In Transit - September/October 2013 by Amalgamated Transit Union

2 0 1 3

S E P T/ O C T

www.atu.org

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

INTERNATIONAL OFFICERS LAWRENCE J. HANLEY International President JAVIER M. PEREZ, JR. International Executive Vice President OSCAR OWENS

International Secretary-Treasurer

INTERNATIONAL VICE PRESIDENTS LARRY R. KINNEAR

Ashburn, ON – lkinnear@atu.org

RICHARD M. MURPHY

Newburyport, MA – rmurphy@atu.org

BOB M. HYKAWAY

Calgary, AB – bhykaway@atu.org

WILLIAM G. McLEAN

Reno, NV – wmclean@atu.org

JANIS M. BORCHARDT

NEWSBRIEFS Local 1056 President on way to NYC Council - Local President Daneek Miller, 1056-Flushing, NY, won a hotly contested primary for the Queens City New York City Council seat. Miller beat out five other candidates and with no Republican challenger he will assume office next year. Miller said he had not considered running for office until being asked to by the current holder of that seat. “I never had any thoughts of entering politics. I love my job. I love the ATU,” said Miller. “The people wanted a voice at the table. We now have that voice.”

Madison, WI – jborchardt@atu.org

PAUL BOWEN

Canton, MI – pbowen@atu.org

KENNETH R. KIRK

Lancaster, TX – kkirk@atu.org

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

Detroit bus drivers rally for better safety - Detroit bus drivers recently held a rally in downtown Detroit demanding the city make buses safer after eight drivers were attacked by riders and hospitalized over the past nine months. Local President Fred Westbrook, 26-Detroit, MI, said the rally was to educate riders and let them know drivers are just as frustrated about crowded and late buses, and the lack of police protection. The protestors called on Detroit Emergency Manager Kevyn Orr to take steps to improve safety before a tragic incident occurs.

GARY JOHNSON, SR.

Cleveland, OH – gjohnson@atu.org

ROBIN WEST

Halifax, NS – rwest@atu.org

JOHN COSTA

Kenilworth, NJ – jcosta@atu.org

CHUCK WATSON

Syracuse, NY – cwatson@atu.org

CLAUDIA HUDSON

Oakland, CA – chudson@atu.org

BRUCE HAMILTON

New York, NY – bhamilton@atu.org

MICHELE SOMMERS

Brooklyn Park, MN – msommers@atu.org

ATU NJ pushes for stiffer jitney regulation after death of 8-month old - The tragic death of an 8-month old in a jitney bus accident prompted NJ state senators to introduce legislation to increase oversight and regulation of commuter vans. ATU’s New Jersey Council, which has been fighting for a long time to expose unsafe jitneys, has joined with the state lawmakers to push for stricter regulations for drivers and more oversight of this industry. NJ members have launched a campaign to educate riders about why these commuter buses are a serious safety hazard and urge them to call their state legislator to support this bill.

INTERNATIONAL REPRESENTATIVES ANTHONY WITHINGTON

Sebastopol, CA – awithington@atu.org

INTERNATIONAL OFFICERS EMERITUS

DENNIS ANTONELLIS

International President Jim La Sala, ret. International President Warren George, ret.

STEPHAN MACDOUGALL

International Executive Vice President Ellis Franklin, ret. International Executive Vice President Mike Siano, ret.

Spokane, WA – dantonellis@atu.org Boston, MA – smacdougall@atu.org

ANTHONY GARLAND

Washington, DC – agarland@atu.org

CANADIAN DIRECTOR MICHAEL MAHAR

Rexdale, ON - director@atucanada.ca

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: Paul A. Fitzgerald.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. PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 40033361.RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO:APC Postal Logistics, LLC, PO Box 503, RPO, West Beaver Creek, Richmond Hill ON L4B 4R6.

LARRY HANLEY, INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT

An Historic Convention

his edition of In Transit covers the magnificent work of the recent ATU Convention.

It was a wonderful convention—a week-long union meeting of delegates from most of our Local Unions. We changed not only the way we worked at the convention but the ability of the whole union to function in the coming years. All in all it was a historic week for the ATU. The work now expands in our Local Unions. We will be rolling out trainings in your area in the coming months designed to strengthen the union at every level. We have a stated goal of training you, the members of our union. So much is changing so quickly in our world and the fight to preserve our wages and benefits is the fight for basic fairness in the economy. That fight can’t be won by a small group of union officers. In the coming months we will be breaking new ground. We need you the members to step up and prepare yourself for leadership.

improve in our fights against our real opponents. I see this in some Local Unions where officers think their job is to fight other officers, instead of the boss.

Pulling members together The new training and the restructuring of our union is intended to refocus us all on the best way forward, the arenas we should be fighting in and how to pull our members together for the coming rough times. In explaining the power of leverage an early mathematician named Archimedes said, “Give me a place to stand, and I will move the world.” Whether you are an officer or member, if you see the need to stand up and fight for medical care, social insurance, a decent retirement and the ability to raise our kids and give them a start---the ATU is the place for you. It provides us all a place to take a stand for our coworkers and our families.

Leadership is a Quality of Spirit Leadership is not a title, it is a quality of spirit. It is the willingness to stand among our members and help them find the way forward. It’s the decision to make decisions and not only stick to them, but to explain to those around us the value of moving in a unified direction. It requires courage in risking criticism from our colleagues, and sometimes added scrutiny by bosses who want to destroy the union. One constant problem in Democratic Unions—and we are one—is keeping people focused. Sometimes people, even leaders go adrift. They focus more on how we can best each other instead of how we can work together to IN TRANSIT

| September/October 2013

JAVIER PEREZ, JR., INTERNATIONAL EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT

An Opportunity for All of Us

e had a great convention. I am thankful to my wife Lee Ann, and of course our children, Tim, Peter, Bonnie and our grandchildren, Oliver, Montgomery and Langston. They put up with the demands of the job and absences at times when they would have rather had me home. I always pay tribute to my Mother, who immigrated to this county at the age of 16, from Ecuador. Her love instilled in my sister and myself a respect for work and a desire to achieve. My earliest memory of Union activity comes from around the time I was in 5th or 6th grade. My mom, a garment worker was a member of the International Garment Workers Union. I recall lying on our living room floor doing homework, when she gave me two identical sheets of lined paper with numbers along the top. She told me she was going to explain what happened at work and I was to put it in writing. Unknowingly, I had just written my first grievance. The membership of Local 1287 elected me to serve as its President in 1987. Over the next eight years I had the opportunity to work with many other Local officers attending many educational conferences held by our International. It was during this time that I decided to complete my college degree and focus on Labor Studies. I did so at the George Meany Center for Labor Studies through its affiliation with Antioch University. I was first elected an International Vice President on September 22, 1995 at 2:20 PM at the Las. Vegas convention. International Executive Vice President Michael Siano had worked with our local and recommended that I be considered for the position of International Vice President to International President James La Sala. I have been told that President La Sala’s first reaction was to say, “Are you sure?” To which Siano replied “no doubt about it”. Under International President

September/October 2013 | IN TRANSIT

Warren George I was privileged to attend the Harvard Trade Union Program. I thank these gentlemen for the faith they had in me. “Faith is the evidence of things unseen”.

Thank You I thank all ATU Locals that I have had the privilege of assisting as well as each International Vice President, International Representative and organizer active, retired and those no longer with us. They have provided me mentoring, and a sounding board. I am mindful that my election will be noted as a milestone in our ATU history, being the first Hispanic and person of color elected to the position. Race, gender and culture is part of the history of who we are. No one works in a vacuum; all need help along the way. Foremost we must remember that it takes an amalgamation of all to move our great Union forward and that, we, the Amalgamated Transit Union are One.

Our Time Is Now At each convention I close my acceptance speech saying that, I, an ordinary man, thank each of you for this extraordinary opportunity. The opportunity today is not mine alone; it is an opportunity for all to grasp the responsibility to act and in so doing we will accomplish extraordinary things in our time. Are you up to the challenge? I have faith in ATU.

OSCAR OWENS, INTERNATIONAL SECRETARY-TREASURER

RESTRUCTURING WILL LEAD TO NEW STRENGTH, SOLIDARITY

always feel refreshed and renewed after a Convention. The staff puts in an incredible amount of work, and the results are always gratifying. I think most of the delegates feel that way too. And, while most members can’t attend the Convention, I’ve got to believe that the energy generated there spreads throughout the entire Union for the benefit of all. The delegates worked harder at this Convention than at any I’ve attended. For the first time, they participated in training workshops, while realistically tackling the difficult problems facing ATU and all unions, head on.

Restructuring The restructuring plan they adopted is the most forward-looking action ever passed at a Convention. The delegates demonstrated that ATU still possesses the flexibility and resolve that has been one of the hallmarks of its success from the very beginning. The newly approved joint industrial councils will allow locals representing members working for the same contractor at different locations to pool their resources in dealing with today’s large, multinational transit employers (Veolia/Transdev, First Student, etc). And the reconstituted joint service councils will pull together the combined clout locals need to be politically successful in particular areas of their countries. This really isn’t new. National Local 1700, (and the Greyhound Council before that) already operates like a joint industrial council for our Greyhound members. And the New Jersey Council has performed very successfully as a joint service council for years.

Rather, we are using council models to engender more solidarity and support for our local unions. Our goal is to get to the point where these industrial councils are negotiating national contracts from a position of strength greater than any local can muster alone against a multinational corporation. Each of these councils will also be able to do a lot of things many local officers just don’t have the time to do. Coalition building and political organizing have become essential parts of a local officer’s job, but it’s not easy to add those activities to an already crowded schedule. These councils will be able to conduct active, ongoing local, and industry-wide campaigns that are currently very difficult for local unions and the International to do. The result will be a much more proactive and vibrant union that is capable of advocating on behalf of its members and responding to challenges much more quickly and effectively than it can now. This is truly an exciting moment, and I’m really looking forward to seeing all of the good things that are going to happen once these councils are up and running.

Proud to be ATU For as long as I can remember, our Union has always used “Proud to be ATU” as one of its “mottos.” We say it so often, it can easily become a cliché that doesn’t mean much. But, today, especially, it’s no cliché. It’s a real expression of what so many of us feel as we look forward with confidence to all that we will accomplish with the new tools provided by the 57th Convention.

Strength, Solidarity So, you can see we’re not re-inventing the wheel here. IN TRANSIT

| September/October 2013

S E P T/O C T

www.atu.org

2 International Officers & General Executive Board NEWS Briefs 3 International President’s Message: An Historic Convention

2013 Vol. 122, No. 5

DELEGATES RE-ELECT IP HANLEY, IST OWENS, ELECT PEREZ IEVP

4 International Executive Vice President’s Message: An Opportunity for All of Us 5 International Secretary-Treasurer’s Message: New Councils Will Lead to New Strength, Solidarity 6 Index Page 7 Legislative Report: If You Can’t Beat Them... 8 US Labor Changing Tactics in Response to Unprecedented Attack 17 DOL Rules California Pension Law Conflicts with Transit Workers’ Bargaining Rights

ATU, COALITIONS PASS FAR-REACHING MASSACHUSETTS TRANSIT FUNDING BILL

Judge Orders NYC School Bus Companies to Restore Wages, Return to Bargaining Table 19 ATU Mourns loss of Ottawa member in tragic crash Circuit Court Tosses Out Indiana RTW Law 2 0 The Amalgamated Transit Union 2013-2014 Scholarship Competition in Memory of Ray Wallace 21 Committees of the 57th Convention

VANCOUVER DRIVER SUSTAINS INJURY IN CRASH, GUIDES PASSENGERS TO SAFETY

25 Local 618 Celebrate’s 100th Anniversary 26 Tensions Rise in Contract Talks 27 Translations (Spanish) 30 In Memoriam 32 Transitweb

September/October 2013 | IN TRANSIT

COMMUTERS SHOULD NOT BE PENALIZED FOR CHOOSING PUBLIC TRANSIT

L E G I S L AT I V E R E P O R T

If You Can’t Beat Them... I

t’s been a rough stretch over the past few years for working people. The economy has been slow to bounce back, and our jobs are continuously at risk. Governors, state legislators, city council members, and other elected officials from both major parties have not been shy about attacking our pensions, as if public employees are the reason that cities are still years from getting back in the black. Why are we feeling the heat, even from Democrats? After all, they have traditionally been more aligned with organized labor. Maybe it’s because many public officials, even the socalled Liberals, don’t come from working families. In fact, a recent study showed that the overwhelming number of Congressional Members, Democrats and Republicans, are extraordinarily wealthy. Labor leaders have begun to fight back with the philosophy of “if you can’t beat them, join them.” During the past decade, dozens of union members nationwide have successfully run for public office at varying levels, and ATU members are among them.

ATU Leaders in Government Just last month, I. Daneek Miller, President/Business Agent of ATU Local 1056 in Queens was elected to the New York City Council. Organized Labor put Miller over the top in the six way primary. Union-supported political action committees spent more than $138,000 campaigning for Miller, who said he never had any thoughts of entering politics. “I love my job. I love the ATU,” he said at his victory party. “This is because of the hard work by everyone in this room. The people wanted a voice at the table. We now have that voice.”

Ray Greaves, who has been head of the ATU New Jersey State Council since 2010, was elected to the Bayonne City Council in the same year. Prior to that, he was a Democratic committee member for 11 years. “George Meany once said that ‘Labor must be committed to working within the American political and economic systems to achieve the social and economic justice promised by the Constitution,’” said Greaves. “I can’t think of anytime more important than now for us to engage those systems; not only from the outside but from within, if we want a better future for labor unions.” Who would you rather have leading your State House’s Transportation Committee: some corporate lawyer or a former bus driver? In Washington State, Representative Luis Moscoso, who serves as Vice Chair of the Transportation Committee in the House of Representatives, paid for his education in part by driving a city bus. He spent 20 years behind the wheel at Community Transit in Everett, and served as shop steward and founding member of ATU Local 1576. When it comes to understanding our issues on safety, security, and the importance of funding transit, Moscoso gets it because he lived it. Victor Torres, Jr., elected to the Florida State House in 2012, is a former New York City Transit Police Detective who later drove a bus for the Marion County School District and Lynx in Orlando. On Representative Torres’ official web site, the ATU Latino Caucus is at the top of the list of organizations of which he is affiliated. For most legislators, banks and bar associations are more commonly listed. Tired of public officials draining your wallet? Think about standing in their shoes.

IN TRANSIT

| September/October 2013

US Labor changing tactics in response to unprecedented attack Trumka re-elected Convention delegates re-elected AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka, and Secretary-Treasurer Liz Shuler, and elected California union leader Tefere Gebre to his first term as the federation’s executive vice president.

Labor law overhaul proposed The delegates also agreed to launch a multi-year labor law reform drive to make fundamental changes in the National Labor Relations Act – the nation’s basic labor law.

TU isn’t the only labor organization making major changes this year. In response to the same antiunion forces that spurred the restructuring of the International Union, the AFL-CIO took the historic step, of opening up its membership to non-union workers. In resolutions and speeches at the AFL-CIO convention in Los Angeles, the federation’s delegates decided organized labor would represent – and speak for – not just organized workers in union locals, but the unorganized on the streets, in workers’ centers, in immigrant rights’ groups and more.

In concrete terms, union leaders drafting the implementing resolutions said, that also means working continuously with community allies – in women’s rights, Latino, LGBT, civil rights, environmentalist groups, and more – for campaigns that represent the 99%, not the 1%. “The labor movement is at a crossroads, now,” said International President Larry Hanley, a member of the AFL-CIO executive council, “and I’m proud to say that the federation is taking the same road ATU has travelled for the past three years – building a broad coalition of like-minded groups in order to get things done.” The details have yet to be worked out, and resolving questions of voting representation, and conflicts with groups with differing priorities may prove daunting. But, there’s no question that the AFL-CIO is resolved to broaden the labor movement.

September/October 2013 | IN TRANSIT

The fed’s proposal would extend labor law coverage to millions of workers, open up workplaces to union access, bar so-called “captive audience” meetings, outlaw socalled “right to work” laws, and expedite union elections. It would also would write “other reliable evidence of majority support” for unions – not just NLRB-run elections – into the nation’s basic labor statute and strengthen fines and penalties for labor lawbreakers. And it would mandate supervised bargaining for a first contract, with mediation and, as a last resort, binding arbitration. Too many unions now win recognition votes at workplaces, but never get that first contract due to employer stalling and law breaking.

Organizing first In another first, delegates ordered national unions, starting on January 1, and yearly thereafter, “to submit organizing plans, on a confidential basis,” to the federation president. If successful, all of these actions will fundamentally change the AFL-CIO. What the new organization will become is anybody’s guess, but it’s a good bet that it won’t look anything like your father’s labor movement ever again.

Delegates re-elect IP Hanley, IST Owens, Elect Perez IEVP

Approve historic restructuring of International Union to accomplish ‘so much more’

he day finally arrived. The 57th International Convention of the Amalgamated Transit Union convened at 9:00 a.m., Monday, August 26, in San Diego, CA. Delegates from all over Canada and the United States assembled to elect their leaders for the next three years and chart a course to address the pressing issues facing workers, riders and the transportation industry. The theme of the Convention – So Much More – reflected the conviction of the Union that, while much had been accomplished in the previous three years, this Convention would build a platform that would launch so much more. In a strong show of unity, the delegates re-elected International President Larry Hanley, and International Secretary Treasurer Oscar Owens. And, International Vice President Javier Perez, Jr., was unanimously elected International Executive Vice President. The assembly also passed historic amendments to the ATU Constitution adding new structures to the International Union to face the threats to mass transit and Labor posed by multinational transit corporations. However, most delegates got a jump on the proceedings on Sunday, August 25, before any of that happened, by attending new Convention Academy workshops that provided them with innovative training they will use to become more effective advocates for their members back home.

Day One Opening Session Temporary Chair Oscar Owens welcomed the delegates, alternates and guests on the first day of the Convention, thanking them for their willingness to serve their members. Later, delegates laughed heartily in a salute to the beloved, retired Local President Neil Silver, 1277-Los Angeles, CA, celebrating his many years in office. Next, Temporary Chair Owens introduced International President Hanley for the Presentation of the Gavel. “Since his election three years ago,” Owens said, “Brother Hanley has ushered ATU into a new era in which our Union has become much more proactive, IN TRANSIT

| September/October 2013

much more involved, and much more effective in the fight to defend and extend the rights of our members, and all workers throughout North America....” An opening video recounted ATU’s successes over the past three years, and demonstrated how the Union has maintained its 192,000 strong membership during a time of unprecedented attacks on public service workers. It credited that resiliency to the fact that ATU “never backs down.” Delegates appointed committee members, listening to notable speakers including Art Pulaski, executive secretary of the AFL-CIO California Labor Federation; Maria Elena Durazo, Executive Secretary-Treasurer Los Angeles County Federation of Labor; Mac Urata, inland transport sections secretary of the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF), and Greg LeRoy, Executive Director, Good Jobs First. They also continued participation in the Convention Training Academy workshops.

Delegates discuss restructuring International President Hanley opened a discussion on recommendations for restructuring the International Union. Brother Hanley prefaced his remarks about antiunion legislation that has emerged in state legislatures, as well as budget cuts that lead to privatization, or the elimination of entire transit systems. Globalization and greed, he said, have infiltrated cities all over our countries. “We are at a perilous moment,” he explained, as he described how discussions about restructuring have evolved as a safeguard against what we can see coming down the pike.

Hanley explained that ATU has been fighting outright attacks on transit service, fares, pension rights, and the very existence of our Union, itself. Adding to the problem, he related, were the losses suffered by the ATU general fund as financial resources have been diverted to the fight to preserve our members’ wages, benefits, and collective bargaining rights.

Day TWO Opening Session Chair Larry Hanley reconvened for the second day of the Convention, introducing a video entitled “Winning for Transit” that documented the work of ATU members who helped lead a coalition that convinced a majority of voters in Westin, WI, to restore the town’s transit system. The video also related the story of Local 1546-Baton Rouge, LA, which worked with a coalition to convince voters to approve a property tax to create a dedicated revenue stream to improve bus service in the city. Two community leaders from Weston, Kathie Zoern and Jean Abreu, were on hand to talk about that campaign and its impact on the town.

September/October 2013 | IN TRANSIT

Expenses are now regularly incurred helping locals pay for signs, t-shirts, staffing, radio/TV spots, and more for various local campaigns. And, the International has been forced to dramatically cut costs to pay for these new expenses, he said. GEB members have waived cost-of-living increases they are guaranteed by the Constitution and General Laws, electricity and publication expenses have been slashed, and the staff has accepted reductions in health and pension plan benefits, he said. “But now what?” “We are at war,” Hanley declared. And sacrifices have to be made. Members need to think of campaigns as investments instead of expenses – and every proposed project will need to be carefully scrutinized. President Hanley then asked for and received comments

from delegates who expressed concerns over the effect of the restructuring on small locals, and its impact on locals in right-to-work states.

consisting of 543 voting delegates and 24 non-voting, representing 240 Locals, two joint bargaining councils and the Canadian Council.

The international president reminded the delegates that the total cost of the proposal would amount to just 70 cents per week by 2015 – which the restructuring committee felt was reasonable and necessary in order to provide the education and coalition building necessary to fight the multinationals trying to force down our wages and benefits, and politicians trying to eliminate our collective bargaining rights.

Tribute to Earle Putnam

Nora Dunn

General Counsel Robert Molofsky led a heartfelt tribute to the “Father of Section 13(c)” – Earle Putnam, the late general counsel who served the Union for more than 30 years, and who passed away earlier this year. Putnam’s daughter, Nora Dunn, was on hand to accept a plaque in her father’s honor.

Video Greetings The Convention watched video greetings from U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren, D-MA; Rep. Tammy Duckworth, D-IL; and Ontario New Democratic Party Leader Andrea Horwath.

‘When Disaster Hits’

Day three ATU Hero Awards The Convention reconvened its third day with the presentation of the ATU Hero Awards to Kris Doubledee, 1505-Winnipeg, MB, who was honored for a selfless act of kindness in which he stopped to give the shoes on his feet to a homeless man he noticed while Kris Doubledee, 1505 - Winnipeg, MB driving his bus; and Geraldine Mitchell, 697-Toledo, OH, a former nurse, who raced from her bus to save the life of a woman trying to commit suicide while on her route in Toledo.

Geraldine Mitchell, 697 - Toledo, OH

Geoffrey Devlin, 134-Vancouver, BC, chair of the Credentials Committee, reported that 567 delegates were in attendance,

Delegates also watched a moving video, “When Disaster Hits”, about the generosity of fellow members who contributed to the Union’s Disaster Relief Fund to help members hurt by natural disasters.

ATU-COPE Resolution Dale Anderson, 519-La Crosse, WI, reported the committee’s endorsement of RESOLUTION H “Building ATU-COPE” which was adopted by the Convention.

50th anniversary of 1963 civil rights March on Washington and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s ‘I Have a Dream’ speech Delegates responded with a standing ovation to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech, which was shown to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the historic 1963 civil rights March on Washington.

IN TRANSIT

| September/October 2013

Convention delegates were brought to their feet again with a performance in honor of Dr. King by Grammywinning recording artists Marilyn McCoo, and Billy Davis, Jr.

Canadian Report

John McLuckie, Jewitt McLuckie & Associates

The Convention reconvened after a lunch recess with Attorney John McLuckie giving a brief overview of how the face of Labor had changed since the 1939 passage of the U.S. Wagner Act, which gave unions guaranteed rights. Unfortunately, he said, the TaftHartley Act led to Right-to-Work (RTW) laws in the states. Attorney Cynthia Watson continued the presentation warning that “Labor is under attack in Canada also.” Employers are taking their cues from the U.S. and adopting policies that only benefit the wealthy, she said.

Watson closed the presentation by saying that the U.S. and Canada must work together to fight these tactics because there is strength in unity. “If we speak as one, we WILL be heard,” she asserted. Cynthia Watson, Watson Burns LLP

Constitutional amendments RESTRUCTURING - The delegates made history with the passage of a constitutional amendment that authorizes the creation of “joint industrial councils” (JICs) within the Union. The JICs will bring together the locals representing members working for a common employer such as Veolia, or First Transit, to focus specifically on labor relations, and eventually negotiate a national contract with that employer. The Union also plans to create new joint service councils (already provided for in the Constitution) to provide much needed support for locals within geographical areas. The amendment was ADOPTED with amendments barring members who are retired or no longer officers from serving as officers of the Joint Industrial and Joint Service Councils.

September/October 2013 | IN TRANSIT

PER CAPITA TAX - An amendment ADOPTED on a standing vote will increase the per capita tax by $1.50 on July 1, 2014, and $1.50 more on July 1, 2015, to pay for the organizational expansion. The additional funds generated by the per capita increase will be devoted to training and education, contract and community-based campaigns, and to support the activities of intermediate union structures such as Joint Service Councils, Joint Industry Councils, and State Legislative Conference Boards. Three more constitutional amendments were ADOPTED: • clarifying the ATU constitutional requirement that bylaws and rules of local unions (and amendments thereto) be read at two regular meetings and posted at appropriate locations with notice of the meeting at which the second reading will occur. • establishing a timeframe for interim elections and requiring that a nomination meetings and interim elections be held within 120 days of a vacancy in local office. • adding the words “if under a legal obligation to do so” to the requirement that local unions hire a certified public accountant to conduct an annual audit and verify the local union’s feepayer audit for collection of agency fees from nonmember employees.

Day FOUR ‘ATU Remembers...’ The Convention reconvened with the presentation of a video “ATU Remembers…” which memorialized all of the local and international officers and staff who passed away during the last convention cycle.

ATU’s ‘Most Valuable Union’ Award International President Hanley, next, introduced a video of an interview with Nation columnist, and television commentator John Nichols, who chose ATU as the “most valuable union” for his magazine’s 2012 progressive honor roll, on why he selected ATU for this honor.

Newly renamed Gary Maurer Organizing Awards were presented to: 618-Providence, RI; 757-Portland, OR; 1028-Des Plains, IL; and 1181-New York, NY. ATU Community Action Awards were presented to: 174-Fall River, MA, and 1037-New Bedford, MA; 1168-Wausau, WI; 1546-Baton Rouge, LA; and 732-Atlanta, GA.

Election of International Officers Executive Officers

Awards International Secretary-Treasurer Oscar Owens presented the newly dubbed ATU “Oscar Awards” for outstanding performances as financial secretaries for locals throughout the United States and Canada.

In a striking show of unity and solidarity, the Convention, unanimously: Re-elected International President Larry Hanley.

ATU-COPE Awards ATU-COPE Awards were presented to the following locals who raised the highest dollar amounts and highest percentages of their memberships contributing to the program: First, the Chairman’s Award, presented to the local unions with the highest dollar amount contributed: Membership

Local

50 or less: 51 – 200: 201 – 800: 801 – 1,500: 1,501+:

519-La Crosse, WI. 843-Bellingham, WA. 822-Paterson, NJ. 618-Providence, RI. 587-Seattle, WA.

Elected Javier Perez, Jr., International Executive Vice President.

For the President’s Award, presented to local unions with the highest percentage of active members giving at least $25 annually.

Re-elected International Secretary-Treasurer Oscar Owens

Membership Local 50 or less: 51 – 200: 201 – 800: 810 – 1,500: 1501+:

519-La Crosse, WI. 164-Wilkes-Barre, PA. 1575-San Rafael, CA. 618-Providence, RI. 726-Staten Island, NY

The Patriot’s Award given to the ATU member who contributed the highest dollar amount to COPE in 2012 was presented to Dale Anderson, 519-La Crosse, WI. IN TRANSIT

| September/October 2013

International Vice President and Members of the General Executive Board

Fifth International Vice President Janis Borchardt

The following International Vice Presidents and members of the General Executive Board were unanimously re-elected:

First International Vice President Larry Kinnear

Sixth International Vice President Paul Bowen

Second International Vice President Richard Murphy

Seventh International Vice President Kenneth Kirk

Third International Vice President Bob Hykaway,

Eighth International Vice President Gary Rauen

Fourth International Vice President Bill McLean

Ninth International Vice President Marcellus Barnes

September/October 2013 | IN TRANSIT

Tenth International Vice President Ray Rivera

Fifteenth International Vice President Chuck Watson

Eleventh International Vice President Yvette Salazar

Sixteenth International Vice President Claudia Hudson

Twelfth International Vice President Gary Johnson, Sr.

Seventeenth International Vice President Bruce Hamilton

Thirteenth International Vice President Robin West

Eighteenth International Vice President Michele Sommers

Fourteenth International Vice President John Costa

IN TRANSIT

| September/October 2013

Constitutional amendments The Convention: REJECTED and amendment: • barring members from serving as international officers over the age of 70, and ADOPTED amendments: • outlining what a local union can require in restitution from local officers found to have shortages or irregularities in their accounts. • increasing from five to 10 percent the percentage of a local union’s members required to trigger a decision by the International Secretary-Treasurer on whether or not to conduct a forensic audit of a local union’s books.

• legislation creating a “road map” to citizenship for immigrants in the United States and Canada. • opposition to criminal background checks for the continuation of employment for current employees. • current structure of the ATU Canadian Council.

Installation of international officers International President Hanley invited former International President Jim LaSala, International Executive Vice Presidents Ellis Franklin and Mike Siano, and retired Vice President Joe Welch to join him on stage to deliver the oath of office to the newly elected and re-elected officers.

• requiring all local members who sign charges against local officers to be present at meetings in which the charges are heard, unless those members request to be excused from attending due to work, sickness, or military service.

Day FIVE The Convention reconvened on Friday, August 30, and ADOPTED resolutions that endorsed: • continued ATU coalition building. • continued support for the organization, Americans for Transit. • the continuing fight for legislation protecting transit workers’ health and safety. • continued political action on behalf of members on the state, provincial, and local levels. • continued education and training of ATU local officers. REJECTED a resolution that would • ban alcohol at ATU conventions, conferences, hospitality suites and elsewhere. ADOPTED resolutions that supported: • equal rights for gay and lesbian citizens. • living wages for all Canadians and Americans.

September/October 2013 | IN TRANSIT

Final Adjournment President Hanley recognized a motion to adjourn from the floor, and the 57th Convention of the Amalgamated Transit Union adjourned.

DOL Rules California Pension Law Conflicts with Transit Workers’ Bargaining Rights

n a long-awaited decision, the U.S. Department of Labor recently found that California’s new pension reform legislation conflicted with transit employees’ federally protected collective bargaining rights preventing approval of federal transit funding to the City of Sacramento. With this decision Governor Jerry Brown, announced that he would back Assembly Bill 1222, which will exempt mass transit employees from the Public Employee Pension Reform Act (PEPRA) while the issue is considered in federal court.

Action avoids $54 million loss The governor acted quickly to avoid the imminent cutoff of $54 million in federal funding for Sacramento

Regional Transit, and a statewide loss of $1.6 billion in transit funding this year alone. ATU and other transit unions have argued that the mandatory pension reductions violate federal “Section 13(c)” collective bargaining rights which guarantee transit workers’ right to negotiate pension provisions in their contracts. “We are pleased that Governor Jerry Brown proposed legislation to exempt transit agency employees from PEPRA for up to 14 months, while preserving the state’s ability to challenge the DOL decision in state court,” said the ATU. “We urge California legislators to pass this legislation in a timely manner to ensure urgently needed transit funding continues to flow to California.”

Judge orders NYC school bus companies to restore wages, return to bargaining table

“

It’s nice to win a battle for a change,” says Local President Michael Cordiello, 1181-New York, NY, and there’s no question that sentiment is shared by the local’s school bus drivers who will have wages restored as a result of a new federal court ruling. Judge Kiyo Matsumoto issued an injunction ordering 28 school bus companies to restore across-the-board wage and benefit cuts inflicted on their employees in April. The cuts – 7.5% for drivers, and 3.75% for bus matrons – were imposed in April after Mayor Michael Bloomberg decided not to require NYC school bus operators to include employee protective provisions in their contracts with the city. The owners also reduced

overtime, eliminated Easter and Christmas week pay, and instituted cuts in health insurance contributions. The cuts were made just weeks after a contentious nineweek strike by the local protesting the mayor’s decision. The strike ended when all of the Democratic candidates in the coming mayoral election, including Democrat primary winner Bill de Blasio, promised the local that they would revisit the issue if elected. New York’s mayoral election will be held Tuesday, November 5. The judge’s order came at the request of the National Labor Relations Board, which held a hearing in July to determine whether the owners had violated federal labor law. IN TRANSIT

| September/October 2013

ATU, coalitions pass far-reaching Massachusetts transit funding bill

his summer Massachusetts’s new transportation bill passed its last legislative hurdle with the enactment of a law dedicating an average of $600 million a year to transportation over the next five years. New and yearly funding for the Commonwealth’s regional transit authorities (RTAs) is included alongside “forward funding” which means that RTAs no longer have to borrow money for their coming year’s expenses and pay it back with interest at the end of the year. Passage of the new law resulted from the hard work and advocacy of a coalition of Massachusetts’s ATU locals, riders, workers and community leaders.

The ATU game plan works “In Massachusetts we followed ATU and President Hanley’s game plan to successfully win additional funding for transportation,” explains Local 589 (the Carmen’s Union) President John Lee. “Working with all the ATU locals in our state and coalition partners like Community Labor United, the T Riders Union, Mass Senior Action, Public Transit-Public Good (PT-PG) and other transit unions, we took our case to the public and the legislature.” The coalition model provided by ATU proved effective both in delivering $600 million in new transportation funding, and expanding public awareness around the environmental and jobs components of public transit. The chair of the Massachusetts’s Senate Transportation Committee, Sen. Thomas McGee, credited the Boston Carmen’s Union and the coalition outreach with gaining the public support that allowed the legislature to vote for increased revenue.

Proud of coalition effort ATU Massachusetts’s Legislative Council (MLC) Chair and New Bedford Local 1037 President Gary Pires commented that the MLC “is proud of the effort that was put in with our various coalition partners, over the last 18 months to achieve the great success in passage of a comprehensive

September/October 2013 | IN TRANSIT

State Senator Tom McGee, State Senator Karen Spilka, and Local 589’s John Lee.

transportation bill that will for the very first time give a voice and a vote to both riders and workers on the 15 Regional Transit Authority advisory boards.” Pires praised Local 22-Worcester, 174-Fall River, 448-Springfield, 589-Boston, 1037-Fall River, 1547-Brocton, and 1548-Plymouth members “who put in a tremendous amount of time, effort and money into this campaign so that our passengers as well as our members will reap the benefits as increased levels of service and limited fare increases will help push good public transit forward in the years to come.” Among the other provisions in the bill is one that will give riders a greater voice when it comes to transit decisions in their regions.

More work to be done “Our coalitions work is not done,” Pires said, “as we are still trying to get some reduced fares for paratransit riders whose incomes are below poverty level to be subsidized at a certain amount.” This bill is a tremendous accomplishment that demonstrates just how much a coalition can get done when people put their minds together to achieve important goals.

ATU Mourns loss of Ottawa member in tragic crash who was tragically killed when the bus he was driving was hit by a train on a railway crossing in Ottawa. Five other passengers lost their lives in the accident. His Local 279 brothers and sisters remembered Dave as a close friend and solid person. “A great guy, liked by all of his colleagues, who would do anything for anybody, just one of the really nice guys,” said 279 President Craig Watson.

ocal 279 –Ottawa and all of ATU are mourning the loss of 10-year veteran brother Dave Woodward,

On behalf of the entire ATU, International President Larry Hanley expressed condolences to all, “This was a terrible human tragedy. The thoughts and prayers of the entire Union are with the members of Local 279, Dave’s family and all the victims of this tragic accident.”

Circuit Court tosses out Indiana RTW law

n Indiana circuit court judge has tossed out the state’s new, controversial “right-to-work” (RTW) law, agreeing with the Operating Engineers that the statute violates the state’s constitution. The announcement in the middle of the AFL-CIO Convention in Los Angeles, brought a rousing cheer from the delegates and guests there. Indiana’s law is one of a host of anti-worker Radical Right initiatives business and its GOP handmaidens pushed through various states after the Republican 2010 electoral sweep. Michigan’s GOP legislature and governor enacted a RTW law in a lame-duck session late last year. Missouri’s GOP lawmakers are pushing one, too.

The ‘catch’ The catch in Indiana is a state constitutional provision that says “particular services shall not be taken without just compensation.”

RTW laws make paying union dues optional for workers whom unions represent – but the unions must still represent them in grievances, bargaining, legislation and more. RTW laws produce millions of “free riders” and rob unions of money for representation. That’s why they’re a favorite business cause. Lake County (Gary) Superior Court Judge John Sedia ruled Indiana’s RTW law creates “a criminal offense for a union to receive just compensation for particular services federal law demands it provide to employees.” He said “the court therefore has no choice but to find” RTW “violates Article 1, Section 21 of the Indiana Constitution.” Indiana’s constitutional provision is unique, and enforcing right-to-work produced a head-on collision between the state law and the state’s basic charter, though federal labor law lets states enact RTW statutes. The constitution won. The ruling now goes to the Indiana Supreme Court for review.

IN TRANSIT

| September/October 2013

The Amalgamated Transit Union 2013-2014 Scholarship Competition In Memory of Ray Wallace

ay Wallace, retired international secretary-treasurer, emeritus, passed away on May 23, 2012, in Nashville, TN, at the age of 88.

Born and raised in McNairy County, TN, Brother Wallace entered the U.S. Army in 1943, and fought in the Invasion of France and the Battle of the Bulge. He joined Local 713 (Memphis, TN) as a bus driver in 1946. He was elected international secretary-treasurer in 1976. At the International, he took pride in building up the ATU-COPE program and improving the skills of local financial secretaries. A dignified, yet fierce fighter, Ray secured significant gains for our members throughout the South. His contributions were great and he was held in the highest regard throughout the Union. We will remember Ray for his warmth, integrity, intelligence and good sense. To download the scholarship rules and application, please visit http://bit.ly/QlxGlt CUT HERE

The Official 2014 Scholarship Application Form

RETURN COMPLETED APPLICATION POSTMARKED NO LATER THAN JANUARY 31, 2014 TO: ATU SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM, AMALGAMATED TRANSIT UNION, 5025 WISCONSIN AVE, NW, WASHINGTON, DC 20016 Please Print or Type

Name of Applicant:

(First)

(Middle)

(Last)

High School Address:

Address: Name of Principal: 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:

ATU Member’s Local Union Number: Relationship of ATU member to applicant:

2. 3. (Self, Child, Stepchild)

High School:

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

Month & Year of Graduation:

Applicant’s Signature Date

September/October 2013 | IN TRANSIT

Committees of the 57th Convention Like Congress and Parliament, committees of delegates do a lot of work evaluating and preparing all of the items that come before the Convention. The committees had a heavier workload at this Convention than at most others. ATU salutes the committee members below, who executed their duties with distinction and helped the Convention make the right decisions for ATUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s future:

INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT / GENERAL EXECUTIVE BOARD REPORT COMMITTEE

Chair Budh Dhillon (Local 107), Secretary Calvin Kennedy (Local 1324), Joseph Bahorich (Local 85), Marvin Alfred (Local 113), Frank Malta (Local 113), Yogi Sharma (Local 279), Harvey Woo (Local 583), Lisa Nault (Local 587), Mary Young (Local 589), Brenda Thomas (Local 689), Dawn Anderson (Local 726), Andre Bonds (Local 788), Veronica Cobb (Local 819), Paul Cockram (Local 847), Dion Solano (Local 1001), Marlin Jensen (Local 1005), Junius Matthews (Local 1028), Mary Harvey (Local 1064), Angela Cain (Local 1095), Renee Browde (Local 1177), John Greenhill (Local 1235), Marilyn Kruger (Local 1293), Albert Dirla (Local 1338), Frank Smathers (Local 1374), Jeff Glover (Local 1415), Roger Brice (Local 1493), Robert Haderlie (Local 1517), Judy Barrientos (Local 1605), Jeff Caldwell (Local 1704), Scott Penvose (Local 1749), Deborah DeMart (Local 1753), David Garcia (Local 1756), Gersham Flynn (Local 1763), James White (Local (1764), Regina Eberhart (Staff), Robin West (IVP)

INTERNATIONAL SECRETARY-TREASURER REPORT COMMITTEE

Chair Sabatino DiNardo (Local 85), Secretary Johnny Wilson III (Local 1338), Paul Doucette (Local 107), Kevin Morton (Local 113), Louis Roman (Local 164), Joyce Willis (Local 192), Clyde Beckham (Local 256), Guy Crete (Local 279), Kim Mitchell (Local 308), Norman Blessant (Local 382), Bill Chahal (Local 569), Richard Ratcliff (Local 583), Paul Neil (Local 587), James Evers, Jr. (Local 589), Kevin Millea (Local 618), Esker Bilger, Jr. (Local 689), Thomas Carney (Local 726), Mary Longoria (Local 757), Sonya Ogden (Local 758), Reginald Cavitt (Local 788), Clarise Tabron (Local 819), John Campanella (Local 880), Stanley Gronek (Local 1001), Tommy Bellfield (Local 1005), Bennie Caughman (Local 1179), Jean Claude Calixte (Local 1181), Adolfo Soto (Local 1277), Robert Roach (Local 1287), Timothy Geary (Local 1447), Donna Davis (Local 1564), Antonio Da Silva (Local 1572), John Sainz (Local 1576), Peter Brown (Local 1587), William Chase (Local 1764), Nancy Trumbull (Staff), Gary Johnson, Sr. (IVP), Chuck Watson (IVP)

IN TRANSIT

| September/October 2013

Committees of the 57th Convention

CREDENTIALS COMMITTEE

Chair Geoff Devlin (Local 134), Secretary Tiran Billups (Local 819), Geraldine Johnson (Local 26), Kevin Barrett (Local 85), Bryon Shane (Local 85), Scott Gordon (Local 113), Wallace Campbell (Local 192), Sheillena Brunston (Local 265), Debra Doaty (Local 268), Charlie Peacock (Local 308), Eric Dixon (Local 308), Yolandas Dixon (Local 312), Michael Roberts (Local 425), Timothy Dembinski (Local 569), Judy Young (Local 587), Peggy LaPaglia (Local 589), Felix Gendron (Local 591), John Boland (Local 628), Kenny Rider (Local 662), Juan Martinez (Local 694), Corinne Dunson (Local 732), Lawrence Juley (Local 857), Steven Oss (Local 883), Sheila Kivisto (Local 966), Omega Robinson (Local 993), Gladys McDaniel (Local 1056), Roy Luster (Local 1070), Lawrence Prosser (Local 1091), Terrance Dewberry (Local 1328), Ricky Booker (Local 1338), Jeff Richardson (Local 1342), Glenn Salyer (Local 1385), Robert Sawatsky (Local 1505), Dennis Jorgenson, Jr. (Local 1603), Sue Potts (Local 1704), Karen Stites (Local 1765), Charles Nigh (Local 1771), Dan Smith (Staff), Tyler Home (Staff), Janis Borchardt (IVP), Paul Bowen (IVP)

RULES AND ORDER COMMITTEE

Chair Michael Cornellius (Local 1433), Secretary Paul Callaghan (Local 113), Theodore Kielur (Local 85), Diane Allen (Local 128), Bill Dellipoali (Local 443), Patricio Garcia (Local 508), John Riley (Local 580), John Clancy (Local 589), Ernest Johnson (Local 682), Raymond Jackson (Local 689), Mike Raffaele (Local 690), Mickey Ferrell (Local 752), Antonie Maiben (Local 770), Orlando Riley (Local 819), Lillian Shavers (Local 842), Nanette Ruffin (Local 859), Gabe Sullivan (Local 880), Cassandra Cobb (Local 998), Mark Lawson (Local 1005), Jay Wyatt (Local 1091), Peter Schiraldi (Local 1145), Thomas Jemmott (Local 1181), Cam Lu (Local 1225), Michael Warden (Local 1249), Gil Mendonca (Local 1363), Amanda West (Local 1374), Paul Churchill (Local 1462), Effrem Green (Local 1464), Delores Loera (Local 1555), Joseph Prier, Jr. (Local 1560), Dwight Mattingly (Local 1577), Steve Pinkerton (Local 1598), Brian Chamberlain (Local 1624), Henry Vanderkant (Local 1633), Gerard Wyse (Local 1709), Shari Hurt (Local 1737), Dan Smith (Staff), Ken Kirk (IVP), Gary Rauen (IVP)

APPEALS COMMITTEE

Chair Rocco Signorile (Local 113), Secretary Freda Braylock (Local 996), Craig Watson (Local 279), Cheryl Wolfe (Local 441), Shane Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Leary (Local 508), Mike Keller (Local 589), Tom Cute (Local 618), George Okie (Local 726), Wyman Cook (Local 732), Brian Tansy (Local 741), David Kyser (Local 765), Rick Scott (Local 779), Robert Whiting (Local 788), Leon Carrico (Local 836), Mark Lowry (Local 843), Gary Pires (Local 1037), Jaroslaw Pizunski (Local 1209), Arturo Aguilar (Local 1277), Louis Duncan (Local 1287), Steve Moquin (Local 1321), Ian Laird (Local 1415), Carlitos Martinez (Local 1593), Tracey Tredway (Local 1614), Jimmie McCoy (Local 1700), Pat Carfagna (Local 1729), Nancy McCurdy (Local 1733), David Sayre (Local 1742), Robert Molofsky (Staff), Marcellus Barnes (IVP), Rafael Rivera (IVP)

September/October 2013 | IN TRANSIT

Committees of the 57th Convention

COPE COMMITTEE

Chair Dale Anderson (Local 519), Secretary Corrina De La Torre (Local 256), Michael Allen (Local 85), Eric Carvalho (Local 174), Ed Nash (Local 192), Perry Osbey (Local 268), Ruth Coleman (Local 308), Michael Cribb (Local 540), Clint DeVoss (Local 587), Jose Cruz (Local 589), Troy Hoskins (Local 627), Anthony Barnes (Local 689), Kimberly Carter (Local 694), George Botts (Local 726), Trina Westwood (Local 732), Jonathan Hunt (Local 757), Felicia Clayton (Local 788), David Tolliver (Local 788), Earl Hardy, Jr. (Local 821), Brent Majors (Local 836), Christina Campbell (Local 1001), Willie Moorer (Local 1056), Brad Yearling (Local 1192), Alphonso Burns (Local 1208), Larry Patton, Sr. (Local 1235), Victor Garcia (Local 1256), Douglas Kurowski (Local 1277), Lisa Fair (Local 1309), Dorothy Mudd (Local 1333), Charles Sikora (Local 1342), William Frees (Local 1345), Jeff Rosenberg (Staff), John Costa (IVP), Claudia Hudson (IVP)

LAWS / RESTRUCTURING COMMITTEE

Chair Jackie Jeter (Local 689), Secretary Ray Greaves (New Jersey State Council), Christopher Bruce (Local 22), Steve Palonis (Local 85), Bob Kinnear (Local 113), William Nix, Sr. (Local 268), Robert Kelly (Local 308), Rodney Dunn (Local 382), Ron Cox (Local 416), Richard Gardner (Local 448), Jeannie Garbett (Local 508), Stuart Litwinowich (Local 569), Douglas Johannes (Local 583), Paul Bachtel (Local 587), Don Baker (Local 588), John Lee (Local 589), Paul Harrington (Local 618), Daniel Cassella (Local 726), Curtis Howard (Local 732), Bruce Hansen (Local 757), Michael Breihan (Local 788), Benjamin Evans (Local 819), Julio Rivera (Local 1001), Michelle Sommers (Local 1005), Mark Henry (Local 1056), John Lyons (Local 1179), James Lindsay (Local 1277), Gary Sager (Local 1320), Kenneth Day (Local 1338), Eric Carr (Local 1374), Robert Bean (Local 1433), Jonathan Dooley (Local 1447), James Girden (Local 1505), Donnie Small, Sr. (Local 1535), Antonette Bryant (Local 1555), Kim Hearns (Local 1564), Nicholas Bye (Local 1572), Larry Jodouin (Local 1573), Raymond Messier (Local 1575), Daniel Harris (Local 1587), Allan Medd (Local 1624), Sesil Rubain (Local 1700), Pennie Johnson (Local 1733), Bryan Walck (Local 1741), Mike Mahar (Canadia Council), Robert Molofsky (Staff), Dan Smith (Staff), Larry Kinnear (IVP), Richard Murphy (IVP), William McLean (IVP)

RESOLUTIONS COMMITTEE

Chair Victor Guerra (Local 256), Secretary Cassandra Sands (Local 732), Joseph Mendyk (Local 85), Eric Tuck (Local 107), John Di Nino (Local 113), John Remias (Local 272), Tracie Green (Local 282), Edwin Torres (Local 568), Calvin Metott (Local 582), Earle Law (Local 583), Chuck Miller (Local 587), Wieslaw Wolczyk (Local 591), Gerry Garnett (Local 689), Alfred Gomez (Local 694), Shirley Block (Local 757), Edward Engram (Local 823), Albert Ianno (Local 1056), Mary Crider (Local 1164), Kenneth Haanraadts (Local 1179), Errol Frazier (Local 1277), Cory Belot (Local 1374), Frank Zuckerbrow (Local 1433), Robert Wattenburger (Local 1499), Lawrence Lavallee (Local 1505), Reinhard Rieder (Local 1573), Mary Frances Folz-Donahue (Local 1579), Barbara Lomax (Local 1761), Jeff Rosenberg (Staff), Bob Hykaway (IVP)

IN TRANSIT

| September/October 2013

Committees of the 57th Convention

BALLOTTING COMMITTEE

Chair Roland Jeter (Local 689), Secretary James Hedge (Local 1181), Peter De Angelis (Local 113), Jody Kerr (Local 113), Mark Gifford (Local 168), Ralph Niz (Local 256), Wayne Bender (Local 268), Rick Potvin (Local 279), Wilson Rios (Local 308), Stanley A. Grant (Local 558), Zul Vira (Local 583), Bill Johnson (Local 583), Kevin Cole (Local 618), Patricia Letourneau (Local 717), Derrick Murray (Local 732), Carl Faddis (Local 757), Ken Richens (Local 757), Nancy Spence (Local 823), Robert Llord (Local 846), Billie Harvey (Local 900), Rick Bassler (Local 998), Rudy Trujillo (Local 1001), Dorothy Maki (Local 1005), Steve Parrish (Local 1015), Earl Cox. Sr. (Local 1093), William Howard (Local 1267), Jonothan Walker (Local 1287), Jeffrey Richardson (Local 1342), Sandra Surgeon-Jones (Local 1464), Richard Davis (Local 1498), John Callahan (Local 1505), Kathleen Custer (Local 1576), Leon Challenger (Local 1587), James Kennedy (Local 1700), Wayne Baker (Local 1764), Louie Lowis (Local 1767), Dan Smith (Staff), Tyler Home (Staff), Yvette Salazar (IVP), Bruce Hamilton (IVP)

SERGEANT-AT-ARMS

Anthony Fuqua, Antonio Vargas, Florine Allen, Marcel Malboeuf, Elias Amash, David Benavides, David Ransom, Victor Suarez, Ralph Norman, Anthony Freake, Patricia Caron, Elaine Thyner, Rick Sepolen, Tom Fink, William Montgomery, Colin Holden. STAFF: Dan Sundquist, Bobbi Sundquist, Natalie Perez Cruz and Marilyn Williams.

STAY CONNECTED

For the latest ATU News and Action Alerts please check out the ATUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s social media network

Facebook: facebook.com/ATUInternational

YouTube: youtube.com/user/stpatuorg

Twitter: twitter.com/ATUComm

Flickr: flickr.com/photos/atuinternational/

September/October 2013 | IN TRANSIT

Vancouver driver sustains injury in crash, guides passengers to safety After finally freeing his injured foot, Bruce walked the entire bus to make sure all of his passengers had gotten out of the bus safe and sound. Then after checking on their condition, he immediately went to the aide of the occupants of the vehicle involved in crash, but tragically they had not survived.

Certificate of Merit

ne cold day last November West Vancouver Blue Bus operator Bruce Gillard was driving across a bridge when an oncoming vehicle slid sideways and slammed into the front of his bus. A strong smell of gasoline and smoke overwhelmed the bus. Despite glass sprayed into his eyes from the shattered windshield and his foot stuck in the crushed wheel well, Bruce calmly and quickly opened the bus doors to allow passengers to evacuate safely. The Local 134 driver even had the presence of mind to report the accident to help the emergency responders, who were in route.

For his bravery and quick action Bruce was awarded a Certificate of Merit from the West Vancouver Police Board. “Mr. Gillard demonstrated remarkable calm and professionalism throughout the entire incident. For nine minutes he found himself in a situation requiring calm and a measured response to an extremely disturbing and potentially volatile scene,” read the certificate. “We here at Local 134 are very proud of Bruce – his actions that night assisted and brought great comfort to many people,” said Local 134 President Geoff Devlin. We at ATU couldn’t agree more and salute Brother Gillard for his heroism that day.

Local 618 Celebrate’s 100th Anniversary Local 618- Providence, RI recently marked its 100th anniversary. International President Larry Hanley joined in a celebration commemorating this milestone and their proud history of fighting for the rights and dignity of their hardworking members. The Local was founded on March 20, 1913 and was among the earliest to negotiate for and win a 6-day workweek in 1931. They were honored at the 57th Convention with a Gary Maurer Organizing Award for their recent campaign to organize the Lime Rock fire fighters. IN TRANSIT

| September/October 2013

Tensions rise

in local contract talks ATU

Locals across the U.S. and Canada are embroiled in tense contract negotiations, as agencies remain intent on imposing punitive concessions on their employees. The Locals are standing strong in fighting for fair and just contracts and engaging riders to join the fight for more, better and safer service.

St. Louis, MO There appears to be some movement in talks between Local 788-St. Louis, MO, and St. Louis Metro that have been deadlocked for months. Both sides emerged from negotiations, agreeing that the talks were “constructive,” that they would consider each other’s proposals and meet again.

San Francisco, CA In the longest running dispute, the Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) in San Francisco, CA, have not responded to the latest counter-offer from Local 1555-Oakland, CA, and SEIU Local 1021. The locals are seeking raises to help their members catch up after years in which they accepted wage freezes to help BART get through a fiscal crisis. The October 10 end of a “cooling off” period ordered by Gov. Jerry Brown, was quickly approaching as In Transit went to press.

Cornwall, ON Frustrated with the pace of negotiations the members of Local 946-Cornwall, ON, voted overwhelmingly in favor of taking job actions up to and including a legal strike. International Vice President Larry Kinnear has asked the conciliation officer to call a no board report that will allow the union to take job action as of September 30; however, says Kinnear, “our members are hoping we can enter into mediation with the City of Cornwall prior to that day.”

Vancouver, BC The officers of Local 134-Vancouver, BC, are recommending that their members reject the “final” contract offer by the District of West Vancouver, and planned to take a strike vote by the end of September. “We’ve been negotiating for over a year now, and it’s something that’s very frustrating,” says Local President Geoff Devlin.

September/October 2013 | IN TRANSIT

Pensacola, FL Members of Local 1395-Penasacola, FL, set an October 21 strike date if negotiations with Escambia County Area Transit (ECAT) are at a standstill at that time. Local members have been trying to negotiate a contract with First Transit, headquartered in Scotland. Local President Mike Lowery wants his members to go back to being public employees. “Allowing our tax dollars to go out of our county and state or for that matter out of our country is just not good stewardship of our tax dollars and doesn’t help grow our local economy,” he said.

Una convención histórica Esta edición de In Transit cubre la magnífica labor de la reciente convención de ATU. Fue una convención maravillosa, un encuentro de delegados de una semana de la mayoría de los sindicatos locales. No sólo cambiamos la manera como veníamos trabajando, sino también la capacidad de funcionamiento de todo el sindicato en los próximos años. En resumen, fue una semana histórica para ATU. La labor ahora se está desplegando a los sindicatos locales. En los próximos meses extenderemos la capacitación a su zona, la cual ha sido diseñada para fortalecer el sindicato en todos los aspectos. Tenemos un objetivo declarado de capacitarlos a ustedes, los miembros de nuestro sindicato. Muchas cosas están cambiando rápidamente en nuestro mundo y la lucha por preservar nuestros salarios y prestaciones es una lucha por la equidad elemental de la economía. El triunfo en esta lucha no lo puede lograr un pequeño grupo de dirigentes sindicales.

adversarios. Veo esto en algunos sindicatos locales donde los funcionarios piensan que su trabajo es luchar contra los demás funcionarios, en cambio del jefe.

Unir los miembros La nueva capacitación y reestructuración de nuestro sindicato tiene por objeto reorientarnos a todos sobre la mejor manera de avanzar, los ámbitos en los que debemos luchar y cómo unir a nuestros miembros para los tiempos difíciles que se avecinan. Al explicar el poder de apalancamiento, un matemático de la antigüedad llamado Arquímedes dijo, “Dadme un punto de apoyo y moveré el mundo”. Ya sea funcionario o miembro, si ve la necesidad de ponerse en pie y luchar por la atención médica, seguridad social, una jubilación digna y la posibilidad de criar a sus hijos y darles una preparación, ATU es el lugar para usted. Nos proporciona a todos un lugar para brindarle apoyo a nuestros compañeros y familias.

En los próximos meses abriremos nuevos horizontes. Necesitamos que ustedes, los miembros, den un paso al frente y se preparen para el liderazgo.

El liderazgo es una cualidad del espíritu El liderazgo no es un título, es una cualidad del espíritu. Es la voluntad de apoyar a nuestros miembros, y ayudarles a seguir adelante. Es la voluntad de tomar decisiones y no sólo de adherirnos a ellas, sino explicarles a los que nos rodean el valor de avanzar en una única dirección. Se requiere coraje para arriesgarse a la crítica de nuestros colegas, y adicionalmente, en algunas ocasiones, al escrutinio de los jefes que quieren destruir el sindicato. Mantener las personas centradas es un problema constante de los sindicatos democráticos, y nosotros somos uno de estos. Incluso algunas veces, las personas se van a la deriva. Se centran más en cómo podemos vencernos el uno al otro, en lugar de cómo podemos trabajar juntos para mejorar nuestras luchas contra nuestros verdaderos

Tuvimos una gran convención Tuvimos una excelente convención. Les estoy muy agradecido a mi esposa Lee Ann, y por su puesto a nuestros hijos, Tim, Peter, Bonnie y nuestros nietos, Oliver, Montgomery y Langston. Tuvieron que adaptarse a las exigencias de mi cargo y las ausencias en momentos en que ellos hubieran preferido que yo estuviera en casa. Siempre le rindo un homenaje a mi madre, que emigró a este país desde Ecuador, a la edad de 16 años. Su amor inculcó en mi hermana y en mí, un respeto por el trabajo y el deseo de logro. Mi primer recuerdo de la actividad sindical surge más o menos cuando estaba en 5° o 6° grado. Mi madre, una trabajadora de la confección fue miembro del Sindicato Internacional de Trabajadores de la Confección. Recuerdo que estaba tendido en el piso de nuestra sala haciendo mi tarea escolar, cuando me dio dos hojas idénticas de papel rayado con números IN TRANSIT

| September/October 2013

en la parte superior. Me dijo que me iba a explicar lo que había pasado en el trabajo, y que yo tenía que ponerlo por escrito. Sin saberlo, acababa de escribir mi primera queja. Los miembros del Local 1287 me eligieron para servir como su presidente en 1987. Durante los siguientes ocho años tuve la oportunidad de trabajar con muchos otros funcionarios del Local asistiendo a muchas conferencias educativas celebradas por nuestra Internacional. Fue durante este tiempo que decidí terminar mis estudios universitarios y centrarme en los estudios laborales. Esto lo hice en el Centro George Meany para Estudios Laborales a través de su afiliación con la Antioch University. Fui elegido por primera vez vicepresidente internacional el 22 de septiembre de 1995 a las 2:20 p.m., en la Convención de Las Vegas. Michael Siano, vicepresidente ejecutivo internacional había trabajado con nuestro local y le recomendó al presidente internacional, James La Sala, que se me tuviera en cuenta para el cargo de vicepresidente internacional. Me han dicho que la primera reacción del presidente La Sala, fue “¿está seguro?”, a lo cual Siano respondió, “no tengo ninguna duda”. Estando a cargo el presidente internacional, Warren George tuve el privilegio de asistir al Programa Sindical de la Universidad de Harvard. Les doy las gracias a estos señores por la fe que tuvieron en mí. “La fe es la evidencia de las cosas invisibles”.

Gracias Quiero expresarle mis agradecimientos a todos los Locales de ATU que tuve el privilegio de asistir, así como a cada uno de los vicepresidentes internacionales, representantes internacionales y organizadores activos, jubilados y que ya no están con nosotros. Ellos me proporcionaron orientación y una plataforma de difusión. Soy consciente de que mi elección se registrará como un hito en nuestra historia de ATU, ya que soy el primer hispano y primera persona de color elegida para el cargo. La raza, el género y la cultura son parte de la historia de lo que somos. Nadie se auto-abastece; Todos necesitan ayuda en el camino. Ante todo hay que recordar que se necesita la unión de todos para

September/October 2013 | IN TRANSIT

sacar adelante a nuestro gran sindicato, y que nosotros, el Sindicato Unido del Transporte, somos Uno.

Nuestro momento es ahora En todas las convenciones termino mi discurso de aceptación diciendo que yo, un hombre común y corriente, le agradezco a cada uno de ustedes esta extraordinaria oportunidad. La oportunidad de hoy, no es solo mía; es la oportunidad para que todos asuman la responsabilidad de actuar, y al hacerlo, lograremos cosas extraordinarias en nuestro tiempo. ¿Están preparados para el reto? Yo tengo fe en ATU.

la reestructuración conllevará a un nuevo fortalecimiento y solidaridad Siempre me siento descansado y renovado después de una Convención. El personal aporta una cantidad increíble de trabajo, y los resultados son siempre gratificantes. Creo que la mayoría de los delegados también piensan lo mismo. Y, si bien la mayoría de los miembros no pueden asistir a la Convención, tengo que creer que la energía generada allí se extiende a todo el sindicato, en beneficio de todos. Los delegados trabajaron más arduamente en la presente convención que en cualquiera otra a la que haya asistido. Por primera vez participaron en talleres de capacitación, y al mismo tiempo abordaron de frente y de una manera realista los problemas que afrontan ATU y los demás sindicatos.

Reestructuración El plan de reestructuración que adoptaron es la acción más orientada hacia el futuro que se haya aprobado

en una convención. Los delegados demostraron que ATU todavía cuenta con la flexibilidad y voluntad que han sido uno de sus distintivos de su éxito desde el comienzo. Los recientemente aprobados consejos industriales conjuntos permitirán que las localidades que representen miembros que trabajen para un mismo contratista en diferentes lugares unan sus recursos para tratar con las grandes empresas multinacionales de transporte de hoy en día (Veolia/Transdev, First Student, etc.). Y, los consejos de servicios conjuntos reconstituidos aunarán los esfuerzos que las localidades requieren para tener éxito político en zonas específicas en sus países. En realidad, esto no es una novedad. El Local Nacional 1700, (y, el Consejo de Greyhound Council previamente) ya funciona como consejo industrial conjunto para nuestros miembros de Greyhound, y el Consejo de Nueva Jersey se ha desempeñado exitosamente como servicio conjunto durante años.

Fortaleza, Solidaridad Como pueden ver, no pretendemos reinventar la rueda. Más bien estamos utilizando los modelos del consejo para generar más solidaridad y apoyo a nuestros sindicatos locales.

sindicatos locales e internacionales. El resultado será un sindicato más proactivo y dinámico que puede abogar por sus miembros y responder a los retos de una manera más rápida y efectiva de lo que se hace ahora. Este es realmente un momento emocionante, y tengo muchas ganas de ver todas las cosas buenas que van a pasar cuando estos consejos estén establecidos y funcionando.

Orgulloso de ser parte de ATU Hasta dónde puedo recordar, nuestro sindicato siempre ha utilizado “Orgulloso de ser parte de ATU” como uno de sus “lemas”. Lo decimos con tanta frecuencia, que podría fácilmente llegar a convertirse en un cliché que no tiene mucho significado. Sin embargo, más precisamente hoy, no es un cliché. Es la verdadera expresión de lo que muchos de nosotros sentimos al observar con confianza todo lo que lograremos en el futuro con las nuevas herramientas proporcionadas en la 57ª Convención.

Nuestro objetivo es llegar al punto en que estos consejos industriales negocien contratos nacionales con corporaciones multinacionales sosteniendo una posición de fortaleza mayor a la que cualquier local podría tener por sí solo. Cada uno de estos consejos también podrá hacer muchas cosas que los funcionarios locales simplemente no tienen tiempo para hacer. La creación de coaliciones y la organización política se han convertido en partes esenciales del trabajo del funcionario del local, sin embargo, no es fácil añadir esas actividades a una agenda ya recargada. Estos consejos podrán llevar a cabo campañas activas permanentes a nivel local y a nivel industrial, lo que actualmente es muy difícil de desarrollar para los IN TRANSIT

| September/October 2013

In Memoriam Death Benefits Awarded July 1, 2013 - August 31, 2013 1- MEMBERS AT LARGE EDWARD C DECESARE ARNOLD WILLIAM HEINO RODNEY L NORTON CHARLES R ROGERS PRESTON L STOREY 19- COLORADO SPRINGS, CO JAMES E HAROLD RICHARD MOEHRING 22- WORCESTER, MA FRANCIS J TOSCANO 26- DETROIT, MI ELDEN B HENDRICKSON 85- PITTSBURGH, PA JAMES R BRAMER THOMAS W DUFFY EMMETT WM GOETTEL ALBERT R GRECO NORMAN R GROETZINGER WILLIAM O HUGHES WILLIAM E KEENAN THOMAS G WITHEREL 107- HAMILTON, ON WAYNE R CASKIE 113- TORONTO, ON FRANCIS A BOSSENCE JASON A CATE IVAN WESLEY DINGLE FRANK DVORAK LAMBERT EATON ANTONIO FERRONE LIVINGSTON MITCHELL BRIAN R MURTHA ALVIN PAUL NORMAN K TUCKER 168- SCRANTON, PA ANGELO F DOMINICK 192- OAKLAND, CA CLARENCE E ALEXANDER 241- CHICAGO, IL ROBERT ANDERSON LATHIA H DAVISON JR ANTANAS DRUTYS ODELL L DUFFIN HERMAN G GRADY MIGUEL A HERNANDEZ ARTHUR JANZ ARTHUR E LINDEN EDWARD MEYER LOUIS S MORGAN JURY E NICHOLOSON WALTER R PETERS WAYNE REDDRICK GEORGE RIVERA WILFRED L SAMUELS ROBERT SURITA JAMES T TEAGUE JIMMIE D TURNER CHARLES E WALKER WILLIE L YOUNG 256- SACRAMENTO, CA DONALD G CAMPANELLA

265- SAN JOSE, CA WILLIAM J BROWN ARTHUR GARCIA PAUL G MORALES BRETT A WILSON

618- PROVIDENCE, RI JOSEPH G WHITMAN II

MELVIN J KELLER WAYNE V WILSON

682- FORT WAYNE, IN HARRY WEAVER

268- CLEVELAND, OH RAYMOND J FIERLE SETH R FLEMING GILBERT N WEINBERG

689- WASHINGTON, DC RUDOLPH A ADAMS WILLIAM H BOYD JOHN S CARTLEDGE HARVEY JOHNSON DAVID M LAND WILLIAM E MORTON RICHARD J SNELL CLYDE C WERTZ MARBOO F WHISNANT

1005- MINNEAPOLIS & ST. PAUL, MN JOHN A COLBERT JOHN D JOHNSON KENNETH R SMALL PAUL K STUEBER

279- OTTAWA, ON TIM M GIFF ROGER HUPE ROGER M LAVIGNE

1037- NEW BEDFORD, MA ALBERT CORDEIRO

519- LA CROSSE, WI JOHN F SMABY

757- PORTLAND, OR DENNIS P HARTNEY CARL MC CRAY ROGER D PUTNAM LARRY T WOLTER

568- ERIE, PA MAX V MEANS

758- TACOMA, WA MICHAEL LAWLER

1056- FLUSHING, NY CARLOS H ABREU JOHN W BYAS BARNEY G CRIVELLI GILBERT H EVANS BERNARD F FEZZA FRANCIS B FEZZA BENISIO KELLY ROBERT P KING ROBERT E LEUCK CLYDE H LYNCH WILLIE G MC KOY THEODORE MUELLER BRITTE L NOBLE ARRIE PARKER JR MICHAEL J PENDOLA OSWALD SANTORO ROBERT A SCHNEIDER NICHOLAS L SCOTTO PAUL SIROTA TONY SMITH DAVID L TATUM SEVERO V TELLADO WILLIAM J ULIS OTTO WATSON WILLIAM F WINDEBANK

569- EDMONTON, AB JOHN HALL WALTER KUPCHANKO OLAV LARSEN

819- NEWARK, NJ CAROL KILGUS

1070- INDIANAPOLIS, IN JEFFERY WILLIAMS

823- ELIZABETH, NJ HELEN S MORGAN

1177- NORFOLK, VA RANDALL JONAH PIKE

824- NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ JAMES L MC CORY

1179- NEW YORK, NY GARY R ROBINSON GASPER C SANTANGELO

281- NEW HAVEN, CT EDWARDO DIOSA MICHAEL A PALMER 308- CHICAGO, IL DEWEY BAKOTICH JORDAN C GONZALEZ JOHNIE T MC DONALD AUSTIN J MORAN ROBERT SANDERS DAVID SHEPHERD 382- SALT LAKE CITY, UT MICHAEL D JONES 425- HARTFORD, CT JOHN BAGGS

583- CALGARY, AB HARVEY BERRETH IAN MURRAY GRAY

690- FITCHBURG, MA IRVING E HINES 713- MEMPHIS, TN CHARLES K BENNETT JR LC MAPLES BILLY G MC CORD 726- STATEN ISLAND, NY* JAMES J FRASCA DANIEL HAMBRIC RICHARD HOLMAN RALPH J JOHNSON

587- SEATTLE, WA DONALD S BROWN GARTH MAC COY ANTHONY J MANALANG JAMES B RANDALL RONALD S YOSHIDA

825- ORADELL, NJ CHESTER POLUKORD EDWARD S WATERMAN

588- REGINA, SK NORMAN LAURIDSEN

880- CAMDEN, NJ MICHAEL T BARONE NUNZIATO BRANCO YALE EISENSON WILLIAM T KARY ROLAND G WATSON

589- BOSTON, MA BERNARD J CARTER WALTER D DELANEY MARTIN J KENNEY JAMES F MC CARTHY MARTIN P MC KEON JAMES P MURPHY

847- ST. JOSEPH, MO BENJAMIN WILLIAMSON

892- TULSA, OK BERNARD SANNEMAN

591- HULL, QC MAURICE DESCHAMPS

998- MILWAUKEE, WI NEALLY JOHNSON JR MICHAEL I SORCE

616- WINDSOR, ON DANNY C LEITHEAD

1001- DENVER, CO RAY F CASH

September/October 2013 | IN TRANSIT

1181- NEW YORK, NY JOSEPH CANDIANO MILDRED FITZGERALD CHARLES HENKEL CHARLES S KREIZER LILLIAN MARTIN ANGELO SANCHIRICO BERNICE SANDS HERBERT SCHULZ VINCENT J TOMASELLI NANCY TOTA ZHEN MEI WU 1225- SAN FRANCISCO, CA EARNEST CLARK ELIJIO MC GOVERT 1267- FT.LAUDERDALE, FL TYLER A JAEGER 1277- LOS ANGELES, CA ROBERT E CAMARENO

RICHARD CORVERA ANGELITA T GONZALES KENNETH ODELL GREER GASTON F LOPEZ FRANK J MORALES HENRY JESUS PONCE WIJNAND A SCHARDIJN 1300- BALTIMORE, MD WILLIE J NIX JR 1309- SAN DIEGO, CA JOHN B SHOCKEY STANLEY J SIEBENTHAL ARCHIE TERRIAN 1320- PETERBOROUGH, ON IRVIN FLOYD ROBBINS 1336- BRIDGEPORT, CT JOHNNIE L PETTUS 1338- DALLAS, TX LAWRENCE E BABLES JACQUELINE HUBBARD JUAN J RIVERA KENNETH SHEPPARD DOUGLAS C STEPHENS 1342- BUFFALO, NY LUBA PECZONCZYK MICHAEL L SAMUEL 1374- CALGARY, AB DOUGLAS M FETTES LARRY MOLDOWAN 1447- LOUISVILLE, KY WILLIAM J RALPH 1464- TAMPA, FL DAMETRIUS L EDWARDS LOUJEAN WILLIAMS 1474- RICHMOND, IN DAVID E LEFFEL 1498- JOPLIN, MO LAWRENCE OPELIA 1575- SAN RAFAEL, CA RONALD W THOMAS 1576- LYNNWOOD, WA DEVERE L SPRAGUE 1700- CHICAGO, IL ALEX BILAK JR JOSEPH W GUERCIO EUGENE M LEE 1724- VANCOUVER, BC DON TOTH MIKE YUEN 1764- WASHINGTON, DC ADRIAN D BROWN Our sincere apologies to ATU Local 726 member Richard Zimmerman for being mistakingly added to last issues In Memoriam list.

Commuters should not be penalized for choosing public transit TRANSIT PARITY ACT WOULD UPGRADE COMMUTER BENEFIT

ATU

has teamed with politicians and transit advocates in calling for permanent tax parity for transit riders and car commuters. Car drivers could claim up to $240 per month in taxfree commuting expenses, while transit riders could claim only up to $125. There have been temporary hikes in the transit commuter tax benefit over the years including one as part of last year’s fiscal cliff bill, but none have been permanent. Hoping to give transit riders equal status, Reps. Michael Grimm, R-NY; Earl Blumenauer, D-OR; and James McGovern, D-MA; recently introduced the Commuter Parity Act (HR2288) to make the transit and parking benefits permanently equal. They hope to get the bill passed as part of the deal being negotiated to avert a government shutdown.

commuters who choose public transit should not be penalized with a tax increase while those who drive and park receive a tax break. It just doesn’t make sense,” said ATU International President Larry Hanley. “The commuter tax benefit is set to expire on January 1, 2014, and millions Americans will see a tax increase or transit benefit cut. We urge members of Congress to support this bill and bring tax parity to all commuters. It’s the right thing to do for our communities, our economy and our environment,” Hanley said. To send a message to your US Representative to tell them to pass the Transit Parity Act to give transit riders and drivers equal permanent commuter tax benefits visit http://action.atu.org/c/1542/p/dia/action3/common/ public/?action_KEY=7105

‘It just doesn’t make sense.’ “With public transit ridership at record highs and fares increasing across the country, the millions of

IN TRANSIT

| September/October 2013

Amalgamated Transit Union

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

STAY CONNECTED

NON-PROFIT ORG US POSTAGE PAID LANCASTER,PA PERMIT #1052

PRINTED IN U.S.A.

Helping ATU Locals Harness the Power of the Internet for FREE ATU has launched a new service, TransitWeb, to set up a free state-of-the-art website for local unions. This new innovative program includes: EASE OF USE User-friendly rich features, varied design template options, and ease of use for updates and changes. FRESH CONTENT Easily update your website with fresh content, photos and even videos. SUPPORT Free training to learn how to easily update and maintain your website. NO COST TransitWeb is a FREE program for all local unions, the full cost is covered by ATU International. FLEXIBILITY TransitWeb has been developed for ATU local unions. We’ll help you make your website fit your needs. To get your website up and running today contact: communications@atu.org.