In Transit - September/October 2010

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SEPT/OCT

www.atu.org Official Journal of the Amalgamated Transit Union AFL-CIO/CLC

ATU SUMMER ROAD SHOW ATU and the Transport Workers Union go on tour for mass transit. Canadians and Americans flock to rallies to convince Congress to allow properties serving populations over 200,000 to use some of their federal dollars for operating assistance.

AMALGAMATED TRANSIT UNION INTERNATIONAL OFFICERS RONALD J. HEINTZMAN International President

RANDY GRAHAM

International Executive Vice President

OSCAR OWENS

International Secretary-Treasurer

International Vice Presidents JOSEPH WELCH Syracuse, NY

RODNEY RICHMOND

New Orleans, LA – rrichmond@atu.org

ROBERT H. BAKER

Washington, DC – bbaker@atu.org

LARRY R. KINNEAR

Ashburn, ON – lkinnear@atu.org

JAVIER M. PEREZ, JR.

Kansas City, MO – jperez@atu.org

RICHARD M. MURPHY Braintree, MA

Lorsque l’action parle plus fort que les mots!

Un différend important sur le contrat entre Veolia Transport et trois syndicats, y compris la section syndicale 1433 de l’ATU à Phoenix dans l’Arizona, est en train de monter en pression au moment où ce numéro de In Transit va être imprimé.

Le syndicat des Teamsters qui représente les ravitailleurs et les nettoyeurs de bus, et les ingénieurs d’exploitation, qui représentent les mécaniciens s’étaient mis d’accord pour reconduire leurs contrats en cours jusqu’au 31 août, tandis que la section syndicale 1433 - représentant les opérateurs - a étendu la convention collective jusqu’à la fin du mois de Septembre.

Veolia a amené à la table des négociations des demandes pour des contrats de concessions avec deux autres syndicats, les menaçant de les mettre à exécution le 31 août à moins que les syndicats ne les acceptent.

NON CONFLICTUEL? Ce que Veolia prétend faire par écrit, en ce qui concerne les relations de travail, semble très différent de ce qu’ils font réellement. Dans une partie de l’énoncé de mission de Veolia, on peut lire ... « Lorsque les négociations sont nécessaires, nous nous efforçons de les conduire d’une manière non conflictuelle, à l’aide de négociation basée sur les intérêts et, si nécessaire, en faisant appel à l’expertise des représentants des Services Fédéraux de médiation et de conciliation afin de parvenir à un accord mutuellement acceptable. »

BOB M. HYKAWAY

Et, qu’a fait Veolia pour démontrer qu’ils étaient “sincères” au sujet de leur point de vue sur les relations de travail?

CHARLES COOK

Veolia a mis des annonces dans les journaux locaux pour solliciter des conducteurs d’autobus temporaires, et a fait venir par avion quelque 200 conducteurs travaillant dans d’autres entreprises de Veolia dans le pays, en vue de la grève que Veolia semble forcer. Veolia a indiqué que son action était comme «une mesure préventive seulement ».

Calgary, AB – bhykaway@atu.org Petaluma, CA – ccook@atu.org

WILLIAM G. McLEAN

Reno, NV – wmclean@atu.org

JANIS M. BORCHARDT

Madison, WI – jborchardt@atu.org

PAUL BOWEN

Canton, MI – pbowen@atu.org

LAWRENCE J. HANLEY

Staten Island, NY – lhanley@atu.org

KENNETH R. KIRK

Lancaster, TX – kkirk@atu.org

PAS D’INTENTION DE GRÈVE Toutefois, dans une déclaration commune, les trois syndicats ont indiqué qu’ils prévoient de poursuivre les négociations, et n’avaient aucune intention de faire grève dans un proche avenir.

Cela rappelle une autre situation au milieu des années 90 lorsque Laidlaw Corporation (le prédécesseur de FirstGroup) devint bien connu pour utiliser des mesures extrêmes pour tenter de faire éclater les syndicats qui

représentaient leurs employés. Ce n’était rien pour Laidlaw de faire venir par avion des centaines de travailleurs de remplacement et de les garder dans des hôtels pendant des jours et des semaines de suite.

A plusieurs reprises à cette époque, il est apparu qu’ils étaient prêts à dépenser davantage pour briser le syndicat, qu’ils ne l’étaient pour répondre aux demandes des employés. Malheureusement, il semble que nous revenons aux mêmes pratiques de cette époque.

En ce qui concerne le différend de Phoenix, les membres des trois syndicats ont placé des panneaux d’information devant l’hôtel où les travailleurs de remplacement étaient logés. Veolia répondit en prétendant que la section syndicale 1433 ne respectait pas l’accord sur les négociations collectives en sanctionnant, condamnant et/ou participant directement à une grève illégale ou à une activité concertée qui pouvait interférer avec les services fournis par Veolia Transportation Services, Inc. Veolia a également menacé la section syndicale de la rendre responsable de tous les dommages, frais d’avocats et/ou coûts associés à la violation alléguée de l’accord des parties.

LA DÉFINITION MÊME DE CONFLICTUEL Dans une lettre à Mark Joseph, PDG de Veolia, j’ai écrit ... «C’est une grande déception pour moi d’apprendre que Veolia a, à grands frais, recruté des centaines de briseurs de grève à travers le pays afin d’intimider ses employés à Phoenix, AZ, pendant les négociations.

“Aucun des trois syndicats représentant les travailleurs n’a fait pression pour une grève. Tous étaient disposés à poursuivre les négociations aussi longtemps qu’il le fallait pour parvenir à un accord acceptable. Les actions de Veolia à Phoenix ont créé des relations négatives avec ses syndicats, ignoré les possibilités de créer un terrain d’entente, érodé la confiance, et elles sont l’illustration même de la définition de « négociations conflictuelles ».

“Je vous demande instamment de renoncer à ce type d’actions en renvoyant les travailleurs de remplacement dans leurs foyers et en choisissant une nouvelle façon de négocier qui soit plus conforme à l’énoncé de mission de Veolia au sujet de la politique des relations de travail.” À ce jour je n’ai reçu aucune réponse.

Surpris?

GARY RAUEN

Clayton, NC – grauen@atu.org

MARCELLUS BARNES

Flossmore, IL – mbarnes@atu.org

RAY RIVERA

Lilburn, GA– rrivera@atu.org

YVETTE SALAZAR

Thornton, CO – ysalazar@atu.org

GARY JOHNSON, SR.

Cleveland, OH – gjohnson@atu.org

International Representatives ANTHONY WITHINGTON

Sebastopol, CA – awithington@atu.org

DENNIS ANTONELLIS

Spokane, WA – dantonellis@atu.org

KAREN MILLER-LEWIS

Memphis, TN – kmiller@atu.org

MIKE MAHAR

Calgary, AB – mmahar@atu.org

Canadian Council ROBIN G. WEST

Canadian Director 61 International Boulevard, Suite 210 Rexdale, ON M9W 6K4 director@atucanada.ca

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IN TRANSIT

¡Cuando las Acciones Hablan Más Alto que las Palabras!

Una grave disputa sobre un contrato entre la empresa Veolia Transportation y tres uniones, incluyendo a la Unión Local ATU 1433, en Phoenix, AZ aumentaba en intensidad cuando esta edición de la revista In Transit estaba siendo impresa.

La Unión Teamsters representa a los trabajadores de autobuses que limpian y llenan los tanques de combustible, y la Unión Operating Engineers que representa a los mecánicos habían acordado extender sus respectivos contratos hasta el 31 de agosto, mientras que la Unión Local 1433 – que representa a los operadores de autobuses – extendió su contrato colectivo hasta el fin de septiembre. ¿POSICIÓN NO CONTRADICTORIA? Lo que la empresa Veolia alega por escrito estar haciendo respecto a las relaciones laborales, parece ser muy diferente de lo que ellos actualmente están haciendo. La declaración de la misión de Veolia, en parte, dice lo siguiente…”Cuando las negociaciones son requeridas, nosotros nos esforzamos para conducir las mismas asumiendo una posición no contradictoria, usando el tipo de contratación basado en los intereses y, si necesario, utilizando la experta asistencia de representantes del Servicio Federal de Mediación y Conciliación, a fin de llegar a un acuerdo que sea mutualmente aceptable.

Y, ¿qué hizo Veolia para demostrar que ellos eran “sinceros” sobre su visión de las relaciones laborales?

Veolia colocó anuncios en periódicos locales solicitando el empleo temporal de operadores de autobuses, y reunió a más de 200 choferes de otras propiedades operadas por Veolia por todo el país, preparándose para una huelga la cual ellos parecían estar forzando. Según fue reportado Veolia clasificó sus acciones de “solamente como medidas preventivas.”

NO HABÍAN PLANES DE HUELGA Sin embargo, en una declaración conjunta, las tres uniones dijeron claramente que ellos planeaban continuar las negociaciones y que no tenían planes de huelga en un futuro próximo.

Esto nos hace recordar el período medio de los 1990’s cuando la Corporación Laidlaw (el antecesor de First Group) fue bien conocida por la utilización de medidas extremas en intentos de destruir las uniones que representaban a sus empleados. No era extraño que Laidlaw trajera a cientos de trabajadores sustitutos, hospedando a los mismos en hoteles por días y semanas.

Muchas veces en aquel entonces, parecía que ellos estaban más dispuestos a gastar todo lo posible para destruir la unión, muy en exceso de lo que hubiera costado acordar a las demandas del contrato presentado por los empleados. Desafortunadamente, todo parece indicar que estamos regresando a aquella era.

En la disputa Phoenix, los miembros de las tres uniones colocaron líneas de piquetes informacionales en las afueras del hotel donde los trabajadores sustitutos estaban siendo hospedados. Veolia respondió alegando que la Unión Local 1433 estaba en violación de su contrato colectivo en sancionar, permitir y/o de otra manera participar directamente en una huelga ilegal o actividad coordinada que pueda interferir con las operaciones de Veolia Transportation Services, Inc. Veolia también amenazó a la unión local con una demanda judicial por daños, costos de abogados y/o otros costos asociados con la alegada violación del contrato entre las partes. continued at Acciones on page 24

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What Veolia claims in writing to be doing in regard to labor relations appears very different from what they are actually doing.

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WHEN ACTION SPEAKS LOUDER THAN WORDS! RONALD J. HEINTZMAN, INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT

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major contract dispute between Veolia Transportation and three unions, including ATU Local 1433, in Phoenix, AZ, was heating up at the time this edition of the In Transit went to press.

The Teamsters who represent bus fuellers and cleaners, and the Operating Engineers who represent mechanics had agreed to extend their existing contracts until August 31, while Local 1433 – representing operators – extended their collective bargaining agreement through the end of September.

Veolia brought only demands for concessions to the table with the other two unions, threatening to implement them on August 31, unless the unions agreed.

NON-ADVERSARIAL? What Veolia claims in writing to be doing in regard to labor relations appears very different from what they are actually doing.

Veolia’s mission statement, in part, reads… “When negotiations are required, we strive to conduct them in a non-adversarial manner, using interest-based bargaining and, if necessary, turning to the expertise of representatives of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Services to reach a mutually acceptable agreement.”

And, what did Veolia do to show they were “sincere” about their view of labor relations?

Veolia placed ads in local newspapers soliciting temporary bus operators, and flew in some 200 drivers from other Veolia properties around the country in preparation for a strike they appear to be forcing. Veolia reportedly referred to their action as “a preventative measure only.”

www.atu.org

NO PLANS TO STRIKE In a joint statement, however, the three unions said they plan to continue bargaining, and had no plans to strike in the near future.

This is reminiscent of the mid-1990’s when Laidlaw Corporation (the predecessor of FirstGroup) became well-known for employing extreme measures in attempts to bust unions representing their employees. It was nothing for Laidlaw to fly in hundreds of replacement workers, keeping them housed in hotels for days and weeks on end.

Many times back then, it appeared they were willing to spend more to break the union, than it would have cost to meet employee contract demands. Unfortunately, it appears that we are returning to that era.

In the Phoenix dispute, members of the three unions put up informational pickets outside the hotel where the replacement workers were being housed. Veolia responded by claiming that Local 1433 was in violation of their collective bargaining agreement by sanctioning, condoning and/or otherwise directly participating in an unlawful strike or concerted activity that may interfere with Veolia Transportation Services, Inc.’s operations.

Veolia also threatened the local with liability for any damages, attorneys’ fees, and/or costs associated with the alleged violation of the parties’ agreement. continued at Action Speaks Louder on page 24

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2010

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PRÉSERVER NOS DROITS ET NOS AVANTAGES Aujourd’hui nous sommes au coeur d’une bataille rangée pour préserver nos droits et nos avantages. Ces droits, tels que les régimes de retraite à prestations déterminées, sont des droits que nos prédécesseurs ont obtenus après de dures batailles. Il semblerait maintenant que dans chaque négociation où nous entrons, la direction veut nous enlever notre plan de retraite à prestations déterminées et nous donner un plan de retraite à cotisations déterminées, ou, pire encore, rien du tout.

A l’ATU, nous avons eu de nombreuses batailles longues et ardues pour préserver nos droits. Au cours des années 1980 et 1990, nous nous sommes battus au Canada et aux ÉtatsUnis contre des propositions de salaires et d’avantages à deux vitesses. Nous savions alors que de tels systèmes de salaires amèneraient les travailleurs à se sentir comme s’ils avaient été «soldés.»

PROTÉGER L’AVENIR Dans les années 1980, lorsque Ronald Reagan était président, l’ATU a été confronté à un déclin du nombre d’utilisateurs des transports en commun et a été menacé par une réduction des fonds fédéraux. Les entreprises de transport en commun demandèrent la reconsidération des contrats, l’abolition d’avantages acquis, le gel et des réductions de salaires, et l’emploi à temps partiel avec réduction de salaire. On nous a demandé de subventionner les services de transport en acceptant des salaires inférieurs. Si l’histoire peut servir de guide, on n’a pas demandé aux dirigeants d’accepter des concessions similaires.

D’autre part, dans les années 1980, l’ATU a subi de nombreux licenciements dans les transports en commun tout comme aujourd’hui. Il y eu des licenciements massifs parmi les membres de la section syndicale 589 à Boston et de la section

syndicale 1027 à Fresno, en Californie. Et, à cette époque, les 11.000 membres des sections syndicales 241 et 308 à Chicago travaillaient sur une base journalière. Il y même eu des fermetures d’entreprises, mais l’ATU a fait preuve de solidarité pour lutter contre ces défis et pour protéger l’avenir. Nos membres canadiens ont fait face à des problèmes similaires sous le régime des gouvernements conservateurs.

Il y a peu de temps, nous avons été confrontés à nouveau à une décision pour préserver nos droits et agir solidairement.

Cette année, lorsque la section syndicale 1415 de Toronto, Ontario (qui représente les conducteurs et le personnel de soutien de Greyhound dans l’Ontario et le Québec) est allée à la table des négociations, la société a cherché à utiliser la situation d’urgence économique actuelle pour refuser aux futurs employés de Greyhound l’accès, obtenu avec grande difficulté, à la retraite à prestations déterminées.

En Grande-Bretagne lors de sa réunion annuelle, FirstGroup a déclaré aux actionnaires que la branche canadienne de l’entreprise avait déjà été restructurée de façon à rétablir la rentabilité. De plus, à la table des négociations avec la section syndicale 1415, la compagnie a soutenu que la retraite était un fardeau financier insoutenable; et ils ont dit aux membres de l’ATU que leur offre de maintenir la retraite des employés actuels était généreuse à la lumière de la récession, et que si la section syndicale refusait d’accepter les conditions de Greyhound les conducteurs seraient interdits d’entrer dans les locaux de la société.

OUTRAGE Mais les membres de la section syndicale 1415 ont bouleversé le calendrier de la société avec une distribution surprise et

orchestrée de tracts dans les terminaux de Greyhound à l’Est du Canada. Deux semaines avant que l’interdiction d’entrer dans les locaux de l’entreprise prenne effet, les membres du syndicat ont alerté les utilisateurs pour qu’ils trouvent d’autres moyens de locomotion étant donné l’action que la société planifiait.

La section syndicale a exposé le problème dans un langage clair et net : Elle a montré comment une entreprise étrangère rentable interdisait l’accès au travail aux agents en place sous le prétexte que ces derniers refusaient de signer la future convention collective qui allait s’appliquer aux nouvelles recrues car elle contenait des dispositions moins avantageuses que la convention actuelle et allait ainsi défavoriser les générations futures de travailleurs canadiens. Les passagers de Greyhound furent outragés et bombardèrent la société avec des plaintes.

Cette campagne stratégique a obligé l’entreprise à revenir à la table des négociations pour trouver une solution à la question des retraites. Cela nous permettra de sauver l’intégrité du régime de retraite à prestations définies pour nos futurs membres.

Au moment où cette édition part à l’imprimerie, les parties sont encore en train de travailler pour trouver une solution appropriée.

Si l’histoire nous enseigne une leçon, c’est que si nous abandonnions les droits de nos futurs membres, cet abandon deviendrait une part d’héritage que nous ne pourrions pas reconquérir plus tard sans un combat plus acharné. Il est très difficile de regagner des droits et des avantages une fois qu’ils ont été abandonnés.

PRESERVANDO NUESTROS DERECHOS Y BENEFICIOS Actualmente estamos envueltos en una batalla campal para preservar nuestros derechos y beneficios. Estos derechos, tales como las pensiones con beneficios definidos son derechos por los cuales que nuestros antecesores tuvieron que luchar muy arduamente. Parece ser que en cada caso de negociación colectiva que emprendemos hoy día, la gerencia quiere eliminar nuestro plan de pensiones de beneficios definidos y darnos un plan de contribución definida o aún peor, no conceder beneficio alguno.

En la ATU, nosotros hemos tenidos muchas largas y arduas luchas para preservar nuestros derechos. Durante el período de las décadas de los años 1980 y 1990, nosotros luchamos contra propuestas que propugnaban un salario y beneficio de dos niveles a través de los Estados Unidos y Canadá. Nosotros sabíamos en aquel entonces que tales sistemas de salarios y beneficios resultarían en que los trabajadores tuvieran el criterio que nosotros los habíamos traicionado “vendiendo” sus derechos.

PROTEGIENDO EL FUTURO Durante la década de los 1980, cuando Ronald Reagan era Presidente, la ATU enfrentó un declinante número de usuarios del transporte público y amenazas de drásticos recortes en el financiamiento federal, y los sistemas de transporte público hicieron demandas para que se reabrieran los contratos, la devolución de beneficios, la congelación y reducción de salarios, y el empleo de operadores a tiempo parcial en una escala inferior de salarios. Nos solicitaron que subsidiáramos los servicios de tránsito al aceptar salarios más bajos. Si la historia es guía alguna, a la gerencia de esos sistemas no les fue solicitado que hicieran concesiones similares.

Y durante la década de los 1980, la ATU sufrió de un gran número de desempleos temporales, de la misma manera que sucede hoy día.

Hubieron grandes números de desempleos temporales afectando a los miembros de la Local 589 en Boston, y la Local 1027 en Fresno, CA. Y, los 11,000 miembros de las Locales 241 y 308 en Chicago, que existían en aquellos momento, continuaron operando en base de día a día. Hubieron también sistemas de dejaron de operar, pero la ATU actuó en solidaridad para luchar contra esos desafíos y proteger el futuro. Los miembros Canadienses sufrieron de cuestiones similares como resultado de la elección de gobiernos Conservadores.

Recientemente fuimos confrontados de nuevo con la decisión de preservar nuestros derechos y actuar solidariamente. Cuando la Unión Local 1415 de Toronto, ON – que representa a los chóferes de autobuses Greyhound y a los empleados de apoyo en Ontario y Quebec – enfocó la negociación este año, la compañía trató de utilizar la actual emergencia económica para negarles a los futuros empleados de Greyhound acceso al plan de pensiones de beneficios definidos, que había sido logrados con gran sacrificio.

Allá en Inglaterra, la compañía First Group les informó a sus accionistas durante su conferencia anual que las operaciones de la firma en Canadá ya habían sido debidamente reestructuradas para restaurar la rentabilidad de la misma. Sin embargo, en la mesa de negociaciones con la Local 1415 la compañía insistió que el sistema de pensiones era una carga económica no asequible; ellos les dijeron a los miembros de ATU que su propuesta para retener la pensión de los empleados actuales era muy generosa considerando la recesión económica, y que si la Local rehusara aceptar los términos descritos por Greyhound que entonces los chóferes estarían sujetos a un cierre patronal.

ULTRAJE Pero los miembros de la Local 1415 derrotaron la agenda programada de la compañía con una sorpresiva campaña de distribución de panfletos en frente de todas las terminales de Greyhound a través del área Este de Canadá. Dos semanas antes que tomara lugar el cierre patronal, los miembros de la unión alertaron al público usuario que ellos deberían buscar medios alternativos de transporte debido a que la compañía estaba planeando un cierre patronal.

La Local explicó la situación en lenguaje claro y crocante, mostrado como una lucrativa compañía extranjera estaba practicando un cierre patronal contra sus empleados más antiguos, quienes rehusaban acordar la eliminación de los beneficios de futuras generaciones de trabajadores Canadienses, y eso resultó en que los ultrajados pasajeros de Greyound asediaran a la empresa con quejas y protestas.

Esta campaña estratégica causó que la compañía regresara a la mesa de negociaciones a fin de encontrar una solución al tema de las pensiones. Esto nos permitió a nosotros salvar la integridad de un plan de pensiones de beneficios definidos para nuestros futuros miembros. En el momento que esta edición de la revista estaba siendo impresa, las partes estaban an trabajando para encontrar una solución apropiada a la cuestión.

Si la historia nos ha ensenado una lección es que si nosotros cedemos los derechos de nuestros futuros miembros, eso se convierte en parte de un legado que posteriormente no podremos reparar sin luchas de gran envergadura.

Subscription: USA and Canada, $5 a year. Single copy: 50 cents. All others: $10 a year. Published bimonthly by the Amalgamated Transit Union, Editor: Shawn Perry, Designer: David F. Highnote. Editorial Office: 5025 Wisconsin Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20016-4139. Tel: 1-202-537-1645. Please send all requests for address changes to the ATU Registry Dept. ISSN: 0019-3291, USPS: 260-280. PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 40033361. RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO: B&M Mailing Service Limited, 35 Van Kirk Drive, Unit 15, Brampton, Ontario L7A 1A5, E-MAIL-BMCOMM@PATHCOM.COM The objects of this International Union shall be to organize Local Unions; to place our occupation upon a higher plane of intelligence, efficiency and skill; to encourage the formation in Local Unions of sick and funeral benefit funds in order that we may properly care for our sick and bury our dead; to encourage the organization of cooperative credit unions in the Local Unions; to establish schools of instruction for imparting a practical knowledge of modern and improved methods and systems of transportation and trade matters generally; to encourage the settlement of all disputes between employees and employers by arbitration; to secure employment and adequate pay for our work, including vacations with pay and old age pensions; to reduce the hours of labor and by all legal and proper means to elevate our moral, intellectual and social condition. To engage in such legislative, political, educational, cultural, social, and welfare activities as will further the interests and welfare of the membership of the Organization. To seek the improvement of social and economic conditions in the United States and Canada and to promote the interests of labor everywhere.

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IN TRANSIT

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If history teaches us any lesson it is that if we give up rights of our future members it becomes part of a legacy that we cannot later repair without greater struggles.

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PRESERVING OUR RIGHTS AND BENEFITS RANDY GRAHAM, INTERNATIONAL EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT

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e are in a pitched battle these days to preserve our rights and benefits. These rights, like defined-benefit pensions are rights our predecessors fought hard to win. It seems in each negotiation we enter now, management wants to take away our defined-benefit plan and give us a defined-contribution plan or even worse, nothing at all.

In the ATU, we have had many long and arduous battles to preserve our rights. In the 1980’s and the 1990’s, we fought against two-tier wage and benefit proposals across Canada and the United States. We knew then that such wage systems would result in workers who would feel like they had been “sold-out.”

PROTECT THE FUTURE In the 1980’s when Ronald Reagan was president, the ATU faced declining ridership and threatened cuts in federal funding, and public transit systems made demands for contractreopeners, give-backs, wage freezes and reductions, and parttime operators on a lower wage scale. We were asked to subsidize the transit services by accepting lower wages. If history is any guide, management was not asked to make similar concessions.

And in the 1980’s, the ATU suffered significant transit layoffs much as we are today. There were large layoffs of members of Local 589 in Boston, and Local 1027 in Fresno, CA. And, the then 11,000 members of Locals 241 and 308 in Chicago were operating on a day-to-day basis. There were even system shutdowns, but the ATU acted in solidarity to fight these challenges and protect the future. Canadian members faced similar issues with the election of Conservative governments.

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Recently we were confronted again with a decision to preserve our rights and act in solidarity. When Local 1415 of Toronto, ON – which represents Greyhound drivers and support employees in Ontario and Quebec – approached bargaining this year, the company sought to use the current economic emergency to deny future Greyhound employees access to the hard-won definedbenefit pension.

Back in Scotland FirstGroup told shareholders at its annual meeting that the firm’s Canadian operations had already been restructured adequately to restore profitability. Yet at the table with Local 1415 the company insisted that the pension was an unaffordable burden; they told ATU members that their proposal to retain the pension of current employees was generous in light of the recession, and that if the local refused to accept Greyhound’s terms the drivers would be locked out.

OUTRAGE But the members of Local 1415 upset the company’s timetable with a surprise, orchestrated leafleting at Greyhound terminals across Eastern Canada. Two weeks before the company’s lockout was scheduled to take effect, the union’s members alerted the public that they should seek alternate travel arrangements since the company was planning this action.

The local laid out the issue in clear, crisp language, showing how a profitable foreign company was locking out senior workers continued at Preserving Our Rights on page 21

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2010

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PERSONNE NE DOIT VOUS DIRE COMMENT VOUS DEVEZ CONDUIRE Cet été, le Président Barack Obama a rencontré le Conseil Exécutif de l’AFL-CIO à Washington, DC. Ce fut une rencontre extraordinaire et le Président Obama ne pouvait pas être plus clair sa position concernant le droit des travailleurs à s’organiser quand il dit: «Je crois que si j’avais été mineur, j’aurais voulu un syndicat qui me représente et qui veille à ce que je sois en sécurité et que l’on n’ait pas les tragédies que nous avons vues dans l’industrie houillère. Si j’étais un enseignant, je voudrais un syndicat qui permette de s’assurer que la perspective des enseignants soit prise en considération dans notre réflexion sur l’élaboration d’un système éducatif pour notre avenir».

Le Président Obama sait que les syndicats améliorent la qualité de vie des travailleurs et même si son nom ne figure pas sur le bulletin de vote en novembre prochain, sa capacité de nous soutenir y est bien. C’est sur le bulletin de vote parce que ses adversaires républicains essayent de prendre le contrôle du Congrès pour pouvoir mettre fin à l’agenda d’espoir et de changement du Président Obama.

si les républicains prenaient le contrôle de la Chambre des représentants. «Speaker» Boehner consacre son temps à faire abolir la réforme sur la santé et il a récemment déclaré au Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, qu’il était «pour l’augmentation de l’âge de la retraite de la Sécurité sociale à 70 ans».

A la tête de la Commission de la Chambre sur l’énergie et le commerce, le «Candidat Président» Joe Barton est un texan qui s’est excusé auprès de BP lors des audiences du Congrès d’avoir à enquêter sur les déversements de pétrole dans le Golfe !

De l’autre côté du Capitole, ce serait encore pire. Chez les républicains qui formeraient une nouvelle majorité il y a des candidats comme Sharon Angle du Nevada qui pense que les travailleurs qui perçoivent des indemnités de chômage sont «gâtés», et il y a aussi sénateur Orrin Hatch, qui pense que les chômeurs doivent être testés pour l’utilisation de drogues avant de pouvoir recevoir des indemnités. Et pour que ces travailleurs trouvent un nouvel emploi, Paul Rand du Kentucky pense que les salaires doivent baisser.

BOEHNER, PRÉSIDENT DE LA CHAMBRE? Qui sont ces républicains qui, cet automne, font une campagne électorale contre le Président Obama? Ce sont des gens comme John Boehner, qui serait «le Président» Boehner

METTEZ-LA SUR «D» POUR ALLER DE L’AVANT

un fossé pour décrire l’état de l’économie lorsqu’il a pris ses fonctions un an et demie auparavant, et le choix à faire sur le bulletin en novembre : «Cette élection est un choix», entre «ces gens-là qui ont conduit l’économie américaine dans le fossé» et les démocrates qui, pendant 20 mois ont «poussé la voiture hors du fossé centimètre par centimètre» pendant que les républicains restaient passifs. «Et maintenant, nous avons finalement obtenu que cette voiture soit sur le bitume, prête à partir, et ils disent qu’ils veulent à nouveau les clefs de la voiture. Eh bien, vous ne pouvez pas avoir les clés car vous ne savez pas conduire. « Bien, personne n’a à dire aux membres de l’ATU comment ils doivent conduire. Et nous savons que si vous voulez aller de l’avant il faut vous mettre en position ‘D’, et vous mettez seulement sur «R» si vous voulez reculer.

En novembre, quand vous serez dans l’isoloir, n’oubliez pas de voter pour donner votre appui au Président, qui aurait été membre d’un syndicat. Donnez-lui votre appui en votant pour les démocrates et mettez la nation en position pour «aller de l’avant».

En août, lorsque le président Obama a parlé à l’AFL-CIO, il a utilisé comme analogie le cas d’une voiture enlisée dans

NADIE TIENE QUE DECIRLE A USTED COMO CONDUCIR UN VEHÍCULO Durante este verano el Presidente Barack Obama se reunió con el Comité Ejecutivo de la AFL-CIO en Washington, D.C. Fue una reunión muy provechosa y el Presidente Obama no podía haber sido más claro sobre su posición personal con respecto al derecho de los trabajadores de organizarse sindicalmente cuando dijo, “Yo creo que si yo fuera un minero de carbón, yo querría que una unión me representara para asegurarme de que yo trabajo en condiciones seguras y que ustedes no sufrirían algunas de las tragedias que hemos estado presenciado recientemente en la industria de la minería del carbón. Si yo fuera un maestro, yo querría tener una unión para asegurarme de que la perspectiva de los maestros esté representada durante el debate de cómo desarrollar una sistema educacional para el futuro.”

El Presidente Obama sabe muy bien que las uniones mejoran el nivel de vida de los trabajadores, y aunque su nombre no estará en la boleta de votación este noviembre, su capacidad de poder apoyar nuestros intereses sí estará en juego. Y eso es muy cierto, porque sus oponentes del Partido Republicano están tratando de tomar control del Congreso Nacional con el explicito fin de dejar de lado la agenda del Presidente Obama que aboga por cambio y esperanza. ¿BOEHNER, ‘PRESIDENTE’ DE LA CÁMARA? ¿Quiénes son estos Republicanos que están haciendo campaña contra el Presidente Obama en este otoño? Este grupo incluye

a John Boehner quien asumiría el cargo de “Presidente” de la Cámara de Representantes si los Republicanos toman control de dicho cuerpo legislativo. El ‘Presidente’ Boehner está dedicado a la revocación de la reciente reforma del sistema de cuidado de la salud, y recientemente hizo declaraciones en el periódico Pittsburgh Tribune-Review que él “estaría a favor de aumentar a 70 la edad obligatoria para la jubilación bajo el Seguro Social.”

Si los Republicanos llegan a controlar el Congreso, la Comisión de Energía y Comercio de la Cámara tendría como su “Presidente” a Joe Barton -- un Congresista de Texas que vergonzosamente hizo excusas defendiendo a la petrolera BP durante la investigación realizada por el Congreso con relación al trágico derrame de petróleo en el Golfo de México.

En el otro lado del Capitolio, la cosa sería aun peor en caso de control por dicho Partido. Los Republicanos que constituirían una nueva mayoría incluyen a Sharon Angle de Nevada, quién estima que los trabajadores temporalmente desempleados que reciben seguro por desempleo son “consentidos”; y también el Senador Orrin Hatch de Utah quien opina que esos desempleados deberían recibir pruebas sobre el uso de drogas antes de que sean elegibles para recibir beneficios del seguro por desempleo. Y Paul Rand de Kentucky declara que los salarios deberían reducirse antes de que esos trabajadores desempleados puedan encontrar nuevos empleos.

MARQUE LA ‘D’ PARA IR HACIA ADELANTE Cuando el Presidente Obama discursó ante la AFL-CIO en agosto, el también uso la antología de un automóvil atascado en una cuneta, cuando describió el estado actual de la economía nacional en el momento en que él asumió el poder presidencial hace más de año y medio y la opción que los votantes tendrán en la boleta eleccionaria en noviembre.

“Esta elección es una opción del votante,” entre “aquellos que empujaron a la economía nacional dentro de la cuneta” y los Demócratas quienes por 20 meses han estado “tratando de extraer ese automóvil de la cuneta, pulgada a pulgada,” mientras que los Republicanos estaban de brazos cruzados. “Y ahora que finalmente hemos colocado a ese automóvil de vuelta en la carretera, y ya listos para dar marcha hacia adelante, ellos dicen que quieren que les entreguemos las llaves del automóvil. Bueno, usted no tiene derecho a esas llaves si usted no sabe cómo conducir.”

Bueno, nadie tiene que decirle a usted como conducir un vehículo. Y nosotros sabes que si queremos ir adelante solo marcamos la ‘D’, y si queremos ir marcha atrás entonces marcamos la ‘R’.

En este mes de noviembre, cuando usted esté dentro de la cabina de votación, recuérdese de apoyar al Presidente quien declaró que se afiliaría a una unión; apóyelo a él apoyando a candidatos Demócratas y poner la nación en “marcha adelante.”

The Amalgamated Transit Union will hold the 25th Annual Golf Tournament for the benefit of the ATU’s U.S. and Canadian Multiple Sclerosis Research Funds from Sunday, October 24th – Monday, October 25th, at the Worthington Manor Golf Club in Urbana, MD. Sunday will be reserved for a practice round, and the actual tournament will be held on Monday.

For more information, please contact Ynez Wells at (202) 537-1645 or by email at ywells@atu.org.

6

IN TRANSIT

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“

…we know that if you want to go forward you put it in ‘D’, and you only put it in ‘R’ if you

”

want to go back.

NOBODY HAS TO TELL YOU HOW TO DRIVE OSCAR OWENS, INTERNATIONAL SECRETARY-TREASURER

T

his summer President Barack Obama met with the AFLCIO Executive Council in Washington, DC. It was a terrific meeting and President Obama couldn’t have been more clear about where he stands on the right of workers to organize when he said, “I think if I was a coal miner, I’d want a union representing me to make sure that I was safe and you did not have some of the tragedies that we’ve been seeing in the coal industry. If I was a teacher, I’d want a union to make sure that the teachers’ perspective was represented as we think about shaping an education system for our future.”

On the other side of Capitol Hill it would be even worse.

The Republicans who would make up a new majority there are candidates like Sharon Angle of Nevada who thinks that laidoff workers receiving unemployment insurance are “spoiled” and Utah Senator Orrin Hatch who thinks those laid-off workers should be drug tested before they receive any benefits. And in order for those workers to find new jobs Rand Paul of Kentucky thinks wages have to fall.

President Obama knows that unions improve workers’ lives and even though he is not on the ballot this November, his ability to support us is. It is on the ballot because his Republican opponents are trying to take control of Congress so they can shut down President Obama’s agenda of hope and change.

When President Obama spoke to the AFL-CIO in August he also used an analogy of a car stuck in a ditch when describing the state of the economy when he took office a year-and-a-half ago and the choice on the ballot this November:

‘SPEAKER’ BOEHNER? Who are these Republicans running against President Obama this fall? They are folks like John Boehner who would be “Speaker” Boehner if Republicans take control of the U.S. House of Representatives. “Speaker” Boehner is dedicated to repealing healthcare reform and he recently told the Pittsburgh TribuneReview, he’d “favor increasing the Social Security retirement age to 70.”

Leading the House Committee on Energy and Commerce would be “Chairman” Joe Barton – a Texan who apologized to BP at the Congressional hearings investigating the Gulf Oil Spill!

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PUT IT IN ‘D’ TO GO FORWARD

“This election is a choice,” between “these folks who drove America’s economy into a ditch” and the Democrats who for 20 months have “been shoving that car out of the ditch inch by inch” as Republicans stood by. “And now we’ve finally got that car up on the blacktop there, about to drive, and they say they want the keys back. Well, you can’t have the keys because you don’t know how to drive.”

Well nobody has to tell ATU members how to drive. And we know that if you want to go forward you put it in ‘D’, and you only put it in ‘R’ if you want to go back.

This November, when you’re in the voting booth, remember to vote to support the president who would join a union, support him by supporting Democrats and put the nation in “Drive!”

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2010

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SEPT/OCT

2010 Vol. 119, No. 5

w w w . a t u . o r g

Contents 2

International Officers & General Executive Board

International President’s Message in French & Spanish

3

International President’s Message When Action Speaks Louder than Words

4

International Executive Vice President’s Message in French & Spanish

5

International Executive Vice President’s Message Preserving Our Rights and Benefits

6

International SecretaryTreasurer’s Message in French & Spanish

7

International SecretaryTreasurer’s Message Nobody Has to Tell You How to Drive

Members Rally to ‘Save Our Ride’ Union members and transit supporters gathered at rallies from Seattle, WA, to Miami, FL, this spring and summer to “Save Our Ride.” Organized by the ATU and the Transport Workers Union (TWU), the goal of the events was to persuade the U.S. Congress to allow transit properties serving populations over 200,000 to use at least a portion of their already-appropriated federal aid for operating assistance (wages, administration, etc.). Currently, these agencies are restricted to using federal funds solely for capital expenses (new buses, stations, etc.).

Story and Photos – Pages 14 & 15

9 Calgary’s Mahar Appointed

International Representative 10 Message from the International

President Emeritus

in French & Spanish 11 Message from the International

President Emeritus

Gratitude 13 Working Together to Secure Our Future

ATU’s Fifty-Sixth International Convention 14 COVER STORY

Members Rally from Coast-to-Coast

to ‘Save Our Ride’ 16 Know Your Rights

The Fair Labor Standards Act: Hours Worked 17 Canadian Agenda

PM Helps Kick Off Construction

of Mississauga Bus Rapid Transit 18 Legislative Report

State Legislative Round Up 19 ATU Scholarship Competition 22 Local News 25 Arbitration Decision

Insubordination is Hard to Grieve 26 Proud to Be ATU

Expressions of Thanks 27 In Memoriam

8

IN TRANSIT

19

ATU Scholarship Competition

16

Know Your Rights

17

Canadian Agenda

18

Legislative Report

25

Arbitration Decision

26

Proud to Be ATU

FLSA: Hours Worked

PM Helps Kick Off Construction of Mississauga Bus Rapid Transit

State Legislative Round Up

Insubordination is Hard to Grieve

Epressions of Thanks

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Calgary’s Mahar Appointed International Representative

H

e was just passing through. That’s all.

Mike Mahar, who has just been appointed international representative, was just passing through town when he thought he might apply for a job with Calgary Transit.

That was 1978. Thirty years later, he jokes, he’s still passing through. But he has done an awful lot for ATU members in that city along the way.

Not long after he was hired, Mahar started attending the meetings of Local 583-Calgary, AB. He enjoyed the gatherings and soon volunteered to serve on the local’s committees. In 1987, he became a union steward, and in 1990, Mahar was made chair of the run committee.

Brother Mahar was elected financial secretary of the local in 1995. He was re-elected in 1998, and, he says proudly, he was re-elected by acclamation in 2001. That was the year Local 583

faced the most serious challenge of Mahar’s years as a local officer.

49-DAY STRIKE In 2001, the Calgary local went on strike for 49 days. It wasn’t easy, but the executive board kept reassuring the members that they had their best interests at heart. The members “remained very strong and united,” Mahar recalls. And it was that solidarity that saw them through to a successful conclusion of the strike.”

“There was a lot of rebuilding to do (of the relationship with management) after that,” he says.

And he credits the membership for doing that.

Mahar was elected president of the local in 2004, and he was re-elected, again by acclamation, in 2007. And in 2007, with Mahar as president, the local was tested again. Management “went to

MAHAR DE CALGARY NOMMÉ REPRÉSENTANT DE L’INTERNATIONAL Il était juste de passage. C’est tout ! Mike Mahar, qui vient d’être nommé Représentant de l’International par Ron Heintzman, Président de l’International, était de passage dans la ville quand il a pensé qu’il pourrait postuler à un emploi à Calgary Transit.

C’était en 1978. Trente ans plus tard, il plaisante, il est encore de passage dans la ville. Mais il a énormément œuvré dans cette ville pendant tout ce temps pour les membres de l’ATU. Peu de temps après avoir été embauché, Mahar a commencé à assister aux réunions de la section syndicale 583-Calgary, AB. Il en a apprécié les rencontres et très rapidement il s’est porté volontaire pour servir dans les comités locaux. En 1987, il devient délégué syndical et, en 1990, Mahar est nommé Président du Comité d’exécution.

des défis. Le Management «est allé au pied du mur» dans les négociations avec les autorités locales, fléchissant juste avant qu’une grève ait eu lieu.

«Nous avons obtenu de bons accords», dit Mahar, «grâce à l’appui que nous avons reçu de nos membres».

PRÉOCCUPATION PRINCIPALE: AGRESSIONS ET ABUS Aujourd’hui, le nouveau représentant de l’international dit que la préoccupation principale des opérateurs est la menace continuelle d’agressions et d’abus. Il indique que ce problème a commencé en 2000, lorsque les agressions contre les conducteurs sont devenues «plus fréquentes et agressives».

Mahar fut élu secrétaire financier de la section syndicale en 1995. Il fut réélu en 1998, et, comme il le dit fièrement, il fut réélu par acclamation en 2001. De toutes les années pendant lesquelles Mahar a servi en tant qu’officier de section syndicale, l’année 2001 est celle pendant laquelle la section syndicale 583 a dû faire face à de graves défis.

Il a fallu un certain temps, dit-il, pour convaincre le management de Calgary Transit de prendre au sérieux ces agressions. Mais maintenant, avec l’encouragement de la section syndicale, l’organisme enseigne aux opérateurs comment identifier des menaces avant qu’elles ne deviennent un problème, et il étudie l’utilisation de moyens de sécurité pour fournir un minimum de protection aux conducteurs.

UNE GRÈVE DE 49 JOURS

CAMARADERIE ET FRATERNITÉ

En 2001, la section syndicale de Calgary a fait grève pendant 49 jours. Ce n’était pas facile, mais le Conseil exécutif a, sans relâche assuré aux membres qu’il avait leurs intérêts à cœur. Les membres «restèrent très forts et unis», rappelle Mahar. «C’est justement cette solidarité qui a permis un dénouement positif de la grève».

Mahar est impatient de travailler avec les sections syndicales, et, en particulier, de les aider dans leurs négociations ce qu’ il aime particulièrement, nous dit-il. Il nous confie que «la camaraderie et la fraternité sont une grande expérience».

«A la suite de cela, il y avait beaucoup à faire concernant l’amélioration des relations avec le management», dit-il. Et il crédite les membres pour leur rôle dans cette action.

«L’ATU est un mode de vie», mentionne-t-il. «L’ATU m’a donné, à moi et à ma famille, la sécurité d’un emploi stable depuis plus de 30 ans. L’ATU m’a permis d’aider tous mes frères et sœurs à bien gagner leur vie».

Mahar fut élu Président de la section syndicale en 2004, et il fut réélu, par acclamation, en 2007. Et en 2007, avec Mahar comme Président, la section syndicale fut de nouveau face à

«Le tout a été une expérience merveilleuse, dit-il, en affirmant qu’ «avec la force d’un groupe unifié on peut véritablement beaucoup accomplir».

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the wall” in negotiations with the local, relenting only just before a strike would have occurred.

“We got some pretty good agreements,” Mahar says, “because of the support of the membership.”

CHIEF CONCERN: ASSAULT AND ABUSE Today, the new international representative says the chief concern of operators is the continual threat of assault and abuse. He dates the beginning of the problem back to 2000, when assaults against drivers became “more frequent and aggressive.”

It took awhile, he says, to convince Calgary’s transit management to take the assaults seriously.

But now, with the local’s encouragement, the agency teaches operators ways to identify threats before they become a problem, and is reviewing the use of shields to provide a modicum of protection for drivers.

CAMARADERIE AND FRATERNITY Mahar is looking forward to working with locals, and, particularly, to helping out with locals’ negotiations which he says he really enjoys.

“The camaraderie and fraternity” he shares, is “a great experience.”

Mahar’s affection for his fellow members is obvious. He’s anxious to add, “this is an incredible opportunity and as much as I feel emotionally attached to our local, the decision to accept this position was made easy knowing that I am leaving my office and the local in good hands.”

“The whole thing has been a wonderful experience,” he says, asserting that “with the unified group strength you really can accomplish a lot.”

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2010

9

Gratitude Comme vous le savez déjà, j’ai pris ma retraite de Président de l’International de l’ATU. Cela a été une décision avec laquelle j’ai débattu énormément. L’ATU a été ma vie et j’aime vraiment ce Syndicat et ses membres. Mais, après de longues discussions avec ma femme et mes enfants, j’ai décidé que le moment était venu de passer les rênes et d’avoir plus de temps avec ma merveilleuse famille.

Ma femme, Janice et moi avons été mariés pendant 49 ans, et pendant 45 de ces années, j’ai été un militant et dirigeant syndical. Pendant qu’elle élevait nos trois merveilleux enfants, j’étais sur la route pour l’ATU. J’ai commencé à l’ATU en organisant avec succès les travailleurs de ma compagnie d’autobus à Pittsburgh en 1963.

Par la suite, j’ai été élu d’abord membre du conseil exécutif de la section syndicale puis Président et Secrétaire-trésorier de la section syndicale 85. En 1975, j’ai été élu Vice-président de l’International. Depuis, j’ai servi comme Assistant spécial du Président de l’International, Vice-président exécutif, et enfin, Président de l’International en 2003.

J’ai eu la chance d’avoir l’ATU dans ma vie. Non seulement ce Syndicat a fait en sorte que je sois en mesure d’offrir une bonne vie à ma famille pendant toutes ces années comme chauffeur d’autobus et mécanicien, mais il m’a aussi donné un merveilleux groupe d’amis pour la vie.

CAMPAGNES STRATÉGIQUES ET RECHERCHE Une des réalisations pour laquelle j’éprouve la plus grande fierté comme Président de l’International est la création du Département des campagnes stratégiques. Ce département est chargé d’élaborer un plan stratégique pour la coordination de la recherche, l’organisation, les aspects juridiques, la communication, les activités législatives et politiques de l’ATU, tout en fournissant des renseignements opportuns aux sections syndicales et aux officiers de l’International sur les entrepreneurs privés, les données des contrats et les politiques pour les aider à obtenir de meilleurs salaires, de meilleurs avantages et la sécurité de l’emploi pour nos membres.

Sachant qu’une part importante et croissante de l’industrie des transports en commun a été confiée par contrat à des entreprises privées - où les salaires sont nettement inférieurs à ceux pratiqués par les entreprises publiques de transport en commun comparables et où les retraites sont pratiquement inexistantes - le Département des campagnes stratégiques travaille activement pour empêcher que la tendance des contrats privés érode les salaires, les avantages et les conditions de travail.

Le Département a ciblé tout particulièrement le plus important employeur de l’ATU, FirstGroup. C’est l’entrepreneur

qui a été le plus agressif pour «saper» les salaires, les avantages et les conditions de travail. Dans sa première campagne importante de contrat contre FirstGroup depuis la création du Département des campagnes stratégiques, l’ATU a lancé un effort de sensibilisation de la communauté et a réussi à négocier une augmentation de salaire de plus de dix pour cent pour les membres de la section syndicale 1208 à Tuscaloosa, en Alabama.

En 2008, des centaines de membres de l’ATU dans tous les États-Unis se sont portés volontaires pendant des heures innombrables, pour faire des appels téléphoniques, frapper aux portes et parler à leurs collègues de travail. Leur dur travail a porté ses fruits avec l’élection de Barack Obama comme Président des États-Unis. Je ne pourrais pas être plus fier du travail qu’ils ont fourni durant cette campagne électorale.

ACTIVITÉS LÉGISLATIVES ET POLITIQUES

DIVERSITÉ DANS LE LEADERSHIP

Pendant ma présidence à l’International, l’UAT a également été en mesure d’obtenir des victoires importantes dans les domaines législatif et politique.

Une autre priorité de mon administration a été de diversifier l’ATU de haut en bas. Non seulement j’ai nommé et promu des dirigeants des deux sexes et de différents groupes ethniques, mais j’ai aussi fait rentrer des dirigeants plus jeunes et dynamiques ainsi que le personnel nécessaire pour s’assurer que de nouvelles idées soient proposées et que les membres de tout âge et de tous milieux soient représentés.

Malgré la présence d’un Président américain et d’un congrès «anti-labeur» durant la plus grande partie de mon mandat, nous avons pu obtenir chaque année des augmentations de fonds pour financer les transports en commun. Nous avons également été en mesure de faire passer une loi très complète sur la sécurité routière pour les transports en commun par bus. Cette loi autorise non seulement un financement important pour les transports en commun et la sécurité dans les bus, mais exige également que les employés en première ligne reçoivent une formation sur la sécurité et les interventions d’urgence et enfin elle offre des protections vitales aux dénonciateurs.

Pendant cette période, nous avons repoussé des tentatives qui visaient à abroger ou à affaiblir la section 13 (c), la négociation collective et les droits des travailleurs de transport en commun, et nous avons contrecarré une exigence du Département d’Etat Américain pour les transports qui promulguait la participation du secteur privé dans les transports en commun.

Plus récemment, alors que des milliers de travailleurs des transports en commun dans tous les États-Unis sont confrontés à des licenciements et des réductions de services, l’ATU a mené une campagne couronnée de succès pour permettre aux organismes de transport en commun d’utiliser jusqu’à 10 pour cent de leurs fonds de relance pour couvrir leurs coûts d’exploitation.

Cette législation a aidé à sauver les emplois de milliers de nos membres et elle a permis à des centaines d’entre eux, qui avaient été limogés, de pouvoir retourner au travail. Au moment où j’ai pris ma retraite, l’ATU était en train de faire une campagne active pour une assistance financière permanente pour financer les coûts d’exploitation des entreprises publiques de transport en commun.

Le programme politique de l’ATU a aussi connu une croissance considérable sous ma présidence de l’International.

Non seulement les contributions ATU-COPE ont augmenté chaque année, mais nos membres sont devenus de plus en plus actifs en politique car ils prennent conscience du lien qui existe entre les élus et le financement des transports en commun.

Depuis la dernière convention, j’ai nommé, et le Conseil Général Exécutif (CGE) a confirmé ce choix, deux membres hispaniques au CGE, Yvette Salazar et Ray Rivera. Salazar, notre nouvelle Vice-présidente de l’International, est la première femme latino à siéger au CGE. J’ai aussi récemment nommé deux leaders afro-américains comme représentants de l’International, Gary Johnson et Karen Miller Lewis. Nous avons également diversifié le personnel de l’International à l’ATU et je suis fier de dire que je crois que l’ATU avait la délégation la plus diversifiée lors de la récente Convention de l’AFL-CIO. L’ATU, malgré la période économique difficile, est en pleine forme. Alors que nous sommes confrontés à de nombreux défis, je suis convaincu que nous sommes prêts à les relever avec succès.

Sur une note plus personnelle, je tiens à exprimer ma gratitude à chacun d’entre vous qui avez enrichi ma vie d’une façon que je ne pourrais jamais exprimer. Devenir membre de l’ATU a été la meilleure décision que j’ai prise dans ma vie professionnelle ; et, la meilleure chose que je pourrais vous souhaiter, c’est que votre expérience au sein du syndicat soit aussi intéressante, et, oui, plaisante, qu’elle l’a été pour moi.

Certes, ce n’est pas sans une certaine tristesse et un certain chagrin que j’ai pris la décision de prendre ma retraite. Mais, je sais que je passe le relais à une nouvelle génération de dirigeants de l’ATU très capables et qui nous rendront tous fiers «d’être ATU» encore une fois au 21e siècle.

Il me tarde de passer plus de temps avec ma meilleure amie et épouse, Janice, mes trois enfants et mes petits-enfants. Mais sachez que je répondrai toujours présent pour aider l’ATU à l’avenir chaque fois qu’on me le demandera.

AGRADECIMIENTO Según usted ya sabe, yo me he jubilado de mi cargo como Presidente Internacional de la ATU. Fue una decisión a la cual yo llegué con gran dificultad. La Unión ATU ha sido my vida y yo verdaderamente adoro a esta Unión y a sus miembros. Pero, después de una exhaustiva consulta con mi esposa e hijos, yo he decidido que ha llegado la hora en que yo debo transferir las riendas de la unión a otras manos, y así dedicarle más tiempo a mi maravillosa familia.

Yo he sido bienaventurado de haber tenido a la ATU en mi vida. No solamente esta Unión aseguró mis posibilidades de proveer una buena vida a mi familia durante mis años como operador y mecánico de autobuses, pero también me permitió adquirir magníficos amigos de toda la vida.

Mi esposa, Janice, y yo hemos estado casados por 49 años, y 45 de esos años yo he sido activista de la unión y un líder de la unión.

Mientras que ella crió a nuestros tres adorados hijos, yo estaba viajando por el país atendiendo a mis responsabilidades con la ATU.

Uno de mis más satisfactorios logros como presidente internacional es el establecimiento del nuevo Departamento de Campañas Estratégicas. Este Departamento ha sido encargado de desarrollar un plan estratégico para coordinar las investigaciones, la organización, apoyo legal, comunicaciones y actividades políticas y legislativas de la ATU, mientras que a la misma vez el Departamento provee a las Uniones Locales de ATU y a los dirigentes internacionales con información actualizada sobre contratistas privados, datos de contratos y políticas para ayudarlos en la entrega de mejores salarios, beneficios y seguridad en el empleo para nuestros miembros.

Yo empecé mi carrera con la ATU cuando exitosamente organicé los trabajadores de mi empresa de autobuses en Pittsburgh en n el 1963. Yo fuí elegido a la junta directiva de la local y, posteriormente, presidente y secretario de finanzas de la Unión Local 85. En el 1975, yo fui elegido Vicepresidente Internacional de la Unión. Desde entonces yo he servido como asesor especial del presidente internacional, vicepresidente ejecutivo y, finalmente, presidente internacional, comenzando en el 2003.

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CAMPAÑAS ESTRATÉGICAS E INVESTIGACIONES

concedidos a firmas privadas – donde los salarios son significativamente más bajos que en comparables sistemas públicos y donde las pensiones virtualmente no existen – el Departamento de Campañas Estratégicas está trabajando activamente para prevenir que esta tendencia de contratos privados tenga el efecto de socavar los salarios, beneficios y condiciones de trabajo.

En particular, el departamento ha enfocado sus esfuerzos en el mayor de todos los empleadores de ATU, First Grupo, el cual ha sido el más agresivo contratista en términos de socavar los salarios, condiciones y protecciones de trabajo. En su primera y más importante campaña contra First Group desde el establecimiento del Departamento de Campañas Estratégicas, la ATU lanzó esfuerzos de alcance comunitario y tuvo éxito en negociar un contrato con aumento de salario de dos dígitos para los miembros de la Unión Local 1208 en Tuscaloosa, AL.

continued at Agradecimiento on page 9

Reconociendo que una creciente y gran parte de la industria del transporte urbano ha sido externalizada a través de contratos

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“

Joining the ATU was the best decision I ever made in my working life, and the best thing I could wish for you is that your union experience be as

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meaningful, and, yes, fun, as it has been for me.

GRATITUDE WARREN S. GEORGE, INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT EMERITUS

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s you know by now, I have retired as international president of the ATU. It was a decision that I struggled with greatly.

The ATU has been my life and I truly love this Union and its members. But, after extensive discussions with my wife and children, I have decided that the time has come for me to hand over the reins, and spend more time with my wonderful family.

My wife, Janice, and I have been married for 49 years, and for 45 of those years I have been a union activist and union leader.

While she raised our three wonderful children, I was on the road for the ATU. I started with the ATU when I successfully organized the workers at my bus company in Pittsburgh in 1963. I went on to be elected to the local executive board and then president and financial secretary of Local 85. In 1975, I was elected as an international vice president of the Union. Since then, I have served as special assistant to the international president, executive vice president, and finally, international president, beginning in 2003.

Recognizing that a large and increasing share of the mass transit industry has been contracted out to private firms – where wages are significantly lower than in comparable public systems and pensions are virtually nonexistent – the Strategic Campaigns Department is actively working to prevent the private contracting trend from eroding wages, benefits and working conditions.

In particular, the department has targeted ATU’s largest employer, FirstGroup, which has been the most aggressive contractor in terms of undermining wages, working conditions and labor protections. In its first major contract campaign against FirstGroup since the establishment of the Strategic Campaigns Department, the ATU launched a community outreach effort and was able to successfully negotiate a double-digit wage increase for the members of Local 1208 in Tuscaloosa, AL.

I have been blessed to have had the ATU in my life. Not only did this Union ensure that I was able to provide a good life for my family during my years as a bus operator and mechanic, but it also provided me with wonderful lifelong friends.

LEGISLATIVE AND POLITICAL ACTIVITY

STRATEGIC CAMPAIGNS AND RESEARCH

Despite the presence of an anti-labor U.S. president and Congress for much of my tenure, we were able to secure funding increases for public transit every year. We were also able to pass comprehensive transit and over-the-road bus security legislation, which not only authorizes significant funding for

One of my proudest accomplishments as international president is the establishment of the new Strategic Campaigns Department. This department has been tasked with developing a strategic plan to coordinate the research, organizing, legal, communications, legislative and political activities of the ATU, while providing ATU locals and international officers with

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timely information about private contractors, contract data and policies to assist them in delivering better wages, benefits, and job security for our members.

While I was international president, the ATU was also able to secure significant victories in the legislative and political realms.

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Gratitude continued from page 11

transit and bus security, but also requires security and emergency response training for frontline employees and provides crucial whistleblower protections.

During this time, we fended off attempts to repeal or weaken Section 13(c) transit worker collective bargaining and job rights, and killed a requirement that the U.S. Department of Transportation promulgate regulations on private sector participation in transit.

Most recently, with thousands of transit workers throughout the U.S. facing layoffs and service cuts, the ATU led a successful campaign to allow public transit agencies to use up to 10 percent of their stimulus funds to cover public transportation operating costs. This necessary legislation helped to save the jobs of thousands of our members and allowed hundreds who had already been laid off to go back to work. At the time of my retirement, the ATU was actively campaigning for permanent operating assistance for public transit.

The ATU’s political program also saw tremendous growth while I was international president. Not only have ATU-COPE contributions increased

Agradecimiento continued from page 10 ACTIVIDAD POLÍTICA Y LEGISLATIVA Durante mi período como presidente internacional, la ATU también pudo obtener importantes victorias en los campos políticos y legislativos.

A pesar de la presencia de un Presidente y un Congreso notoriamente anti-laboral durante mucho de mi período electivo, nosotros tuvimos éxito en conseguir aumentos en el financiamiento del transporte público todos los años. También fuimos responsables por la promulgación de exhaustiva legislación cubriendo el tránsito y el transporte de autobuses por carreteras, la cual no solamente autoriza un significativo financiamiento para la seguridad del tránsito y de los autobuses, pero también requiere adiestramiento sobre seguridad y atención primordial a las emergencias para todos los empleados en líneas frontales; y también provee importantes protecciones para las personas que denuncian la existencia de prácticas ilegales, corruptas dentro de su organización.

Durante este período, también rechazamos esfuerzos dirigidos a la revocación o debilitamiento de la Sección 13 (c) que protege la contratación colectiva de los trabajadores del tránsito y sus derechos en el sitio de empleo. También derrotamos un requerimiento que autorizaba al Departamento de Transporte Federal a promulgar reglamentaciones sobre la participación del sector privado en el tránsito.

Más recientemente, con miles de trabajadores del tránsito por todo el país enfrentando despidos temporales y reducciones en el servicio, la ATU lideró una exitosa campaña para permitir que las agencias de tránsito público puedan usar hasta un 10% de sus fondos federales de estímulo para cubrir los costos de operación del transporte público. Esta necesaria legislación

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every year, but our members have become more and more active in politics as we raised awareness of the connection between elected officials and public transportation funding.

We have also diversified the ATU international staff, and I am proud to say that I believe the ATU had the most diverse delegation at the recent AFL-CIO Convention.

In 2008, hundreds of ATU members throughout the U.S. volunteered countless hours, making phone calls, knocking on doors, and talking to fellow coworkers at their worksites. Their hard work paid off with the election of Barack Obama as U.S. president. I could not be more proud of the work they did during that election campaign.

The ATU, despite the tough economic times, is in great shape. While we face many challenges ahead, I am confident that we are prepared to confront those challenges and succeed.

LEADERSHIP DIVERSITY Another focus of my administration was to diversify the ATU from the top down. Not only did I appoint and advance leaders of both genders and different ethnic groups, but I also brought in more young and energetic leaders and staff to ensure that new ideas are proposed and that members of all ages and backgrounds are represented.

Since the last Convention, I nominated, and the General Executive Board confirmed, two Hispanic members to the GEB, and appointed two African American leaders as international representatives.

ayudó a salvar los empleos de miles de nuestros miembros y le permitió a cientos de trabajadores que habían sido despedidos temporalmente que los mismos pudieran retornar a sus empleos. En el momento de mi jubilación, la ATU estaba trabajando activamente en una campaña a favor de una permanente ayuda para las operaciones del tránsito público.

El programa político de la ATU también experimentó un tremendo crecimiento durante mi período como presidente internacional. No solamente las contribuciones al programa ATU-COPE aumentaron cada año, pero también nuestros miembros han estado mucho más activos en el campo político a medida que nosotros enfatizamos la importancia de conectar a los funcionarios públicos elegidos con el financiamiento del transporte público.

En el 2008, cientos de miembros de la ATU por todo el país prestaron servicios voluntarios por muchas horas, haciendo llamadas telefónicas, tocando en puertas y conversando con sus colegas trabajadores en el sitio de empleo. Esta ardua labor fue recompensada por la elección de Barack Obama como Presidente de los Estados Unidos. Yo no podría estar más orgulloso del trabajo que ellos hicieron durante esa campaña electoral.

DIVERSIDAD EN EL LIDERAZGO Otro enfoque de mi administración fue diversificar a la unión de arriba hacia abajo. No solamente yo nombré y promoví a dirigentes de ambos sexos y diferentes grupos étnicos, pero yo también traje a la unión varios líderes y personal administrativo más jóvenes y de gran energía para asegurarnos de que nuevas ideas son propuestas y que los miembros de todas las edades y todos los sectores estén representados.

Desde la última Convención, yo propuse, y la Junta Directiva General confirmó la inclusión de dos miembros Hispanos

On a more personal note, I want to express my gratitude to each of you who have enriched my life in more ways than I could ever express.

Joining the ATU was the best decision I ever made in my working life, and the best thing I could wish for you is that your union experience be as meaningful, and, yes, fun, as it has been for me.

Surely, it was not without some sadness and heartache that I made the decision to retire. But, I leave confident that we will continue to be “proud to be ATU” throughout the 21st century.

I look forward to spending more time with my best friend and wife, Janice, my three children and my grandchildren. But please know that I will be here to help the ATU in the future whenever I am called upon to do so.

en dicha Junta, Yvette Salazar y Ray Rivera. Salazar, nuestro más nuevo vicepresidente internacional, es la primera Latina elegida a la Junta Directiva General. Yo recientemente nombré a dos líderes Afro-Americanos como representantes internacionales, Gary Johnson y Karen Miller Lewis. Nosotros también hemos diversificado el personal en la sede internacional de ATU, y yo estoy muy orgulloso de decir que, en mi opinión, la ATU representó la más diversa delegación a la reciente Convención de la AFL-CIO. La ATU, a pesar de la difícil situación económica que nos embarga, está en muy buenas condiciones. Mientras que aun enfrentamos muchos desafíos en el futuro, yo estoy convencido de que estamos preparados para confrontar esos desafíos y salir airosos.

En una nota más personal, yo quiero expresar mi gratitud a todos y cada uno de ustedes que han enriquecido mi vida de muchas más maneras de lo que pudiera yo expresar. Afiliarme a la Unión ATU fue la mejor decisión que jamás yo hice en mi vida trabajadora, y la mejor cosa que yo pudiera desearle a usted es que su experiencia en la unión sea tan significativa, y, también tan gratificante, como eso ha sido para mí.

Ciertamente, no es sin tristeza y pesar que yo he tomado la decisión de jubilarme. Pero yo sé que estoy transfiriendo el batón a una nueva y muy capaz generación de líderes de ATU quienes nos harán a todos nosotros “orgullosos de pertenecer a la ATU” por muchos años más durante el siglo 21.

Yo estoy muy feliz de que en el futuro podré dedicarle más tiempo a mi mejor amiga y esposa, Janice, mis tres hijos y mis nietos. Pero también, por favor, tomen nota de que yo estaré aquí para prestarle ayuda a la ATU en el futuro, en cualquier momento en que yo sea convocado para hacerlo.

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RICHARD TRUMKA

ED WYTKIND

BARBARA BYERS

LEO GERARD

CECIL ROBERTS

CLAYOLA BROWN

ION RADOI

President, AFL-CIO

President, Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO

Vice President Canadian Labour Congress

International President United Steelworkers of America

President United Mineworkers of America

National President A. Philip Randolph Institute

President ATU Romanian Council

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elegates from all over the United States and Canada will assemble to address the crucial issues that confront the ATU, Labor, and the transit industry at the 56th ATU International Convention, September 27 – October 1, in Lake Buena Vista, FL. The Convention of ATU delegates convenes every three years to review the challenges and accomplishments since the last Convention and to chart a course for the future.

This Convention’s theme – “Working Together to Secure Our Future” emphasizes solidarity – the aspect of the Union which is most responsible for making ATU members the highest-compensated employees in the transit industry. That unity of purpose between U.S. and Canadian members, and among all of our locals is the key to continued success in the 21st century.

CHALLENGES No doubt the delegates will address the issues that confront our members with that same spirit. Those issues include: • The critical need for operating assistance in the U.S. • The urgent necessity of protecting our members from assault in Canada.

• Contracting-out our work to private companies, and much more.

Over 600 delegates have been elected by ATU’s 254 local unions all across North America. Those delegates will consider measures brought to the floor by various committees (such as Laws, Organizing, and Safety and Security).

Subsequently, during the week delegates will vote on amendments to the ATU Constitution and General Laws, resolutions which will express the position of the Union on important matters, and the election of international officers for the coming three years.

SPEAKERS AFL-CIO President Richard L. Trumka will address the opening session of the Convention on Monday, September 27. After 15 years of service as the federation’s secretary treasurer, he was elected president at the AFL’s 26th

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convention. Trumka has been in the forefront of discussions in the media concerning the welfare of workers since his election a year ago.

The delegates will also hear from Clayola Brown, national president of the A. Philip Randolph Institute. Although she has worked for the UNITE HERE international union since 1970, the union and civil rights leader got an even earlier start in the labor movement when, at age 15, she joined her mother in a successful campaign to bring the Textile Workers Union of America (TWUA) to the Manhattan Shirt Factory in Charleston, SC. Brown “brought down the house” with her presentation at the 55th Convention three years ago in Las Vegas, NV. Others scheduled to speak include Barbara Byers, vice president of the Canadian Labour Congress; Cecil Roberts, president of the United Mine Workers of America; Leo Gerard, international president of the United Steelworkers; Ion Radoi, president of the ATU Romanian Council, USLA in Bucharest, Romania; Ed Wytkind, president of the AFL-CIO Transportation Trades Department; and Michael Williams, president of the Florida AFL-CIO. From outside the labor movement delegates will hear from William W. Millar, president of the American Public Transportation Association (APTA); Michael Roschlau, president and CEO of the Canadian Urban Transportaion Association (CUTA); and Dr. Beverly A. Scott, Ph.D., General Managers/CEO of the Metropolitan Atlanta Transportation Authority (MARTA).

A full report on the actions of the Convention will be published in the next In Transit.

SPIRIT While delegates must weigh many important matters, what they and other ATU participants take away from the week is the camaraderie and enthusiasm which is generated when representatives of the entire ATU family gather. It is that spirit which will animate the Union for, at least, three years to come.

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Members Rally fro to ‘Save O

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nion members and transit supporters gathered at rallies from Seattle, WA, to Miami, FL, this spring and summer to “Save Our Ride.” Organized by the ATU and the Transport Workers Union (TWU), the goal of the events was to persuade the U.S. Congress to allow transit properties serving populations over 200,000 to use at least a portion of their already-appropriated federal aid for operating assistance (wages, administration, etc.). Currently, these agencies are restricted to using federal funds solely for capital expenses (new buses, stations, etc.).

The rallies were a response to the cuts in jobs and service that cash-poor transit agencies have been making all over the U.S. Rev. Jesse Jackson, head of the Rainbow/ Push coalition, spoke at most of the events, lending his voice to the thousands who see preserving mass transit as a matter of simple economic justice.

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The first “salvo” came March 16, during the ATU Legislative Conference in Washington, DC, when conference participants gathered in the shadow of the U.S. Capitol to hear members of Congress enlist their support for bills they’ve introduced to address the operating assistance crisis.

Then it was on to Chicago, IL, where the ATU and TWU planned the upcoming campaign with Jackson, and held a huge rally, March 27, at Rainbow/ Push headquarters. Next, the two unions caught the attention of the media with a news conference, March 31, on the streets of New York, NY, and at another Capitol Hill rally, April 27, during the TWU’s Legislative Conference in Washington, DC. In May, the unions officially unveiled the “Save Our Ride” campaign at a May 11 rally at a MARTA station in Atlanta, GA. It was in Atlanta that the organizations inaugurated “Text on Washington” in which transit supporters were able send a text message in support of the operating assistance bills to their representatives in the House and Senate.

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(1) Enthusiastic members from Local 732-Atlanta, GA, came to support f Local 113-Toronto, ON, flew the Canadian flag in solidarity with the U.S. m (3) Atlanta members caught the nationwide attention of the U.S. media b new funding was found for MARTA. (4) Local President Benita West, 732were among the throng who cheered on Rev. Jesse Jackson at the event their American brothers and sisters at the Detroit rally on May 12. (7) Trans July 9. (8) The series of rallies took on the character of a summer concert in San Francisco on June 29. (9) Mass transit supporters posed for this Cleveland, OH, on May 22. (10) Rep. Betty Sutton, D-OH, lent her support f 16, in Washington, DC.

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om Coast-to-Coast Our Ride’ The following day the campaign moved to Birmingham, A L , in the home state of Sen. Richard Shelby, R-AL, the ranking member of the Senate Banking Subcommittee on Housing and Transportation, and a key vote on the operating assistance issue.

The campaign continued May 21, in Detroit, MI, where ATU members have just accepted an eight percent pay reduction rather than job cuts. Canadian members showed solidarity with their American brothers and sisters, literally flying the Canadian flag at the Detroit event.

The ATU Canadian contingent also joined Union members at the May 22 rally in Cleveland, OH. The Ohio event was marked by one of the most energetic demonstrations by members who paraded into the rally area proclaiming their support for mass transit.

The campaign arrived on the west coast on June 11, with a rally sponsored by Local 757 in Portland, OR. Next, rallies were held in San Francisco, CA, on June 29, and in Sacramento, CA, on July 1. California’s severe budget crisis has complicated the already difficult finances of the Golden State’s transportation agencies.

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The final rallies were held in Houston, TX, July 7, Miami, FL, July 9.

The Save Our Ride campaign has provided the ATU and TWU with a historic opportunity to work together toward a common goal of great importance to the members of both unions. In the process, ATU members from all parts of the United States demonstrated passion, commitment, and impressive organizing skills which may be called upon again as the struggle to save mass transit in the United States continues over the coming months.

fellow members at a rally in Birmingham, AL, May 12. (2) Members of members as they listened to Rev. Jesse Jackson speak at the Detroit rally. by painting a big red “X” on buses traveling routes that would be cut if no -Atlanta, rallied one of the largest rallies on May 11. (5) Chicago members held on March 27. (6) Local 113-Toronto, ON, members came to support sit supporters braved the heat to support mass transit at a rally in Miami on series, and a T-shirt commemorating the tour is worn by a rally participant s portrait of enthusiastic support for operating assistance after the rally in for transit operating assistance at a rally in front of the U.S. Capitol, March

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KNOW YOUR RIGHTS: The Fair Labor Standards Act: Hours Worked I

n the coming installments of “Know Your Rights,” we will be examining different aspects of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) of 1938, and how it applies to your day-to-day work routine.

meal periods are typically at least 30 minutes long and do not need to be compensated as work time as long as employees are completely relieved from work duties for the entire meal period.

In this first installment, we will examine what constitutes compensable work time. It is important to keep in mind that the FLSA regulations are baseline rules, and an employer may not seek through a collective bargaining agreement to lessen the rights afforded employees under the FLSA, including which hours must be counted as hours worked. Collective bargaining agreements and state laws can, however, broaden the regulations of the FLSA, as is often the case with mandatory break times and meal periods.

MEETINGS AND TRAINING SESSIONS

The following are among the most relevant aspects of “hours worked” as defined by the FLSA regulations and as applied to the transportation industry.

Keep in mind these are just general guidelines and individual cases will vary based on the particular facts and circumstances. We recommend you consult with your appropriate local union representatives if you feel your employer is not adhering to the work time requirements mandated by the FLSA.

In order for meetings, training sessions, and similar events to not be counted as work time four criteria must be met: • The meeting or training session must take place outside of regular working hours; • Attendance must be voluntary; • The meeting or training session must not be directly related to one’s job; and • No work which the employer is able to use for their purposes may be performed during the meeting or training session.

WAITING TIME

TRAVEL TIME

When an employee is not actively engaged in his or her job duties while on their regular shift, but is waiting for an assignment or task to be passed to them, they are considered to be “engaged to wait” and are therefore working.

For instance, bus drivers waiting for repairs to be completed so they can go back out on their route are engaged to wait and should be paid for that period of inactivity.

Traveling from home before the start of a regular work day and returning home after the completion of a regular work day does not count as work time.

OFF-DUTY TIME Employees are considered off-duty, and therefore not on compensable work time, when they are completely relieved from duty and have enough time to use for their own purposes. For instance, a driver who works a shift from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. would be off-duty prior to 8 a.m. and after 4 p.m., provided he or she is definitively released from duty at that time.

BREAKS/MEALS Employers are not required to offer breaks or rest periods, such as coffee breaks, but they generally do so in order to promote worker efficiency. Break periods are generally between five and 20 minutes long, and that time is counted as work time for which employees are to be paid.

Meal times are also not required to be provided, but much like break periods are generally a staple of any employment agreement. Bona fide

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Traveling from job site to job site during the work day and in the course of principal job activities does count as work time (courts have also recognized that employees who begin their workday by performing job activities at home prior to traveling to a different work site should be compensated for that travel time).

When traveling away from home overnight, such as driving a bus involved in intercity transportation, any work performed while traveling, including clerical work, must be counted as work time.

DRUG & ALCOHOL TESTING AND PHYSICAL EXAMS Time spent traveling to and from, waiting for, and undergoing an employer-mandated drug test or physical exam is considered work time, regardless of whether it is scheduled during working hours, because the employee’s freedom of movement is restricted for the purpose of serving the employer and he or she is under the employer’s control.

For additional information on specific topics related to hours worked, the Department of Labor provides a useful step-by-step guide on its website at: http://tinyurl.com/flsahours.

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Canadian Agenda PM HELPS KICK OFF CONSTRUCTION OF MISSISSAUGA BUS RAPID TRANSIT

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rime Minister Stephen Harper announced the start of construction of the Mississauga Bus Rapid Transit corridor, August 17, at the Mississauga transit campus. He was joined by Bob Dechert, member of Parliament for Mississauga-Erindale.

“We want to ensure commuters get to work on time and get home to their families at the end of the workday as quickly and as safely as possible,” said Prime Minister Harper. “Improving the flow of people and goods across the GTA is good for commuters, the economy and the environment because it means shorter commute times, increased productivity and improved air.”

GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY CANCELLED Mississauga mayor Hazel McCallion had planned a ground-breaking ceremony the same day to mark the start of construction, but when Harper announced he was coming to town, the shovels were put back in the closet and the ceremony cancelled.

“It’s not uncommon for politicians to show up six months before an election, or a couple of months,” McCallion said later. “I showed up the day after the last one.”

LE PM INAUGURE LA CONSTRUCTION DU CORRIDOR DE TRANSPORT EN COMMUN RAPIDE PAR AUTOBUS DE MISSISSAUGA Le 17 août au campus de Mississauga Transit, le Premier ministre, Stephen Harper, a annoncé le début de la construction du corridor de transport en commun rapide par autobus de Mississauga.

Il était accompagné de Bob Dechert, député de Mississauga-Erindale. « Nous souhaitons que les banlieusards arrivent au travail à l’heure et retournent à la maison auprès de leurs familles lorsque la journée de travail est terminée, et ce, par le moyen le plus rapide et le plus sûr possible, d’affirmer le Premier ministre Harper. Améliorer le transport des gens et des biens dans la RGT est bon pour les voyageurs, l’économie et l’environnement, car cela se traduit par une diminution du temps de déplacement, un gain en productivité et un assainissement de l’air. » CÉRÉMONIE DE LA POSE DE LA PREMIÈRE PIERRE ANNULÉE Le même jour, Hazel McCallion, Mairesse de Mississauga, avait prévu une cérémonie de la pose de la première pierre pour marquer le début de la construction, mais lorsqu’Harper fit savoir qu’il allait venir en ville, les pelles furent remises dans le placard, et la cérémonie annulée. « Ce n’est pas rare que les politiciens se présentent six mois avant une élection, ou deux mois avant», dit McCallion plus tard. «Je me suis présenté le lendemain de la dernière. » 2,950 EMPLOIS Les travaux devraient créer environ 2 590 emplois.

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2,950 JOBS This project is expected to create approximately 2,590 jobs.

L’Ontario a octroyé 65 millions de dollars à la ville de Mississauga afin de contribuer au coût des services d’autobus rapides de Mississauga et verse 48 millions de dollars de plus à titre d’investissements connexes de GO Transit.

Ontario has provided $65 million to the City of Mississauga to support the Mississauga BRT and is contributing another $48 million in related GO Transit investments.

Une fois les travaux achevés, le corridor estouest de 18 kilomètres de transport en commun rapide qui traversera la ville de Mississauga améliorera la desserte par autobus tant municipale qu’interrégionale dans la région du Grand Toronto.

Once complete, the 18-kilometre eastwest rapid transit corridor across the City of Mississauga will improve both local and interregional bus operations in the Greater Toronto Area.

« Au cours des 18 derniers mois, nous avons accéléré la réalisation de certains projets d’infrastructure du transport, notamment en commun, pour la RGT dans le cadre du Plan d’action économique du Canada, d’ajouter le Premier ministre. Ces projets ont créé des emplois et stimulé la croissance économique durant la récession mondiale. »

“Over the last year and a half, we have accelerated some of the GTA public transit and transportation infrastructure projects as part of Canada’s Economic Action Plan,” said the prime minister. “These projects have created jobs and stimulated economic growth during the global economic recession.”

Le gouvernement du Canada contribue au projet à même le Fonds canadien sur l’infrastructure stratégique, dans le cadre de l’initiative ÇA ROULE, plan d’action à long terme du gouvernement fédéral sur les transports dans la région du Grand Toronto (RGT). La province d’Ontario et la ville de Mississauga contribuent également au projet.

Government of Canada funding for this project is provided through the Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund and is part of FLOW, the Government of Canada’s longterm transportation action plan for the Greater Toronto Area. The Province of Ontario and the City of Mississauga are also contributing to the project.

Le coût total du projet de services d’autobus rapides s’élève à 259 millions de dollars, avec des fonds de la province de l’Ontario, du gouvernement fédéral et de la ville de Mississauga.

Le corridor d’autobus rapides devrait être opérationnel au printemps 2013.

The total cost of the BRT project is $259 million with funding from the Province of Ontario, the federal government and the City of Mississauga. It is expected to be in service by spring 2013.

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2010

17

— LEGISLATIVE REPORT —

State Legislative Round Up T

he 2009-2010 legislative session is now complete in almost all states.

Public transportation issues continued to dominate the agenda in traditional transit areas as well as in places where bus and rail service is still growing. Hundreds of transit bills were introduced nationwide. Safety and security issues especially proved to be on the minds of state legislators. Below is a summary of the major bills that were enacted into law.

SOUTHERN STATES CATCHING UP ON TRANSIT

MAJOR FUNDING BATTLES New York became one of a handful of states to authorize a regional “payroll tax” on businesses – as opposed to sales, property or fuel taxes – in the New York City Area to fund the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

Unfortunately, revenue from the new tax has not met projections and the MTA has laid-off hundreds of workers and cut more service than it has in decades.

Southern states traditionally dominated by highways made real progress on transit during this session. A major reform and funding bill was signed into law in Georgia, breaking a logjam that had bottled up the issue for at least three years. Under previous law, the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) – which receives no state funding for operations – was only able to use 50% of its local funding for operations. The new bill at least provides a three-year lift of the restriction on how MARTA can spend its local money. In addition, voters will get a chance to decide whether to dedicate more money towards transit expansion. Although not the wholesale change that Local 732 was seeking, the bill will save more than 1,000 jobs. As a result of the bill, MARTA’s projected layoffs dropped from approximately 1,500 to about 400.

Nearly every transit system in California has suffered over the past three years as the state borrowed, took or eliminated hundreds of millions of dollars in public transportation funds. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) continued to raid the public transportation fund until the state’s Supreme Court seemingly put an end to this “transit robbery” by ordering the state to repay the more than $3 billion in gasoline sales taxes that it had taken since 2007. Instead, the governor crafted a plan to again take the funds by simply eliminating the sales tax on gas. His plan failed, however, and Schwarzenegger in the end signed two bills that provide a total of $750 million in fuel-tax revenue to cash-strapped transit operators.

South Carolina established an office of public transit, and North Carolina created a congestion relief and intermodal transportation fund, providing funds for public transportation.

Massachusetts and Oklahoma banned the use of cell phones or texting devices while operating a transit vehicle.

Virginia legislation mandates the state’s Department of Transportation to make an annual report to the legislature on actions taken to promote transit use, while another bill requires the commonwealth’s transportation board, in distributing funds for transit, to give first priority to transit operating costs rather than capital projects.

Not to be outdone, Mississippi created a public transit task force to study and make recommendations to the legislature with regard to present and future needs of the statewide public transportation system.

Maryland established a “Blue Ribbon Commission on Transportation Funding,” and the ATU locals in the state will likely participate in the work of the panel, which will examine everything from funding needs to publicprivate partnerships.

A new Tennessee law urges transit systems to promote the existence of a parental help line organized by Prevent Child Abuse Tennessee as space allows in interior advertising.

And Louisiana authorized the creation of public private partnerships to further develop its transit network.

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IN TRANSIT

SAFETY AND SECURITY ISSUES

Washington State, which has a similar ban, provided an exception for devices used to relay information between a coach operator and the operator’s dispatcher. Washington also expanded its list of unlawful vehicle conduct to include unreasonably disturbing others with loud or harassing behavior; falsely claiming to be a transit employee; engaging in gambling; skating or riding on a skateboard; and engaging in conduct that is inconsistent with the intended use and purpose of the transit facility.

A new law in Illinois requires the Chicago Transit Authority to develop written protocols to respond to medical and sanitation emergencies and other safety hazards. Illinois also provided for enhanced penalties for carrying a firearm or other dangerous weapon on a transit vehicle.

Virginia authorized fingerprint and criminal background checks of transit employees and applicants.

With ATU’s support, nearly 30 states have enacted laws specifically prohibiting the intentional causing of physical injury to a transit employee when such employee is in the course of the performance of duty. During the 2009-2010 legislative session, new transit worker assault bills were passed in Connecticut, Maryland, and Tennessee. A Missouri bill was vetoed on a technicality.

www.atu.org

The Amalgamated Transit Union

2010 Scholarship Competition IN MEMORY OF: BRUCE FOSTER

Bruce Foster Scholarships Awarded to Six

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TU Scholarships were awarded to five entering college students, and one vocational school enrollee this year. Below is a brief description of each of the 2010 ATU scholars and an excerpt from their essays on the topic “Organized Labor’s Contribution to the Welfare of the People of the United States or Canada.”

ERIC GOODMAN Eric Goodman, the son of Bruce Goodman, 113-Toronto, ON, is a graduate of Clarington Central Secondary School in Bowmanville, ON, who has begun his coursework to become a power engineering technician at Durham College in Whitby, ON. During high school Eric competed on the soccer, chess, and “cardboard boat race” teams. He was a finalist in two soccer events, won a bronze medal in chess, and a gold medal in cardboard boat racing.

Eric credits his uncle for having a significant influence on his life, writing, “Uncle Stuart began working at Ontario Hydro at an early age. He started off in the position of a mail clerk. Through hard work, enthusiasm, and dedication, he slowly moved himself up the ladder to success… My uncle also was an active member of the union and was voted to be a shop steward for two years… Uncle Stuart has shown me that with enthusiasm and a willingness to learn, you can grow as a person and achieve anything you put your mind to.”

Eric’s goal is to work at Ontario Power Generation in Durham as a power engineering technician.

Excerpts from Eric Goodman’s essay: The overall advantages of union membership are clear. Unionized workers have written legally-binding guarantees covering such things as wages and benefits, and dental and health care plans to cover sickness/illness, accidents, and death…

Collective agreements give union members rights and job security. Health and safety committees help keep the workplace healthier and safe. Grievances and complaints are handled by a clear set of rights written up in the collective agreement. Union shop stewards will support the individual worker who has been treated unfairly.

LUCIA HERRERO Lucia Herrero, the daughter of Michael Herrero, 1277-Los Angeles, CA, is a graduate of Vivian Webb School in Claremont, CA, who has begun her studies in Political Science at Stanford University in Palo Alto, CA. Lucia completed AP courses in high school in English Literature and Composition, Spanish, Biology, and U.S. History. She was the president and founder of the Peccary (Paleontology) Club, played the flute in the orchestra, was a contributor in the Journalism Club, was the manager of KWEB – the school’s radio station, member of the Honor Cabinet, choreographer in the Dance Club, and senior member of the debate team.

Lucia says that one of the most rewarding experiences of her high school years was the paleontology research she was able to do at the Raymond M. Alf

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Museum located right on her high school campus. The museum prompted her to complete the Advanced Museum Research Honors course which gave her the tools to identify a fossil in the museum as a duck-billed dinosaur skull. “This 75 million year-old specimen,” she says, “may be a new species due to various morphological differences with the skull. I was also able to CAT-scan the specimen to create a digital model of the brain.. My research is currently undergoing preparation for publication.”

“Despite my experience in paleontology,” she says, “I currently hope to pursue a career in politics… I feel strongly about the issues of women, workers and the uneducated, and I hope to help these causes within my community, particularly as some sort of legislator.”

Excerpts from Lucia Herrero’s essay: There is a common misconception about unions – that they are inherently communist in the most subversive manner, that they seek to destroy the very capitalistic nature (in the sense that every man has the freedom to make his own fortune) upon which the nation was predicated. In fact, organized labor has the exact opposite effect.

In a recent publication of the ATU In Transit magazine my father shared with me, there was an article explaining why unions are beneficial…: unions support political candidates that pass labor-friendly legislation; unions protect workers from being exploited by big business; unions allow for individual and societal growth.

RYANN KWAN Ryann Kwan, the daughter of Grace Kwan, 1587-Toronto, ON, is a graduate of Glenforest Secondary School in Mississauga, ON, who has begun her studies in Biology at the University of Western Ontario in London, ON. During high school Ryann completed an “International Baccalaureate” course of studies, and participated in musical and athletic activities.

In 2009, Ryann won the school’s leadership award for her work as the editor-in-chief of the school’s newspaper. She made many improvements in the paper which resulted in the highest number of students reading the publication, ever. Ryann plans on a career in medicine with an eye to community service.

Excerpts from Ryann Kwan’s essay: To begin, unionization in Canada has brought the rule of law to the workplace, thereby strengthening workers’ rights … This system can prevent employers from exploiting their workers. Therefore, unions give Canadian workers a say in the terms and conditions of their employment, as well as the means to protect themselves from unfair treatment by their employers…

Unions have also greatly benefited Canadians economically… In 2006, women in the labour force who belonged to unions earned, on average, five dollars per hour more than non-unionized women. Similarly, unionized men had an hourly wage of approximately three dollars more than non-unionized working men. continued at Scholarship Recipients on page 21

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2010

19

The Amalgamated Transit Union

2011 Scholarship Competition IN MEMORY OF: STUART SNOWDEN

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ELIGIBILITY 1. Applicants must be either:

• a member of the ATU in good standing;

• the child (whether natural or legally adopted) or stepchild of a member or of a deceased member who was in good standing at the time of his or her death;

• an adopted grandchild of a member of the ATU in good standing.

2. Applicants must be high school seniors planning to enter college (or technical or vocational postsecondary school) for the first time following graduation during the 2010-2011 school year, or previous high school graduates that have never attended college.

3. ATU Scholarships are NOT available to the following persons: • those who do not intend to work without interruption toward a bachelor degree or graduation from a technical or vocational school; • those who are attending or have already attended college, technical or vocational school; • spouses and/or grandchildren of members; • ATU International Officers, International Representatives, staff, and other employees or their dependents; and • those who are fully funded for tuition, fees, and books from other sources.

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APPLICATION PROCEDURES

Valid applications for the ATU Scholarship Program MUST include the following:

1. Completed Official Application Form

2. Scholarship Questionnaire

3. Written Essay THE APPLICATION FORM

1. Official Application forms can be obtained from any ATU local union or contact Lauri Straughan (lstraughan@atu.org) at the ATU Scholarship Program Office, 5025 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, Washington, DC, 20016-4139, Tel: (toll free) 1-888-240-1196. You may also use the copy published in our In Transit magazine or apply electronically on our website at www.atu.org.

2. Completed applications not submitted online must be sent by first class mail to the ATU Scholarship Program Office at the above address.

3. Applications must be POSTMARKED NO LATER THAN JANUARY 31, 2011. Late applications will not be accepted.

4. Upon receipt of the application by the ATU Scholarship Program Office, applicants will receive the following materials by return mail:

1. Scholarship Questionnaire

2. Bibliography of Suggested References for the Essay

Five scholarships are awarded each year. A sixth $2,000 scholarship is available for award to an applicant who will attend a technical or vocational post-secondary school. The competition is open to ATU members and their children. All applicants must meet the eligibility requirements and otherwise satisfy these Rules and Procedures. For each scholarship winner, the ATU will deposit up to $5,000 with an accredited college, a technical or a vocational post-secondary school where the award winner will be attending.

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SCHOLARSHIP QUESTIONNAIRE

1. Applicants, and/or their parent or legal guardian, must sign the authorization statement for the release of the information requested in the Scholarship Questionnaire.

2. The form should then be presented for completion to the principal or headmaster of the secondary school attended by the applicant.

3. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that this form is returned to the ATU Scholarship Program Office POSTMARKED NO LATER THAN MARCH 15, 2011.

ESSAY 1. Applicants are required to write an essay of no less than 500 words and no more than 750 words in English, French or Spanish on the subject of:

Organized Labor’s Contribution to the Welfare of the People of the United States

for residents of the United States

OR

Organized Labour’s Contribution to the Welfare of the People of Canada for residents of Canada.

NOTE: The essay will be evaluated on an analysis of the topic – the facts and arguments – that are presented as demonstrating that the student understands the topic, and the effectiveness of the essay in demonstrating how organized labor benefits everyone, whether they are union members or not. Grammar, style, organization and presentation will also be evaluated.

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2. Essays must be sent, preferably with the Scholarship Questionnaire, by first class mail to the ATU Scholarship Program Office, POSTMARKED NO LATER THAN MARCH 15, 2011.

DEADLINES All deadlines will be strictly enforced. Any application which is incomplete or is not postmarked on time will not be considered.

SELECTION OF SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS The ATU International shall appoint a Selection Committee of community, academic, & labor leaders.

No ATU officer, member, staff or employee shall participate in the final selection process.

Applicants will be judged on the basis of their scholastic record, involvement in community, extra-curricular activities, and the quality of the essay submitted.

The Committee shall select five academic scholarship winners and five alternates, and one technical or vocational scholarship winner and alternate.

Decisions of the Committee shall be final.

If a recipient is disqualified due to a failure to fulfill all Scholarship Program requirements, the ATU Scholarship will be awarded to the next qualified alternate.

The recipient(s) will be notified by mail of their award and will also be given a form to complete in order to obtain the scholarship funds. Upon the return of the required information, a check will be issued to the university or vocational school in the appropriate amount. The award will be restricted to the payment of tuition, books, and associated fees.

CUT HERE

The Official 2011 Scholarship Application Form RETURN COMPLETED APPLICATION POSTMARKED NO LATER THAN JANUARY 31, 2011 TO: ATU SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM, AMALGAMATED TRANSIT UNION, 5025 WISCONSIN AVE, NW, WASHINGTON, DC 20016 Please Print or Type

High School Address:

Name of Applicant: (First) (Middle)

(Last)

Name of Principal:

Address:

List in order of preference, the accredited colleges, technical or vocational institutions to which you are applying for admission (no abbreviations):

Phone Number: Name of Sponsoring ATU Member:

1.

ATU Member’s Local Union Number:

2.

Relationship of ATU member to applicant:

3.

(Self, Child, Stepchild)

High School: Month & Year of Graduation:

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IN TRANSIT

I hereby certify that to the best of my knowledge and belief the above information is true and correct.

Applicant’s Signature Date

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Scholarship Recipients continued from page 19

…unions have contributed to the campaign for women’s rights in the workplace.

They have supported their female workers by introducing things like maternity leave and child care programs, and they have also worked to close the income gap between men and women. Research shows that today, the average unionized woman earns 87% of what a man would receive for the same work, while a non-unionized woman is only paid 77%... …collective bargaining within unions has led to the introduction of many social benefits for the people of Canada. It is because of unions that Canadians now have access to things like publicly-funded health care, public pension plans, unemployment insurance, and flexible work schedules. Overall, unions are to be thanked for their efforts to protect human rights by eliminating discrimination against minorities, as well as their contribution of various social benefits for Canadian society.

EDNA GRACE LOUIE Edna Grace Louie, the daughter of David U. Louie, 757-Portland, OR, is a graduate of Grant High School in Portland, who has begun her coursework in International Studies at Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, MA. Edna took many AP courses in high school in subjects ranging from English Language to Calculus. While she enjoyed her role in co-founding a creative writing club, she most enjoyed her participation on the “Constitution Team” where she learned how that august document “furthered the ideals of the Declaration of Independence.”

Edna’s goals reflect her wide-ranging interests. Among those goals she includes: finding and implementing solutions people face locally and globally, working for a think-tank, becoming a published author, and volunteering for the Peace Corps.

Excerpts from Edna Grace Louie’s essay: Fundamentally, organized labor and unions are illustrative of the American ideal of democracy… In addition to improving the welfare of union members, through advocacy and lobbying of labor reform legislation, unions are able to improve the lives of people in the United States in general.

In the 19th century, the young United States was quickly industrialized, and with new technology like the textile machine, the American labor force expanded as more jobs needed to be filled at factories. However, specialization of labor made these jobs – or rather, tasks – monotonous and humanly degrading, both physically and mentally. Labor unions began to form in response to these conditions, and though the first few failed to maintain themselves, the issues they began advocating were taken up by later unions that succeeded in lobbying for legislative reform.

IAN J. LOVE Ian J. Love, the son of John E. Love, 757-Portland, OR, is a graduate of West Salem High School in Salem, OR, who has begun his studies in Chemistry at Houghton College in Houghton, NY. Ian participated in musical, mathematic and scientific activities, and says he found his involvement in the Willamette University 2008 Awesome Adventures Camp to be the most rewarding experience he has had because it allowed him to share his “love of science and science learning with others.”

Preserving Our Rights continued from page 5

who refused to sign away the benefits of future generations of Canadian workers, and outraged Greyhound passengers battered the company with complaints.

This strategic campaign caused the company to return to the bargaining table to find a solution to the pension issue. This will allow us to save the

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Ian says that his father has been quite influential in his life, and that it is his “career goal to become a physicist or chemical engineer for the government or a commercial venture.” He hopes to be able to “design products or technology that can enhance the world’s standard of living.”

Excerpts from Ian J. Love’s essay: For my family, the benefits of unionization are extremely important because without the bargaining power of Local 757 of the ATU, my father’s benefits, working rights, and pay would not fairly compensate him for his work. My mother currently is employed in a non-unionized agency of our state government. Her benefits, pay, and employment flexibility are excellent, because her employer wishes to match the pay and benefits that are typical of a unionized workplace. If not for the efforts of unions, my family would not be able to afford many products and service that make our lives more fulfilling.

If unions did not exist in the form that we see today, the lives of many Americans would be filled with worry for job security and provision of life’s necessities. The benefits gained in the cooperation of workers in bargaining for appropriate remuneration from their employers has made the standard of living within our country quite high.

PETER TRINH Peter Trinh, the son of Nhung Trinh, 819-Newark, NJ, is a graduate of Seton Hall Preparatory School in West Orange, NJ, who has begun pre-med studies in Biology at Princeton University in New Jersey. Peter participated in a wide range of high school athletic and academic activities, but says his favorite experience was his internship at the National Institute on Drug Abuse which is a part of the National Institutes of Health where he had the opportunity to do research on “nicotine addiction and smoking cessation with some truly brilliant minds.”

Peter says the most influential person in his life has been his mother, a Vietnamese immigrant who “faced much hardship both on her journey to America and during her new life in the U.S.” He is looking forward to his studies in a dual, seven-year MD/Ph.D. program, while continuing to conduct independent research on the side.

Excerpts from Peter Trinh’s essay: In the world today, America is often seen as the land of the rich and famous, home to numerous athletes, politicians, musicians, and celebrities. However, both American citizens and foreigners often neglect the people who really make up the quilted soul of America: the average, everyday workers. These workers form the true foundation of American society. Without them, major components of society would shut down, such as food production, manufacturing, and mass public transportation. American society would fundamentally fall apart. In recognition of the key role workers play, one must take into consideration an essential establishment that has molded America into what it is today: organized labor…

Overall, organized labor is an essential thread in the fabric of American society. Its contribution can be seen everyday, woven into the lives of hundreds of millions of people. Labor unions continually support hopeful scholars, fund community activities and organizations, and lobby on behalf of their members for better benefits and increased wages. Regardless of union membership, all American workers enjoy better, safer, and healthier working conditions as well as greater work opportunities thanks to union-backed legislation. Altogether, there is no doubt that organized labor has made extraordinary contributions to the lives and welfare of the people of the United States.

integrity of a defined benefit plan for our future members. As this issue went to press, the parties were still working to find the appropriate solution.

If history teaches us any lesson it is that if we give up rights of our future members it becomes part of a legacy that we cannot later repair without greater struggles. It is very difficult to gain back rights and benefits once they have been given up.

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2010

21

LOCAL 312 - Pleasant Valley, IA Durham School Services Local President Yolandas Dixon and International Vice President Janis Borchardt report settlement.

TERM:

3 years 7/1/10 - 6/30/13

WAGES:

Top Operator 7/1/10 - 29¢ - 2% - $14.70 7/1/11 - 29¢ - 2% - $14.99 7/1/12 - 30¢ - 2% - $15.29

Top Mechanic 10/1/09 - 3% - 50¢ - $17.22 10/1/10 - 2.5% - 43¢ - $17.65 10/1/11 - 3% - 52¢ - $18.17

TOOL ALLOW.: Increases $60 over life of agreement to $230 UNIF. ALLOW.: Increases $75 over the life of agreement to $350

$30/month based on performance, $200/year if not eligible for monthly bonus

LOCAL 788 - EAST ST. LOUIS, IL

H & W:

If employees do not participate in sickness and accident health plan, they receive a 50¢/hour bonus in addition to regular hourly wage

First Student

HOLIDAYS:

3 total

Local President Edward Fleming, Jr. and International Vice President Javier Perez report settlement.

BEREAVEMENT: 3 days for in-state funeral, 5 days for out of state funeral

TERM:

1 year

MEAL ALLOW: $10.00, additional $5.00 for each 4 hour period in excess of 8 hours

WAGES:

Top Operator 7/1/10 - 2.8% - 42¢ - $15.25

BONUS:

Safety bonus was increased from $200 annually to $120 per semester

15 days per year

LOCAL 519 - LaCrosse, WI

7/1/10 - 6/30/11

PROGRESSION: Reduced to 6 years (was 8)

Summer work now counts toward progression

City of LaCrosse Local President Dale Anderson and International Vice President Janis Borchardt report settlement.

LIFE INSUR:

TERM:

BEREAVEMENT: Added Sister/Brother-in-law

2 years

1/1/2010 - 12/31/11

WAGES: Top Operator

1/1/10 - $21.24

1/1/11 - 1% - 21¢ - $21.45

7/1/11 - 1% - 21¢ - $21.66

Top Mechanic 1/1/10 - $21.59 1/1/11 - 1% - 22¢ - $21.81 7/1/11 - 1% - 22¢ - $22.03

BEREAVEMENT: Added registered domestic partner and registered domestic partner’s parents.

UNIF. ALLOW.: 100% if ordered or approved through city, 90% from other sources

(was 90% across the board)

LOCAL 714 - Portland, ME Regional Transportation Program (Administrative & Mobility Agents) Local President Joseph Gaudette and International Vice President Richard Murphy report settlement.

TERM:

3 years

WAGES:

Top Mobility Agent 5/1/10 - 3% - 58¢ - $19.90 5/1/11 - 3% - 59¢ - $20.49 5/1/12 - 3% - 62¢ - $21.11

5/1/10 - 4/30/13

BEREAVEMENT: 4 days for immediate family (was 3); added brother/sister-in-law (2 days)

LOCAL 717 - Manchester, NH

Increased to $10,000 (was $5,000)

LOCAL 857 - Green Bay, WI City of Green Bay Local President Lawrence Juley and International Vice President Janis Borchardt report settlement.

TERM:

3 years

WAGES:

Top Operator 1/1/09 - 0% - $20.14 6/20/10 - 2% - 40¢ - $20.54 1/2/11 - 2.5% - 51¢ - $21.05

JURY DUTY:

Added paid leave

1/1/09 - 12/31/11

LOCAL 859 - Decatur, IL Decatur Transit Management, Inc. (First Transit) Local President Nanette Ruffin and International Vice President Javier Perez, Jr., report settlement.

TERM:

1 year

WAGES:

Top Operator 5/1/10 - 1.2% - 24¢ - $19.00 (was $18.76)

Paratransit Operator 5/1/10 - 7.4% - 74.7¢ - $10.937 (was $10.19)

Top Mechanic 5/1/10 - 1% - 20.3¢ - $20.395 (was $20.192)

5/1/10 - 4/30/11

Manchester Transit Authority

PROGRESSION: reduced to 5 years (was 7)

Local President John Ballenger and International Vice President Richard Murphy report settlement.

TOOL ALLOW.: $255

TERM:

4 years

7/1/10 - 6/30/14

NOTE:

WAGES:

Top Operator 7/1/10 - 1.5% 1/1/11 - 1.5% 7/1/11 - 1.5% 1/1/12 - 1.5% 1/1/13 - 3% 7/1/13 - 1.5% 1/1/14 - 1.5%

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LOCAL 956 - Allentown, PA

Top Mechanic Top Mechanic Rate = 115% of Top Operator rate

H & W:

Authority will provide short-term disability (13 weeks @ 66 2/3% of pay); Authority will provide flu vaccines to employees or reimburse up to $15.00 for vaccines obtained outside the workplace

26¢ 27¢ 27¢ 27¢ 56¢ 29¢ 29¢

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$17.76 $18.03 $18.30 $18.57 $19.13 $19.42 $19.71

TOOL ALLOW.: $250 (was $200) SHOE ALLOW.: $150 (was $100) NOTE: The contract was ratified by a vote of 46 to 7.

LOCAL 770 - MOBILE, AL Mobile Transit Management, Inc. Local President Antonie Maiben and International Vice President Kenneth Kirk report settlement.

IN TRANSIT

10/1/10 - 2.5% - 39¢ - $15.76 10/1/11 - 3% - 47¢ - $16.23

BONUS:

JURY DUTY:

22

TERM:

3 years

WAGES:

Top Operator 10/1/09 - 5%

10/1/09 - 9/30/12

UNIF. ALLOW.: Maintenance - $150 The contract was ratified by a vote of 34 to 4

Lehigh and Northampton Transit Authority Local President Thomas Bohner, III, and International Vice President Larry Hanley report settlement.

TERM:

3 years

WAGES:

Top Operator 12/15/09 - 2% - 40¢ - $20.49 02/01/11 - 3% - 62¢ - $21.11 01/15/12 - 3% - 63¢ - $21.74

Top Mechanic 12/15/09 - 2% - 42¢ - $21.36 02/01/11 - 3% - 64¢ - $22.00 01/15/12 - 3% - 66¢ - $22.66

BONUS:

COLA:

Attendance bonus; up to $150 per quarter for one or fewer attendance “deviation”. Employees that receive attendance bonus in all four quarters receive and additional $150.

COLA suspended

12/15/09 - 12/14/12

GUARANTEE: Extra board guarantee; increased to $2,000/bi-weekly (was $1,200) TOOL ALLOW.: Increased to $250/per 6 month

- 72¢ - $15.37

www.atu.org

LOCAL 1001 - Englewood, CO

LOCAL 1251 - Battle Creek, MI

Veolia Transportation

LOCAL 1433 - Mesa, AZ Veolia Transportation

City of Battle Creek

Local President Holman Carter and International Vice President Yvette Salazar report settlement.

TERM:

17 months

WAGES:

Top Operator 1/1/11 - 3%

H & W:

Premiums for Insurance plans are deducted from pre-tax earnings

PENSION:

401K - 50% match rate up to 5% total

SICK LEAVE:

may accrue up to 200 hours at rate of 3.33 hours/month

5/18/10 - 12/31/11

Local President Loren Antes and International Vice President Javier Perez report settlement.

TERM:

1 year

10/31/09 - 10/31/10

WAGES:

Top Operator No wages changes

H & W:

Employee contribution per month increased to $65 (was $55)

VACATION:

New vacation schedule available with maximum of 5 weeks

Local President Robert Bean and International Vice President Don Hansen report settlement.

TERM: 2 years WAGES:

1/1/10 - 12/31/11

Top Operator 12/31/09 - 4.8% - 85¢ - $18.36 7/1/10 - 3.8% - 71¢ - $19.07 1/1/11 - 5.5% - $1.05 - $20.12

LOCAL 1603 - Bethlehem, PA LOCAL 1300 - Baltimore, MD

Trans-Bridge Lines, Inc.

MTA

Local President Gary Padgett and International Vice President Larry Hanley report settlement.

TERM: 3 years

3/3/10 - 3/2/13

Capital Area Transit Authority

Local President David McClure and International Vice President Larry Hanley report interest arbitration.

Local President Steve Alcove, Jr. and International Vice President Bob Baker report settlement.

TERM:

4 years

TERM:

5 years

WAGES:

Top Operator $2,000 lump sum payment on signing (full-time) $1,000 lump sum payment on signing (part-time) 11/1/10 - 1.5% - 33¢ - $22.44 5/22/11 - 1.5% - 34¢ - $22.78 11/1/11 - 1.5% - 34¢ - $23.12 5/1/12 - 1.5% - 34¢ - $23.46 11/1/12 - 1.5% - 36¢ - $23.82 5/1/13 - 1.5% - 36¢ - $24.18 11/1/13 - 1.5% - 36¢ - $24.54 5/1/14 - 1.5% - 37¢ - $24.91

WAGES:

Top Operator 1/1/09 - 2.75% 1/1/10 - 2.75% 10/1/10 - 2.75% 7/1/11 - 2.75%

-

62¢ 64¢ 66¢ 67¢

WAGES:

Top Operator 9/1/10 - 2.4% 9/1/11 - 2.6% 3/1/12 - 1.3% 9/1/12 - 1.3%

-

35¢ 40¢ 20¢ 20¢

-

$15.29 $15.69 $15.89 $16.09

Top Mechanic 1/1/09 - 2.75% 1/1/10 - 2.75% 10/1/10 - 2.75% 7/1/11 - 2.75%

-

64.4¢ 67¢ 69¢ 70¢

Top Mechanic 9/1/10 - 2.1% 9/1/11 - 2.3% 3/1/12 - 1.2% 9/1/12 - 1.2%

-

40¢ 45¢ 23¢ 23¢

-

$19.27 $19.72 $19.95 $20.18

H & W:

Dental: maximum benefit increased to $1,500 (was $1,000)

NOTE:

Add option of 4/10 work schedule The contract was ratified by a vote of 110-67

LIFE INSUR.:

Benefit increased to $30,000 (was $27,000)

PENSION:

Benefit formula increased to 1.7% (was 1.6%)

UNIF ALLOW.: $100 at anniversary date

LOCAL 1039 - Lansing, MI

12/1/09 - 11/30/14

7/1/08 - 6/30/12 -

$23.19 (was $22.57) $23.83 $24.49 $25.16 -

$24.23 (was $23.586) $24.90 $25.59 $26.29

TOOL ALLOW.: Increased to $300 (was $270)

LOCAL 1145 - Binghamton, NY

UNIF. ALLOW.: 100% reimbursement up to $300 (was 70%)

Broome County Transit Local President Peter Schiraldi and International Vice President Joseph Welch report settlement.

TERM:

4 years

WAGES:

Top Operator 1/1/10 - 1% 1/1/11 - 2% 1/1/12 - 3% 1/1/13 - 3%

Top Mechanic 1/1/10 - 1% 1/1/11 - 2% 1/1/12 - 3% 1/1/13 - 3%

H & W:

Major medical limits increased to $250,000/year & $1,000,000 lifetime

VACATION:

Employees can carry over 10 ten days of accrued vacation (was 7)

LONGEVITY:

Rates increase $100 in 2012

1/1/10 - 12/31/13

MEAL ALLOW.: Increased to $8.00 (was $7.00)

21¢ 43¢ 65¢ 67¢

-

$21.30 $21.73 $22.38 $23.05

LIFE INSUR.:

Increases to $23,000 in 2011, $24,000 in 2012

PENSION:

401(k) - Effective March 2011 company’s weekly contribution increases 75¢/week, effective March 2012 increases an additional $1.25/week

VACATION:

Effective 2011, drivers eligible for 3 weeks vacation, may use 1 week in single days

TOOL ALLOW.: Increases $25 over life of agreement

LOCAL 1321 - Albany/Troy, NY

SHOE ALLOW.: Drivers may use up to $50 of uniform allowance for work shoes

Capital District Transit System -

PROGRESSION: Rate for part-time drivers increases to 97% after 3 years (was 95%)

Local President Steven Green and International Vice President Joseph Welch report settlement.

LOCAL 1624 - Peterborough, ON

TERM:

4 years

WAGES:

Top Operator 6/16/09 - 2.5% 6/16/10 - 3.0% 6/16/11 - 3.0% 6/16/12 - 3.5%

-

48¢ 59¢ 61¢ 74¢

-

$19.80 $20.39 $21.00 $21.74

Top Mechanic 6/16/09 - 2.5% 6/16/10 - 3.0% 6/16/11 - 3.0% 6/16/12 - 3.5%

-

49¢ 61¢ 62¢ 75¢

-

$20.19 $20.80 $21.42 $22.17

NIGHT SHIFT DIFFERENTIAL: 50¢/hour (was 40¢)

LIFE INSUR.:

Increases $2,500 over life of agreement to $33,000

LOCAL 1624 - Peterborough, ON

TOOL ALLOW.: $550 (was $500)

HOLIDAYS:

Added President’s Day

Trentway-Wager

NOTE: The contract was ratified by a vote of 53 to 11

BEREAVEMENT: 4 paid days (was 3)

-

22¢ 44¢ 68¢ 70¢

-

$22.10 $22.54 $23.22 $23.92

6/16/09 - 6/15/13

TOOL ALLOW.: Increases to $330 over life of agreement for Master Technicians

LOCAL 1179 - New York, NY MTA Bus Company Local President John Longo and International Vice President Joe Welch report settlement.

TERM: 3.5 years

1/1/06 - 5/21/09

WAGES:

Top Operator 1/1/06 - 3% 1/1/07 - 4% 1/1/08 - 3.5% 5/21/09 - $26.92

Top Mechanic 1/1/06 - 3% 1/1/07 - 4% 1/1/08 - 3.5% 5/21/09 - $28.645

SICK LEAVE:

Unused sick days paid out at end of sick leave year, new hires get 2 paid sick days in first year

NOTE:

New Bi-weekly payroll system. The contract was ratified by a vote of 408 to 26.

www.atu.org

UNIF. ALLOW.: Increases to $345 over life of agreement NOTE: Children of employees may purchase an annual pass for $30

LOCAL 1433 - Phoenix, AZ Veolia Arizona Joint Venture Local President Robert Bean and International Vice President Don Hansen report settlement.

TERM:

4 years 7/1/09 - 6/30/13

WAGES:

Top Operator 7/1/09 - 3% 7/1/10 - 3% 7/1/11 - 3% 7/1/12 - 3%

H & W:

Company’s contribution to monthly health insurance premium increases approximately 8% each year of agreement

HOLIDAYS:

Added (1) paid floating holiday per year after probation, after 5 years of service (2) paid floating holidays per year

Trentway-Wager Local President Michael Fleming and then-International Vice President Randy Graham report settlement.

TERM:

2.8 years

WAGES:

Top Mechanic 5/1/10 - 1.5% - 43¢ - $29.37 2/1/11 - 2.0% - 59¢ - $29.96 2/1/12 - 2.5% - 75¢ - $30.71

3/9/10 - 1/31/13

BEREAVEMENT: Added brother/sister-in-law

Local President Michael Fleming and then-International Vice President Randy Graham report settlement.

TERM:

2.75 years

WAGES:

Top Operator - Class “D” Drivers 5/1/10 - 2.1% - 25¢ - $12.15 1/1/11 - 2.8% - 35¢ - $15.50 1/1/12 - 2.0% - 25¢ - $12.75

3/9/10 - 12/31/12

BEREAVEMENT: Added brother/sister-in-law

LOCAL 1624 - Peterborough, ON Trentway-Wager

-

50¢ 52¢ 53¢ 55¢

-

$17.21 $17.73 $18.26 $18.81

Local President Michael Fleming and then-International Vice President Randy Graham report settlement.

TERM:

2.75 years

WAGES:

Top Mechanic - Highway Coach Drivers 5/1/10 - 1.5% - $.0061 - $.4097 1/1/11 - 2.0% - $.0082 - $.4179 1/1/12 - 2.5% - $.0104 - $.4283

3/9/10 - 12/31/12

BEREAVEMENT: Added brother/sister-in-law

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2010

23

LOCAL 1704 - San Bernardino, CA

LOCAL 1724 - Vancouver, BC

LOCAL 1760 - Ottawa, ON

First Transit (Paratransit Unit)

MVT Canadian Bus

City of Ottawa - OC Transpo Administrative Unit

Local President Dale Moore and International Vice President Bill McLean report settlement.

Local President Timothy Johnston and International Vice President Bob Hykaway report 1st agreement.

Local President Wayne Crabtree and then-International Vice President Randy Graham report settlement.

TERM:

TERM:

3 years

WAGES:

All Administrative Employees 1/1/09 - 2.5% 1/1/10 - 2.5% 1/1/11 - 2.75%

VACATION:

Years of service requirements reduced by 1 to 2 years, depending on step

TERM:

5 years

7/1/09 - 6/30/14

WAGES:

Top Operator 4/1/10 - 2.0% 4/1/11 - 3.5% 4/1/12 - 4.0% 4/1/13 - 4.0% 4/1/14 - 4.0%

-

Top Mechanic 4/1/10 - 2.0% 4/1/11 - 3.5% 4/1/12 - 4.0% 4/1/13 - 4.0% 4/1/14 - 4.0%

-

30¢ 53¢ 62¢ 65¢ 68¢ 43¢ 76¢ 90¢ 93¢ 97¢

-

$15.05 $15.58 $16.20 $16.85 $17.53 $21.68 $22.44 $23.34 $24.27 $25.24

Top Operator 1/1/10 1/1/11 - 75¢ - 3.5% 1/1/12 - $1.10 - 5.0% 1/1/13 - $1.15 - 5.0% -

Top Mechanic 1/1/10 1/1/11 - 89¢ - 3.0% 1/1/12 - $1.67 - 5.5% 1/1/13 - $1.66 - 5.0% -

Municipal Pension Plan or Registered Savings Plan (RRSP) Employer match up to 7% for RRSP After 1 year of service - 3 weeks Maximum is 7 weeks

BONUS:

$300 signing bonus for current employees

H & W:

Currently, employee pays 25% of premium 2011 - employee pays 20% 2012 - employee pays 15%

VACATION:

HOLIDAYS:

Add 1 floating holiday 6 days/year by 2013 (was 3 days)

$21.30 $22.05 $23.15 $24.30 $29.50 $30.39 $32.06 $33.66

HOLIDAYS:

11 paid holidays

SICK LEAVE:

90 hours with a maximum accumulation of 225 hours

The contract was ratified by a vote of 87 to 24

SUBCONTRACTING:

JURY DUTY:

LOCAL 1709 - Dorchester, MA Kit Clark Senior Services Local President Gerard Wyse and International Vice President Richard Murphy report settlement.

TERM:

1 year

WAGES:

Top Operator 7/1/10 - 32¢ - 2% - $16.45

BONUS:

Effective 7/8/10 - 1% bonus based on non-overtime earnings from 7/1/09-6/30/10

PENSION:

Employees with 2-4 years of service - employer contribution increased to $520 annually. For those with 5 years or more, contribution increased to $1,040

NOTE:

The contract was unanimously ratified by a vote of 16 to 0.

7/1/10 - 6/30/11

1/1/09 - 12/31/11

BEREAVEMENT: 5 paid days for immediate family (was 4) MEAL ALLOW.: Increased to $9 on 1/1/10 (was $8)

LOCAL 1764 - Washington, DC

BEREAVEMENT: 4 paid days with 1 additional paid travel day

GUARANTEE: 7 hour/day

35 hours/week NOTE:

1/13/10 - 12/31/13

WAGES:

PENSION:

SICK LEAVE:

4 years

Employer will not contract out bargaining union work except for overflow or emergencies

6 months without loss of pay or benefits

LOCAL 1743 - Donora, PA First Transit Local President Diane Stambaugh and International Vice President Gary Rauen report settlement.

TERM:

3 years 7/1/10 - 7/1/13

WAGES:

Top Operator 7/1/10 - 50¢ - 4% - $13.00 7/1/11 - 39¢ - 3% - $13.39 7/1/12 - 40¢ - 3% - $13.79

W & T Travel Services Local President Wayne Baker and International Vice President Bob Baker report settlement.

TERM:

WAGES:

Top Operator 5/17/10 - 1.7% 8/1/10 - 3.5% 8/1/11 - 3.5% 8/1/12 - 3.5%

H & W:

Comprehensive Benefits Package

PENSION:

Employer 401k or ATU 401k

VACATION:

4 years of service - 2 weeks 5 years to 14 years of service - 4 weeks 15+ years of service - 5 weeks

HOLIDAYS:

10 holidays

3 years

5/17/10 - 5/16/13 -

28¢ 59¢ 61¢ 64¢

-

$16.91 (was $16.63) $17.50 $18.11 $18.75

BEREAVEMENT: 5 days paid funeral lea

Top Mechanic 7/1/10 - 64¢ - 4% - $16.74 7/1/11 - 50¢ - 3% - $17.24 7/1/12 - 52¢ - 3% - $17.76

H & W: Employer pays 70% of premium for employees hired after 7/1/2010

Action Speaks Louder continued from page 3 Acciones continued from page 4

THE VERY DEFINITION OF ADVERSARIAL In a letter to Veolia’s CEO Mark Joseph I wrote... “It is a great disappointment for me to learn that Veolia has, at considerable expense, recruited hundreds of strikebreakers from across the country in order to intimidate its employees in Phoenix, AZ, in the course of negotiations.

“None of the three unions representing workers there have been pressing for a strike; all have been willing to pursue negotiations as long as it takes to reach an acceptable agreement. Veolia’s actions in Phoenix have created negative relations with its unions, ignored common ground, eroded trust, and constitute the very definition of adversarial negotiations.

“I would urge you to renounce this course by returning these replacement workers to their homes and choosing a new path in negotiations more reflective of Veolia’s stated labor relations policy.”

To date I have received no reply.

LA PROPIA DEFINICIÓN DE CONFRONTACIÓN En una carta al Ejecutivo en Jefe de Veolia, Mark Joseph yo le escribí…..”Es una gran desilusión para mí el saber que Veolia, invirtiendo gastos considerables, ha reclutado a cientos de rompehuelgas por todo el país a fin de intimidar a sus empleados en Phoenix durante el curso de las negociaciones.

Ninguna de las tres uniones representando a los trabajadores en esa localidad han estado presionando a favor de una huelga; todos han estado dispuestos a continuar las negociaciones por cuanto tiempo sea necesario para llegar a un acuerdo aceptable. Las acciones de Veolia en Phoenix han creado unas relaciones negativas con la unión, han ignorado los intereses comunes, han socavado la confianza, todo lo cual constituye la propia definición de negociaciones de confrontación.

Yo le urjo a usted a que abandone este curso, retornando esos trabajadores sustitutos a sus respectivos hogares y seleccionado un nuevo curso en las negociaciones que refleje mejor la declarada política de Veolia sobre las relaciones laborales.”

Hasta la fecha no he recibido respuesta alguna. ¿Eso les sorprende?

Surprised?

24

IN TRANSIT

www.atu.org

Arbitration Decision ATU Local 1365 and Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority (GDRTA)

Insubordination is Hard to Grieve ISSUE: Did GDRTA have just cause to terminate the employment of Grievant for insubordination when Grievant refused an order contravening Transit Authority policy?

SUMMARY: GDRTA Project Mobility informs consumers that it provides “doorto-door service” transporting customers who have been so certified, but notes that “Project Mobility operators are not able to assist customers inside their pick-up and drop-off points. Operators are not permitted to enter a private residence.”

Project Mobility regularly provided service to residents of the Maria Joseph Living Center. The Living Center’s lobby was slightly higher than the entranceway, and Maria Joseph staff were expected to transport residents down the elevator to the entranceway where they could be picked up by GDRTA Project Mobility staff. On many occasions, however, Maria Joseph staff failed to perform this duty in a timely manner and it fell on the paratransit operator to come up to the lobby and retrieve the client.

Grievant, a five-year paratransit operator with Project Mobility, after transporting a client in this way, concluded that the elevator was too small for this use. She also indicated that the stated policy of GDRTA project mobility forbade entry to such a building, and thereafter refused to enter the lobby to pick up clients.

When GDRTA supervisors received complaints from Maria Joseph staff about this, they told the Grievant that the past practice was to enter the lobby and transport the client to the vehicle, and instructed her to do this. Grievant, a union steward, filed a grievance over the directive.

On March 27, 2009, Grievant arrived at Maria Joseph to pick up a client and encountered two waiting supervisors. The client was in the lobby, and the supervisors instructed her to enter the Living Center lobby and transport the client to the vehicle. The Grievant refused, citing the policy statement above.

Grievant was then terminated for insubordination.

GDRTA management contended that “the Grievant was guilty of gross insubordination and was terminated for cause.” The authority personnel manual contains two types of citations that may be issued to employees. Group one citations deal with failures to apply professional standards, and are addressed using progressive discipline. Group two citations, which include insubordination, may result in reprimands, suspensions or discharge even on the first occurrence.

The union contended that the Grievant’s fault was mitigated by two factors.

First, the union argued that “‘just cause’ includes, among other things, the notion that similarly situated employees will be treated in similar ways, and that the Employer will not engage in disparate treatment.” However, although the union could document other cases of insubordination at GDRTA, “no employee has been discharged for a first offense of insubordination in the past 30 years.”

Secondly, “the Grievant acted reasonably in the face of conflicting directives.”

GDRTA training and customer policy manuals both indicate that paratransit drivers are not to enter private buildings, and that service is provided door-todoor only.

HOLDING: The arbitrator concluded that “the evidence indicates a mixed and contradictory practice and conflicting instructions given by supervision regarding the operators’ obligations to enter the premises and provide assistance. The Authority’s reliance on an unwritten practice of providing assistance inside of the Maria Joseph Center is an invitation to confusion and misunderstanding.”

However, this fact in no way justified disobeying a direct order from a supervisor: She was not confused about what management’s directives were at the time of her refusal. She had already filed a grievance over the disagreement, which was exactly half of what she should have done. The other half was to obey the order, pending the resolution of the grievance.

The arbitrator held that the Grievant was terminated for just cause.

The Amalgamated Transit Union will hold the 25th Annual Golf Tournament for the benefit of the ATU’s U.S. and Canadian Multiple Sclerosis Research Funds from Sunday, October 24th – Monday, October 25th, at the Worthington Manor Golf Club in Urbana, MD. Sunday will be reserved for a practice round, and the actual tournament will be held on Monday.

For more information, please contact Ynez Wells at (202) 537-1645 or by email at ywells@atu.org.

www.atu.org

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2010

25

AP Photo/Jeff Gentner

Expression of Gratitude from an ATU Brother Affected by the Tennessee Floods Brothers and Sisters: My name is Richard Kowalski, operator 307, and I am a member of ATU Local 1235-Nashville, TN. I live in Hermitage, TN, and my home was affected in the recent flood. I want to thank each and everyone for the generous gift I received from our Disaster Relief Fund. It couldn’t have come at a better time as we’ve had a lot of expenses arise. We are completely torn down and waiting on a FEMA loan to rebuild. Thank you all, again.

Richard Kowalski Proud Member of ATU

Proud to Be ATU The ATU has received these expressions of gratitude for the funds donated

by ATU members to the victims of the earthquake in Haiti, and the flood in Nashville, TN.

Thank You for Support of Partners in Health’s Earthquake Relief Efforts in Haiti On behalf of Partners In Health and the people of Haiti, I thank you so very much for your gift of $40,000, on 5/20/2010.

On January 12, 2010, a major earthquake – the worst that the country has experienced in over 200 years – struck the capital of Haiti, crumbling the city of Port-au-Prince and causing massive destruction. Partners In Health is not a disaster relief organization, but with over 20 years of experience in Haiti – and having survived natural disasters that have so tragically plagued the country in its history, including most recently the successive hurricanes that displaced over one million last year, we were able to respond quickly and effectively.

Less than 48 hours after the earthquake, a team of PIH medical and engineering staff arrived at the shattered general hospital in Port-au-Prince – l’Hopital de l’Université d’Etat d’Haiti (HUEH) – to assess the situation and start providing immediate clinical and infrastructure assistance.

26

IN TRANSIT

We know all too well the incredible amount of resources and effort it will take to rebuild following a disaster, and the recent earthquake is a truly unprecedented catastrophe in Haiti’s history. With nearly one-third of the country’s population affected, the long-term ramifications are going to be significant and far-reaching.

It is your belief in our work that enables us not only to provide world-class medical services, but also to tackle the root causes of poverty by providing access to food, clean water, education, housing, and jobs for thousands of people in need in the wake of this disaster…

We are very grateful for the loyal partnership of individuals like you, without whom none of this critical work would be possible. Again, our deepest thanks for your generosity.

Sincerely,

Suzanne J. Battit, Director of Development Partners in Health

www.atu.org

In Memoriam Death Benefits Awarded July 1, 2010 - August 31, 2010 1- MEMBERS AT LARGE DONALD E ABLEITER MARSHALL MILTON BERRY CECIL JAY BORT RICHARD J MERRICK FRED W SHIELDS RALPH WALDO WARBIS JR 22- WORCESTER, MA RICHARD H RAWSON 26- DETROIT, MI PAUL A GRANBERRY SR ISRAEL N HARMON EDWARD HICKS WILLIE C LEWIS ELRECO ORTIZ EDDIE DOUGLAS ROGERS BURRELL E THOMAS FORREST C WAGNER

308- CHICAGO, IL VITO A CONSTANTINI RAYMOND EICHELBERG JOHN L LOVE WILLIAM E PAYNE DONALD WILBORN

713- MEMPHIS, TN T J CONNER

425- HARTFORD, CT AUGUSTINE J ALLEVO DIANE DUFOUR ROBERT J HAYES

726- STATEN ISLAND, NY ANGEL FIGUEORA JOSEPH T QUATTROCHI LOUIS P SEVERINO

448- SPRINGFIELD, MA ROLAND COTE

732- ATLANTA, GA EDGAR L ALLEN JOHN W BROWN RALPH BURTS

1277- LOS ANGELES, CA PATRICK V GRAVES GEORGE M PORTIER BEN H RUMSEY

757- PORTLAND, OR JACK M CALLAHAN FRANK L FARRELL DELMER GUIMONT KENNETH R OLDS JOHN SHEFFIELD

1287- KANSAS CITY, MO ROBERT C CRAIN

519- LA CROSSE, WI JOHN J SCHOLZ 540- TRENTON, NJ FRED CRONCE

717- MANCHESTER, NH DELIA E BURNS DONALD DESHAIES

85- PITTSBURGH, PA ALBERT P DELFAVER JAMES HUMENNY CHARLES R MIKLOS JOSEPH SEPE THOMAS E SHANAHAN JOSEPH M ZOMBEK

569- EDMONTON, AB MICHAEL P ENGELS WILFRED MUNDT CHARLES RAY 580- SYRACUSE, NY HAROLD J PARKIS

819- NEWARK, NJ EUGENE BUDSOCK EGBERT H REID WILBUR W WANOGAITIS

113- TORONTO, ON ARTHUR LESLIE BAILEY KENNETH DENVER BAILEY ROBERT BOULTER JOHN CRAWFORD CARMELO DIROSA RONALD CLIVE EDWARDS MOHAN GOSINE GEORGE HALL THOMAS LA CHAPELLE JOHN A MAC KIGGAN ALBERT R OVENDEN MAURICE H QUIGLEY HERBERT SCHNALL RAYMOND SINOTTE

583- CALGARY, AB RONALD A LAYNE

820- UNION CITY, NJ JOSEPH SCANLON

587- SEATTLE, WA DENNIS R WARD

823- ELIZABETH, NJ DARREN WALKER

588- REGINA, SK ADAM STOBER

824- NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ BRENDA AIELLO

589- BOSTON, MA MARTIN COSTELLO ROBERT F GOULD COLEMAN F GREENE CLEMENT R KERN JAMES J MC ISAAC STEPHEN H O’MEARA PEDRO L ORTEGA KARL R SANDMANN MICHAEL N TURNER WILLIAM A WARD FRANKLIN R WILKINS ANTONIO ZARRO

842- WILMINGTON, DE JAMES K CARTER

192- OAKLAND, CA CHARLES H POLK 241- CHICAGO, IL OVELTON W BLANCHARD CAROLYN I NABORS PATRICIA PLUMMER JAMES SPRAAGS 256- SACRAMENTO, CA LOLA J BAKER CHARLES A ENGLISH 265- SAN JOSE, CA MILTON E ECKLES JON L PARKER JR 268- CLEVELAND, OH ELMER J BRANSTEIN LOVELL CROSS STANLEY P RACUT 279- OTTAWA, ON REJEAN NAULT FERNAND POIRIER OSCAR RICHER 281- NEW HAVEN, CT JAMES KAMNITZER 282- ROCHESTER, NY RICHARD PRENTICE

www.atu.org

591- HULL, PQ JEAN P CHARBONNEAU 627- CINCINNATI, OH LARRY GARRIS 628- COVINGTON, KY STANLEY ADAMS 682- FORT WAYNE, IN MARION DWIGHT SMITH 689- WASHINGTON, DC FRANCINE DAVIS DOROTHEA M FRANZ PAUL WILLIAM JENKINS EUGENE E JOSEPH ALFRED MC FADDEN GARFIELD R SUTTON 694- SAN ANTONIO, TX JAMES R BROWN LOIS M HARDEMAN 704- LITTLE ROCK, AR RENITA A BERKLEY

846- ST. CATHARINES, ON LAWRENCE E NORTON 956- ALLENTOWN, PA LOUIS OSORIO JR 998- MILWAUKEE, WI JOSEPH J GRASSBERGER JAMES W PARBS 1001- DENVER, CO BILLY J MEKAN ELMER J PFERTSH HAROLD E SWAN 1005- MINNEAPOLIS & ST. PAUL, MN BERNARD M BRYAN GARY M WEIR

ROOSEVELT SAINTE MARY SOTTILE ANGIE TUMMINIA EDWARD R VATOVEC CAROLYN L WENZ 1225- SAN FRANCISCO, CA WILLIAM E ALLGAIER JOHN E LEWIS 1267- FT.LAUDERDALE, FL STEPHEN Y MITCHUM

1300- BALTIMORE, MD EDWARD A MOSLEY 1309- SAN DIEGO, CA RODERICK A LAGRIMAS CONSTANCE PILLOW 1320- PETERBOROUGH, ON ROBERT J DAYNES 1333- ROCKFORD, IL ADOLPH M CONGLETON 1338- DALLAS, TX HENRY D STRANGE 1342- BUFFALO, NY ROGER T BLOCK CONNIE BRANT JOSEPH MARCHITTE LOUIS OLIVIERI JR GERALD E REID ZEBEDEE TURK SALVATORE L VALVO 1415- TORONTO, ON JEAN-CLAUDE LANTHIER 1436- HARRISBURG, PA RONALD W HANKINS 1447- LOUISVILLE, KY RAYMOND E KOTARSKI VIVIAN L MALONE 1462- ST. JOHN’S, NF BERT KING

1056- FLUSHING, NY ANTHONY GODSELL

1505- WINNIPEG, MB JOHN A COATES PAUL KRYMINSKI WILLIAM P RATTRAY

1177- NORFOLK, VA RONALD J BRIGGS RUPERT HORTON EARLY EVON W KING-CLAY

1555- OAKLAND, CA SHERRY L CLARK

1181- NEW YORK, NY EUGENE BERLINGERI FRANK CARRIERI MICHAEL J CASCIOLI ANNE COLUCCI JOSE L CRUZ JOSEPH P DRITTO PEDRO MONTANTEZ CASSANDRA MOSS ROY C PERRY

1572- MISSISSAUGA, ON ART DAVIES 1596- ORLANDO, FL WILLIE J ANDERSON 1700- CHICAGO, IL HENRY R DEATER SILAS STAUFFER EVANS GARY MAURER PAUL RAGLAND

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2010

27

Amalgamated Transit Union

AFL-CIO/CLC 5025 Wisconsin Ave., NW Washington, D.C. 20016 www.atu.org

PRINTED IN U.S.A.

NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID WASHINGTON, D.C. PERMIT NO. 2656

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