millions of low-wage that many of them qualify for public assistance (52% workers who have seen little or no improvement in their of fast-food workers do). The company actually runs a real wages over the last 40 years – years in which the wealth “McResource” help hotline, which provides its employees of the richest Americans soared to unprecedented heights. with information on how and where to apply for food stamps, Medicaid and other programs for the poor. In fact, average salaries adjusted for inflation, have dropped since the 1970s, while the hours worked by full- Taxpayers spend about $7 billion a year on public assistance time employees have steadily climbed. for fast-food workers whose employers make $7.4 billion in profits a year.
Inequality highest since 1928 Overtime? What overtime? Income inequality today is the highest it’s been since 1928 – the year before the stock market crash that caused the Big business has not only flattened base wages in the Great Depression. Corporate profits, today, are at an all- United States, it has lowered the wages at which employees time high, just as they were before the Depression. can legally claim overtime pay.
IN TRANSIT | www.atu.org 23 Nick Hanauer, a Seattle-based entrepreneur writing in lift the exemptions from paying overtime to teachers, Politico Magazine, says that “fair overtime standards are federal employees, doctors, and computer professionals, to the middle class what the minimum wage is to low- and push Congress to remove the section of the Fair Labor income workers: not everything, but an indispensable Standards Act that exempts interstate bus operators from labor protection that is absolutely essential to creating a paying overtime wages to over-the-road drivers. broad and thriving middle class.” But that’s unlikely to happen in the current political climate in which any attempt to improve the standard of living of American families opens a legislator up to relentless Right Wing attack and accusations of socialism.
Voters in states take action
Voters have decided to take matters into their own hands by passing ballot initiatives to increase the minimum wage. Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Over 65% of American workers earned overtime in 1975. Virginia, and Washington, DC, had all raised their But, because the value of the legal threshold at which minimum wages before the midterm elections. employers are required to pay overtime has been allowed to erode, only 11% of American workers qualify for And on November 4, ballot measures to raise the overtime pay today. minimum wage were passed in Nebraska, South Dakota, Arkansas, and Alaska, but none to reach $15 - the goal of minimum wage advocates. Stranglehold Only Seattle and San Francisco have decided to gradually The president could restore the 1975 standards on his raise their minimum to that threshold. own, raising the overtime cut-off to wages over $69,000 per year, but like his predecessors he has not done so. This struggle is likely to continue for a long time. Workers can expect the moneyed class to fight tooth and nail to Such is the stranglehold the corporate monoliths have on retain the hammerlock of restraints they’ve imposed on government, that even Democratic politicians are afraid the wages of working poor and middle class families. to use the legal power at their disposal to raise the income of over 10 million middle class workers. But, the battle for dignity and livable wages has been joined by countless citizens of both red and blue states, and ATU And that number would increase if the president would will be fighting with them for as long as it takes. v
New York Local mourns loss of recording secretary Local 1181-New York, NY, is mourning the loss of Recording Secretary Tommy Jemmott who passed away on September 22, at the age of 58. Jemmott, a 32-year veteran of the school bus local, came up through the ranks as a driver, assistant shop steward, shop steward, executive board member, and delegate to the International Convention. In addition to his work as recording secretary, Jemmott served Local 1181 members as a member of the ATU New York State Legislative Conference Board and Trustee of the Local’s Welfare and Pension Funds. Jemmott helped negotiate many contracts with New York City’s Department of Education, the MTA, and the Long Island and Westchester school districts. v
24 November/December 2014 | IN TRANSIT IN TRANSIT | www.atu.org 25 Public transit: Infrastructure and investment that knows no boundaries
“Our urban centres are the economic drivers of our national economy. Strengthening investments in public transit, for example, creates a win-win across all orders of government and across provincial and territorial boundaries.”
In fact, other observers noted, for every dollar invested in Canada in public transit, three dollars are returned to the economy, the kind of news any investor would like to hear.
Representatives from the Canadian Urban Transit “To keep pace with our urban population growth, public Association (CUTA) joined premiers and delegates transit in Canada needs an investment partnership between at the Council of the Federation meeting in August all orders of government as well as the private sector,” said in Charlottetown, PEI, to collaborate on efforts to CUTA President and CEO Michael Roschlau. improve infrastructure across provincial lines, and The transit industry contributes 12 billion to the national throughout Canada. economy every year, making this municipal matter not “Investing in the building blocks of our cities through only a provincial priority, but a federal investment that v integrated urban mobility is a recipe for economic knows no boundaries. growth” said CUTA Chair Daniel Bergeron, who added,
Private transit buses roll in Toronto
Following the lead of similar enterprises in San Francisco and Boston, a new private bus enterprise called “Line 6” has begun along one of Toronto’s busiest transit corridors where streetcars are routinely packed tight during peak service hours.
The new service provides express bus service for residents of a new housing development, to Union Station during rush hours. The express bus charges passengers $5 for an assured ride into downtown Toronto, complete with complimentary Wi-Fi and coffee or tea.
Bus patrons are asking if this is a good thing that improves service in the City, or if it is a service for the elite that will lead to a two- tiered transit system for the “haves” and the “have-nots.”
Commentators agree that the City’s failure to upgrade transit to keep pace with the growth of the City has lead to this development. v
IN TRANSIT | www.atu.org 25 Regina struggles to Transit use growing in find mechanics smaller Canadian cities
Canadians continue to demonstrate their increased use of public transit across the country with recent data indicating a national ridership growth of 16 million trips in 2013. According to data released by the Canadian Urban Transit Association (CUTA) that figure represents an increase of 0.78%. Electronic fare systems that report more accurate ridership data, and the extreme weather events The City of Regina, SK, is having the experienced by much of the country last year were both factors in the smaller same trouble finding mechanics for its number compared to last year’s increase of 2.8%. transit service as Saskatoon, SK. Local President Don Baker, 588-Regina, SK, has been raising the issue for a year. Cities of 2 million or less saw an increase in ridership “I understand the situation. I get it,” of 7%, across the board he says. “They don’t grow on trees, While ridership continues its upward trend on average across the entire these guys.” But, he adds, “From my country, there was a marked increase in smaller cities across Canada. Smaller point of view, I believe the city could cities and regions by population size saw the greatest increase in ridership with be doing just a little bit more to attract Ontario’s Niagara Falls experiencing the highest percentage of growth at 67% these mechanics to Regina Transit.” and Niagara-on-the-lake a 75% increase. Baker says the problem will probably be addressed during the union’s next By geographic region, Canada’s territories experienced the greatest growth contract negotiations in December 2015. in 2013, with a 16% increase in ridership and 688,818 additional regular service passenger rides. This increase can partially be attributed to the success The City counters that it has of Whitehorse’s extended late night weekday service hours. advertised, attended job fairs and sent representatives overseas to Ireland and England in an effort to recruit Big cities hold steady, Saskatchewan cities mixed mechanics. It has also paid $12,000 so far to a consultant that specializes On average, Canada’s largest cities held steady on ridership at a 1% increase, in recruitment in Africa. with Montreal increasing by 1% and Toronto increasing by 2%. Vancouver One company spokesman may have saw a 2% decrease in ridership. put is finger on the problem when Saskatchewan on average witnessed the greatest decrease in reported he observed that, given the current provincial and territorial ridership across the country, with a 26% decrease in strong economy in Saskatchewan, it’s reported trips, due to large decreases in reported trips in the urban centers of tough for the City to compete with Saskatoon and Regina. “These decreases can also be attributed to electronic private industry wages. fare systems, such as the one implemented in Saskatoon explains Roschlau. The same argument was made in “These systems collect real-time data and therefore report accurate ridership Saskatoon, where the City claims it numbers compared to the manual fare collection and reporting methods” is forced to advertise lower mechanic he adds. wages until an agreement is reached on a contract with Local 615. Regina’s decrease was due to a route review and route updates, in addition to a fare increase. Elsewhere in Saskatchewan, Moose Jaw and Prince Albert both The job vacancies have forced Regina saw significant ridership increases with 20% and 3% respectively. to outsource a lot of its maintenance work, which has proven to be a lot Overall, 2013 data continues to demonstrate that Canadians continue to turn more expensive than using in-house to public transit, and that more and more, investments in transit in Canada’s employees. v smaller cities are resulting in ridership growth for these communities. v
26 November/December 2014 | IN TRANSIT IN TRANSIT | www.atu.org 27 Hamilton to install security Thunder Bay specialized transit cameras, possibly shields strike averted
Hamilton Street Railroad (HSR) in In what’s hailed as a win for all sides, Ontario plans to enact the city of Thunder Bay announced proposals made by in late October it has reached a an assault prevention memorandum of understanding with task force by installing Local 966 for its Lift+ operators. security cameras on buses and, possibly “We are extremely pleased to reach protective shields. a tentative deal and, subject to ratification, prevent any disruption “It’s been a long time coming,” says Local in the delivery of this important President Eric Tuck, 107-Hamilton, ON, who is pleased that HSR is acting public service,” said City Manager on the task force’s suggestions. Tim Commisso in a statement. “It’s a credit to the bargaining team on both Police have been hampered in investigating serious assaults involving weapons sides.” because assailants have been able to quickly disappear after leaving the bus. This was the first contract negotiated “We’re hoping cameras will help with that,” Tuck says. for the Lift+ operators by ATU and the City. Events leading up to the Tuck acknowledges that operators are all too often interacting with riders who memorandum however, had appeared appear to be mentally ill. “These issues are becoming more prevalent and you fairly grim. Members of the local need to train your front-line staff in how to deal with it,” he adds. viewed the city as being unreasonable An escalation in the number of assaults on operators provided the impetus and unable to meet their most basic for the City to take action. Driver Amy Semple is one such victim, who is needs. Members were fed up. They returning to work after being spat upon and threatened earlier this year. were the second lowest paid ATU transit members in the Province of Ontario, and needed issues addressed Assault numbers may be higher that would help them better serve their community. than reported “The executives of Local 966 are not She thinks the actual number of assaults is higher than what’s been reported. very optimistic about the outcome,” Local President Sheila Kivisto remarked “I think a lot of drivers, myself among them, start out not reporting prior to the meeting. “There has been incidents,” she explains. “You just take it and take it until you can’t take it no sign of optimism with regards to anymore. I became frustrated, because I didn’t think my concerns were being establishing a settlement because this taken seriously.” matter has fallen on deaf ears.” Shields are more controversial in Hamilton due to members’ negative reaction Regardless of the depressed nature of to their installation on two buses in 2012. But, Tuck thinks his members might attitudes leading into negotiations, be open to more flexible barriers that can be used at drivers’ discretion. v members steeled their resolve for the fight saying, “we’re tired of being put on the backburner,” and managed to win their first contract negotiation without having to sacrifice their service to the public. It’s a feat that is no- doubt a cause for celebration. v
IN TRANSIT | www.atu.org 27 trop souvent une veille d’ouragan, ils sont le soleil et les Plus riche que vous ne l’aurez roses. La prochaine fois que vous les verrez, remerciez-les de ne pas abandonner, donnez-leur un gros câlin et un jamais été : sourire et n’oubliez pas que, si ce n’était pas d’eux, nous serions à la merci des banquiers, des courtiers et de tous Nous ne sommes pas parfaits. Personne ne l’est. Mais, au ceux qui cherchent à nous diviser et nous exploiter. cœur du SUT se trouve la conviction que nous sommes plus forts ensemble que divisés. C’est une valeur. Nous En 2015, notre message aux frères Koch et aux hommes valorisons les gens davantage que les profits et nous nous politiques qui ne partagent pas nos valeurs imitera ceux soucions de notre grande famille : le syndicat. Facile à dire de George Bailey dans « La vie est belle » (It’s a Wonderful pour moi. Life) : Alors qu’une année s’achève et qu’une autre commence, je George Bailey : « Juste une minute... juste une minute. tiens à saluer les gens du SUT qui le rendent digne d’être Attendez, M. Potter. Vous avez raison quand vous dites appelé un syndicat. Je demande souvent à des officiers que mon père n’était pas un homme d’affaires. Je le locaux : « Dirigeons-nous un syndicat ou une liste de sais. Pourquoi at-il jamais commencé cette entreprise de diffusion? » Et nos dirigeants syndicaux et les membres bâtiment et de prêt bon marché, je ne saurai jamais. Mais ont saisi l’occasion et répondu à cette question tout au ni vous ni personne d’autre ne pouvez rien dire contre son long de l’année de façon à nous rendre tous fiers. À Saint- caractère, parce que toute sa vie a été..., dans les 25 années Louis et à Saskatoon, plus récemment, et à Atlanta, des depuis que lui et son frère, l’oncle Billy, ont commencé membres SUT ont utilisé leurs téléphones, sont descendus cette chose, jamais il n’a jamais pensé à lui-même. N’est- dans les rues et, dans la lutte pour eux-mêmes et pour leur ce pas, oncle Billy? Il n’a pas épargné assez d’argent pour communauté, ont fait de ce monde un endroit meilleur. envoyer Harry à l’université, encore moins moi. Mais il a aidé quelques personnes à sortir de vos bidonvilles, Notre travail exige du courage. Robert Kennedy a dit : M. Potter, et qu’est-ce qu’il y a de mal à cela? Ici, vous « Peu d’hommes sont prêts à braver la désapprobation êtes tous des hommes d’affaires. Est-ce que cela n’en fait de leurs camarades, la censure de leurs collègues, la pas de meilleurs citoyens? Est-ce que cela n’en fait pas colère de leur société. Le courage moral est une denrée de meilleurs clients? Vous... vous avez dit... qu’avez-vous plus rare que la bravoure au combat ou qu’une grande dit il y a une minute? Ils ont dû attendre et économiser intelligence. Pourtant, c’est la qualité essentielle, vitale leur argent avant même qu’ils ne pensent à un logement de ceux qui cherchent à changer un monde qui cède décent. Attendre? Attendre quoi? Jusqu’à ce que leurs douloureusement au changement ». enfants grandissent et les quittent? Jusqu’à ce qu’ils soient Quelque part dans le SUT ce soir, un intendant ou officier si vieux et brisés qu’ils... Savez-vous combien de temps il s’interrogera sur les sacrifices qu’il a faits en 2014 pour faut à un travailleur pour économiser 5000 $? Rappelez- ses collègues. Le temps qu’il a perdu avec sa famille a-t-il vous, M. Potter, que ces canailles dont vous parlez... ils même été remarqué? Est-ce que quelqu’un sait comment font la majorité du travail et ils paient et vivent et meurent il peut être difficile de diriger les autres? En lisant ceci, dans cette communauté. Eh bien, est-ce trop de les avoir j’espère qu’il y a certains membres, ayant traité leurs à travailler et payer et vivre et mourir dans quelques pièces dirigeants d’une manière dure ou injuste, qui se rendront décentes et un bain? Quoi qu’il en soit, mon père ne le compte que même si nous avons des différences, nous pensait pas. sommes tous du même côté. Et j’espère que nos officiers Les gens sont des êtres humains pour lui. Mais pour vous, vont se re-consacrer à essayer de comprendre davantage un vieil homme frustré, déformé, c’est comme du bétail. qu’ils dirigent parfois dans les temps les plus difficiles. Eh bien dans mon livre à moi, mon père est mort comme Encore une fois, nos officiers locaux et internationaux ne un homme beaucoup plus riche que vous ne le serez sont pas parfaits. Mais, ils sont le groupe qui a le courage jamais! » Merci à vous tous qui me rendez si fier. C’est d’entrer dans le conflit moral, et de sacrifier et de diriger. cela, l’esprit du SUT. Joyeuses Fêtes ...... et en avant! v Ils sont prêts à risquer la censure de leurs collègues et de euillez visiter le www.atu.org pour plus de renseignements faire du monde un meilleur endroit où vivre. Ils cherchent et les récentes nouvelles du SUT. à changer une petite partie des événements, et dans leur poursuite des idéaux, nous rappellent combien il est difficile de naviguer à contre-courant. Ils sont les jeunes de cœur, bénis d’un mélange d’idéalisme, de grâce sous la pression et de persistance. Dans un monde qui ressemble
28 November/December 2014 | IN TRANSIT IN TRANSIT | www.atu.org 29 Plan de restructuration réussi La lutte pour le transit sera gagnée dans les tranchées dans les tranchées Alors que nous sommes fiers d’être le SUT et de nos réalisations récentes, nos efforts ont été en partie des Aux États-Unis, l’élection est derrière nous, mais nous campagnes d’urgences et de réanimation. Une chose que entendons encore le bruit des têtes parlantes sur la morosité les élections ont clairement indiquée : la lutte sur les projets des Démocrates et l’euphorie des Républicains. de transport en commun et les dollars nécessaires pour les soutenir seront gagnées ou perdues dans les tranchées de Nous, le SUT, avons beaucoup à être reconnaissants, causer nos communautés. pour célébrer, et des réalisations dont nous pouvons être fiers. Soixante-dix pour cent des initiatives de vote pour Pour l’année 2015, nous avons de nombreux contrats qui soutenir le transport en commun ont réussi. arrivent à échéance, en plus de nos négociations de longue haleine qui sont toujours en cours. Nous avons appris de Nos membres se sont prononcés contre le projet mal conçu nos efforts récents. Nous devons planifier, éduquer et lutter de tramway qui enlèverait le travail de nos membres et plus intelligemment, et ainsi devenir plus proactifs. exploiterait la population. Ces plans ont été défaits. Des plans sont en bonne voie d’élargir notre capacité à Nous, les membre du SUT et le personnel, à travers nos offrir de la formation et de l’assistance. Comment établir actes de mobilisation et d’alliances, avons non seulement le coût d’un contrat? Quel effet produit Obamacare sur les sauvé la pension pour nos membres de la section locale provisions d’assurance? Qu’est-ce que cela signifie d’être 788 de St. Louis, mais avons aussi jeté les bases pour une un expert en transit dans notre communauté d’accueil, et ratification du contrat après plusieurs années de démarches. sommes-nous prêts à fournir l’effort supplémentaire avec Nos membres de la section locale 732 d’Atlanta ont ratifié nos alliés des transits? leur contrat par environ 88% des voix, parvenant ainsi à un Chaque section locale doit s’engager dans une culture accord qui autrefois semblait peu probable. d’apprentissage et de suivi. Nos membres n’en méritent pas Nos membres de la section locale 615 à Saskatoon, en moins. Saskatchewan, sont de retour au travail et se battent pour Profitons tous de cette période des Fêtes en sachant que 2015 obtenir un contrat et une retraite équitables, après un lock- sera l’année où nous ferons passer notre restructuration au out non désiré. niveau suivant.v Tout cela survient après un combat et, éventuellement, un effort couronné de succès pour l’obtention d’un contrat Veuillez visiter le www.atu.org pour plus de renseignements pour nos membres de la section 1287 de Kansas City, et les récentes nouvelles du SUT. au Missouri.
Connaître le succès dans la restructuration C’est la bataille pour laquelle Avant notre Convention, j’ai parlé de notre plan de nous nous sommes entraînés restructuration comme étant similaire à « Amazon». Signifiant que l’on peut naviguer sur les pages Web du Je suis sûr que vous avez entendu dire que « Quand les temps géant en ligne et voir un produit, mais encore avoir l’envie sont durs, les courageux s’endurcissent ». Eh bien, le SUT et le besoin de toucher et de voir ce produit en personne. et tous les travailleurs aux États-Unis peuvent s’attendre à Maintenant, nous avons vu, senti et vécu les luttes et les ce que les choses se corsent au cours des deux prochaines succès de notre programme de restructuration approuvé par années, suite à la déroute du GOP du Parti démocrate aux la convention. Les membres voient les résultats de première élections de mi-mandat de cette année. main et les bénéfices sont tangibles.
Le processus a dynamisé les membres. Ce que fait le SUT a Une guerre totale contre le président été appelé non seulement un gain pour le SUT, mais pour l’ensemble de la classe ouvrière. Nous, du SUT, ouvrons la Malgré tous les discours conciliants pro forma qu’ils ont voie pour tous les travailleurs. donnés après l’élection, vous pouvez vous attendre à ce que
IN TRANSIT | www.atu.org 29 les dirigeants républicains au Congrès aillent lancer une Cela ne pourrait pas être plus vrai qu’à Toronto, où les animosité à son paroxysme contre le président Obama . résidents ont élu le candidat progressiste-conservateur, John Tory, pour succéder au maire Rob Ford. Cela commencera avec n’importe quelle mesure prise par le président au sujet de l’immigration – que la majorité L’élection de Tory a été accueillie avec enthousiasme par la utilisera comme une excuse pour déclarer la guerre à la première ministre libérale de l’Ontario, Kathleen Wynne, capacité du président à gouverner. qui pourrait travailler avec Tory pour réparer le système de transport en commun de la ville et de la province. Pendant ce temps, les membres parrainés par des entreprises du Congrès et ceux qui contrôlent maintenant plusieurs Ce qui n’est pas clair, c’est si oui ou non ces anciens législatures vont brandir leur nouveau pouvoir pour opposants envisagent d’étendre, et de reconstruire le marteler la loi fédérale et de droit du travail, et supprimer le système des partenariats publics / privés qui exigent financement du transport en commun. habituellement qu’ils soient autorisés à faire fonctionner ce qu’ils construisent avec des travailleurs non syndiqués. Alors que ce n’est pas ce que nous souhaitions, c’est le combat pour lequel nous nous sommes entraînés. Et, aucun Peu importe ce que le premier ministre et le maire disent, syndicat n’est mieux préparé pour ce combat que le SUT. il y aura des intérêts puissants, tout comme il en existe aux États-Unis, qui y verront une occasion d’augmenter leurs Alors, membres américains, il est temps de « s’endurcir ». profits en faisant reculer les Droits du travail au Canada. Nous nous battrons aussi dur que n’importe qui pour ce à quoi nous croyons, et nous continuerons à former davantage Alors, nous avons du pain sur la planche, dans nos deux de nos membres à le faire aussi. pays. Mettons-nous au travail. v
P.-S. : Joyeuses fêtes à vous et vos familles en cette belle période de l’année. Que la paix et la joie vous accompagnent Besoins de transport en commun maintenant, et tout au long de l’année 2015. reconnus au Canada Veuillez visiter le www.atu.org pour plus de Nous faisons face aux mêmes menaces au Canada qu’aux renseignements et les récentes nouvelles du SUT. États-Unis, mais il y a des raisons d’être optimiste quant à l’avenir. La plupart des candidats dans toutes les élections canadiennes de cet automne ont reconnu la nécessité pour davantage et de meilleurs transports en commun. STAY CONNECTED For the latest ATU News and Action Alerts please check out the ATU’s social media network
Facebook: facebook.com/ATUInternational YouTube: youtube.com/user/stpatuorg Twitter: twitter.com/ATUComm Flickr: flickr.com/photos/atuinternational/
30 November/December 2014 | IN TRANSIT IN TRANSIT | www.atu.org 31 In Memoriam Death Benefits Awarded September 1, 2014 - October 31, 2014
1- MEMBERS AT LARGE VIOLA PASCHAL BRANDON K VALENTINE 825- ORADELL, NJ PAUL A LAWRENCE RAYMOND H ETHERIDGE EARL R RICKMON RICHARD W WHELAN JAMES MC ALISTER LOUISE E MURDAUGH ALBERT P JOSSI LUIS A RIVERA RICHARD L ZEWIEY MARY A QUARTIERI ELMER KUSSRO ERVIN G SCHULTZ 842- WILMINGTON, DE EDWARD RICE GEORGE LEGORIUS ALBERT WILLS 591- HULL, QC HARRIET L DEPUTY PATRICIA WHITE MYRON WOODSO NICHOLLS ROBERT L ZIRKLE MARCEL CAYER PHAEDRA THOMAS DAVID YOUNG JOSEPH ROGALA PAUL-EMILE VILLENEUVE WILLIAM EARL STEPHENS 256- SACRAMENTO, CA 880- CAMDEN, NJ 1235- NASHVILLE, TN WILMER TURNER RAYMOND GLENN 615- SASKATOON, SK MARTIN J EGAN JR STEVEN C SCHULTHEIS ROY RADFORD MICHAEL PANICO 22- WORCESTER, MA 265- SAN JOSE, CA GERALD SMITH 1300- BALTIMORE, MD FRANCIS HEBERT ADRIENNE C CAMPBELL 618- PROVIDENCE, RI WILLIAM E MOSLEY IRVIN J DAVIS CORA E ARUDA 998- MILWAUKEE, WI MC RAYMOND D NORRINGTON 26- DETROIT, MI THOMAS W HOGGS ANTHONY CONTI GEORGE V DONALD NELSON A ZOLLICOFFER TOMMIE L BALDWIN RICHARD R MARTIN ROBERT E DOWDEN GREGORY COTTON 689- WASHINGTON, DC THOMAS A EWERT 1309- SAN DIEGO, CA WILLIE JOHNS 268- CLEVELAND, OH WILLIE ANTRUM VICTOR FISHER OSCAR H CHAVEZ EMIL V DI CHIRO JOSEPH J BROWN THOMAS MIKORSKI WENDY TRUJILLO 85- PITTSBURGH, PA JEAN SURACE JAMES R CARTER RAYMOND R STROINSKI HERBERT L BLAND ROBERT A CARTER 1317- CLIFTON, NJ REED A DAVIDSON 272- YOUNGSTOWN, OH LIN C CHANG 1001- DENVER, CO HELDER DA SILVA HERMAN H DE SHANTZ ROBERT RAPONE BURNETT CLARK WILLIAM L COBB FRANK JOSEPH DI FIORE RUSSELL CRUM ROBERT H RALEIGH 1328- RALEIGH, NC ANDREW J KRYZOSIAK 276- STOCKTON, CA JOAN C JURADO THOMAS A SUMMERS JOSEPH A STRICKLAND DONALD H LYNCH DEBORAH A PRIDE ANTHONY MASON WILLIAM G VALENTINE ROBERT E RIHS DAVID S MONK KEITH G WEISSE 1342- BUFFALO, NY SANDRA STRADER 279- OTTAWA, ON KERMIT L PULLUM HENRY T BEAMAN JEAN P ARCHAMBAULT GEORGE W REXRODE 1005- MINNEAPOLIS EUGENE COSTON 89- NEW CASTLE, PA RICHARD LATOUR JAMES E ROMICK SR & ST. PAUL, MN LOUIS G FERRO EDWARD EZZO DONALD J LOYER JAMES UTHEL SMITH DENNIS M HILL ROBERT J MOORE DONALD SCHWARTZ LEE A TOWNS CHARLES J LAKE JR CAROL A WILDE 107- HAMILTON, ON ANGELO VILELA JOHN A TRAYNHAM RICHARD A MILLER GABRIELE GAGLIARDI MARVIN H VANN RODNEY R PEDERSON 1374- CALGARY, AB 282- ROCHESTER, NY FRANCIS J WILSON JR DENNIS D ROSE RALPH T WALSH 113- TORONTO, ON CARL F LEEGE JOHN L SENIOR JOHN BORTNIKAS 694- SAN ANTONIO, TX 1433- PHOENIX, AZ CLEVELAND CARACCIOLO 308- CHICAGO, IL PAUL S FOGEL 1037- NEW BEDFORD, MA JOHN TUCKER THOMAS CHARLES CHILD WAULENE GEORGE DENNIS J NARENDORF LAWRENCE G MARSHALL LEONARDUS DEROOY LEONARD A JOYCE 1464- TAMPA, FL VICTOR GEORGE DEVEAU JOHN H STOKES JR 697- TOLEDO, OH 1039- LANSING, MI APRIL L BOYETT ROGER J DICKIN MC ROY TIMMONS MILTON S WITTENBERG JASON BARAGAR CANIO GRIESI JOSEPH L WASHINGTON 1505- WINNIPEG, MB GEORGE HADDEN 713- MEMPHIS, TN 1056- FLUSHING, NY GUSTAVE BOGASKI PETER P KILKENNY 425- HARTFORD, CT CLORENE J SMITH WILLIAM BENJAMIN LOUIS DUTCHAK MICHAEL LEE JAMES D TEMPLE ARTHUR P BIAZZO NICHOLAS MARANGOS 725- BIRMINGHAM, AL LEROY S CAMPBELL 1512- SPRINGFIELD, MA JOHN MARSHALL 569- EDMONTON, AB RALPH M COLLINS ERROL L GARNETT ARTHUR H ALDRICH HAROLD W MC CLEAN MICHELLE M MCLEAN CALVIN LEVERT JR ROBERT HEINSSEN ROBERT OLENCHUK WALTER L TURLOCK JOHN R MASHBURN MAURICE V HODGSON 1603- BETHLEHEM, PA GEORGE ALLEN SPICER KENRICK D LEWIS DENNIS W WIBLE HUGH W SUMMERFIELD 583- CALGARY, AB 732- ATLANTA, GA SIDNEY R LUKE JASON WILSON GUY J DESCHATELETS MICHAEL K CARNES FRANK V PHILLIPS 1700- CHICAGO, IL CARY A MC AMMOND VELMA OUTLAW LASCOE R RICHARDSON HAROLD J ASHMORE 174- FALL RIVER, MA DENNIS ALVIN NATE MONTEEN C STEWART EDWIN L STOLLER DONALD FISH TODD C PEREIRA TERRANCE SMITH WILLIAM SUMAZA HERBERT T HICKS GILBERT H TERLSON 757- PORTLAND, OR GERALD L WOLLASTON MICHAEL ANDREW KOLEK 192- OAKLAND, CA LLOYD FRED COUTURE CONNIE C BAILEY 587- SEATTLE, WA WILLIAM F DIST 1091- AUSTIN, TX 1729- PITTSBURGH, PA JOHN D BRUMFIELD ERIC S HANSEN GLADYS R GIVENS AMOS UNDERWOOD PHILIP MC KAY TYREE JONES JR JOHN W SEPOLEN JAN W SENTEN JOHN SALAK JOHN B PURCELL 1177- NORFOLK, VA GROVER A STEPHENS 588- REGINA, SK 788- ST. LOUIS, MO MAVIS HINTON 1760- OTTAWA, ONT HUEY P WILLIAMS ALEXANDER J PARLEY JAMES BONO MICHEAL V COADY RICHARD A BUECKER 1179- NEW YORK, NY 241- CHICAGO, IL 589- BOSTON, MA CARL GORDON FRED FLYNN 1764- WASHINGTON, DC ROBERT M BRACKEN JAMES A BARRY JOHN F MAJOR JOHNNY SMITH LEON A DAVIS FREDERICK T CHASE 819- NEWARK, NJ ROBERT F ZIMMERMAN DAVID EATMON JOHN J DOHERTY ANGELO DI PRENDA 1767- SAULT STE. MARIE, ON ROBERT J HAMILTON LOUIS J FORTE THEODORE J MONETTI 1181- NEW YORK, NY RALPH P FOGGIA EDWARD M IGNACEK GEORGE H HARVEY SHARYN GELLER EDWARD L LOVE JAMES F MAC LELLAN 823- ELIZABETH, NJ CONNIE GUGLIARO JOHN MURRAY STANLEY V STEARNS WILLIAM R SCHUMACHER YVAN KINSSEC BEZELL NICHOLSON RUBEN TOLEDO MICHELE STANCIL PASQUALE LAURELLI
IN TRANSIT | www.atu.org 31 Amalgamated Transit Union NON-PROFIT ORG AFL-CIO/CLC US POSTAGE 5025 Wisconsin Ave., NW PAID LANCASTER,PA Washington, D.C.20016 PERMIT #1052 www.atu.org
STAY CONNECTED
PRINTED IN U.S.A.