BUS RAPID TRANSIT POINT—COUNTER POINT C.O.P.E. TRIP TO OLYMPIA JANUARY 2003 IS IT RIGHT FOR PUGET SOUND? HUSKY WORK ASSIGNMENTS BE PART OF THE PLAN Inside This Issue… Page 4 Page 7 Page 8 Check out our Web site: www.atu587.com VOL. XXVI, NO. 1 The President’s Report by President Lance Norton oversee legislation in Olympia. In preparation for the upcoming session this January we met on It is not acceptable that any December 13th at the West Coast SeaTac Hotel to discuss our pri- employee be disrespected and orities. Coming into this meeting I treated rudely, nor is it had one issue I felt our member- ship was most interested in, that acceptable that operators be being†to reduce the penalties for early retirement from PERS II. pushed to the limit. The difference between PERS I and PERS II is like night and entitlements. You can help by patch), scheduling issues, and day. As a matter of fact, PERS II writing, emailing or calling your operators not getting their re- ranks at the top of the list of the representative in Olympia. quired breaks and/or lunches. worst state pension plans in the In response to David’s letter Lance F. Norton United States. Currently, if a Access Service issues and this impromptu meeting with member retires under Plan II at Operator David Read, of Se- members of both Access service age 55 after 20 or 25 years ser- attle Personal Transit, published groups, I convened a special meet- Legislative Priorities vice, he/she loses 83% of the full in last months’’Letters to the ing on the evening of Wednesday, EGISLATIVE ISSUES ARE CRITI- pension entitlement that they Editor section of our News Re- December 11th, at the union hall. cally important to those would have received had they view, a letter outlining serious From MV Transportation I invited Lwho provide public trans- stayed until the mandatory re- concerns regarding their work- shop stewards Dobbie Boyington, portation. To that end, each ATU tirement age of 65! ing conditions. Immediately af- Mohamed Hassan, and Operator Local in the State of Washington I am most grateful that the ter the December Charter mem- Sheila Daniels. From SPT I in- belongs to the ATULC (Amal- other Legislative Council del- bership meeting, I met with a vited Executive Board Officer gamated Transit Union Legisla- egates unanimously agreed this very vocal group of our members Ninus Hopkins, Shop Stewards tive Council). Each local has one would be our main priority in from both MV and SPT to discuss Roscoe Seaman and Ed Taylor, voting delegate, usually the the upcoming legislative session. similar complaints. The opera- and Brother David Read. Repre- President/Business Representa- We will be lobbying hard to sup- tors’ concerns centered around senting the different management tive, or his/her appointee. The port legislation to reduce the in- how they were being rudely ad- teams were General Manager of Council employs a lobbyist to equities in the PERS II pension dressed by their call center (dis- continued on page 10 AMALGAMATED • TRANSIT • UNION NON PROFIT U.S. POSTAGE 2700 1st Avenue, Room 204 PAID Seattle, WA 98121 SEATTLE WA PERMIT NO 1471 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED 2 January 2003 The Month at a Glance Business of the Membership Executive Board Report December 19, 2002 At the December 2002 cycle of morning meeting, Paul Haus- membership meetings the follow- mann at JTA. CTS pot draw All officers were present, with bonuses in 2001, and the com- ing business was conducted: winner was Ted Kroh. Rolling the exception of Chris Daniels pany had profits of $174 million; CTS pot draw of $300.00 was who was unable to attend. and, • Arbitration request for won by Elizabeth McGuffey. Brother Dwayne Hunter was ap- Congratulations, Elizabeth! The following business was WHEREAS, United Auto proved by the membership. Rolling CTS pot draw will be conducted: Workers Local 1832 has re- started fresh at $25.00 with the quested the support of the Se- • Clallam Transit members New Year. • Motion by Paul Bachtel to attle-area labor movement in its approved a motion to correct the keep the officer’s salaries at the effort to end the lockout and ne- motion made at the November Congratulations to all our tur- same percentage as last year. gotiate a new contract, 2002 CTS meeting, by setting key winners: Gloria Acosta, the summertime prime time va- Latrelle Gibson, Paul Bachtel, • Motion by Mike Rochon to THEREFORE BE IT RE- cation periods as the Friday be- Dee Wakenight, Bill Adams, Al take Jerry Kahn and Gary SOLVED, that Amalgamated fore Memorial Day to the Tues- Daraskavich, David Read, James Archer’s grievance to arbitration. Transit Union Local 587 pledges day after Labor Day, inclusive, Reese, Brian Sherlock, Glenn its full solidarity to the locked with the wintertime remaining Ruth, Milos Pavlovic, Jessica • Motion by Marc Auerbach to out members of UAW Local 1832 as set per the motion in the No- Hawkinson, Bob Tuttle, David move adoption of the following in their just struggle to defend vember 2002 CTS meeting. Earl, Howard Gorlick, Daniel resolution regarding the their jobs and win a fair con- Kramer, Troy McKelvey, Jay Peterbilt lockout: tract. The following members were Proctor, Ken Milliser, Terecia December pot draw winners: Acorn, Linda Stern, Juanita Rap- WHEREAS the Bellevue- • Motion by Mike Rochon to Ramy Khalil at the Charter ids, Joe Mangiameli, Jay Win- based PACCAR company locked participate in the King 5 pro- meeting, Mike Brancheau at the ters and Claire Schwarze. out 750 members of United Auto gram for 30 second commercials Workers Local 1832 at its for getting the word out on labor Peterbilt heavy truck factory in unions and purchase the exclu- Madison, Tennessee on Septem- sive sponsorship at a cost of ber 2nd, with no advance warn- $1873.00. Tentative Agenda ing; and, • Motion by Brian Sherlock to Membership Meetings: WHEREAS, PACCAR began authorize engaging Herman negotiations with UAW Local Lindsey, CPA, to perform the 1832 by demanding severe con- annual ATU audit. CHARTER MEETING JEFFERSON TRANSIT cessions, but refused to provide Thursday, January 2, 2003 Monday, January 6, 2003 the union with basic informa- • Motion by Shirley Walker to 8:00 p.m. 8:00 p.m. tion to support their demands; contribute $200 to the King IBEW Hall Auditorium Port Townsend Rec Center and, County Labor Council Martin 2700 1st Ave., Seattle, WA Port Townsend, WA Luther King celebration commit- WHEREAS, PACCAR’s five tee in support of that celebra- MORNING MEETING CLALLAM TRANSIT top executives took home $2.4 tion. Friday, January 3, 2003 Tuesday, January 7, 2003 million in salary increases and 10:30 a.m. 7:00 p.m. IBEW Hall Auditorium Vern Burton Memorial 2700 1st Ave., Seattle, WA Building, Port Angeles, WA In Loving Memory… Among topics to be discussed: Arbitration update, update on Access service working conditions, When you are sorrowful look again in your upcoming legislative session priorities. heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight. Arbitration request by Brothers Jerry Kahn and Gary Archer will —Kahlil Gibran be brought before the membership for consideration. Robert Murray, passed and family members who will Unfinished Business: away December 9, 2002, after a miss him dearly. battle with cancer. Brother There is no unfinished business for the month of January. Murray joined Local 587 in 1987 Howie Picht, passed away as a Part-time Operator, going December 15th, 2002. Howie Full-time in 1991. Brother was one time Manager of Op- Murray was an active member erations at Metro. He retired Happy out of Central Base, and leaves in January of 1982 and was 83 behind many coworkers, friends at the time of his passing. New Year! Please notify the union office of any member’s passing so that this information may be shared with the rest of our union family. OFFICERS OF THE AMALGAMATED TRANSIT UNION, LOCAL 587: Letters to the editor LANCE F. NORTON Pres/Business Representative Minority Affairs Officer SHIRLEY WALKER Letters/contributions must include sig- email – [email protected] Transit Operator Position No. 1 MARC AUERBACH Transit Operator Position No. 2 LINDA R. ANDERSON natures, work ID number, addresses Transit Operator Position No. 3 DEE WAKENIGHT GLEN A. TRAVIS Vice President/Assistant Transit Operator Position No. 4 BRIAN SHERLOCK and telephone numbers that can be veri- Business Representative Transit Operator Position No. 5 DANIEL T. LINVILLE Transit Operator Position No. 6 PAUL BACHTEL fied during office hours. Letters that email – [email protected] Transit Operator Position No. 7 JOHN FARRELL cannot be validated will not be pub- Transit Operator Position No. 8 KATHERINE ECKHARDT Published monthly in Seattle. PAUL L. GRIFFIN Financial Secretary Vehicle Maintenance Position No. 1 MIKE ROCHON lished. All articles/letters are subject to Vehicle Maintenance Position No. 2 MIKE WHITEHEAD email – [email protected] Vehicle Maintenance Position No. 3 JOHN BELLINGER editing and should be limited to 350 Official publication of Amalgamated Facilities Maintenance LISA CARTER words or less. Not all letters can be Transit Union Local 587, AFL-CIO, JENNIE L. GIL Recording Secretary/ Special Classifications CHRIS DANIELS Editor 587 News Review Supervisors PAUL NEIL published due to space limitations. Cut representing employees of Metro/King Clallam/Jefferson County JOE MANGIAMELI email – [email protected] off date is the 15th of each month. County, Clallam Transit, Jefferson SPT NINUS HOPKINS Transit, Seattle Personal Transit, Web site: http://www.atu587.com Clallam Paratransit, and MV Transit. Send letters to: 2700 First Avenue WEINGARTEN RIGHTS STATEMENT Seattle, Washington 98121 Jennie Gil, Editor Telephone: 206-448-8588.