DEC / NOV 2 0 1 3
www.atu.org ATU BULKS UP OUT OF THE STANDS AND ON TO THE ICE
OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE AMALGAMATED TRANSIT UNION | AFL-CIO/CLC INTERNATIONAL OFFICERS LAWRENCE J. HANLEY International President NEWSBRIEFS JAVIER M. PEREZ, JR. International Executive Vice President OSCAR OWENS International Secretary-Treasurer ATU Canada joins fight to stop anti labour changes to budget bill - INTERNATIONAL VICE PRESIDENTS Canadian members are joining with fellow LARRY R. KINNEAR unions, telling their MPs that Bill C-4 is a serious Ashburn, ON – [email protected] attack on working families and an “assault on the RICHARD M. MURPHY constitutional right to collective bargaining.” The Newburyport, MA – [email protected] bill proposes detrimental changes to unions like how BOB M. HYKAWAY employees can make grievances and how collective Calgary, AB – [email protected] bargaining will be negotiated. WILLIAM G. McLEAN Reno, NV – [email protected] JANIS M. BORCHARDT Madison, WI – [email protected] PAUL BOWEN Regina workers reach tentative deal - Canton, MI – [email protected] After nine months of negotiations, Local 588 KENNETH R. KIRK and the city of Regina, SK, have reached a Lancaster, TX – [email protected] tentative agreement that will allow workers to return GARY RAUEN to work. Local 588 had voted to authorize a strike and Clayton, NC – [email protected] engaged in job actions, but after a mediator stepped in MARCELLUS BARNES they were able to reach a strong and fair deal. Flossmore, IL – [email protected] RAY RIVERA Lilburn, GA – [email protected] YVETTE SALAZAR Thornton, CO – [email protected] GARY JOHNSON, SR. Cleveland, OH – [email protected] ROBIN WEST Green bonds to help expand Ontario Halifax, NS – [email protected] transit - In an effort to raise funds to expand JOHN COSTA Ontario’s public transit, green bonds will be Kenilworth, NJ – [email protected] issued in the province. “Green bonds are a great tool to CHUCK WATSON raise capital for a project with specific environmental Syracuse, NY – [email protected] benefits,” says Premier Kathleen Wynne. This is one CLAUDIA HUDSON of many measures that will be implemented to raise Oakland, CA – [email protected] millions and expand transit in the heavily congested BRUCE HAMILTON Toronto and Hamilton area. These bonds will also save New York, NY – [email protected] the money in the long term because there many investors MICHELE SOMMERS who want to invest in specific green initiatives. Brooklyn Park, MN – [email protected] INTERNATIONAL REPRESENTATIVES ANTHONY WITHINGTON Sebastopol, CA – [email protected] INTERNATIONAL OFFICERS EMERITUS 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] Subscription: USA and Canada, $5 a year. Single copy: 50 cents. All others: $10 a year. Published bimonthly by the Amalgamated Transit Union, Editor: Shawn Perry, Designer: Paul A. Fitzgerald.Editorial Office: 5025 Wisconsin Ave., NW, Washington, DC CANADIAN DIRECTOR 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 TO:APC Postal Logistics, IN TRANSIT | 3 MICHAEL MAHAR LLC, PO Box 503, RPO, West Beaver Creek, Richmond Hill ON L4B 4R6. November/December 2013 Rexdale, ON - [email protected] LARRY HANLEY, INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT
We Want YOU For Team ATU!
elcome to the ATU Hockey Issue. We’re using this you are an ATU member and want to be more involved Wpopular national preoccupation to make a couple in your Union the first step is to see your union officers of important points. and stewards and tell them you want ATU training in 2014. Also email us directly at [email protected]. • First the number of people, including our members, who pay strict attention to sports far We are working right now with your local union officers exceeds the number who pay attention to politics to plan and produce the biggest training program in and legislation. our history. Are you ready to help ATU become less of a spectator and more of a player on the ice? Don’t gripe • The average American can name more football – sign up today. players than members of congress.
• Ruthless billionaires are taking full advantage of our lack of interest in following congress— Assaults must stop pushing though devastating tax cuts for the rich, As I write this I have just heard about more assaults on engaging in unnecessary global conflicts, and bus drivers around the U.S. and Canada. In Canada we changing laws to hurt the middle class. are trying to pass federal legislation to protect transit • We can act to change this. workers from assaults, and in the U.S. we are meeting over the next several weeks with federal agency heads to • Members of parliament are pushing through press the need for more attention by transit managers anti-union legislation to take away the rights of and lawmakers to this growing epidemic. I am a bus workers across Canada. driver and I have been assaulted while driving. I have • We need to pay more attention to the teams that attended the funerals of my brothers who were killed in are really hurting us and our children by cutting assaults while driving. education, but expanding military programs. I know how it feels and I know that we must do everything we can to be sure our members return home The ATU continues to prepare for a very action-packed after their day’s work. As labor singer Anne Feeney sings: 2014. The U.S. transportation funding bill will be up for “We just come to work here, we don’t come to die.” The renewal. This is our opportunity to get federal funds for joint indignities of being beaten up at work and not transit. Also in 2014 there will be mid-term congressional having sanitary bathroom breaks continue to be high on elections. In Canada, legislators are attempting to pass the ATU agenda. Bill C-4, which would have negative impacts on our collective bargaining rights and there are key municipal But if you are tired of workers and our families being elections to be held in a number of provinces. slapped around like pucks in the game of life then we are going to have to make it a point to focus at least as much
on our jobs as we do on our entertainment. Join us Key to the fights ahead is mobilizing our members. We need to get ATU out of the stands and on to the ice. If
IN TRANSIT | November/December 2013 3 JAVIER PEREZ, JR., INTERNATIONAL EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT
BART: Incompetence or contempt?
s I write this, Local 1555 members working for labor relations games to test our members’ willingness ASan Francisco’s Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) to stand together. are having a very unusual problem. After months of contentious negotiations, the local reached a deal, Sure, within our locals there are disagreements, but which both parties signed and the members ratified. there is a time, place, and procedure to effectively resolve But a problem arose when the contract went to BART’s differences. But, there should be no misunderstanding Board for approval. or differences among us when confronted by the type of behavior exhibited by BART management. Together The agency contends that a provision that gives their we can, and together we will prevail if we, the members, workers six weeks family medical leave in addition stand strong together, set our differences aside, and to their vacation time, which BART says it rejected, support each other and our local leadership. was “inadvertently” left in the signed agreement. The previous contract said that they must use all of their Whose problem is it? It’s a problem for all of us – we vacation before taking family leave. can’t sit around “waiting on the world to change”. Get involved! Most commentators don’t believe that BART, with a $400,000 negotiator, and high-powered lawyers actually made that error. Nevertheless, the board rejected the Imagine the possible, seize contract with the new provision. And that’s where the opportunity. things stand, as I write today. Throughout this issue you’ll read how we plan to do that in the coming year. We will come together in What if the local made the solidarity, like never before, and build a better life for same claim? ourselves, and generations of workers yet to come. Imagine what would happen if Local 1555 said there “The clock of life is wound but once for us, and no man was something in the contract that they thought had has the power to tell just when the hands will stop, at a been taken out. Would BART say, “Certainly – no late or early hour. Now is the only time you own. Live, problem – we’ll just delete that part.”? I don’t think so. love, toil with a will. Place no faith in time. For the clock may soon be still.” BART’s actions lead us to only one of two conclusions. Either BART management is incredibly incompetent, Christmas and the holiday season is my favorite time or they will do anything they think could bust the of year. Remember the awe struck face of a child, the union – no matter how underhanded. If it’s the later – gleam of wonder and magic the eyes behold? Reach out and I’m sure it is – it’s clear that they have nothing but help someone in need. I wish each of you happy holi- contempt for their own employees. That’s a sad thing to days and a Meaningful Christmas. say – particularly during the holidays. While this tactic is new, the attitude is not. They simply have no respect for workers, and stoop to worn-out anti
4 November/December 2013 | IN TRANSIT IN TRANSIT | November/December 2013 5 OSCAR OWENS, INTERNATIONAL SECRETARY-TREASURER
THE CHALLENGE BEFORE US
ow tired are you at the end of the day? I’ll bet cut out for us in 2014, because the rich will be doing Hmost of you are saying, “very.” I also bet none of everything they can to push the middle class back into you are complaining. You expect to have to work hard the ranks of the poor, which, by itself, weakens the and are willing to do whatever it takes to make a living. amount of time and energy we have to fight back. And like your passengers, you face a long, hard, and Oh, and by the way, the researchers found that the stressful commute at the end of a long, hard, and problem doesn’t affect rich people with long commutes stressful day. because the rich have resources to deal with stress and fatigue that the rest of us don’t. When you finally arrive home you’re tired – but you still have responsibilities. Parents have all sorts of tasks The result? The largest percentage of people participating they must perform for their children. You barely have in civic and political activities are – you guessed it – rich. time for dinner. And the weekends are reserved for all of the things you wish you’d had the time and energy to It’s not hard to see where this is going. do during the week. The last thing you want to hear is that you should go No easy solutions to some political rally to support a candidate or a cause people say you should care about. There’s no easy solution for this. However, my hope is that understanding and defining the problem will lead According to new research yours is a pretty common us to be more aware of it, and will help motivate us to experience, and it has consequences beyond your overcome it. personal life. So, I exhort all of you to put in an extra effort this year – to get involved, and to join Team ATU’s fight to protect Commuting our jobs and our rights. A report just out from Stony Brook University, and the I know it won’t be easy, but, you know – it never has University of Connecticut asserts that the time we spend been. commuting – an activity no one likes – decreases the amount of time we give to civic and political activities. This is particularly true for the poor who spend more time commuting than other segments of society. So it’s no wonder political participation is in decline. Americans spent 42 million hours per year commuting in 1990. That figure has mushroomed to 56 million hours per year today. These statistics suggest that we really have our work
IN TRANSIT | November/December 2013 5 NOV/DEC 2013 www.atu.org Vol. 122, No. 6
2 International Officers & General Executive Board NEWS Briefs DOUBLEDEE DOUBLES DOWN 3 International President’s Message: We Want YOU For Team ATU! 4 International Executive Vice President’s Message: 8 BART: Incompetence or contempt? 5 International Secretary-Treasurer’s Message: The Challenge Before Us 6 Index Page 7 Canadian Agenda: Ottawa City Council Supports Stiffer Penalties for Bus Driver Assault 9 The Fundamentals of the Game ATU Backs Callis for Illnois House Seat YOU DON’T MIND DO YOU? CITIES GIVE LAND, TAX 10 Team ATU Looking to Add New Players to Roster BREAKS AND SUBSIDIES TO TEAM OWNERS 2014 To Be A Coalition-Building Year 11 NYC Mayor-Elect DeBlasio Good for Workers, School Bus Drivers, Matrons Big Night for Transit in U.S. Elections 12 14 Cobb County Taxpayers Get ‘Beaned’ by New Atlanta Braves Stadium 15 Tough Schedule for ATU 2014 17 Team Learning New Playbook 18 Training Camp Set to Revamp Offense to Beat ALEC League Rivals Binghamton, NY, Local Fights Privatization TEAM ATU TRAINING CAMP 2014 of BC Transit 19 ATU, Coalitions Bring ‘A’ Game to Fight with Koch Brothers TEAM ATU 20 NTSB Faults FMSCA Oversight of 16 Motor Carriers, Ignores Driver Fatigue TRAINING Track Deaths Raise Safety Concerns in San Francisco and Toronto CAMP 20 BART Board Balks at Provision in Signed 2014 Collective Bargaining Agreement AC Transit Workers in Cooling-Off Period 22 Drivers Demanding Protection from Violent Assaults 23 ATU Announces Gunter Bruckner Scholarship ATU, EDMONTON COALITION RELEASE Competition Winners RESULTS OF PRIVATIZATION SURVEY 42 Above & Beyond - Samuel Garrison, Local 1070 26 Where Ontario’s Likely Premiere Candidates Stand on Transit 25 27 Access to Mass Transit Increases Canadian Real Estate Values 28 Translations (French) 31 In Memoriam 32 Heroic Buffalo Driver Stops Suicide
6 November/December 2013 | IN TRANSIT IN TRANSIT | November/December 2013 7 Canadian Agenda
Ottawa City Council supports stiffer penalties for driver assault — ATU PUSHING BILL —
he Canadian Council’s campaign to increase Greater protection Tfederal penalties for driver assault got a boost with the Ottawa City Council’s recent unanimous Bill C-402, tabled by NDP MP Peter Julian, would endorsement of Bills C-533, and C-402, urging their “give greater protection to public transportation workers passage in parliament. by creating a new Criminal Code offence of first degree murder, and by imposing a greater punishment for the Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson asked the city council to offence of aggravated assault in cases where such workers support the bills, saying, “Our transit operators have are the victims.” chosen to serve the public by getting us home safely – they deserve to be respected and to have a safe work environment. I am pleased that ATU Local 279 is ‘This is not an easy job’ supporting the legislation. I hope my council colleagues will join me in supporting this bill in an effort to Local President Craig Watson, 279-Ottawa, said his improve safety for our operators and passengers.” members are behind the city’s efforts 100%, adding that it really means something to the drivers to know the city supports them. ‘Aggravating circumstance’ Transit Chair Diane Deans said, “We need a clear and Transit workers in Ottawa and across Canada have unequivocal message, it’s not OK to assault our drivers. been attacked at an alarming rate. Bill C-533, It’s just not OK. They’re providing a public service, and tabled by Liberal MP Ralph Goodale, would amend if there’s violence, that can put our customers at risk. “the Criminal Code to require courts to take into This is not an easy job.” account for sentencing purposes, as an aggravating circumstance, the fact that the victim was, at the time of the commission of the offence, a person employed in a public transportation service and carrying out his or her duties or a person acting in aid of such a person.”
The amendment to the Criminal Code was introduced earlier this year after the Canadian Council brought ATU local officers from all over the country to urge MPs to table the legislation in parliament.
IN TRANSIT | November/December 2013 7 DOUBLEDEE DOUBLES DOWN
must say that I am personally in awe of your “I willingness to help others in need.” That’s was the comment Winnipeg, MB, Mayor Sam Katz made in his commendation of a genuine act of heroism performed by Kris Doubledee, 1505, who came to the aid of an individual being assaulted on the street. You may remember Brother Doubledee as the driver who was honored last year for the compassion he displayed in giving the shoes off his own feet to man who had no shoes he spotted while operating his bus. This time, however, Doubledee intervened in a more dangerous situation. The mayor’s commendation reads: “After witnessing an individual being attacked by three others while operating the bus, you pulled over and rushed to this individual’s side, thereby, scaring off these attackers. Thankfully, no one was injured during the course of this incident and your timely intervention was likely the key element needed to ensure the victim’s safety. “You, once again, have made our public service very proud. Thank you for always going above and beyond for the citizens of this City.” We couldn’t have said it better ourselves. Once again, Kris Doubledee makes us “proud to be ATU.”
8 November/December 2013 | IN TRANSIT IN TRANSIT | November/December 2013 25 ATU, EDMONTON COALITION RELEASE RESULTS OF PRIVATIZATION SURVEY
hirty-six municipal election made in an in-camera closed meeting. All Tcandidates, including four mayoralty but two candidates say they will make candidates, responded to nine survey the details of the contract public prior to questions posed by the “OurLRT” coalition voting on it. fighting the privatization of coming light rail line in Edmonton, AB. Opt-out clause needed OurLRT, instigated by Local 589, believes it is very important that all candidates A significant majority (91%) also said that outline their positions on the Public- the city needs to include a no cost opt-out Private Partnership (P3) as the next council clause (after three or four years) if there will have to decide if they accept proposed are concerns with the running of the LRT. $250 million in funding from the federal 69% of respondents agreed that the P3 government’s P3 Canada Fund, and will be contractor should be required to have its responsible for negotiating the terms of a employees represented by the same city 30-year contract if they choose to proceed. unions who are currently operating and maintaining Edmonton public transit. A very strong majority (91%) of candidates ‘Our jobs’ agreed that the city should apply for Local President Stu Litwinowich says one enough funding from other levels of reason for fighting P3s is to stop the city government so that it is not obligated to from privatizing other operations. “Those use the funds from P3 Canada. A recent are our jobs. We have been delivering this Parkland Institute report by economics service safely and securely for 102 years.” professor Dr. John Loxley from the University of Manitoba showed that the 94% of the 36 municipal election candidates P3 contract may end up costing the city who responded to the survey feel that the significantly more than the $250 million federal government should not have forced contributed by P3 Canada just in financing Edmonton’s City Council to privatize the costs. The new “Building Canada” federal new LRT line by tying financial support infrastructure funds will be available to to a design, build, finance, maintain and municipalities starting in 2014. operate P3 (DBFOM) plan. The complete answers from all candidates Similarly, candidates said they were who responded to the survey are available concerned that the decision to build the on the OurLRT website – http://www. SE LRT using a 30-year P3 contract was ourlrt.ca.
IN TRANSIT | November/December 2013 25 Where Ontario’s likely premiere candidates stand on transit
WHERE ONTARIO’S LIKELY PREMIERE CANDIDATES STAND ON TRANSIT
ntario’s provincial elections are not expected The premiere is currently waiting for a report from a Ountil next spring, but Liberal Premiere Kathleen panel she deputized to find ways to fund a bold new Wynne is already running television ads highlighting transportation plan for the Greater Toronto and Hamilton her personal attributes well in advance of the balloting. Area (GTHA) forwarded by Metrolinx, the area’s regional transit authority. She has also suggested that new “green Transit has become a hot button issue in Ontario bonds” could help finance the $50 billion project (for politics. Therefore, it seems like good time to look at which only $16 billion has been committed so far). the positions Ontario’s party leaders (who could become premiere) have taken on public transit. Regardless of whether the transit project goes forward, her Liberal Party has introduced legislation that will make it illegal for the province not to have an infrastructure plan now and in the future. Premier Kathleen Wynne, Liberal Opposition Leader The current premiere and leader of Ontario’s Liberal Tim Hudak, Party is the most outspoken Progressive advocate for mass transit Conservative among the leaders. Public transportation is her highest Progressive Conservative Party Leader Tim Hudak says that Premier priority, and her fortunes will Kathleen Wynne likely rise or fall on how she he would likely slash funding for Metrolinx’s transportation delivers on that commitment. Opposition Leader plan. And, like Toronto’s Tim Hudak Wynne, however, has a problem: It takes money to Conservative mayor, Rob build transit and Ontario is as averse to new taxes as Ford, Hudak favors subways over light rail, even though Tea Party members in the United States. subways are more expensive.
26 November/December 2013 | IN TRANSIT IN TRANSIT | November/December 2013 27 The problem Conservatives have with LRT is that it is Leader Andrea meant, in part, to discourage automobile traffic – an Horwath, New idea the Tories oppose. Democratic Party While Wynne wants to avoid new taxes out of political expediency, Hudak is ideologically opposed to them, as One difference here – While is his party. opposing new taxes on individuals, NDP Leader People doubt he will be able to fully fund his transit Andrea Horwath would raise plan with the efficiencies he says he would employ in corporate taxes to get the job NDP Leader the provincial government. In any event, Hudak would done – but that’s not likely to Andrea Horwath only fund transit on a pay-as-you-go basis, rather than happen any time soon. New raising new revenues. Democrats have traditionally favored infrastructure improvements and Horwath would be expected to support mass transit funding were she to become premiere.
ACCESS TO MASS TRANSIT INCREASES CANADIAN REAL ESTATE VALUES
anadian businesses, apartment buildings, Centertainment complex and other development built near mass transit improves real estate values according to a new report released by PwC Canada and and residential space in our urban centres where there the Urban Land Institute. is easy access to mass transit,” wrote one of the report’s The report notes that while the outlook for the Canadian authors. “Competition for these sites and uses will real estate market remains strong for development continue to place pressure on developers to reformat of all property types, continuing urbanization and their product offerings to optimize space as these reverse migration trends are expected to be especially locations become scarce.” important considerations for developers and investors. This report reinforces what ATU has preached for In particular, “live-work-play” development complexes years – investment in public transportation is good along or near mass transit lines will be essential. for communities and their economy. It provides safe, reliable, and affordable access for workers, businesses and all citizens. Competition
“With challenging infrastructure in all major Canadian centres coupled with the urbanization trend, there will be a continued demand for retail, office
IN TRANSIT | November/December 2013 27 L’équipe du SUT VOUS Joignez-vous à nous invite à vous joindre à elle! La mobilisation de nos membres est un facteur essentiel dans les luttes que nous aurons à mener. Notre équipe C’est avec plaisir que nous vous présentons le bulletin doit quitter les gradins et se rendre sur le terrain. Si du Syndicat uni du transport (SUT) sur le football! vous êtes membre du SUT et souhaitez jouer un rôle Tout en nous intéressant à ce populaire centre d’intérêt plus actif au sein de votre syndicat, vous devez d’abord national, nous profitons de l’occasion pour soulever rencontrer vos délégués et dirigeants syndicaux pour les quelques points importants. informer que vous voulez suivre la formation du SUT en 2014. Vous pouvez également nous écrire directement à • Le nombre de personnes (y compris nos [email protected]. membres) qui suivent de près l’actualité sportive dépasse grandement le nombre de celles qui Nous collaborons actuellement avec les dirigeants prêtent attention aux questions de politique et syndicaux des sections locales afin de mettre sur pied de législation. le plus ambitieux programme de formation de notre histoire. Êtes-vous prêt à aider le SUT à délaisser son • L’Américain moyen connaît plus de joueurs de rôle de spectateur pour entrer dans le jeu sur le terrain? football que de membres du Congrès. Arrêtons de nous plaindre et passons à l’action! • Des milliardaires impitoyables tirent pleinement
profit de notre manque d’intérêt à suivre ce qui se passe au Congrès. Ils cherchent à faire adopter Les agressions doivent cesser de désastreuses réductions d’impôt qui profitent aux riches, à nous engager inutilement dans des Alors que j’écris ces mots, j’apprends que d’autres conflits mondiaux et à changer les lois de façon chauffeurs d’autobus desÉtats-Unis et du Canada ont à nuire à la classe moyenne. été victimes d’agressions. Au Canada, nous cherchons à faire adopter une loi fédérale pour protéger les • Nous pouvons agir et changer les choses. travailleurs du secteur des transports en commun contre les agressions. Aux États-Unis, nous rencontrerons • Les députés font la promotion de lois au cours des prochaines semaines les dirigeants antisyndicales pour retirer les droits des d’organismes fédéraux pour les inciter à sensibiliser les travailleurs canadiens. législateurs et les gestionnaires des transports à ce fléau • Nous devons surveiller de plus près les équipes croissant. Je suis chauffeur d’autobus, et j’ai moi aussi été qui nous portent véritablement préjudice, à nous agressé alors que je conduisais. J’ai assisté aux funérailles et à nos enfants, en amputant les fonds alloués à de certains de mes confrères qui sont morts des suites l’éducation, tout en renforçant leur soutien des d’agressions au travail. programmes militaires. Je sais ce qu’on ressent, et je sais qu’il faut tout faire pour Le SUT continue de se préparer en vue de l’année 2014, s’assurer que nos membres rentrent à la maison après laquelle s’annonce bien remplie. Aux États-Unis, la loi leur journée de travail. Comme le clame la chanteuse et sur le financement des transports devra être renouvelée, militante pour les droits des travailleurs Anne Feeney : ce qui représente pour nous une occasion d’obtenir des « Si nous venons ici, c’est pour bosser – pas pour y fonds fédéraux pour le transport en commun. En outre, rester. » [traduction] Le double outrage d’être battu des élections de mi-mandat auront lieu au Congrès en au travail et de ne bénéficier d’aucune pause pour aller 2014. Au Canada, les législateurs cherchent à adopter aux toilettes figure toujours parmi les préoccupations le projet de loi C-4, ce qui aurait des conséquences principales du SUT. négatives sur nos droits à la négociation collective, et En avons-nous assez que les travailleurs et leurs familles d’importantes élections municipales se tiendront dans soient malmenés comme des ballons de football sur le de nombreuses provinces. terrain de jeu de la vie? Faisons-nous alors un devoir de prêter au moins autant d’attention à notre travail qu’au divertissement.
28 November/December 2013 | IN TRANSIT IN TRANSIT | November/December 2013 29 BART : incompétence La tactique employée a beau être nouvelle, l’attitude manifestée n’a rien de neuf. Affichant un manque de ou mépris? respect pour les travailleurs, le BART a bassement recours à des pratiques antisyndicales dépassées pour Au moment où je rédige ces lignes, les membres tester l’empressement des membres à faire front de la section locale 1555 qui travaillent au Réseau commun. de transport en commun rapide de la baie de San Francisco (BART) sont aux prises avec un problème Bien sûr, il existe des désaccords au sein de nos hors du commun. Après des mois de négociations sections locales, mais il y a un moment, une procédure litigieuses, la section locale est parvenue à un accord et un lieu pour régler efficacement les différends. signé par les deux parties et ratifié par les membres. Cependant, il ne devrait y avoir aucun malentendu Or, un problème est survenu lorsque la convention ou différend entre nous lorsque nous devons faire face collective a été soumise au conseil d’administration du à un comportement comme celui de la direction du BART pour approbation. BART. Ensemble, nous pouvons changer les choses. Ensemble, nous l’emporterons si nous, les membres, L’organisme prétend qu’une disposition qu’elle aurait faisons front commun, mettons de côté nos divergences rejetée (selon laquelle ses travailleurs auraient droit à et travaillons coude à coude avec les dirigeants de notre six semaines de congé familial pour raisons médicales section locale. en plus de leur congé annuel) a été laissée « par inadvertance » dans le document signé. La convention Qui est concerné par ce problème? Il nous concerne collective précédente stipulait que les membres du tous. Nous ne pouvons pas rester là à « attendre que le personnel doivent avoir épuisé tous leurs jours de monde change ». Il faut participer! congé avant d’avoir droit à un congé pour raisons familiales. La plupart des commentateurs mettent en doute la Imaginer les possibilités et thèse selon laquelle le BART, secondé par des avocats saisir les occasions influents et un négociateur dont les honoraires s’élèvent à 400 000 $, aurait fait une telle erreur. Néanmoins, Dans ce numéro, vous en apprendrez davantage sur ce le conseil d’administration a rejeté la convention que nous entendons faire en ce sens au cours de l’année collective contenant cette nouvelle disposition. Et à venir. Nous serons solidaires comme jamais, et nous voilà où en sont maintenant les choses. améliorerons notre sort et celui des futures générations de travailleurs.
« The clock of life is wound but once for us, and no man Et si la section locale avait fait has the power to tell just when the hands will stop, at a une telle affirmation? late or early hour. Now is the only time you own. Live, love, toil with a will. Place no faith in time. For the Imaginez quelle aurait été la réaction du BART si la clock may soon be still. » section locale 1555 avait déclaré qu’un extrait de la convention collective avait été retranché. Le BART (« Le sablier de la vie ne s’écoule qu’une fois, et nul ne aurait-il répondu : « Bien sûr - pas de problème - nous sait quand viendra son heure. Le temps qui passe ne allons tout simplement éliminer cette partie »? Je ne revient pas. Vivez, aimez, besognez avec ardeur, sans crois pas. accorder au temps votre foi. Qui sait quand le sablier se videra. » [traduction]) Il n’y a que deux conclusions possibles à tirer de la conduite du BART : soit sa direction fait preuve d’une Noël et le temps des Fêtes, voilà le moment de l’année incroyable incompétence, soit elle entend tout mettre que je préfère. Vous rappelez-vous le visage ébahi d’un en œuvre pour écraser le syndicat, quitte à recourir à enfant, l’éclat d’émerveillement et de magie dans ses des pratiques sournoises. Dans le second cas - ce dont yeux? Tendez la main à une personne dans le besoin. je ne doute pas - l’organisation a clairement du mépris Je vous souhaite de joyeuses Fêtes et un Noël rempli pour ses propres employés. C’est triste à reconnaître - d’expériences enrichissantes. surtout pendant les Fêtes.
IN TRANSIT | November/December 2013 29 Le défi qui se présente des pauvres, ce qui, en soi, réduit le temps et l’énergie dont nous disposons pour nous défendre. à nous Justement, les chercheurs montrent que le problème Vous êtes fatigués à la fin de la journée? Je parie que la ne touche pas les gens fortunés qui ont de longs trajets plupart d’entre vous répondez par l’affirmative. Je parie à faire pour se rendre au travail puisqu’ils disposent également que personne ne s’en plaint. Vous vous êtes des ressources nécessaires pour gérer le stress et la fait à l’idée qu’il faut travailler fort, et vous faites tout le fatigue, ressources que nous n’avons pas. nécessaire pour gagner votre vie. Le résultat? Les personnes qui mènent des actions Tout comme vos passagers, vous effectuez de longs civiques et politiques sont surtout, vous l’aurez trajets stressants et éprouvants pour revenir à la maison deviné, des gens riches. après de longues journées stressantes et éprouvantes. De là, on peut facilement imaginer où la situation nous Lorsque vous rentrez enfin chez vous, la fatigue se fait mènera. sentir, mais vos responsabilités ne s’arrêtent pas là. En tant que parent, vous avez de multiples tâches à effectuer pour vos enfants. Vous avez à peine le temps Il n’existe pas de solution simple de souper, et la fin de semaine est remplie des activités que vous auriez bien aimé avoir eu le temps et l’énergie À cette situation, il n’y a pas de solution simple. d’accomplir pendant la semaine. J’espère toutefois qu’en comprenant et en définissant le problème, nous prendrons conscience de la situation et La dernière chose que vous voulez entendre, c’est qu’il trouverons la motivation d’y remédier. faille vous rendre à un rassemblement politique pour soutenir une cause ou un candidat auquel, dit-on, vous Je vous encourage donc tous à faire un effort devriez vous intéresser. supplémentaire cette année : engagez-vous à lutter aux côtés de l’équipe du Syndicat uni du transport pour Selon des études récentes, votre expérience n’a rien protéger nos emplois et nos droits. d’unique, et les conséquences qui en découlent transcendent votre expérience personnelle. Je sais que ce ne sera pas facile, mais, vous savez - rien ne l’a jamais été.
La navette quotidienne
Selon des chercheurs de l’Université Stony Brook et de l’Université du Connecticut cités dans un rapport récent, le temps que nous passons à faire la navette entre la maison et le travail, une activité qui ne plaît à personne, réduit le temps accordé à l’engagement civique ou politique. C’est particulièrement vrai dans le cas des moins bien nantis, lesquels consacrent à cette tâche plus de temps que tout autre groupe social.
Il n’y a donc rien d’étonnant à ce que la participation politique connaisse une baisse. Aux États-Unis, les travailleurs ont passé 42 millions d’heures sur la route entre la maison et le travail en 1990. Aujourd’hui, ce chiffre atteint 56 millions d’heures par année.
Ces statistiques laissent croire que nous aurons vraiment du fil à retordre en 2014 puisque les riches feront tout en leur pouvoir pour reléguer la classe moyenne au rang
30 November/December 2013 | IN TRANSIT IN TRANSIT | November/December 2013 31 In Memoriam Death Benefits Awarded September 1, 2013 - October 31, 2013
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HEROIC BUFFALO DRIVER STOPS SUICIDE
was meant to be,” says heroic “I grabbed her arm and put my arm Despite his protests to the contrary, “ItBuffalo bus driver, Darnell around her and said ‘Do you want to Barton is being hailed as a real-life hero. Barton, 1342. “I was supposed to be come on this side of the guardrail?’ And ATU salutes Brother Barton for the there for her at that moment and I was.” that was actually the first time she spoke courage and compassion hes showed, to me — she said ‘yes.’” exemplifying the best that’s in all of us Stopping his bus in the middle of in the ATU. an overpass, Barton called out to a distraught woman he saw standing ‘Jumping is NOT precariously on the wrong side of the bridge’s railing. Leaving his crowded the answer’ bus, the driver walked over to the Barton, who has worked through his woman to offer her some assistance. own past struggles with depression, sat down on the curb with the woman until help arrived, telling her, “Whatever ‘Do you want to come on it is, it might feel bad, but jumping is not the answer.” this side of the guardrail?’ Upon returning to his bus, his passengers The woman, who appeared to be in gave him a round of applause. her 20s, was leaning against the railing, looking as if she was about to jump. “It A dramatic video of the event went viral, didn’t seem real because what was going making headlines around the world. on around – traffic and pedestrians were Barton and his story also appeared on going by as normal,” marveled Barton. national television, as well.