Local 85-Pittsburgh, PA, Sister Joins U.S. DOT Secretary Buttigieg to Promote Public Transit Investment in American Jobs Plan Praising ATU transit workers in Pittsburgh, Buttigieg spoke about the need for infrastructure to include good union labor. “This has been a demanding and, in many cases, a very difficult year for union members,” Buttigieg said at the event.“And so, it’s time to make good on our obligation to do right by workers, and that’s why this administration is committed to protecting transit workers and supporting the unions that represent them.”
At the historic landmark incline in Pittsburgh, PA, Local 85 Sister Karima Howard joined U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), Representative Conor Lamb (D-PA), and Pittsburgh transit leaders to promote investment in public transit as part of Biden’s American Jobs Plan.
Howard told the crowd about the struggles her Local has faced since the pandemic began and what funding from the Biden administration has done to help protect workers. “This funding has saved our jobs. This is absolutely, in this day and time, an honor to say that we have never had any layoffs here in Pittsburgh, and that is truly a big deal,” Howard said to a round of applause. v
International President John Costa names Salma Yousefi ATU Controller strategic financial decisions, and has been integral to the financial health of our union. With her extensive qualifications, I look forward to continuing to work with her and have the utmost confidence in her abilities.”
ATU International President John Costa has named Salma Yousefi, current Deputy Controller, as ATU’s Controller. “We welcome and congratulate Salma on her new role as ATU’s Controller,” said Costa. “Salma has a wealth of financial experience, has helped guide our union’s
Salma was hired as Assistant Controller in January 2017 to help record the finances of the Tommy Douglas Conference Training Center. She was then promoted in July 2017 to ATU Deputy Controller to manage the financial operations of the ATU. Her job duties include monitoring and recording all the financial operations of ATU, supervising and managing all the membership changes for over 200 Locals, and acting as the pension fund administrator. Salma began her career at the Machinists Union in January 2009, where she worked for eight years until January 2017. Salma graduated from the University of Maryland with an accounting degree and became a CPA in 2012. v IN TRANSIT
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