In Transit - March/June

O F F I C I A L J O U R N A L O F T H E A M A LG A M AT E D T R A N S I T U N I O N | A F L- C I O/C LC

MARCH - JUNE 2019

In Loving Memory

Lawrence J. Hanley j

1956 – 2019

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Amalgamated Transit Union International President

“Pray for the dead and fight like hell for the living.”

– Mary G. Harris “Mother” Jones (1837-1930)

INTERNATIONAL OFFICERS JOHN A. COSTA

International President

JAVIER M. PEREZ, JR.

International Executive Vice President

OSCAR OWENS

International Secretary-Treasurer

INTERNATIONAL VICE PRESIDENTS RICHARD M. MURPHY

Newburyport, MA – rmurphy@atu.org

JANIS M. BORCHARDT

Madison, WI – jborchardt@atu.org

PAUL BOWEN

Canton, MI – pbowen@atu.org

KENNETH R. KIRK

Lancaster, TX – kkirk@atu.org

MARCELLUS BARNES

Flossmore, IL – mbarnes@atu.org

RAY RIVERA

Lilburn, GA – rrivera@atu.org

YVETTE TRUJILLO

NEWSBRIEFS Kingston, ON, setting example for how to increase transit ridership In just five years, Kingston, ON, has seen transit ridership jump 80 percent thanks to a series of innovative initiatives focused on free and reduced fares and improving service. It began in 2013 with offering grade nine students free transit passes and educating them on how to safely use the bus. To attract more riders and commuters, Kingston Transit offers multiple options and discounts for monthly and weekly passes. In addition, a “transit employment program” gives newly-hired eligible workers — full-time or parttime — a free two-month bus pass. In addition, the agency offers half-price monthly passes for low-income riders. At the heart of Kingston’s success is a commitment by their city council to offer significantly more financial support to transit. Only a third of the funding comes from fare collections, which means lower fares and fewer fare hikes.

Thornton, CO – ytrujillo@atu.org

GARY JOHNSON, SR.

Cleveland, OH – gjohnson@atu.org

ROBIN WEST Halifax, NS – rwest@atu.org CHUCK WATSON Syracuse, NY – cwatson@atu.org BRUCE HAMILTON New York, NY – bhamilton@atu.org MICHELLE SOMMERS Brooklyn Park, MN – msommers@atu.org JAMES LINDSAY Santa Clarita, CA – jlindsay@atu.org EMANUELE (MANNY) SFORZA Toronto, ON – msforza@atu.org JOHN CALLAHAN Winnipeg, MB – jcallahan@atu.org CURTIS HOWARD Atlanta, GA – choward@atu.org NATALIE CRUZ Lorain, OH – npcruz@atu.org ANTHONY GARLAND Washington, DC – agarland@atu.org

INTERNATIONAL REPRESENTATIVES

Tips to stay safe in the summer heat As we enter the summer months many of our members will face dangerously hot and humid conditions on the job. In order to ensure your health and safety make sure to check out the ATU safety bulletin on Heat Stress Safety for tips on how to be prepared to deal with the summer heat and humidity. This bulletin can be found on the ATU website (www.atu.org) under the Member Resources page. The bulletin is available in English, Spanish, and French.

So please download it and share it with your brothers and sisters at your Local to ensure their safety on the job this summer.

Note to readers of In Transit ATU International had been putting the final touches on the March/April edition of the In Transit when International President Larry Hanley tragically and unexpectedly passed away. To honor his memory and the change in ATU leadership, the International had to delay the production and publication. In turn, this edition will be the March-June edition of the In Transit. The next edition will be the July/August edition.

DENNIS ANTONELLIS

Spokane, WA – dantonellis@atu.org

STEPHAN MACDOUGALL

INTERNATIONAL OFFICERS EMERITUS

ANTONETTE BRYANT

International President Jim La Sala, ret.

International President Warren George, ret.

Boston, MA – smacdougall@atu.org Oakland, CA – abryant@atu.org

SESIL RUBAIN

New Carrollton, MD – srubain@atu.org

MIKE HARMS Pittsburgh, PA – mharms@atu.org MARILYN WILLIAMS St. Louis, MO – mwilliams@atu.org

ATU CANADA JOHN DI NINO

Maple, ON – president@atucanada.ca

International Executive Vice President Ellis Franklin, ret.

International Executive Vice President Mike Siano, ret.

Subscription: USA and Canada, $5 a year. Single copy: 50 cents. All others: $10 a year. Published bimonthly by the Amalgamated Transit Union, Editor: David Roscow, Designer: Paul A. Fitzgerald. Editorial Office: 10000 New Hampshire Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20903. Tel: 1-301-431-7100 . Please send all requests for address changes to the ATU Registry Dept. ISSN: 0019-3291. PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 40033361. RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO: APC Postal Logistics, LLC, PO Box 503, RPO, West Beaver Creek, Richmond Hill ON L4B 4R6.

CONTENT IT’S ABOUT YOUR FACE, YOUR LIFE, AND YOUR CONSCIENCE

ATU MOURNS PASSING OF INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT LARRY HANLEY

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2 International Officers & General Executive Board

News Briefs

3 Index page 10 International President’s Message: A resounding call to arms 11 Anthony Garland appointed ATU International Vice President

MAR-JUN

2019 Vol. 128, No. 2-3

17 Corporate welfare’s gonna get your bus ride!

18 Save the Date: 30th Annual ATU International Latino Caucus Conference 19 Just cause and employee discipline No employee shall be disciplined without “just cause” 22 A lesson on Medicare for all A lesson on compassion 23 In the U.S. Capital, only wealthy can afford to live near Metro stations 24 NYC school bus Local threatens strike Renewed push for Jake Schwab Worker Safety Bill 25 Proposed Amendments to the ATU Constitution and General Laws Submitted to the Int. Union for Consideration by The 59th ATU International Convention per Section 6.16 of the ATU Constitution and General Laws 27 Martha’s Vineyard bus drivers on strike 28 ATU COPE - Getting political just got a whole lot easier Save the Date: ATU/MS Research Funds 34th Annual Golf Tournament 29 Translations (Spanish) 31 In Memoriam 32 Save the Date: The 59th International Convention

STAY CONNECTED For the latest ATU News and Action Alerts please check out the ATU’s social media network

12 International Executive Vice President’s Message: People have to know you care before they care if you know

facebook.com/ATUInternational

13 International Secretary-Treasurer’s Message: How can we honor the memory of Larry Hanley?

youtube.com/user/stpatuorg

twitter.com/ATUComm flickr.com/photos/atuinternational/

14 Ontario workers are getting routed by the Doug Ford government 16 International to memorialize deceased Local officers at Convention

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IT’S ABOUT YOUR FACE, YOUR LIFE, AND YOUR CONSCIENCE

WHO IS ON OUR SIDE

Here’s the list of members of Congress who have sponsored legislation to help stop attacks on transit workers BILL SPONSORS LOCALS 19-241

The fatal stabbing of our ATU brother and Tampa bus driver Thomas Dunn on May 18, 2019, has sent shockwaves across the industry. Unfortunately, as ATU members know well, this brutal tragedy is not an isolated incident, as Dunn himself recounted when he testified before the HART Board meeting in December.

The headlines below and on the preceding pages are just a few of the stories we see every week about bus drivers and other transit workers being involved in dangersous crashes, punched, stabbed, yelled at, spit upon, shot at, and even worse.

“MBTA bus driver stabbed in Lynn” “Fare-beating goons batter bus driver” “Bus driver doused with noxious fluid” “Woman struck by NJ Transit bus dies” “Woman, three children hit by CTA bus on North Side”

LOCAL 265 Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) LOCAL 22 Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA) Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) Rep. James McGovern (D-MA) LOCAL 268 LOCAL 26 Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-OH) Rep. Brenda Lawrence (D-MI) Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-OH) LOCAL 85 LOCAL 272 Rep. Conor Lamb (D-PA) Rep. Tim Ryan (D-OH) Rep. Mike Doyle (D-PA) LOCAL 276 Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) LOCAL 164 Rep. Jerry McNerney (D-CA) Rep. Matt Cartwright (D-PA) LOCAL 281 LOCAL 168 Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) Rep. Matt Cartwright (D-PA) LOCAL 282 LOCAL 174 Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) Rep. William R. Keating (D-MA) Rep. Joseph Morelle (D-NY) Rep. Joseph Kennedy III (D-MA) LOCAL 308 Sen. Tammy Duckworth (IL) LOCAL 192 Rep. Bobby Rush (D-IL) Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) Rep. Chuy Garcia (D-IL) Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) Rep. Dan Lipinski (D-IL) Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) Rep. Danny Davis (D-IL) LOCAL 241 Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) Rep. Mike Quigley (D-IL) Rep. Bobby Rush (D-IL) Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) Rep. Chuy Garcia (D-IL) Rep. Bradley Scott Schneider (D-IL) Rep. Dan Lipinski (D-IL) Rep. Robin Kelly (D-IL) Rep. Danny Davis (D-IL) Rep. Sean Casten (D-IL) Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) LOCAL 313 Rep. Mike Quigley (D-IL) Rep. Cheri Bustos (D-IL) Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) Rep. Bradley Scott Schneider (D-IL) LOCAL 416 Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) Rep. Robin Kelly (D-IL) Rep. Cheri Bustos (D-IL) Rep. Sean Casten (D-IL) LOCAL 425 Rep. John Larson (D-CT) LOCALS 256-583 LOCAL 441 LOCAL 256 Rep. Cynthia Axne (D-IA) Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) LOCAL 443 Rep. John Garamendi (D-CA) Rep. James Himes (D-CT)

For years, there’s been a growing and disturbing epidemic of attacks on our members. Many of these brutal attacks occur

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continued from previous page — Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-NY) Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-NY) Rep. Max Rose (D-NY) Rep. Nydia Velázquez (D-NY) Rep. Pete King (R-NY) Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY) Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-NY) Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-NY) Rep. Kathleen Rice (D-NY) LOCAL 732 Rep. John Lewis (D-GA) Rep. David Scott (D-GA) Rep. Hank Johnson (D-GA) LOCAL 752 Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) LOCALS 587-725 LOCAL 757 Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) LOCAL 587 Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) Rep. Suzan DelBene (D-WA) Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR) LOCAL 589 LOCAL 788 Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) Rep. Lacy Clay (D-MO) Rep. Katherine Clark (D-MA) Rep. Joseph Kennedy III (D-MA) LOCAL 819 Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA) Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-MA) LOCAL 820 Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) LOCAL 618 Rep. Albio Sires (D-NJ) Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI) Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) LOCAL 821 Rep. Jim Langevin (D-RI) Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) LOCAL 638 LOCAL 822 Rep. Abby Finkenauer (D-IA) Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-NJ) LOCAL 689 Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD) LOCAL 823 Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) Rep. Anthony Brown (D-MD) Rep. Albio Sires (D-NJ) Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) LOCAL 824 Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA) Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ) Rep. Jennifer Wexton (D-VA) LOCAL 825 LOCAL 690 Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) LOCAL 842 Rep. Lori Trahan (D-MA) Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE) LOCAL 694 LOCAL 843 Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX) Rep. Suzan DelBene (D-WA) LOCAL 697 Rep. Rick Larsen (D-WA) Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-OH) LOCAL 847 LOCAL 713 Rep. Lacy Clay (D-MO) Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN) LOCAL 859 LOCAL 717 Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) Rep. Chris Pappas (D-NH) LOCAL 880 Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) Rep. Donald Norcross (D-NJ) LOCALS 726-981 LOCAL 883 LOCAL 726 Rep. Rick Larsen (D-WA) Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-NY) LOCAL 448 Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) Rep. Richard Neal (D-MA) LOCAL 540 Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ) Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) LOCAL 580 Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) Rep. John Katko (R-NY) LOCAL 582 Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) Rep. Anthony Brindisi (D-NY)

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while buses are rolling down the street, placing pedestrians, bicyclists, and other motorists in grave danger.

Then there’s the massive mirrors and left side pillars on transit buses that make it impossible for bus drivers to see what they need to in order to safely make it through crosswalks. Despite knowing the risks, transit systems from coast to coast continue to order these “massive mobile manslaughter machines” and put them on the road. Innocent people are being run over and killed as a result.

Meanwhile, most bus operators who have been on the job for a while suffer from back, neck, knee, or shoulder injuries, because they perform the same functions day after day in poorly-engineered work stations. Drivers’ seats cause wear and tear on bus operators’ bodies. Other equipment is not well-located, causing muscle strains that are often irreversible.

ATU has had enough The attacks on our members, the preventable blind spot crashes, poor seats, bus fumes, and more need to stop!

That’s why the International worked with Rep. Grace Napolitano (D-CA) and Rep. John Katko (R-NY) in the House and Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) in the Senate to introduce The Transit Worker and Pedestrian Protection Act (S. 436/ H.R. 1139). If passed, it would help prevent assaults on our members, eliminate bus driver blind spots, and change workstations to improve our members’ and riders’ health and safety.

Real Solutions The key to the bill is the provision which requires transit bosses to work with front-line workers and the unions – ATU – that represent them to come up with solutions to assault, blind spot, and ergonomic issues.

First, the bill defines transit worker assault as any “interference” with a bus or rail employee in the course of performing their duties. This will ensure that ALL incidents, including those involving spitting, punching, and verbal abuse get reported.

Currently, transit managers typically under report the number of attacks on workers out of concern that releasing the information to the public will give people the impression that their system is unsafe, which could impact ridership.

The bill then requires transit systems to report such incidents to the U.S. Department of Transportation, which would publish such information, including separate statistics for attacks on passengers and workers, on a website.

Once a transit system provides the true number of assaults that have been committed against workers, the bill requires a “risk assessment” process, whereby the agency would determine the extent of their problem with attacks on workers. Then, it compels them to fix that problem.

That’s where you come in Under the legislation, management must cooperate – not just consult – with front-line workforce representatives to find ways to stop the attacks.

A committee of bus drivers or rail employees would be formed to come up with proposals. Maybe the workers believe that shields are needed on the buses, or perhaps targeted law enforcement would help on certain routes.

Scheduling issues could be raised, too, helping to alleviate passenger frustration. Off-board fare collection is another concept that could speed boarding time and reduce fare

— continued from previous page LOCAL 900 Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) Rep. Bradley Scott Schneider (D-IL) LOCAL 956 Rep. Susan Wild (D-PA)

LOCALS 987-1182 LOCAL 998 Rep. Gwen Moore (D-WI) LOCAL 1001 Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO) Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D-CO) Rep. Ken Buck (R-CO) LOCAL 1005 Rep. Angie Craig (D-MN) Rep. Omar Ilhan (D-MN) Rep. Betty McCollum (D-MN) LOCAL 1108 Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) LOCAL 1027 Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) Rep. Julia Brownley (D-CA) Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-CA) Rep. Katie Hill (D-CA) LOCAL 1028 Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) LOCAL 1037 Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) Rep. William R. Keating (D-MA) LOCAL 1056 Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-NY) Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-NY) Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-NY) Rep. Nydia Velázquez (D-NY) Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY) Rep. Pete King (R-NY) Rep. Rose Max (D-NY) Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-NY) Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-NY) Rep. Kathleen Rice (D-NY) LOCAL 1070 Rep. André Carson (D-IN) LOCAL 1091 Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX) LOCAL 1145 Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) Rep. Anthony Brindisi (D-NY) LOCAL 1177 Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) Rep. Elaine Luria (D-VA) Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) Rep. Donald McEachin (D-VA) LOCAL 1179 Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-NY)

Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-NY) Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-NY) Rep. Max Rose (D-NY) Rep. Nydia Velázquez (D-NY) Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY) Rep. Pete King (R-NY) Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney (D-NY) Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-NY) Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-NY) Rep. Kathleen Rice (D-NY) LOCAL 1181 Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY)

LOCALS 1189-1363 LOCAL 1192 Rep. Abby Finkenauer (D-IA) LOCAL 1197 Al Lawson (D-FL) LOCAL 1220 Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) Donald McEachin (D-VA) LOCAL 1225 Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) LOCAL 1249 Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) LOCAL 1267 Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (D-FL) Rep. Frederica Wilson (D-FL) LOCAL 1277 Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) Rep. Alan Lowenthal (D-CA) Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA) Rep. Grace F. Napolitano (D-CA) Rep. Jackie Speier (D-CA) Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA) Rep. Nanette Diaz Barragán (D-CA) Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA) Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) LOCAL 1287 Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO) Rep. Sharice Davids (D-KS) LOCAL 1300 Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) Rep. Anthony Brown (D-MD) Rep. David Trone (D-MD) Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD) Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD) Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) Rep. John Sarbanes (D-MD) LOCAL 1309 Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) Rep. Susan Davis (D-CA) LOCAL 1321 Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) Rep. Paul Tonko (D-NY) — continued on next page

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continued from previous page — LOCAL 1333 Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) Rep. Cheri Bustos (D-IL) LOCAL 1336 Rep. James Himes (D-CT) LOCAL 1338 Rep. Colin Z. Allred (D-TX) Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) LOCAL 1342 Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) Rep. Brian Higgins (D-NY)

LOCALS 1374-1587 LOCAL 1433 Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ) LOCAL 1464 Rep. Castor, Kathy (D-FL) LOCAL 1512 Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) Rep. Richard Neal (D-MA) LOCAL 1547 Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-MA) LOCAL 1548 Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) Rep. William R. Keating (D-MA) LOCAL 1555 Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) Rep. Juan Vargas (D-CA) Rep. Susan Davis (D-CA) LOCAL 1564 Rep. Brenda Lawrence (D-MI) LOCAL 1574 Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA) Rep. Jackie Speier (D-CA) LOCAL 1575 Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) Rep. Jared Huffman (D-CA) LOCAL 1576 Rep. Suzan DelBene (D-WA) Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) Rep. Rick Larsen (D-WA) LOCAL 1577 Rep. Lois Frankel (D-FL) LOCAL 1578 Sen. Ed Markey (MA) Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) Rep. Lori Trahan (D-MA)

LOCAL 1596 Rep. Val Butler Demings (D-FL) Rep. Darren Soto (D-FL) LOCAL 1605 Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) Rep. Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA) LOCAL 1622 Rep. James Himes (D-CT) LOCAL 1637 Rep. Dina Titus (D-NV) LOCAL 1704 Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA) Rep. Norma Torres (D-CA) Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-CA) LOCAL 1743 Rep. Mike Doyle (D-PA) LOCAL 1745 Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) Rep. Robin Kelly (D-IL) LOCAL 1749 Rep. Val Butler Demings (D-FL) Rep. Darren Soto (D-FL) LOCAL 1756 Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA) Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA) Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-CA) Rep. Cardenas, Tony (D-CA-29) Rep. Karen Bass (D-CA) LOCAL 1764 Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) Rep. Jennifer Wexton (D-VA) LOCAL 1765 Rep. Derek Kilmer (D-WA) LOCAL 1772 Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO) Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D-CO) NEW JERSEY STATE COUNCIL Rep. Albio Sires (D-NJ) Rep. Andy Kim (D-NJ) Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-NJ) Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ) Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) Rep. Donald Norcross (D-NJ) Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ) Rep. Jeff Van Drew (D-NJ) Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ) Rep. Donald Milford Payne, Jr. (D-NJ) Rep. Tom Malinowski (D-NJ)

LOCALS 1588-1779 LOCAL 1593 Rep. Castor, Kathy (D-FL)

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disputes, and drivers’ side doors could be explored as a way to let workers escape an egregious attack. If the transit agency wishes to continue to receive federal funding, they would need to work with ATU members to implement these kinds of ideas to ensure that workers and passengers alike are safe.

The same model would be used on the blind spot issue.

If workers recommend smaller left side mirrors or an alternative to the giant “A” pillars, management must listen and work to address the issue.

Finally, the bill requires cooperative labor-management arrangements to address ergonomic issues. Bad backs caused by poorly-designed drivers’ seats would be issue number one for ATU members. v

WHAT CAN YOU DO? We need every ATU member to contact their Members of Congress to tell them to sponsor this important legislation.

It’s easy. Here’s all that you need to do: Mail Self-mailer Postcard Insert – Fill out the postage paid postcard in the center of this magazine with your name, Local Union number, and address. Tear the card out and mail to the ATU International. No postage is necessary.

Send a letter today – Visit https://bit.ly/protecttransitworkers to tell your congressperson to sponsor The Transit Worker and Pedestrian Protection Act (S. 436 / H.R. 1139).

ATU MOURNS PASSING OF INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT

LARRY HANLEY The Amalgamated Transit Union and the entire labor movement lost a trailblazing leader and working class champion on May 7, 2019, when Lawrence J. “Larry” Hanley, International President, passed away.

Under Hanley’s leadership, the ATU was transformed into one of the fiercest and most progressive unions in the labor movement, aggressively advocating for more and better public transportation and fighting for social, racial, and economic justice for all working people.

Hanley devoted more than 40 years of his life to the ATU and the broader labor movement. He was a tireless and tenacious advocate for his members, transit riders, and all trade unionists.

Hanley began driving a bus in 1978, at age 21, in Brooklyn, NY, and attended his first union meeting that September as a member of the Transport Workers Union (TWU).

In 1979, he transferred to Staten Island and became a member of ATU Local 726-Staten Island, NY. On his first strike, he was renowned for walking the picket line every day and night.

He became a shop steward, helped lead a takeover of his borough’s Democratic party machine, and was elected as the youngest president of Local 726. In that role, he pioneered

worker-rider organizing, leading thousands of union members and transit riders in a successful effort to reform the way transit service was provided on Staten Island. He ran the Staten Island operation of David Dinkins’ successful campaign for mayor of New York and helped found New York’s Working Families Party.

In 2002, Hanley rose to become an ATU International Vice President before being elected as a reformer to the office of International President in 2010. As International President, Hanley restructured the ATU to better fight back against rising privatization of public transit and to protect the livelihoods of transit workers.

One of the many hallmarks of Hanley’s storied career was recognizing the power and strength that can be achieved in uniting transit workers and riders in the fight for better public transportation. He also firmly believed that an educated member was a powerful one and made it his mission to develop one of the most far-reaching training programs in the history of organized labor. Because of his efforts and commitment, thousands of ATU members have been trained and inspired to fight for justice in their communities.

Hanley is survived by his wife Thelma, his daughter Monica, and his son Lawrence, Jr. v

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JOHN A. COSTA, INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT

A resounding call to arms Our union is confronting a very difficult and sad time in its history.

ATU International President Larry Hanley – a oncein-a-lifetime, transformational, trailblazing leader who brought our union to new heights – tragically and unexpectedly passed away in May. Two weeks later, our Local 1593-Tampa, FL, brother Thomas Dunn was stabbed to death on the job, the latest brutal attack in an epidemic of assaults on transit workers.

Days later, a 10-year-old boy riding a bicycle was tragically killed in another preventable crash when a NJ Transit bus with a massive built-in blind spot was turning left in a crosswalk.

No words can express our sense of grief and sadness over these tragic deaths.

But as I assume the office of ATU International President and bear witness to the international solidarity practiced by members in these trying times, I am more confident than ever that our members and our union are determined to honor Larry’s legacy and fight like hell to make our streets safer for everyone who shares them.

We must put the industry and our employers on notice.

No longer should we settle for wages that don’t feed our families, for benefits we can’t afford to use, for working conditions that leave us wondering if we’ll return home at night.

We must let it be known to the political establishment in the U.S. and Canada – especially U.S. President Donald Trump, Ontario Premier Doug Ford, and the corporate titans who back them – that we will not accept the privatization of our public resources or elimination

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of labor rights. No longer should we let a global raceto-the-bottom drag our members and our riders into poverty and immobility.

We must take Larry’s passion and programs and transform them into a way of life for our Local Unions and tangible victories for our members and allies. No longer should we settle for aspiration without concrete action.

We must build deeper, more sustainable alliances with our fellow trade unions, our riders, and community organizations to advance and win more, better, safer, and more affordable public transit. No longer should we settle for coalitions that exist only on paper.

We must confront the advent of autonomous vehicles and its consequences head on. No longer will we let technology-owners be the ones to dictate who the winners and losers are from these inevitable changes.

We must demand legislative, regulatory, and workplace action to stop the senseless epidemic of attacks on transit workers. No longer should we settle for vehicles that leave us exposed to violence and pedestrians to danger, that are designed to save pennies but cost lives.

Our agenda is big; it is bold. We can start enacting it by turning these recent tragedies into a watershed moment in our fight to improve safety for our members and the riding public in both the U.S. and Canada.

In fact, we already have a plan to do just that. In the U.S., the already-drafted Transit Worker and Pedestrian Protection Act (S. 436 / H.R. 1139) will ensure major, critical safety changes in all transit systems.

This legislation would require all transit agencies to create risk-reduction plans and install physical barriers to protect drivers. It would also require U.S. transit

agencies to report on a wider range of incidents. It also calls on U.S. transit agencies to collaborate with workers to swiftly address dangerous bus driver blind spot problems.

While the bill is gaining momentum on Capitol Hill, with more than 148 members of Congress co-sponsoring the bill (as of press time), we need more support, especially from Republicans. The only way members of Congress will support a bill is if they hear from their constituents.

That’s why we need all of our members to contact their Members of Congress and tell them to support this critical legislation now. To find out how to contact your Members of Congress, just visit https://bit.ly/protecttransitworkers.

It’s easy and will only take a few minutes of your time.

while leaning hard on local agencies to take action such as in Edmonton, AB, where all buses will have operator shields.

I’ve been a member of ATU for 38 years and know that our union and members are progressive, aggressive, and impressive. We can seize this moment of collective sorrow and use it to launch an unprecedented wave of collective action.

And I know our members from Pensacola, FL, to Port Alberni, BC, from San Diego, CA, to St. John’s, NL, and everywhere in between, will renew our campaign for social, racial and economic justice for all. Because Together We Fight! v

In Canada, we are working with ATU Canada and our Canadian Locals on similar protections and legislation

Anthony Garland appointed ATU International Vice President Born in Danville, VA, Garland began his career at the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) in 1983 as a bus operator, joining Local 689-Washington, DC. Wanting to get more involved with the Local, he became a shop steward in 2001 and served on the Local’s Executive Board, fighting to improve working conditions and the rights of his fellow workers.

He served as the Local’s Recording Secretary from 2006 to 2012. Garland also served as chair of the ATU CANAM from 2010-2012.

International Representative Anthony Garland was appointed by International President John Costa and approved by the ATU General Executive Board, as an International Vice President. Garland had been serving as an International Representative when he was appointed by the late International President Larry Hanley in September 2012.

During his time as an International Representative, Garland has assisted many ATU Locals in organizing, mobilizing riders and community activists, and other activities. He also served as Trustee for Local 1764-Washington, DC, and successfully negotiated strong contracts for many ATU Locals. v

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JAVIER PEREZ, JR., INTERNATIONAL EXEC. VICE PRESIDENT

People have to know you care before they care if you know The ATU has been mourning the sudden and untimely death of International President Larry Hanley. I had the great honor and privilege to serve with Larry as an executive officer. Larry was a one-of-a-kind visionary leader. I got to know Larry personally over the years, and anyone who knew him knew he loved to tell stories and also loved a good joke, especially one with an important message.

So this joke is for Larry. A nine-year-old boy, asked his father, “Daddy what is politics?” “Wow! That’s an important question,” the father thought to himself, “I have to think for a minute to provide an appropriate answer.” he told himself.

The father said, “let me put it this way. I have to provide for you. I am the capitalist, you are the people. Your mother keeps the money, she is the government. The babysitter is the working class and your baby brother is the future. Do you understand?” Well, the boy says, “I think so.”

The boy went to bed, and then awoke and heard his baby brother crying. He went and peeped in the room and saw the baby’s is diaper was a mess. So he tried to communicate with his mother. But he saw that mommy was sound asleep, and decided not to disturb her.

He went to the babysitter’s room, and saw that dad was having an affair with her. He decided not to disturb them, either. So, he went back to bed.

In the morning, while they are having breakfast, the boy said, “Dad, I think I know what politics is.” The dad said, “Son, tell me in your own way what politics is.”

The boy said, “Well, it something like this. While the government is asleep the capitalist screws the working class.

The people are ignored, while the future is in deep shit.”

A Cal Blevins Moment.

Cal Blevins was a mechanic at my home Local, 1287. Cal was a hard worker, a quiet guy who never missed work, never said much, but was always listening and supportive of our Union. Cal grew up in a rural area and learned how to repair vehicles at an early age. He learned early in life the

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value of hard work and appreciated the wage and benefits the Local fought for over the years.

One day, while serving as president of the Local, I received a call from a maintenance steward. “Perez, you need to get down here now,” he said. “Cal’s upset about something, refuses to discuss it with management without a Union rep.” This was out of character for Cal, I ended my meeting and went to the property. The supervisor (I’ll call him Ed) said Cal wouldn’t talk.

I found Cal and asked him, “what was going on?” Cal pulled out his paycheck. It was obvious that he had been shorted pay. Cal and I went into Ed’s office and showed him the shortage. Ed looked at it and asked, “Cal, why didn’t you just tell me?” Cal says, “you’re management, you screw me. I’m Union, (pointing at me) he can fix it,” and stormed out. Cal received an emergency check for the entire deficiency before quitting time. Cal understood the value of being Union.

Today, our members don’t come to Union meetings, and it’s hard to get them to rallies. Many members today have different life experiences than Cal. We can lament the lack of substantive discussion of labor unions and working people in our schools.

Bottom line, people have to know you care before they care if you know.

One task for all of us, and for Local leaders on the front line, is to constantly engage our members where they work – something Larry preached. We must show them that we care about their safety, their accessibility to clean bathrooms, that we are engaged in and leading the discussion on current and future issues. We must let them know we care about giving comfort to our members and their families who may be ill or hurting. Our International is providing the tools to accomplish this.

While we mourn Larry’s passing and the on-duty murders of a Canadian brother and, more recently, a Tampa operator, let’s remember to “Fight Like Hell for the Living.” v

OSCAR OWENS, INTERNATIONAL SECRETARY-TREASURER

How can we honor the memory of Larry Hanley?

I have had the distinct honor and privilege to serve as ATU’s International Secretary-Treasurer with International President Larry Hanley since he took office in 2010. It was a great and tragic loss for ATU and the entire labor movement when he unexpectedly passed away on May 7, 2019.

Larry was a tireless and visionary leader who shaped the ATU into one of the most innovative unions in the labor movement. The welfare and future of our members always came first for Larry, but a close second was standing in solidarity in the fight for rights and justice for all working people.

Larry beamed with pride when talking about how Locals mobilized their members in fights for strong contracts, bathroom breaks, bus driver shields, more transit funding, and other critical issues for our members.

You know what made him even prouder?

Our members showing solidarity with our brothers and sisters on Martha’s Vineyard in their fight for a first contract, despite four years of company delay. From Local 1181New York, NY, to Local 987-Lethbridge, AB, to Local 1145-Binghamton, NY, to Local 741-London, ON, our members have shown support by posting photos on social media with signs reading, “We Support Vineyard Drivers.”

Our members of Local 1722 in Kelowna, BC, raising money through their pink shirt campaign to go to the Okanagan Boys and Girls Club’s kindness and anti-bullying programs.

Our members across New England joining the Stop and Shop picket lines to show support for UFCW members who were on strike and eventually won a strong contract.

Our members in Ontario joining the “Public Healthcare for All” rally to fight Premier Doug Ford’s new healthcare legislation and support keeping provincial healthcare public.

To Larry, our members standing in solidarity with their brothers and sisters in other Locals, the labor movement, and all working people, showed what a powerful force we can be.

And that unity is more important than ever before.

Why? Right-wing, anti-worker, anti-union forces will stop at nothing to crush workers and their families.

In the U.S., big banks, Wall Street, the billionaire Koch brothers, and their wealthy buddies are rigging federal politics to benefit their bottom line while leaving working people suffering in their wake.

In Canada, Ford’s Ontario government is attempting to gut worker protections, push an anti-environmental agenda, privatize public transit and healthcare, take away free education, and pass other anti-worker initiatives.

So the best way you can honor the memory of Larry is to get involved with your Local.

Maybe it’s attending union meetings, or learning new skills by taking an ATU training, or organizing a leafleting action to educate our riders and the public, or attending a labor rally, or helping to mobilize your fellow members.

It’s about the future of the ATU, the labor movement, and our families, and what Larry would want us to do! v

If you have a story about an ATU brother or sister at your local going above and beyond the call of duty, please send it to officeofthepresident@atu.org.

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ONTARIO WORKERS ARE GETTING ROUTED BY THE DOUG FORD GOVERNMENT

Right-wing populism in Canada has been taken to new heights by the current Premier of Ontario, Doug Ford.

The Ford brand claims to stick up for the “little guy” against the ”elites,” but the reality is that Ford has been gutting worker protections like a fish-monger filleting a pike.

Within days of taking office, the Ford government put forward Bill 2, the Urgent Priorities Act. This omnibus bill ended the longest post-secondary strike in Canadian history and tore up over 700 renewable energy contracts.

Shortly after, the government cancelled the Cap and Trade with Bill 4.

During the municipal elections, with the election already called and underway, Doug Ford put forward Bill 5, which cut the number of council seats in the City of Toronto from 47 to 25. This dramatically reduced democratic representation and threw an election into disarray.

Furthering his anti-environmental agenda, the government repealed all Green Energy initiatives with Bill 34. By scrapping the Green Energy Act, municipalities were not mandated to pursue green and renewable energy initiatives. This bill effectively killed the solar and wind energy supply in the province.

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After fulfilling the wishes of the private nuclear industry in Ontario, Ford began to do the bidding of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce by ending important worker protections and enforcing concessions that could only be described as cruel.

First, the Making Ontario Open for Business Act repealed Bill 148, the Changing Workplaces Act. Under Bill 148, the minimum wage was set to rise to $15, unionization was made less difficult, equal pay for equal work was a law, paid sick leave was installed, and important scheduling protections were put in place.

Ford took a sandblaster to these pro-worker laws,

On the healthcare front, the government has continued its pursuit of centralized power by creating a health superagency called Ontario Health, which will make it far easier to privatize public services across the province.

Bill 74, entitled The People’s Health Care Act, was leaked to the public before the consultation occurred, exposing the public consultation phase as a sham.

These are just the legislative changes that have made it through the populist right’s control of parliament. stripping the Employment Standards Act and the Labour Relations Act. Minimum wage increases were cancelled, and paid sick leave was stolen.

Next on his pro-business agenda was Bill 57, the Restoring Trust, Transparency and Accountability Act. It removed the powers of institutions that regulate the environment and labour and weakened reporting requirements for employers.

Omnibus bill sets stage for transit privatization One particularly harsh change for ATU under this omnibus bill was the empowerment of Metrolinx, an arms-length transportation agency that has been crucial to the privatization movement. Metrolinx has centralized power over all of Ontario public transit and could be catastrophic for workers and riders alike. The Minister of Transportation was also empowered, setting the stage for full-throttle privatization. Part of this agenda is the uploading of the TTC subway to the province so, that it can automate TTC operations and privatize its maintenance.

Children and Youth Under Attack Ministers have used their powers to enforce sweeping administrative changes, too.

Most disturbingly is the attack on children and youth.

When the government took power, the education minister scrapped the updated school curriculum that taught children important modern lessons on gender identity, consent, and sexuality. To placate the social conservative base that put Ford in office, extreme homophobic and transphobic parents seized the debate and shaped the curriculum. The Minister of Education is now pushing for raising class sizes from 22 to 28 on average, saying this will improve resiliency in students.

Next, autistic kids were targeted by the Minister of Social Services, whose enormous cuts to funding for autistic therapy will cost parents hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Many parents are leaving the province to find support in other parts of the country.

Those on social assistance saw their scheduled increases cut in half from 3% to 1.5%, which is below inflation.

The basic income pilot that thousands relied on was scrapped altogether.

The onslaught continues.

As In Transit went to print, the government has tabled Bill 66 (Restoring Ontario’s Competitiveness Act). This bill requires no Ministry approval for excessive weekly work hours. This removes protections reaching back to 1944 that regulate the length of the working day. Special approval was necessary if employees were working in excess of 48 hours in a week. Bill 66 removes that regulatory oversight. Now, no approval is required for overtime averaging agreements.

Employment standards posters are no longer required in workplaces, which mean companies aren’t required to inform young workers and newcomers of their basic rights.

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First a coalition of ATU members and riders have formed to stop TTC subway privatization.

Second, parents of autistic children have caused enough disruption and tripped up enough backbench MPPs that the Minister had to walk back on some of the cuts.

Third, students have begun walk-outs and student strikes in order to protest rising class sizes and sexist curriculum changes.

Youth in the university sector have not been spared, either.

First, right-to-work style policies were implemented that made student union dues optional. This policy will defund important programs like food banks, campus media, and sexual survivor supports.

Fourth, farmers, indigenous communities, and environmental groups formed to protest deregulation in Ontario’s green belt in order to protect green space and wildlife.

This resistance has by no means derailed the anti-worker agenda of the government, but they have certainly exposed cracks and fractures in the conservative caucus. v

ATU, Allies Fighting Back Despite these large-scale setbacks for the working class, there have been a surge of organizing and public demonstrations, many led by the ATU, that have halted the Ford agenda on some important fronts.

International to memorialize deceased local officers at Convention The International is requesting its locals to send it the names, titles, and pictures (if available) of local presidents, business agents, and financial secretaries who have passed away since October 8, 2016. This information will be made into a special memorial that will be displayed during the 59th ATU Convention. Please use the form below to submit the name, title/office, local number and charter city, and date of death. This form should be sent to International President John A. Costa no later than September 1, 2019. The form can be mailed to International President John A. Costa, ATU, 10000 New Hampshire Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20903, emailed to officeofthepresident@atu.org or faxed to 301-431-7117.

— Local Officer Memorial Form — Name: Date of Death: Title/Office: Local Number:

Charter City:

* For example: Local Number: 113 Charter City: Toronto, ON

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CORPORATE WELFARE’S GONNA GET YOUR BUS RIDE! In a landmark organizing victory, New York City activists recently defeated Amazon.com from getting $3 billion in taxpayer subsidies for a second headquarters campus.

Among their most powerful connect-the-dots arguments: the city’s transit system is underfunded and struggling, as are schools, universities, and affordable housing. Like the “Red for Ed” campaigns, in which teachers’ strikes have rocked even some of the nation’s most conservative states, the Amazon fight is about working people saying “NO!” to government austerity.

Indeed, the New York victory is inspiring activists everywhere who seek to protect funding for public services that benefit all employers and make for a great “business climate.” Holding their elected officials accountable, New York community groups set a positive example, saying NO! to backroom deals and YES! to a future with better transit, more affordable housing, and lower college tuition.

Many more cities suffer this problem. They give billions of dollars in tax breaks and other subsidies to some of the world’s biggest corporations. Inevitably, that means working families and small businesses get stuck with higher taxes and lousier public services.

Take Memphis, for example, where the Memphis Bus Riders Union is organizing to preserve service and keep fares affordable. The city loses one out of every seven property tax dollars to property tax abatements (called “PILOTs” there).

Chicago loses one out of every ten property tax dollars to a subsidy called tax increment financing (or “TIF”). One TIF district alone in Chicago’s Loop (the Central Business District) cost public services almost $1 billion—and the city has more than 160 TIF districts! Meanwhile, the Chicago Transit Authority has suffered recurring service cuts, fare hikes, and layoffs.

In East Baton Rouge, Louisiana, faith-based organizers in Together Baton Rouge (TBR) joined forces with ATU members a few years ago to win a property tax rate increase for desperately-needed bus service improvements. Now, TBR is fighting to make sure mega-corporations like ExxonMobil are paying their property taxes, because a single abatement program there cost public services more than $66 million a year.

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for ExxonMobil. The school board voted to deny the taxbreak, and the shockwaves were national, dominating Page 1 of the New York Times business section.

In New Jersey, former Gov. Chris Christie presided over more nine-figure giveaway deals (that’s $100 millionplus for one single project) than any governor in U.S. history. He also failed to invest in critical transportation infrastructure and NJ Transit service.

Transit, like education, is an enormously popular public service. Even people who don’t need it themselves understand that many workers, students, and seniors

depend on it. That’s why ATU has such a strategic role in pushing back against corrosive corporate welfare.

ATU proudly supports Good Jobs First, a tax-break watchdog group that has also been the union’s longtime partner in staging “boot camps” to train transit rider organizers. Good Jobs First has research tools and connections that can assist fightback campaigns. If your local suspects that corporate tax breaks are undermining the funding base for transit, contact the International Union’s field mobilization department to make a connection. v

30TH ANNUAL ATU INTERNATIONAL LATINO CAUCUS CONFERENCE September 20-22, 2019 Bally’s Las Vegas 3645 Las Vegas Boulevard, Las Vegas, NV For more information visit the ATU International Latino Caucus Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ATUILC

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JUST CAUSE AND EMPLOYEE DISCIPLINE No employee shall be disciplined without “just cause”

Too often our locals are forced to defend our members against unwarranted warnings, suspensions and terminations because our employers and their supervisors think they “can get away with it.”

As we know on the ballfield and battlefield, often the best offense is a good defense. That is why over many decades our locals have negotiated “just cause” provisions into our contracts to set limits on our employers and their supervisors.

Without “just cause” contract provisions, an employer can fire an employee for a good reason, bad reason, or NO reason at all. This is called “at will” employment.

There are critical questions that every ATU member should understand.

What is “just cause?” “just cause” is a set of standards usually found in our collective bargaining agreements under provisions governing employee discipline. They provide a strict set of requirements to limit arbitrary, capricious or discriminatory conduct by an employer seeking to impose unfair discipline – firing, suspension, demotion - on our members. Specific contract language is designed to ensure: • proper notice of rules to employees, • due process through full and fair investigation, • members access to union representation, • proof of a violation, and • evenhanded and unbiased discipline.

The Seven Tests of “just cause” Our contracts and arbitrators in discipline cases have established a set of guidelines or criteria to be applied to the facts of each case, commonly known as the Seven Tests of “just cause”. Each case must be evaluated on the basis of these standards to determine whether the discipline was justified and appropriate under the circumstances. They are: 1. Reasonable Rule or Work Order/Recent Enforcement.

An employee may not be penalized for violating a rule or standard that the employer has failed to enforce for a prolonged period.

Is the rule or order reasonably related to the orderly, efficient, and safe operation of the business?

• Is the rule or instruction straightforward and easy to understand?

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• Has the employer been consistent and unbiased in applying the rule or standard?

5. Substantial proof. Charges must be proven by substantial and credible evidence

• Is there prior or recent history of discipline for violations of this rule or standard?

During the investigation, did the employer find proof of misconduct or of a performance discrepancy?

2. Notice. An employer may not discipline an employee for violating a rule or standard whose nature and penalties have not been made known.

• What conclusions are clearly supported by the evidence?

Did the employee receive adequate notice of the work rule, policy, regulation or performance standard and the possible consequences of failure to comply?

• Is the violated work rule or performance standard published? Is it up-to-date and relevant to the employer’s operations?

• How did the employer make the employee aware of the rule (bulletin board, manual, meeting, prior oral or written communication, employee’s job description card, written standards, signed acknowledgement)?

• What evidence does the employer have that the employee was aware of the rule, and understands it (new employee orientation, notices, record of handbook and policy distribution, etc.)?

3. Due Process/Sufficient Investigation. An employer must conduct an interview or hearing before issuing discipline, must take action promptly, and must list the charges precisely.

• Is the employer relying on rumor, speculation, or hearsay?

6. Equal Treatment. Unless a valid distinction justifies a higher penalty, an employer may not assess a considerably stronger punishment against one employee that is assessed against another who committed the same or substantially similar offense.

Has the employer dealt with all employees equally, without discrimination?

• Have work rules been applied consistently?

• Did the employer hold all employees accountable for the performance standards established for their positions?

• Have similarly situated employees (similar records and infractions) received the same discipline?

• Have other employees received special or preferential treatment for similar conduct?

7. Appropriate/Progressive Discipline and Mitigating Circumstances. How do you decide what’s appropriate?

Did the employer conduct a full and fair investigation before making a decision about taking disciplinary action?

Was union representation provided upon request.

• Is the proposed discipline reasonably related to the seriousness of the problem and the employee’s record (length of service and overall performance)?

• What is the basis for the employer suspecting that a work rule, policy or performance standard violation?

• Is this violation part of a pattern? A minor infraction does not merit harsh discipline unless it is a repeat occurrence by the employee.

• Did the employer interview all relevant witnesses (supervisors, employees, riders)?

• Did the employer review all relevant records and equipment?

4. Fair Investigation. Was the investigation fair and objective?

• How long ago did the alleged infraction occur?

(Unnecessary delays may send a message that the employer does not consider the infraction to be serious.)

• Did the employer conduct a one-sided investigation?

• Has the employer addressed conflicting statements or other conflicting evidence?

• Is management meaningfully listening to and responding to the evidence the employee presented?

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• Is there something sympathetic going on in the employee’s work or personal life that explains the underlying issue?

• Is the penalty punitive or is there a potential for the employee to continue to perform the job successfully?

“Just cause” In Action: Select Portions of Arbitration Awards “In a ‘just cause’ work environment, employees must be apprised of their employer’s expectations in advance, and put on notice of the consequences for failing to meet those expectations. It is undisputed that the Grievant did not receive such advance notice…. They were not informed of

how such information would be used by their new employer, or that such information might result in summary discharge from employment. Such actions by the Employer are incongruent with a ‘just cause’ work environment... For the reasons and findings stated above, the grievance is sustained.

The Grievant’s discharge from employment is overturned.”

(Local 1277, Arbitrator Elinor S. Nelson, 2009).

“Given the shortcomings in its proof and the totality of the evidence, the Company has fallen short of demonstrating “just cause” for the grievant’s summary discharge.” (Local 448, Arbitrator Marc D. Greenbaum, 2018).

Sample “just cause” Contract Language Most ATU Contracts have language that requires application of “just cause” standards to employee discipline. Some are short, leaving it to the parties and ultimately an arbitrator to apply the standards to individual cases.

Transdev, Local 256, Sacramento, CA Section 9.3 “just cause” No employee will be disciplined, discharged, suspended, nor will adverse entries be made in personnel record except for ““just cause”.”

Others spell out the standards in some detail, and may include language referencing employer rule books, advance notice and distribution to employees.

as a witness, and timeframes for removal of prior disciplinary actions from an employee’s personnel file.

Finally, some ““just cause”” provisions specifically include actions that will be cause for immediate dismissal and those that will not subject an employee to progressive or lower levels of discipline.

City of Edmonton, Local 569, Edmonton, AB 4.02 Discipline 4.02.01 The City may discipline an employee for “just cause”. Notices of investigation and copies of all disciplinary reports, (excluding documented counselling sessions, which are nondisciplinary) shall be provided to the Union indicating clearly the exact nature of same. Employees required to attend a meeting for discipline shall be entitled to have a Union Representative present. The employee shall be advised of this entitlement by the City in advance of the meeting. Should the Union or the employee be of the opinion that any disciplinary action is improper, then the disciplinary action may be the subject of a grievance…. Past disciplinary reports shall be deemed void after an employee has maintained a clear record with no disciplinary reports for a period of 24 months of active employment.

Bottomline, ATU works hard to negotiate strong “just cause” language in all contracts to ensure all members are treated fairly and enjoy protections when it comes to discipline. v

More complete provisions address: •

the rights of employees to representation (Weingarten rights);

union

•

written notice, statement of the specific charges or rule violations to the Union and employee within a specified time limit; the right to attend all hearings;

•

assurances of progressive discipline;

•

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A LESSON ON

A LESSON ON COMPASSION In his own words, James L. McGee, Executive Director of the Transit Employees’ Health & Welfare Fund, shares an important and touching story from a training for ATU maintenance members that he conducted on Medicare for All at the Tommy Douglas Conference Center.

group was engaged in a lively discussion about whether a national program would somehow support those who weren’t paying into the system – that those who aren’t paying are somehow less deserving. This is an argument I encounter frequently.

We know the American healthcare system is broken. We read about it in newspapers and online. We hear about it on TV and at union meetings. We see how it affects collective bargaining. And occasionally we experience it ourselves or among our family and friends.

Others in the group, one woman in particular, pointed out that all of us will have our encounters with the healthcare system, and we may rely on others to help us get back on our feet to become productive in society again.

That’s why the ATU has made Medicare for All one of its top national legislative priorities and why I have been invited to conduct training sessions on single payer as part of the ATU’s member training programs.

At one recent training session, the political became personal, and the personal became political, for a member of Local 689-Washington, DC, thanks to the generosity of a group of ATU maintenance workers from various Locals.

My regular job is executive director of the Transit Employees’ Health & Welfare Fund, the benefit fund that administers the health and related benefits for Local 689 members who work for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. I see daily how our employment-based system fails too many of our own members.

At one recent single payer training session for maintenance workers at the Tommy Douglas Conference Center, the

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That’s when I brought up that I would be facing one of the most distasteful aspects of my job when I returned to the office after that morning’s session.

A Local 689 member had been out on Workers Comp and had fallen seriously behind in the premiums he owed the Fund. I would be meeting with him that afternoon.

If he couldn’t come up with the balance of his premium for the month, I would have no choice but to cut off his health insurance for him and his family. Just when he needed care the most, he risked losing it.

One member at the training immediately piped up and asked me how much that 689 member owed. When I told him, to my utter surprise, he handed me some cash and challenged everyone at the training to help this member out. One by one, ATU members came up - people who didn’t know this member at all - and added to a growing wad of cash. I collected enough to pay his February premium and most of his March premium.

Driving back to the office, I was blown away by the generosity of these members but also a bit concerned about why was this member more deserving than the many others in the same situation. When I got back to my office, I explained to my staff what had just happened.

They shared my concern, even arguing that others who perhaps had treated staff nicer were more deserving.

Then the 689 member came into my office immediately angry, even accusing our staff of incompetent record keeping. I tried to calm him down, but it wasn’t working.

gave me a hug and thanked me and those who had made this possible. He couldn’t believe that strangers had found him in his time of need.

Then he completely shocked me. He asked me, “What about all the others like me who are in the same situation?”

I explained to him that is why I am working so hard for Medicare for All. We need a national healthcare system that doesn’t have to decide which of us is deserving. We all are. v

When I finally did and told him what his fellow ATU members had done for him, he broke down into tears. It took him several minutes to compose himself. Then he

In the U.S. Capital, only wealthy can afford to live near Metro stations Despite the recent creation of thousands of units of affordable housing in Washington, DC, wealthier households are disproportionately more likely to live close to the Metro for an easier commute, while lowerincome households have to live farther away.

Between 2012 and 2016, about a half of all households in Washington, DC, had incomes of $75,000 or less.

However, data based on Census estimates revealed that only 44 percent of the roughly 200,000 households living near a DC Metro station made $75,000 or less.

That means 10,000 fewer lower-income households have shorter commutes because they living near a Metro station than would if the mix of incomes near stations more closely matched the city as a whole.

Besides having to go further to get on Metro, those living further away from stations often have to pay more to commute. Metro, unlike some other transit agencies – MTA in New York City is one - charges people to transfer between buses and trains.

fighting to stay afloat with everyday tasks – like getting to work or daycare,” said Paul Mackie, research director for Mobility Lab, an Arlington transportation research center. v

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NYC school bus Local threatens strike as the company refuses to agree to the same salaries and benefits enjoyed by school bus workers at other companies.

The Local has received support from key elected officials, including Mayor Bill de Blasio and Queens State Senator John Liu (D-NY), who sponsored a bill that would grant the school bus workers the EPPs.

After New York State lawmakers failed to include critical employee protection provisions (EPPs) in the new state budget, Local 1181-New York, NY, voted to authorize a strike if necessary.

EPPs ensure that student passengers have experienced school bus drivers and escorts on the job to transport them.

“We are now short hundreds of drivers because the wages are not high enough,” said Liu. “And what are we talking about here? We’re talking about school buses that are transporting our little kids on a daily basis to and from school.”

This strike vote comes after a study by former White House economist Benjamin Harris found that adopting critical EPPs could save NYC at least $288 million by reducing costs associated with turnover, labor unrest, unemployment insurance, and tax revenue lost to low wages. v

The strike vote at Reliant, a private company that serves 12,000 New York City students with disabilities, occurs

Renewed push for Jake Schwab Worker Safety Bill It’s been almost five years since Local 568-Erie, PA, mechanic Jake Schwab was killed on the job. He was repairing a vehicle when a bus safety air bag exploded in his face. His fellow members launched a statewide campaign, but worker safety improvements for public employees has not improved.

Pennsylvania state public employees like Jake are currently exempted from OSHA regulations like those that shape the private sector.

In 2014, ATU Locals across Pennsylvania worked with state legislators to introduce the Jake Schwab Worker’s Safety bill to ensure on-the-job safety protection for public employees by establishing OSHA-equivalent safety rules for public employers.

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Despite strong support from key state legislators and an aggressive campaign by ATU Locals, the bill unfortunately never passed.

Now one of the chief architects of the bill, Pennsylvania State Representative Pat Harkins (D-PA), is renewing the fight.

Rep. Harkins plans to reintroduce the legislation soon.

“There’s no reason the public sector employees should not have OSHA protections in place as the private sector employees, and we won’t give up until we have this accomplished,” Harkins said at a recent rally.

ATU couldn’t agree more and will be working to get this bill passed to honor the memory of our fallen brother and to prevent future tragedies in the public sector. v

Proposed Amendments to the

ATU Constitution and General Laws Submitted to the International Union for Consideration by

The 59th ATU International Convention Meeting in Las Vegas, NV, September 23 – 27, 2019 per Section 6.16 of the ATU Constitution and General Laws Section 6.16 of the ATU Constitution and General Laws requires that resolutions proposing amendments to the Constitution must first be approved by the local union and stamped with the local’s official seal before they are forwarded to the International. These resolutions must be received by the International no later than August 1 of the year in which the Convention is held. No resolution proposing an amendment to the ATU Constitution which has not met the above conditions can be considered by the Convention unless two-thirds of the delegates present vote to allow it to be presented.

Resolutions proposing amendments to the Constitution which meet the above conditions are printed and distributed to all of the delegates at the opening of the Convention.

In addition, Section 6.16 requires that all resolutions received by April 1 of the year in which the Convention is held are to be published in the May/June issue of the In Transit prior to their consideration by the Convention.

The International received two resolutions proposing amendments to the Constitution that met the above conditions prior to April 1, 2019. In accordance with Section 6.16 these resolutions are published below: RESOLUTION NO. 1 Submitted by Local 113 (Toronto, ON) Preamble WHEREAS a MOTION has been submitted calling on Local 113 to take all measures to propose the following amendments to the ATU Constitution and General Laws (ATU Constitution) at the next ATU International Convention; and WHEREAS proposed amendments to the ATU Constitution are processed as Resolutions in accordance with Section 6.16, Resolutions, of the ATU Constitution; and

WHEREAS recent litigation in the Ontario courts involving the ATU and Local 113 has raised questions about certain provisions of union constitution, including of the ATU Constitution; and WHEREAS the members of Local 113 recommend that such matters including those raised by the MOTION deserve careful review and analysis; and WHEREAS the members of Local 113 recognize that the issues raised by the MOTION are important to our members and to the entire membership of the ATU in all of the jurisdictions in Canada and in the United States; NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that we HEREBY APPROVE THE MOTION as a RESOLUTION and that it be forwarded to the International Union pursuant to Section 6.16 of the ATU Constitution in order to provide all ATU local unions and all members of ATU an opportunity to review, analyze and consider the proposed constitutional amendments set out in the RESOLUTION, in advance of their consideration at the next ATU International Convention and at the next ATU Convention in 2019.

1. Repeal section 17, and replace it with the following: Section 17 – Withdrawal of Local Unions: A local union may disaffiliate from the International Union if a resolution to that effect is passed by a majority of the local’s members, in a membership vote conducted in accordance with the local’s bylaws. A local that disaffiliates is entitled to keep any property it holds at the time of disaffiliation.

2. Repeal section 22.2 of the Constitution in its entirety.

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3. Amend section 22.1 To remove the words “gross disloyalty” and “dual unionism, decertification or secession.”

4. Amend section 13.4 To remove the sentence beginning with the words “in case of withdrawal ...”

5. Amend section 13.17 To add the following words at the end: “Provided, however, that no local union may be placed in trusteeship if its members are contemplating or voting on disaffiliation from the International Union.”

RESOLUTION NO. 2 Submitted by Local 241 (Chicago, IL) WHEREAS, the Amalgamated Transit Union is endowed with the trust of all its members of all of its subordinate bodies to defend their self-evident rights through democratic procedures, reaffirming that no individual has the unilateral authority to speak for the entire body in a democracy; and WHEREAS, in compliance with the Labor Management and Reporting Disclosure Act of 1959, enacted to prevent abuses in the administration of trusteeships by labor organizations, in accordance with the constitution and bylaws of the organization which has assumed trusteeship over the subordinate body for the purpose of restoring democratic procedures; and WHEREAS, in compliance with the Amalgamated Transit Union Constitution and General Laws at Section 12.6 which provides that a trusteeship may be imposed by the International Union in order to restore democratic procedures; and WHEREAS, the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 241 deems it to be in the best interest of the Amalgamated Transit Union reaffirm the Preamble and the Amalgamated Transit Union Constitution and General Laws to build up an organization where all working members of our craft can participate in the discussion of those practical problems upon the solution of which depends our welfare and prosperity, and to restore democratic procedures, by establishing, prior to the conclusion of a trusteeship of subordinate bodies, a Bylaws Committee; and WHEREAS, the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 241 deems it to be in the best interest of the Amalgamated

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Transit Union to reaffirm the Amalgamated Transit Union Constitution and General Laws at Section 13.2, Bylaws, which currently provides a democratic procedure enacted to protect the rights of its members by allowing them to freely participate and exercise their right to vote; and WHEREAS, the current language of the Amalgamated Transit Union Constitution and General Laws at Section 12.6, Trusteeships, provides the following: Prior to the conclusion of the trusteeship, the trustee shall review the bylaws of the subordinate body and shall submit his or her recommendations for amendment to the International President (IP).

In order for the amendment to the bylaws to be legal and effective, it must be approved by the International President and ratified by the General Executive Board; and THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 241 approved this Resolution to amend the Amalgamated Transit Union Constitution and General Laws at Section 12.6, Trusteeships, as submitted in the attached proposed amendment to the Amalgamated Transit Union Constitution and General Laws as follows: Prior to the conclusion of the trusteeship, the trustee shall establish a Bylaws Committee. The trustee and members in good standing of the subordinate body chosen by the trustee to be assistants from each unit and location represented by the subordinate body shall comprise the Bylaws Committee. The trustee shall serve as the chair of the Bylaws Committee. The Bylaws Committee shall review the bylaws of the subordinate body and shall submit recommendations for amendment to the subordinate body to be processed in accordance with the ATU Constitution and General Laws at Section 13.2.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 241 stands with subordinate bodies of the Amalgamated Transit Union against any abuses in the administration of trusteeship and advocates for restoring democratic procedures in compliance with applicable laws and the Amalgamated Transit Union Constitution and General Laws, by empowering Amalgamated Transit Union members of subordinate bodies to exercise their voice in the process of amending their Bylaws, at the same time reaffirming that amendments to Bylaws, to be legal and effective, must be approved by the International President (IP) and ratified by the General Executive Board.

Martha’s Vineyard bus drivers on strike Frustrated after trying to negotiate a first contract nearly four years after unionizing, Vineyard Transit Authority (VTA) drivers went on strike as of press time. The strike was timed as the busy summer season started to ramp up, with many workers and visitors coming to Martha’s Vineyard relying on the bus system as their primary means of transportation.

Since February, Local 1548-Plymouth, MA, and Transit Connection, Inc. – VTA’s private, out-of-state contractor – have been holding contract talks with a federal mediator.

The drivers are seeking fair discipline and due process, health and safety improvements, and wage increases in line with the rising cost of living on Martha’s Vineyard. The company submitted its last, best, and final offer, which the Local countered with their own contract proposal. The company then refused to come back to the table, prompting the strike.

“We didn’t want to strike, but after five long years without a raise, TCI and VTA has done everything in their power to bust our union. We were left us with no other option but to strike. We deserve a living wage and fair benefits, and we will settle for nothing less.” said VTA driver Richard Townes.

“We know the impact this strike has had on our community – residents, seasonal employees, businesses and others - and it’s time for the company to come back to the table.”

The week before the strike, more than 50 bus drivers, residents, community activists, and TCI officials packed a Transit Town Hall at Martha’s Vineyard High School in Oak Bluffs. In one heated exchange VTA veteran driver Roland Goulart, who was born on and lives on the Island, told attendees how TCI president and CEO Ed Pigman believes a

cost of living increase should not apply to Martha’s Vineyard bus drivers “because they chose to live there.” Goulart responded, “I didn’t choose to live here, I was born here. I’m going to die here.”

Massachusetts Senators Elizabeth Warren and Edward Markey sent videos of support for the bus drivers in their fight for a fair contract and justice. Massachusetts Representative Bill Keating sent a staffer member to voice his support for the drivers. In addition, Senator Bernie Sanders (D-VT) tweeted a message for the VTA drivers to stay strong on their fight.

“I and many of my friends on the Island and colleagues are very, very upset about what is happening to our bus drivers, who we love so much and do so much for us in the community.

They are very dedicated and skilled,” said Chilmark resident Ginny Diamond at the town hall. “They deserve better treatment from the VTA and the company from Florida that employs them. What has been happening to them is an outrage. We are behind them and on their side.”

For three years TCI refused to meet with the workers, to negotiate a contract, even attempting to block the union in court. Finally in April 2018, the 11th Circuit Court ruled in favor of the drivers, requiring the company negotiate in good faith.

Check the ATU website (www.atu.org) for the latest news on this strike. v

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Getting politically active just got a whole lot easier (Shh… don’t tell the boss!)

ATU launched a new online tool which allows U.S. members to contribute to ATU-COPE by credit or debit card directly, without having to go through their employer. COPE is the ATU’s Committee on Political Education, our political action committee. We use COPE contributions to elect candidates who support ATU members on issues that are important to us. Then we hold politicians accountable and work with them to pass important legislation that benefits ATU members and block bills that can hurt us.

Up until now, we’ve relied on COPE cards. In many cases, ATU members who have wanted to get more politically active have been stymied by their employer’s unwillingness to take funds out of their paychecks for political purposes. The bosses know that politically active workers are not good for them.

Now, you can avoid all of that and contribute directly to COPE on your own. U.S. members can sign up for small recurring monthly contributions (even just $5 per month) or one-time donations.

As a transit worker, school bus employee, or overthe-road bus worker, your job, wages, and working conditions are directly linked to politics. Representatives in federal, state, and local government make crucial decisions every day that determine the amount of funding available to your transit system or school district, the safety and security requirements at your workplace, your bargaining rights, and more.

Transit boards are in many cases made up of elected officials, so we actually have the opportunity to elect our bosses.

Think about the power potential there.

Please sign up today. If every ATU member gave just a few dollars per month, it would substantially increase our power and improve your quality of life.

Make an investment in yourself and your family today.

It takes less than a minute to sign up. Sign up here: https://www.atu.org/action/atu-cope. v

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OCTOBER 20 & 21, 2019 WORTHINGTON MANOR GOLF CLUB, URBANA, MD FOR THE BENEFIT OF MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS RESEARCH

ATU lamenta el fallecimiento del Presidente Internacional Larry Hanley El Sindicato de Tránsito Amalgamado (ATU por sus siglas en inglés) y todo el movimiento obrero perdieron a un líder pionero y campeón de la clase obrera el 7 de mayo de 2019 cuando falleció el Presidente Internacional Lawrence J. “Larry” Hanley.

Bajo la dirección de Hanley, ATU se transformó en uno de los sindicatos más feroces y progresistas del movimiento obrero, abogando agresivamente por más y mejor transporte público y luchando por la justicia social, racial y económica para todos los trabajadores.

Hanley dedicó más de 40 años de su vida al ATU y al movimiento obrero en general. Fue un defensor incansable y tenaz de sus miembros, de los pasajeros del transporte público y de todos los sindicalistas.

Hanley comenzó a conducir un autobús en 1978, a la edad de 21 años, en Brooklyn, NY, y asistió a su primera reunión sindical en septiembre como miembro del Sindicato de Trabajadores del Transporte (TWU por sus siglas en inglés). En 1979, se transfirió a Staten Island y se convirtió en miembro de ATU Local 726. En su primera huelga, fue famoso por caminar en el piquete de huelga todos los días y todas las noches.

Se convirtió en un delegado sindical, ayudó a dirigir la toma de posesión de la maquinaria del partido demócrata de su municipio y fue elegido como el presidente más joven del Local 726. En ese papel, fue pionero en la organización de trabajadores y conductores, liderando a miles de miembros del sindicato y conductores de transporte público en un esfuerzo exitoso para reformar la forma en que se proporcionaba el servicio de transporte público en Staten Island. Dirigió la operación en Staten Island para la exitosa campaña de David Dinkins para su candidatura como alcalde de Nueva York y ayudó a fundar el Partido de las Familias Trabajadoras de Nueva York.

En 2002, Hanley se convirtió en Vicepresidente Internacional de ATU antes de ser elegido como reformador para el cargo de Presidente Internacional en 2010. Como Presidente Internacional, Hanley reestructuró ATU para luchar mejor contra la creciente

privatización del transporte público y para proteger los medios de vida de los trabajadores del transporte.

Uno de los muchos sellos distintivos de la histórica carrera de Hanley fue reconocer el poder y la fuerza que se puede lograr al unir a los trabajadores del transporte público y a los pasajeros en la lucha por un mejor transporte público. También creía firmemente que un miembro educado era un miembro poderoso, haciéndolo su misión, el poder desarrollar uno de los programas de capacitación de mayor alcance en la historia del trabajo organizado. Gracias a su esfuerzo y compromiso, miles de miembros de ATU han sido entrenados e inspirados para luchar por la justicia en sus comunidades.

A Hanley le sobreviven su esposa Thelma, su hija Mónica y su hijo Lawrence, Jr. v

Un resonante llamado a las armas Nuestro sindicato se enfrenta a un momento muy difícil y triste de su historia.

El Presidente Internacional de ATU, Larry Hanley un líder único, transformador y pionero que llevó a nuestro sindicato a nuevas alturas - falleció trágica e inesperadamente en mayo.

Dos semanas después, nuestro hermano Thomas Dunn del Local 1593-Tampa, FL, fue apuñalado hasta la muerte en el trabajo, el último ataque brutal en una epidemia de asaltos a trabajadores del transporte.

Días después, un niño de 10 años que andaba en bicicleta murió trágicamente en otro accidente evitable cuando un autobús del Tránsito de NJ con un punto ciego incorporado masivo giró a la izquierda en un cruce peatonal.

Ninguna palabra puede expresar nuestro sentimiento de pena y tristeza por estas trágicas muertes.

Pero mientras asumo el cargo de Presidente Internacional de ATU y doy testimonio de la solidaridad internacional practicada por los miembros en estos tiempos difíciles, estoy más seguro que nunca de que nuestros miembros y nuestro sindicato están decididos a honrar el legado de IN TRANSIT

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Larry y luchar fuertemente para hacer nuestras calles más seguras para todos los que las comparten.

Debemos avisar a la industria y a nuestros empleadores. Ya no debemos conformarnos con salarios que no alimentan a nuestras familias, con beneficios que no podemos permitirnos utilizar, con condiciones de trabajo que nos hacen preguntarnos si volveremos a casa por la noche.

Debemos hacer saber al sistema político en los EE.UU. y Canadá - especialmente al Presidente de los EE.UU. Donald Trump, al Primer Ministro de Ontario Doug Ford y a los titanes corporativos que los apoyan - que no aceptaremos la privatización de nuestros recursos públicos o la eliminación de los derechos laborales. Ya no debemos permitir que una carrera global hacia el fondo arrastre a nuestros miembros y a nuestros conductores a la pobreza y a la inmovilidad.

Debemos tomar la pasión y los programas de Larry, y transformarlos en una forma de vida para nuestros Sindicatos Locales y victorias tangibles para nuestros miembros y aliados. Ya no debemos conformarnos con la aspiración sin una acción concreta.

Debemos construir alianzas más profundas y sostenibles con nuestros compañeros sindicales, nuestros conductores y organizaciones comunitarias para avanzar y ganar más, mejor, más seguro y más asequible transporte público.

Ya no debemos conformarnos con coaliciones que sólo existen sobre el papel.

Debemos enfrentarnos a la llegada de los vehículos autónomos y a sus consecuencias. Ya no dejaremos que los propietarios de la tecnología sean los que dicten quiénes son los ganadores y los perdedores de estos cambios inevitables.

Debemos exigir acciones legislativas, regulatorias y en el lugar de trabajo para detener la absurda epidemia de ataques a los trabajadores de tránsito. Ya no debemos conformarnos con vehículos que nos exponen a la violencia y a los peatones al peligro, que están diseñados para ahorrar centavos pero que cuestan vidas.

Nuestra agenda es grande; es audaz. Podemos empezar a promulgarla convirtiendo estas tragedias recientes en un momento decisivo en nuestra lucha por mejorar la seguridad de nuestros miembros y del público en general, tanto en los Estados Unidos como en Canadá.

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De hecho, ya tenemos un plan para hacer precisamente eso. En los EE.UU., la ya redactada Ley de Protección de Trabajadores de Tránsito y Peatones garantizará cambios importantes y críticos en la seguridad de todos los sistemas de tránsito.

Esta legislación requeriría que todas las agencias de tránsito creen planes de reducción de riesgos e instalen barreras físicas para proteger a los conductores. También requeriría que las agencias de tránsito de Estados Unidos informen sobre una gama más amplia de incidentes.

También hace un llamado a las agencias de tránsito de los Estados Unidos para que colaboren con los trabajadores a fin de abordar rápidamente los peligrosos problemas de los puntos ciegos de los conductores de autobuses.

Mientras que el proyecto de ley está ganando impulso en el Capitolio, con más de 140 miembros del Congreso copatrocinando el proyecto de ley, necesitamos más apoyo, especialmente de los Republicanos. La única forma en que los miembros del Congreso apoyarán un proyecto de ley es si escuchan a sus electores.

Por eso necesitamos que todos nuestros miembros se pongan en contacto con su miembro del Congreso y les digan que apoyen esta legislación crítica ahora. Para saber cómo ponerse en contacto con su miembro del Congreso, visite www.atu.org. Es fácil y sólo le llevará unos minutos de su tiempo.

En Canadá, estamos trabajando con ATU Canadá y nuestros Locales Canadienses en Canadá en protecciones y legislación similares mientras nos apoyamos en las agencias locales para tomar medidas tales como Edmonton, AB donde todos los autobuses tendrán escudos de operador.

He sido miembro de ATU durante 38 años y sé que nuestro sindicato y sus miembros son progresistas, agresivos e impresionantes. Podemos aprovechar este momento de dolor colectivo y aprovecharlo para lanzar una ola sin precedentes de acción colectiva.

Y sé que nuestros miembros desde Pensacola, FL, a Port Alberni, BC, desde San Diego, CA, a St. John, NL, y de todas partes en medio, se unirán para renovar nuestra campaña por la justicia social, racial y económica para todos. v

In Memoriam

Death Benefits Awarded January 1, 2019 - February 28, 2019 1- MEMBERS AT LARGE LAMUEL LEE DIXON ROY E HAYWOOD WINFRED C HUGHES BILLY H SORRELL JOHN L WIMMER 85- PITTSBURGH, PA JAMES H ARMES HARRY E BENTLEY NAOMI R BROOME RONALD W DUNKLE PAUL J GALLICK JR GEORGE W GARNER JR LEIGHTON B IRWIN RAYMOND J KREPIN HAROLD J LINNERT CAROLE J O’CONNOR ERNEST J PAWLAK JAMES P STACK JAMES S ZABELSKY

WILLIAM SERRANO LESTER L SPEIGHTS JOHNNY TAYLOR ERNEST C VON HELMS 265- SAN JOSE, CA DAVID W ADAMS JOHN L BRUTON THOMAS LINCOLN DAVID PLATT GERALDINE ROSENBERG RICHARD K YARR 279- OTTAWA, ON GILBERT BEAULIEU JOSE E ENCARNACAO DAVID G MC PHEE 282- ROCHESTER, NY FREDERICK HALIK GEORG WEBER

107- HAMILTON, ON HAZEN E MILLS

312- DAVENPORT, IA EVALEA LAVONNE MC BRIDE

113- TORONTO, ON DOMENIC BARTOLO JOSEPH CURTIN DIANE DAUGHTON WILLIAM ELLIOTT TYLER L GIBSON IVOR HARRISON DONALD SAMUEL WM JARY HAROLD F LINDSAY JOHN H MONTGOMERY LAWRENCE P O’CONNELL WILLIAM STOVER JOHN SZUCS RANDY A TOPP

448- SPRINGFIELD, MA RAYMOND C DRISCOLL

192- OAKLAND, CA JACQUELINE D BOWLER LIONEL FORESTALL ROBERT FREEMAN JESSE J MAHONE ESMOND M MASON THOMAS F MOLLOY ROBERT JOE RABY 241- CHICAGO, IL LAMAR BATES JR CORNELL E BROWN JOE BULLOCK JAMES A COX GREGORY CROOM MARY F GALLON THOMAS B GILMORE JOHN R GROOM CURTIS L HAGANS JAMES H HOLMES RONALD L HOPKINS SR SILVINO LEON FANNY L PATTEN GEORGE RODRIGUEZ RAUL R RODRIGUEZ EDWARD ROSS JR

508- HALIFAX, NS NICHOLAS I MURRAY 569- EDMONTON, AB ROMMEL ALVAREZ WALLACE LOYDE BEVAN RUBY J DANNEY JOHN KLOS WILBERT E SMOKER 583- CALGARY, AB PHILLIP R BROWN 587- SEATTLE, WA MARLENE K HORNER GREGORY B MANSKER 589- BOSTON, MA ELWYN G COTTER PATRICIA L DE LUCA JAMES W DUCHANEY WILLIAM P HOWELL WILLIAM B PARTRIDGE 591- HULL, QC JACQUES CADIEUX 618- PROVIDENCE, RI CARL A SHERBLUM JR ROBERT C WILLIAMS 627- CINCINNATI, OH CHARLES JACKSON 689- WASHINGTON, DC AURELIO BELLO WILLIAM R BLANKENSHIP JR ALLEN T BLEGAY

RICHARD M JARRELL SR LEON JONES DONALD L KEYSER FELIX LABOY FREDERICK E MARTIN BRUCE MC KOY CHRISTOPHER MCCLAIN WILLIAM A NUTT JOAN M PETTIT CORNEALIOUS QUICK WILLIE R SELLARS CARL W WAGNER JERRY WHITE ELIZA J YOUNG 694- SAN ANTONIO, TX EULALIO A CISNEROS III 713- MEMPHIS, TN CHRISTOPHER PAYNE 725- BIRMINGHAM, AL JOHN HALL 726- STATEN ISLAND, NY ANGEL SANTIAGO 732- ATLANTA, GA HARRY CARLTON LITTLE MAYNARD L NEIGHBORS WALTER E PRITCHETT DWIGHT THOMAS JOHN CHESTER VAUGHAN 757- PORTLAND, OR GARY R REAGAN JAMES A YAZZOLINO 788- ST. LOUIS, MO WILBERT L BEDFORD EDWARD J BULESKE JR WILLIE JAMES BURNS DAVID H BYAS OSCAR D CANNON CRYSTAL V CHRISP WALTER L COLLIER JOHN E COONCE BOBBY L CRUSE FLOYD FONDREN JR AARON HOOKS ANTHONY W ISOM STERLAND JACKSON BOYD JOHNSON JOHNNY L KING SID ROBERTS BETTY L ROSE JOSEPH R SCHULER JOAN L SMITH 819- NEWARK, NJ RUFUS C CLEVELAND GERALD J GRIFFIN SUN HWANG 820- UNION CITY, NJ MIGUEL FERNANDEZ

822- PATERSON, NJ CLYDE F WILLIAMS 824- NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ MAURICIO MONCAYO

GUILLERMO G NUEVA

825- ORADELL, NJ SOLOMON BEAVERS ELLIS KNIGHT ANGEL L RUBIO

1321- ALBANY & TROY, NY MILTON R DIXON JOHN A MISKEWICZ SAMUEL L MOSES EARLIE J ROBERTS

842- WILMINGTON, DE TERRY OUTTEN 846- ST. CATHARINES, ON FRANK SCOTTU 880- CAMDEN, NJ EUNICE KEARNEY JR SYBIL R MONROE 956- ALLENTOWN, PA CLAIR W FATZINGER JR 998- MILWAUKEE, WI JAMES JOHNSON PAUL J SCHAMBOW 1005- MINNEAPOLIS & ST. PAUL, MN FRED W BELL JR JAMES M BUTLER LAWRENCE H KLIMEK ARTHUR J SCHROEPFER DAVID W SCHULDT 1015- SPOKANE, WA SHIRLEY CHRISTIANSEN 1168- WAUSAU, WI NEIL E OLSON 1179- NEW YORK, NY ROY MORRINGELLO 1181- NEW YORK, NY EDWARD BONFORTI SILVANA BOTTA CAESAR DE MARCO MARY DE MAURO EDWARD J FERINGTON SYLVIA FRIEDMAN BARBARA GERRARD ANTHONY MENELAS 1220- RICHMOND, VA CLIFTON R SETTLES JR 1235- NASHVILLE, TN CECIL ROBINSON JR GLEASON R ROGERS 1277- LOS ANGELES, CA TONY GARCIA JR JAMES GATEWOOD CARLOS HOLGUIN STANLEY T INOUYE

IN TRANSIT

1279- JOHNSTOWN, PA JOSEPH NATTA JR

1336- BRIDGEPORT, CT DAVID P CHIZMADIA 1338- DALLAS, TX HENRY CHAMBERS JR RUFUS CHILDRESS 1342- BUFFALO, NY JOHN W JUDGE DONALD E UPLINGER 1363- PROVIDENCE, RI JOSEPH D MC GINTY 1415- TORONTO, ON NATALIA GORONKOVO 1433- PHOENIX, AZ ALFREIDA W FARRIS 1447- LOUISVILLE, KY OWEN H WILSON 1474- RICHMOND, IN CALVIN A BRUMFIELD 1496- WILLIAMSPORT, PA VIRGINIA A BARTRAW 1505- WINNIPEG, MB SIETGE DYKSTRA DAVID KRAHN 1548- PLYMOUTH, MA DAVID TERASCONI 1576- LYNNWOOD, WA EDITH F RICHERSON 1587- TORONTO, ON GINO PERRI 1700- CHICAGO, IL WILLIAM J CARRICK JR CHESTER C CRAVEN ELLIS L NASH RICHARD L SHUMATE JR 1741- LAFAYETTE, IN MARK K ZERBES 1756- ARCADIA, CA GILBERT SAENZ

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Amalgamated Transit Union

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AMALGAMATED TRANSIT UNION CONVENTION DELEGATES & GUESTS

THE 59TH INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION will be held at

Paris Las Vegas Hotel, September 23 – 27, 2019 Information about Traveling to the United States An international destination of choice, Las Vegas is easily accessed by land and air. Don’t forget to ensure you have a valid passport at all times. Canadian citizens returning home should also be aware that there are new customs requirements in effect.

For more information, visit the websites of:

Citizenship and Immigration Canada

U.S. Department of State (Passport Information)

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/index.asp

http://www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/english.html