Locals fight on frontlines against pandemic

With the help of the International, Locals are fighting to force transit properties to provide the safety, hazard pay and other protections our members deserve during the coronavirus pandemic:

Pittsburgh Local protests violation of free speech In an unprecedented act of repression and hypocrisy, the Port Authority of Allegheny County has violated the Free Speech rights of their workers by issuing an amended dress code policy prohibiting buttons, stickers, jewelry and clothing – including masks or other face coverings – of a political or social protest nature. Two Local 85-Pittsburgh, PA, drivers were disciplined for wearing “Black Lives Matter” masks against the new policy. “This is flat out censorship,” says Local President Steve Palonis. Calgary members prepare for student surge Local 583-Calgary, AB, is pleased with the 95% compliance with Calgary Transit’s mask requirement during the day, but is concerned that “In the evening it seems like the masks drop off literally,” says Local President Mike Mahar. With schools opening, Mahar is wondering how drivers will enforce the 75% capacity rule. “If there are 50 students standing at a bus stop and they start piling on it’s very difficult for that operator to say, ‘OK you stop here now.’”

Masks now mandatory on Saskatoon buses Masks are now mandatory on all Saskatoon (SK) Transit buses, but operators will not be required to enforce the

new rule. “Operators not enforcing it is great as it will only cause conflict,” says Local President Darcy Pederson, 615-Saskatoon, SK. City Hall will concentrate on “educating and informing” the public while transit staff will monitor compliance.

Atlanta Local secures hazard pay Local 732-Atlanta, GA, has won hazard pay for bus drivers in Cobb County, who were placed on leave in the early days of the pandemic. Also, more than 250 Cobb County members, who worked through the pandemic were given an one-time bonus of $500 per worker. In addition, the Local has been working to secure hazard pay for MARTA workers. Lexington Local pushes back against lack of sanitization, overcrowding Local 639-Lexington, KY, says University of Kentucky buses are overcrowded and not properly sanitized as often as the city’s buses. “Sometimes we have only one person (to clean), but he can’t clean 15 buses that go different routes,” says one driver. When the pandemic first hit and Lextran wasn’t running full service, the Local worked with the agency to have employees clean and sanitize buses rather than lay them off. Now those drivers have returned to work. “They said they were in the process of hiring some people. They knew two months in advance how they were going to schedule the runs; that was just an excuse for them not to pay someone to do it,” says Local President Steven Richardson. with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, alleging Metro Transit failed to follow safety protocols and notify workers after two coronavirus cases developed. Metro Transit says the agency follows Department of Health protocols.

Bay Area Locals warn CA Bay Area’s transportation commission Bay Area Locals in California have warned the Metropolitan Transportation Commission that they will fight implementation of the agency’s “outrageous” coronavirus safety plan. The plan outlines basic safety guidelines such as mask mandates, sanitation, and contact tracing, but recommends only 3-foot distancing with no stricter says Local President Yvonne Williams, 192-Oakland, CA.

Twin Cities Local files COVID-19 complaint Local 1005-Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN, has filed a complaint measures. “We refuse to continue to be your test subjects,” Grand Junction Local demands GVT improve safety, account for coronavirus dollars Local 1776-Grand Junction, CO, is demanding that Grand Valley Regional Transportation do more to protect workers and riders, and account for how the agency is spending their $5.4 million from the federal CARES Act. “The passengers come on board, and our fare box is sitting right here, and they can cough or sneeze right in our faces,” says Local President Judi DeRusha.

ATU: Federal inaction cause of OTR woes

ATU is holding the U.S. federal government responsible for the collapse of motor coach companies by failing to provide emergency funding for the industry. One of the nation’s oldest OTR companies, DeCamp Bus Lines, has shut down and laid off over 100 members of Local 1614-Dover, NJ. Greyhound has laid off thousands of Local 1700 members. ATU continues to push Congress to provide emergency funding for over-the-road operators. v