United States Version PDF - Amalgamated Transit Union

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M A R /A P R
www.atu.org
THE WAR
ON MASS
TRANSIT
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
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A F L- C I O/C LC
INTERNATIONAL OFFICERS
LAWRENCE J. HANLEY
International President
ROBERT H. BAKER
International Executive Vice President
OSCAR OWENS
International Secretary-Treasurer
INTERNATIONAL VICE PRESIDENTS
RODNEY RICHMOND
New Orleans, LA – rrichmond@atu.org
LARRY R. KINNEAR
Ashburn, ON – lkinnear@atu.org
JAVIER M. PEREZ, JR.
Kansas City, MO – jperez@atu.org
NEWSBRIEFS
Wage theft fight goes back to Palm Beach
County Commission. Local 1577-West Palm
Beach, FL, has been working with People
Engaged in Active Community Efforts (PEACE) to push for
the Palm Beach County Commission to approve a wagetheft law. Local 1577 paratransit drivers recently won a
lawsuit awarding them $2 million in back wages (see
story on page 5).
RICHARD M. MURPHY
Newburyport, MA – rmurphy@atu.org
BOB M. HYKAWAY
Calgary, AB – bhykaway@atu.org
CHARLES COOK
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
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
GARY JOHNSON, SR.
Cleveland, OH – gjohnson@atu.org
ROBIN WEST
Rexdale, ON – rwest@atu.org
JOHN COSTA
Kenilworth, NJ – jcosta@atu.org
CHUCK WATSON
Syracuse, NY – cwatson@atu.org
Cleveland local reaches contract during
Rock Hall of Fame celebration. Local 268
in Cleveland, OH, reached a tentative pact
with the RTA, that offers a bonus and a pay increase this
year, ending a 2 ½-year stand off. The agreement was
announced a week after some Local 268 members made
news by dressing up to appear like well-known rock stars
as they operated a free trolley shuttle service for visitors
to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony.
Cleveland Channel 5 reporter Paul Brest said, “The RTA
calls them ‘ambassadors’ since they meet visitors face to
face as they navigate through downtown Cleveland. It’s
their pleasant smiles and cordial ‘good mornings’ that
make them loved by their passengers.”
Texas State tram operators could strike in
May. Texas State University Provost Eugene
Bourgeois says that the school will attempt to
mediate a settlement to avoid a strike between members
of Local 1091-Austin, TX, and their tram operator, First
Transit. The shuttle workers have been in negotiations
with the Scottish multinational for a year fighting for a
variety of items including an hourly wage increase, health
insurance benefits, sick days, safer buses and comfort for
student passengers.
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.
CLAUDIA HUDSON
International Executive Vice President Ellis Franklin, ret.
International Executive Vice President Mike Siano, ret.
Spokane, WA – dantonellis@atu.org
Oakland, CA – chudson@atu.org
STEPHAN MACDOUGALL
Boston, MA – smacdougall@atu.org
CANADIAN COUNCIL
STAN DERA
Rexdale, ON - director@atucanada.ca
International Secretary-Treasurer Ray Wallace, ret.
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M A R /A P R
2012
www.atu.org
2
International Officers & General Executive Board
NEWS Briefs
3
Index Page
4
ATU Endorses Re-Election of President Obama
7
2012 Legislative Conference:
The Fight Has Just Begun
8
Clock is Ticking: Lawmakers Avert Expiration of
Transportation Bill with 90-Day Stopgap Measure
9
International President’s Message: Letter from the Road
Our Moment is Near
13
International Executive Vice President’s Message:
We Have A Clear Choice - Survival!
14
MSNBC’s Ed Schultz: ‘Nothing is Lost Until You Give Up’
15
Above & Beyond: ATU Activist in Action
Lisa Pacheco Estrada
16
Judge Tosses Parts of Wisconsin Anti-Union Law.
Walker Recall Vote on June 5
17
Chicago Local Fights CTA Exploitation of
Part-Time Operators
18
Phoenix Local Strikes, Wins Two-Year Battle
with French Multi-national
19
International Secretary-Treasurer’s Message:
Will Clever Phrases Obscure the Truth?
20
Outrage Erupts Over Lenient Sentence for Driver Attack.
ATU, TWU Working to Combat Assaults
21
New Reporting Requirements for Commercial
Drivers Licenses
45th Annual Black Caucus Conference
22
Mississauga Driver Suspended 5 Days for Using Washroom
23
New Local President, Financial Secretaries Receive Training
24
Fall River Transit Fights for “More” Service
Local Unions Celebrate 100th, 75th Anniversaries
25
100 Years Ago: Labor Celebrates 100th Anniversary
of Bread & Roses Strike
27
Translations (French & Spanish)
30
In Memoriam
32
Win an iPad2 or an ATU Jacket!
Vol. 121, No. 2
FIVE FEET UNDER
5
SAVE PUBLIC TRANSIT DAY OF ACTION
10
NOT SO SMART ALEC
26
ABOVE & BEYOND
ATU ACTIVIST IN ACTION
If you would like to nominate an ATU
member for “Above & Beyond” contact
your local president.
IN TRANSIT
| March/April 2012
3
atu endorses re-election of
president obama
I
nternational President Larry Hanley announced,
March 14, that ATU is endorsing the re-election of
President Barack Obama. “President Obama has fought for the things we care
about,” Hanley said. “He has set forth an impressive
plan to improve mass transit across our nation, and
he has stood with working families in the face of an
unprecedented assault on the middle class across the
United States.
“The president doesn’t get enough credit for all that he
has done for Labor over the last three years,” asserted
Hanley, “and his record is impressive, especially given
the obstructionist tactics of the Republican leadership of
the House.
4
March/April 2012 | IN TRANSIT
“Having taken office during the worst economic crisis
since the Great Depression, Barack Obama has set the
right course to dig our nation out of this deep recession,”
Hanley said. “The president has stabilized the economy
with the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, saved
the auto industry, defied the House GOP by making
recess appointments to the National Labor Relations
Board, expanded unemployment insurance, and
passed a national health care plan desperately needed
by so many Americans – a plan that Congressional
Republicans are committed to repealing.
“We want to be clear; the 190,000 members of
the Amalgamated Transit Union are on President
Obama’s bus. Together, we will drive him to victory in
November.” O
n March 29, House Speaker John Boehner, R-OH,
was forced to pass yet another short-term (90 day)
extension of current transportation law in order to give
Republicans more time to make changes to a highly
controversial proposal that even their own members
will not support. Later that day, the Senate, which
had managed to pass its own bipartisan two-year bill,
reluctantly passed the House measure in order to avoid a
lapse in funding (see story, page 8).
workers who are already reeling from three years of the
steepest fare hikes and deepest service cuts in history.
“House Republicans are more worried about their twoweek ‘spring break’ than rolling up their sleeves and
passing a real funding bill that would set our nation’s
transportation on the right course for the 21st Century,”
charged ATU International President Larry Hanley.
Since the 1960s, the federal transportation bill, which
authorizes highway and transit projects, has traditionally
been a bipartisan package supported by the overwhelming
majority of lawmakers because it has the potential to
create thousands of jobs. H.R. 7, however, was written
in secrecy by a handful of Republicans who were clearly
targeting transit riders and organized labor, two groups
assumed to be more supportive of progressives.
Senator Barbara Boxer, D-CA, echoed those words
saying, “They run off on their vacation and leave the
people twisting in the wind.”
Teetering on brink of disaster
Back in 1975, when New York City was facing imminent
bankruptcy, President Gerald Ford declined to offer
help and the New York Daily News’ headline famously
screamed “Ford to City: Drop Dead.”
Today, it’s transit teetering on the brink of disaster.
During the past two months, Republicans in the House
of Representatives have gone a step further than Ford,
digging millions of burial plots for transit riders and
In early February, Republicans unveiled their long-delayed
five-year surface transportation bill. The American Energy
& Infrastructure Jobs Act (H.R. 7) would reform surface
transportation programs like no bill in history, gutting
transit funding and scrapping sound policies that have
been in place for decades.
Dedicated transit funding: Gone!
Since 1982, when President Ronald Reagan signed
a bill that dedicated a penny of the federal gas tax to
transit, agencies have had a steady source of reliable
federal funding that allows them to keep their systems
in good repair and plan for the future. The House bill
eliminates this funding, bad news for the millions of
people who rely on transit each day. ATU is supporting
a bipartisan amendment to H.R. 7 to restore dedicated
transit funding.
IN TRANSIT
| March/April 2012
5
Privatization aimed at heart of
transit labor
If enacted, the House bill would bring America back to
a time when the Federal Transit Administration (FTA)
all too often interfered with the local decision-making
process. It is designed to spur massive privatization by
the handful of foreign companies that dominate the
transit sector.
Under long-standing Congressional policy, privatization
decisions have been left to local authorities who are best
equipped to make such choices. The House bill would
reverse this policy by encouraging systems to contract
out at least 20% of fixed route bus service. It also requires
FTA to spoon feed local agencies information on the
benefits of privatization. Welcome back to the 1980s.
an important tax benefit for commuters to expire.
Whether a person drove or took transit to work, they
could spend up to $230 a month in pre-tax dollars to
fund their commute. Unfortunately, as a result of House
Republicans’ refusal to extend the law, the transit benefit
on January 1 dropped to $125 a month, causing riders to
dig deeper into their own pockets.
Secrets, lies, and tricks
The reviews are in on H.R. 7, and they are not good. “The
bill is an early Valentine to foreign national corporations
who operate U.S. transit systems and who would reap a
financial bonanza if the bill is passed,” said International
President Larry Hanley.
ATU, which represents workers in both the public and
private sectors, has long maintained that the federal
government is clearly best suited for making broad policy
decisions rather than micro-managing local transit agencies.
During the committee hearing, House Transportation
Committee Chair John Mica, R-FL, claimed that 80%
of the bill had been shared with Democrats as early as last
summer. In reality, Democrats first got a glimpse of the
legislation just days before the hearing.
Operating assistance rejected
A ‘lousy bill’
Despite the continuation of massive service cuts, fare
increases, and layoffs, House Republicans turned a
blind eye to transit riders and workers by rejecting
language to allow transit systems to use their federal
funds for operating assistance. Following more than
100 amendments in an 18-hour House Transportation
Committee hearing, H.R. 3200 (Rep. Carnahan’s
D-MO operating assistance bill) was finally considered
as an amendment for inclusion in H.R 7 on February 2.
“The House has a lousy bill. It takes us back to the dark
ages,” said Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood,
a former Republican Congressman. LaHood touted
President Obama’s $108 billion transit proposal which
promotes increased transportation options and rider
safety. Obama issued a veto threat on H.R. 7, citing the
threat to transit programs.
The committee rejected the amendment by a vote of
28-26. Two Republicans joined every Democrat in
support of the bill. Four members of the committee
who had declared their support – three of whom were
present earlier in the day – were absent for the final vote.
Republicans were successful in getting several GOP
cosponsors of H.R. 3200 to vote against the amendment.
It was raw, union-busting politics at its worst.
ATU is continuing its campaign to include operating
assistance language in H.R. 7 through a vote on the
House floor.
Transit benefit allowed to expire
Separate from H.R. 7, House Republicans have allowed
6
March/April 2012 | IN TRANSIT
Senator Robert Menendez, D-NJ, chair of the
Subcommittee on Housing, Transportation and
Community Development, meanwhile, has been leading
the way on a Senate version of the bill supported by ATU
(MAP-21) which includes operating assistance flexibility
and no funding cuts or privatization.
Not buried yet
Transit advocates and unions are no doubt the target of
this partisan attack by GOP leadership. However, we are
fighting back against this attempt to throw us under the
bus. Republicans now realize they overreached on this
bill, the reason for the delay in bringing it to the floor.
ATU’s campaign to save transit continues. Keep an eye
on our website for the latest updates. 2012 LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE
T
here couldn’t have been a better time for ATU’s
annual Legislative and Political Conference to occur
than March 11 - 14, in Washington, DC, as the Union
and the entire labor movement was in the midst of a
huge struggle over mass transit and the rights of unions
in the U.S.
Much has been accomplished since last year’s gathering.
Many of the 2011 attendees and their members were
active in the campaign that repealed Ohio Governor
John Kasich’s anti-public worker union law, as well as the
petition drive that forced a recall election on Wisconsin
GOP Governor Scott Walker. They have also been
energetic supporters of the Occupy Movement.
All of that and more are included in the video, The Fight
Has Just Begun* which got the conference to a roaring start.
Challenges
International President Larry Hanley followed the video
with a discussion on the coming year’s aggrtessive ATU
campaign.
ATU is developing a program to mobilize members for
the 2012 election and beyond, building coalitions with
riders, passing a solid, long-term transportation bill, and
pushing back anti-union legislation in several states.
Without a doubt the marquee speaker was Ed Schultz,
nationally syndicated radio broadcaster, host of the
MSNBC cable news program, “The Ed Show,” and
the foremost labor advocate in America today. Schultz,
known for his passionate defense of working families, did
not disappoint (more on Shultz’ speech* on page 12).
Election year
The conference paid a lot of attention to the coming
national elections. Participants heard from David
Carpio, AFL-CIO’s national education and training
coordinator, on the federation’s plans for the November
contests.
Later, the group exchanged comments with panels of
experts who contributed to the Union’s ongoing training
on coalition building, safety in the over-the-road
industry, protecting drivers from assault, and providing
reasonable bathroom breaks for drivers.
On Wednesday, Federal Transit Administrator Peter
Rogoff delivered a sobering overview of the difficulties
transit proponents face in Congress, making ATU’s
legislative efforts all the more important.
That afternoon the conference heard from Patrick
Gaspard, executive director of the Democratic National
Committee, who previously served as director of the
Office of Political Affairs for the Obama administration.
The DNC director, and a long-time friend of the
international president, presented a strong case for the
re-election of President Obama, who has been endorsed
by the Union.
International President Hanley concluded with a stirring
call urging the participants to go home and use what
they learned at the event. Working in solidarity with
each other and coalitions will bring us more success than
we can imagine.
*The Fight Has Just Begun video, and Parts 1 & 2 of Ed
Schultz’ entire speech can be found on the ATU YouTube
page at http://www.youtube.com/user/stpatuorg. IN TRANSIT
| March/April 2012
7
Lawmakers avert expiration of transportation
bill with 90-day stopgap measure
A
cting with unexpected speed, lawmakers voted
March 29 for a 90-day extension of federal
highway and mass transit programs, averting a giant
crash on April 1 that would have halted up to 130,000
construction projects nationwide and cost hundreds of
thousands of building trades jobs.
But the temporary fix doesn’t solve the basic partisan
political fight over federal funds for highways, subways,
buses and other transit – and that impasse left unions
for both mass transit and highway workers fuming at
the political game-playing.
That’s because the ruling House GOP leadership
wouldn’t even let lawmakers vote on a two-year
$109 billion bipartisan highway-mass transit bill the
Democratic-run Senate approved earlier this month. The House OK’d the 90-day bill on party lines just
before noon on March 29, 266-158. The Senate zipped
it through at 2:30 p.m. by voice vote.
House Transportation Committee Chair John Mica,
R-FL, tried to bring up his own five-year bill (see
story, page 5), which defunds mass transit and orders
privatization of many transit systems as well as food
8
March/April 2012 | IN TRANSIT
service on Amtrak. International President Larry Hanley was similarly
caustic about the 90-day extension. Hanley also prefers
the Senate bill. It lacks the anti-union sections in
Mica’s failed bill.
“House Republicans kicked the can down the road
again, threatening the safety, security and reliability of
our public transportation systems” by approving only
the 90-day bill, Hanley said, adding, “Meanwhile,
commuters all over the country are paying higher fares
and waiting longer for crowded trains and buses to
come, if they come at all.” LARRY HANLEY, INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT
LETTER FROM THE ROAD
Our moment is near
write this column from the road. I am in California
where I have been attending union meetings and
meeting with local union officers. As I look into the
eyes of our members and listen, I hear story after story
reflecting the current state of the labor movement.
I
I asked our members at the meeting what they thought
it was like to be Rosa Parks getting on the bus? That
minute before she refused to give up her seat, how did
she feel? Was she certain she would change anything
other than her arrest record?
Gary Maurer, a longtime ATU organizer and my
mentor, used to explain to groups of workers he was
organizing that rich people plan their lives in years and
decades. Poor people plan in weeks and by paychecks.
(Next week we will pay the electric bill; week after next,
the mortgage.)
Rosa Parks knew she was risking a lot – maybe even her
life – to say, “no,” to stand up for fairness and dignity in
an unfair world. She knew her friends and family would
question her common sense, or her sanity when she
showed uncommon courage.
Every week it gets harder for ATU members to get past
their bills. It’s the same for 99% of the people.
Will our kids have as good a life
as we’ve had?
That sums up the real state of the union. Our members
are planning their lives in short time – uncertain about
housing and education for their kids. How will they live
when they retire?
One of the reasons I’m on the road is to hear and
learn from our members. But I’m also here to lead our
members in a year-long campaign to answer their really
pressing questions: How can we turn this around? Can
we have a middle class at all anymore? Will our kids have
as good a life as we’ve had?
Can transit workers who feed their bodies to the
grinding wear and tear of everyday work on buses and
trains expect to be treated with fairness and dignity?
In Riverside, CA, a local officer told me that many
members feel hopeless. They believe they can’t win or
even affect the outcome.
Her life would be easier if she went with the program
and sat in the back of the bus. But she didn’t get arrested
to make a point – she did it to change the program.
And her act of defiance against the law, the system and
segregation was a defining moment in the entire civil
rights movement and the last century.
Volunteers will create the change
We need our members and leaders to think about Rosa
Parks, her example and her guts. Think about your
heroes. This labor movement’s future, and our children’s
future will be determined by members who can find it
within themselves to take the risk that every leader must
take to force change. As I travel to union meetings in
the ATU, I can sense that our moment is near and our
members are getting ready to fight for change.
That change will be generated by members who volunteer
their time to the work of making the Union stronger in
their communities. I am leading and listening as I travel
the ATU route, building a fighting Union.
Gotta run for now... off to the Bay Area!
IN TRANSIT
| March/April 2012
9
ATU joins Occupy
Movement for public
transit Day of Action
“Urban transit systems in most American cities, for
example, have become a genuine civil rights issue –
and a valid one…”
– Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
A
TU honored the memory of Dr. Martin Luther
King, Jr., April 4, by joining the Occupy Movement
in demonstrations that were a part of a National Day of
Action to Defend Public Transportation across the United
States. The event initiated by Occupy Boston brought
attention to increasing fares and decreasing service in the
transit industry, and the profits big lending institutions
are realizing from interest on loans made to cash-strapped
systems.
with disabilities, and others; fares which are really just
another kind of tax imposed on those in the 99% who
can least afford it.”
“Public transportation is a human right,” said
International President Larry Hanley, “It is so
appropriate that the Day of Action took place on the
April 4 anniversaries of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s
1967 speech, ‘Beyond Vietnam: Breaking the Silence,’
and his death just one year later.”
“We need to be clear,” Hanley continued, “that the crisis
in mass transit is caused in no small part by the diversion
of taxpayer dollars to war and to the corporations that
benefit from war. And that this inflicts a disproportionate
burden of increased fares on seniors, the poor, persons
10
March/April 2012 | IN TRANSIT
Detroit
The most intense actions took place in areas where riders
are anticipating the deepest service reductions.
In Detroit, MI, where painful cuts were made in mass
transit in March, and where more are expected, members
held a candlelight vigil at the Rosa Parks Transit Center
to remember the civil rights leader and protest the
service reductions that dig an even bigger hole for the
city to climb out of.
not be massive – at most I counted 100 or so gadflies
inside the statehouse – but they’re f—ing bold. They
even brought their own train.”
Motor City’s Local 26 President Henry Gaffney joined
other municipal unions earlier in the day to protest the
scapegoating of union members for the city’s financial
problems, and the anticipated cuts in public worker pay
and benefits that will take place as a result of the recent
consent deal with the state.
“This is not going to help the city,” said Gaffney. “There’s
no money in it. So how’s it going to get any better?”
Denver
Day of Action participants gathered at the RTD Civic
Center Station in Denver, CO, reiterating the theme
expressed in the rallies in other cities that public
transportation is a civil right.
Boston
In Boston, MA, hailed as the “epicenter” of the action,
members “occupied” the Massachusetts capitol from 11
am, Tuesday, April 3 to 11 pm, the following day. Many
crowded into a hearing and shouted “Shame on you!”
after the MBTA voted to cut service and increase fares
as much as 23%
The group also called on the state to provide funds to
bridge the T’s $161 million budget gap in a rally inside
the statehouse.
Commenting on the event, Boston Phoenix blogger
Chris Faraone bore witness to the effectiveness of the
coalition-building the ATU has been promoting saying:
“…it’s not unusual for hundreds of nurses, laborers,
or seniors to show up en masse. But there’s a huge
difference between this crowd and those, this multifront operation and the pointed efforts of organized
labor groups acting unilaterally. Today’s crowd might
The activists received a somewhat different reaction in
the Mile-High City where an RTD spokesperson said
that the agency sympathizes with the aims of the protest.
“The fact that we have faced cutbacks illustrates the
importance of continuing appropriate levels of funding
for transit services,” he said.
Las Vegas
In Las Vegas, NV, Local 1637 joined Occupy to give
free rides on the “Occubus” - a 15-seater van running
up and down Charleston Blvd. Riders on the OccuBus
received free sack lunches, and educational materials
about public transit.
Pittsburgh
Protesters in Pittsburgh, PA, gathered outside of the
City-County Building to denounce proposed transit
cuts there. Members of Local 85 came together with
Occupy Pittsburgh to petition the state to provide more
funding to the Port Authority of Allegheny County.
PAT is facing a $64 million budget deficit, and plans for
a 35% service cut to take effect this September.
IN TRANSIT
| March/April 2012
11
Newark
New Jersey members joined Occupy at bus stops and
train stations in Newark, NJ, to hand out leaflets
warning riders about how potential cuts in the federal
transportation funding bill would affect their ride.
National Nurses United, the Chicago Teachers Union,
and Citizens Taking Action to draw attention to the cuts
in transit service happening there.
ATU was also expected to participate in Day of Action
events in Portland, OR; Seattle, WA; Worcester, MA; St.
Paul, MN; Los Angeles, CA; and other locations.
Chicago
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In Chicago, IL, ATU members gathered outside Chicago
Transit Authority offices with members of Occupy,
March/April 2012 | IN TRANSIT
BOB BAKER, INTERNATIONAL EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT
we have a clear choice –
survival!
T
he ATU has endorsed the re-election of President
Obama. That should come as no surprise to anyone
familiar with what this Union stands for. It should
remind us that we are urging our members to vote for
candidates who support Labor and transit.
We know that some of our members don’t like anyone
asking them to vote a certain way and we truly
understand. I’m sure you’ve heard a lot of folks say
that yourself.
But, the stakes in this election are so high that we have
to speak out loudly about our issues and we have to use
our most powerful weapon – the ballot box.
Don’t have to look far
Mitt Romney and the Tea Party have endorsed the
anti-union measures introduced in several states. So,
we don’t have to look far to determine who our mortal
enemies are this time around.
The differences between the candidates on Labor and
transit issues are clear. So let me be the first to tell you
that you must vote and get everyone you know to vote
to save working families in the United States.
Essential services - forced strikes and right to work? R-e-a-l-l-y –
in Canada!
The ultra-conservatives are targeting working families
on every front in Canada. They are trying to have our
work declared an “essential service” in several places so
that our members will not be allowed to strike. In other
places, their idea of collective bargaining is making nonnegotiable demands, refusing to negotiate, and then
trying to wait our locals out in the subsequent strikes
they cause.
Stan Dera, director of the ATU Canadian Council,
has just notified us that the Canadian Labour Council
in Alberta is in the fight of its life, trying to defeat
the Rosedale Conservatives who have promised to
introduce right-to-work legislation in the province
if they get elected. Everyday they come at us with
something else, yet they always blame the worker for any
problems that arise.
Stop, look, listen!
Here at the International we are aggressively working
to support our members. As I write, our international
and local officers along with our Department of Field
Mobilization are mobilizing our friends and community
organizations to do battle. And we are seeing impressive
victories. We repealed the anti-public worker union bill
in Ohio. We submitted twice the number of petition
signatures needed to mandate a recall election of
Governor Walker in Wisconsin. Despite some really difficult strikes the solidarity of our
Canadian members is stronger than ever. The upcoming
elections in the U.S. and Canada won’t be won easily,
but the choice will certainly be clear. And with the
help of our members, our families and our friends we
will Survive – and we will Succeed!
In Solidarity,
Bob Baker
IN TRANSIT
| March/April 2012
13
MSNBC’s Ed Schultz
‘Nothing is lost until you give up’
The following are excerpts from the address by Ed Shultz, host of the MSNBC cable TV show, “The Ed Show,”
to the ATU Legislative and Political Conference, March 12, in Washington, DC:*
A
ll of you in leadership positions have a heavy lift for
America in your industry. Being a leader today is to
be willing to take special responsibility, willing to follow
the plan and be disciplined, willing to never give up –
because nothing’s lost until you give up…
This isn’t about just one election… This is about educating
people to understand the attack that has been made on
Labor and working families in this country…
If you’re there, if you’re standing on that wall, if you’re
marching, if you’re spreading the word, if you’re leading
in your community, if you’re leading in your group – that
heart, that passion, that desire – it can’t be purchased.
People make the difference. You are in a position where
you have to make a difference. You can’t give up.
*The entire address can be found on the ATU YouTube page
at: http://www.youtube.com/user/stpatuorg
You’re in the business of people… You may call it the
“transportation” business and you may have certain skills
that you have to use [in your work] but you’re really in the
“people” business.
If you don’t care about people we’re not going to get better
as a country… if working families don’t stand up and if
we don’t have the proper leadership, who knows where
this country’s going to go?
It starts with folks like you who are in a position to
influence and encourage…
STAY CONNECTED
For the latest ATU News and Action Alerts please check out the ATU’s social media network
14
Facebook: facebook.com/ATUInternational
YouTube: youtube.com/user/stpatuorg
Twitter: twitter.com/ATUComm
Flickr: flickr.com/photos/atuinternational/
March/April 2012 | IN TRANSIT
Palm Beach paratransit
workers win over $2
million in lost wages
A
judgment recently handed down
by the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals
in Florida could result in a back pay
award of more than $2 million for
paratransit drivers working for Metro
in Palm Beach. Since 2007 ATU Local
1577 has been in a labor dispute with
Metro – one of the contractors operating
paratransit for Palm Tran Connection.
W
hen Local 1433-Phoenix, AZ, threatened to strike,
member Lisa Pacheco Estrada knew it might be a
long, tough fight. A former gang member, who had lost
many friends to the streets and did jail time at age 18, Lisa
prepared for the strike by getting her finances in order and
moving into a smaller house with her children.
“When I first came to Veolia I noticed all the ‘walking dead’
and wanted to help in any way,” Lisa said. “Now with the
strike I wanted to be a positive influence and a leader.”
And a difference she certainly made. Local 1433
Financial-Secretary Michael Cornelius said “Lisa became
our No. 1 cheerleader. Her commitment, dedication, and
enthusiasm served as a model for all. “Without her we
could have never settled this strike.”
But Lisa’s moment to shine during the strike had actually
been a work in progress. A member since 2008, Lisa
has volunteered countless hours for union activities.
She started a fitness campaign called “Project Enough
is Enough” for the local to get members eating healthier
and exercising.
When asked why she committed so much time to the
union Lisa reflected on her past. “I saw too much violence
in my early life. Now I realize in order to respect life you
must have integrity, and be willing to be sacrifice to help
others while expecting nothing in return.”
“This is a victory not only for workers,
but for the people who rely on
experienced, professional Metro drivers
to get to and from the doctor, church,
and other daily tasks,” said Local 1577
President Dwight Mattingly. “At Metro
the bottom line comes first. For drivers
it’s about getting their passengers
safely and securely to their destinations
on time.”
Suit brought in 2008
The suit was brought in 2008, in
response to Metro’s unilateral reduction
of workers’ hours after their employees
voted to form a union. The court ruled
this a violation of a federal labor law,
which says that – even without a first
contract – employers may not make
changes in working conditions that are
not negotiated with the new union.
Metro appealed the original decision
in favor of ATU by an Administrative
Law Judge (ALJ) to the National Labor
Relations Board (NLRB). The ALJ’s
judgment was affirmed by the NLRB.
Metro then appealed the NLRB decision
in the 11th Circuit, which has also ruled
in favor of the paratransit workers.
IN TRANSIT
| March/April 2012
15
Judge tosses parts of
Wisconsin anti-union law
Walker Recall vote on June 5
I
n an entertaining Wisconsin ruling that
delved deeply into the politics surrounding
Right Wing GOP Governor Scott Walker’s
anti-union law, a federal judge in the Badger
State tossed out parts of it, but kept its key section:
a ban on collective bargaining for 200,000 state and
local workers.
Passage of the law last year set off massive protests, in which
ATU took part, and a later recall petition against the newlyelected governor. The day the judge ruled, Wisconsin’s official
elections body confirmed that residents turned in a little more
than 900,000 valid signatures on the recall – almost double what
the law requires. Unions, including ATU, led the drive. The recall
election is set for June 5.
Recertification requirement rejected
The ruling by U.S. District Judge William Conley threw out the Walker
law’s section that forced most public worker unions to seek yearly
re-certification from at least 51% of all their members. The exceptions:
several local police and fire fighter unions – only those, Conley noted,
which backed Walker in 2010, while others did not.
Conley also tossed the section of Walker law’s saying that those police and fire
fighter unions, in Milwaukee, could keep automatically deducting dues from
workers’ pay-checks while other public worker unions could not. He said that
distinction violated unions’ free speech rights of the U.S. Constitution’s 1st
Amendment. He ordered automatic dues deductions reinstated by May 31.
They’ve been gone almost nine months. 16
March/April 2012 | IN TRANSIT
Chicago local fights CTA exploitation of
part-time operators
B
usted! Documents recently obtained by Local
241-Chicago, IL, confirm that the Chicago Transit
Authority (CTA) flagrantly violated their contract by
continually requiring part-time bus operators (PTBOs)
to work more than 32 hours per week since February
2010 – the month almost 1,000 full and part-time
Chicago members were laid off. The local is pursuing the
matter in an arbitration hearing. The union is asking for
a make whole remedy that could cost CTA a significant
amount of money.
“This is a blatant violation of our contract for our hard
working part-time operators,” said ATU International
Vice President and Local 241 Trustee Javier Perez. “We
will pursue this matter to the full extent of the law until
our members are compensated for this work.”
318,000 hours over
contract agreement
The documents requested by the local reveal that, over
the last two years, PTBOs logged at least 318,000 hours
more than the total they should have worked had the
agency abided by the collective bargaining agreement.
CTA filled the void left by the lay-offs with the extra
hours it demanded from part-time workers. And, since
PTBOs don’t get the paid vacation, paid holidays, short
term disability benefits, or pension contributions that
full-time workers receive, CTA saved a bundle of money.
CTA not only exploited part-time workers, but harmed
full-time workers by replacing those laid-off with
cheaper labor. Are you tired of the constant threats to your livelihood
and your family’s wellbeing?
The ATU-COPE program collects voluntary contributions from ATU members to support
political candidates who support mass transit and organized labor.
For every dollar your local contributes over its 2011 total the ATU will return a dollar for the
local to use in a coalition campaign to restore transit service and put our members back to
work in your community. COPE-PLUS is the tool you need.
Fight back with COPE-PLUS today!
IN TRANSIT
| March/April 2012
17
Phoenix local strikes, wins two-year battle
with French multi-national
Local President Bob Bean, 1433-Phoenix, AZ, gives an account of the two-year struggle to get a new contract from French
multi-national transit operator, Veolia, and the strike that finally brought them victory:
actions and conduct finally left the drivers with no
choice but to walk off of the job.
We went out at midnight, March 9, shutting down both
the North and South Facility and on March 10, at 5:30
p.m. we put up the picket lines at Tempe as well.
The cities came to a standstill. We brought them to
their knees as the company could only manage to get
approximately 14% service on the road.
O
n January 26, 2010, Local 1433 sent out a request to
renegotiate the contract that was set to expire on June
30, 2010. Veolia failed to meet with the ATU until June of
that year. Local never made ‘crazy’ demands
ATU never entered these negotiations making crazy
demands for huge increases. We understood that the
economy of today would not support such proposals,
irrespective of Veolia’s $388 million contract with the
city, which included a 12% increase in city payments over
their term. (The city also gave them almost $28 million
to settle sick time and pension liabilities). Veolia from day one was not reasonable in their
demands, ultimately resulting in many “unfair labor
practices.” Every charge filed against Veolia was upheld,
so Veolia signed a settlement agreement with the Board. The mayor of Phoenix went on TV asking that both sides
go back to the table to settle the issues, Local 1433 was
willing but Veolia couldn’t as their negotiator, had flown
to DC to pedal himself at the APTA conference, and the
GM of Phoenix had also left town on Friday, March 9.
Pizza for both sides
We went back to the table on Tuesday March 13, with the
Mayor Stanton talking to both sides before he left.
We had negotiated all day when Mayor Stanton delivered
four pizzas to both sides. We came to an agreement late
that night.
We came out of the negotiations with what we
considered a big win as we retained what Veolia was
trying to steal from us, we retained what the Teamsters
and Operating Engineers gave away, plus we made
forward movement by getting first day sick and paid
bereavement for the first time.
A force to reckon with
Veolia unlawfully imposes contract
Almost as soon as they signed it, Veolia violated it and
imposed (unlawfully) the terms of their “Last, Best and
Final” offer onto their employees, effectively taking away
over thirty years of progress in bargaining. Even after all of this, the ATU refused to strike and
made every attempt to find an alternative. But, Veolia’s
18
March/April 2012 | IN TRANSIT
We had won the 22-month war against the big French
corporation and we showed both Veolia and the City of
Phoenix that ATU Local 1433 is a force to reckon with.
We could not have done this without our members,
they were the strength, they held the lines and they came
out winners.
OSCAR OWENS, INTERNATIONAL SECRETARY-TREASURER
Will clever phrases
obscure the truth?
D
id you follow the news from the Republican
primaries and caucuses? It’s was amazing, wasn’t
it? I don’t know how candidates can say the things they
do with a straight face.
For example, after his loss in the South Carolina primary,
Mitt Romney accused his Republican rivals of using
Democratic “politics of envy” against him. Later, after
the State of the Union address, Speaker John Boehner
characterized the president’s speech in the same way.
It’s a clever phrase. It must have gotten a good reaction
from Republican focus groups. But, like so many
political clichés, it succeeds because it exploits people’s
prejudices regardless of the truth.
Dog whistles
on mischaracterizations of their goals and intents. If
these slogans are repeated often enough they become
the “truth” for many people. That’s why you’re going
to hear phrases like “politics of envy,” “food stamp
president,” and “government-centered economy” over
and over again.
Of course, we know the truth. Working people don’t
waste their time being jealous of other people’s wealth.
But they do believe in an America where everyone has
an equal shot at success. And, that’s what’s missing
today.
That “politics of envy” line might work well among
the elite Republican “one percenters,” but I think it
will backfire in the general election. Their own words
speak volumes about how far removed they are from
the actual lived experience of the vast majority of the
American people.
Another example can be found in Newt Gingrich’s
attempt to define President Obama as the “food stamp
president.” The phrase reminds voters of the “sainted”
Ronald Reagan’s complaints about “welfare queens” in
the 1980s. And, like a “dog whistle,” racists hear the
former speaker agreeing with them, without him having
to say it in so many words.
Right now, Republicans are working hard to insert notso-subtle epithets into our national lexicon that they
hope will create a mind-set in which voters negatively
interpret everything the president says.
Maddening
What’s maddening is that so many people swallow
this twisting of the truth (usually expressed in
easy-to-remember two or three word phrases) and
become passionate opponents of politicians based
IN TRANSIT
| March/April 2012
19
Outrage erupts over
lenient sentence
for driver attack.
ATU, TWU working
to combat assaults
T
he ATU is outraged by the lenient sentence given
to a man convicted of assaulting a bus driver in
Vancouver, BC. Del Louie was sentenced to 200 hours
of community service. He will serve no jail time.
bus using the back door, Dixon told him to use the front
door. Louie punched Dixon in the face so hard that he
broke the bones in Dixon’s cheek. Dixon has undergone
four surgeries as a result of the attack.
“We are furious,” says Canadian Council Director Stan
Dera. “Del Louie sucker punches a driver, who is merely
doing his job, and the court allows him to walk away a
free man? Where’s the justice in that?”
‘How many more drivers must have
their faces smashed?’
The ATU/TWU Alliance
ATU and TWU have formed an alliance to address this
growing problem of attacks on drivers; developing a
strategic plan to deal with this issue.
“Assaults on drivers have skyrocketed across North
America,” said ATU International President Larry
Hanley. “In an economy that forces people out of the
middle class and pushes the poor deeper into poverty, a
uniformed bus driver may be viewed as an agent of the
haves demanding even more resulting in unprovoked
attack.”
Louie attacked Coast Mountain driver Charles Dixon,
a member of the Canadian Automobile Workers, on
February 15, 2011. When Louie attempted to board the
20
March/April 2012 | IN TRANSIT
Dera says his members are frustrated and disappointed
with this decision and with what is happening to drivers
across the country. “It’s decisions like these that make
perpetrators believe they can do whatever they want.
The sentence is outrageous and further endangers the
lives of drivers everywhere.”
The ATU has been proposing changes to the Criminal
Code, to increase penalties for assaults on transit
drivers. “We are trying to get all levels of government to
acknowledge the problem with little effect,” says Dera.
“This is a matter of public safety. Transit workers can not
go to their job and passengers can not travel on public
transportation in fear of being attacked, assaulted or
even shot,” Hanley continued. “Something needs to be
done, and the ATU and the TWU are working to bring
attention to and combat this problem.”
New reporting requirements for
Commercial Drivers Licenses
New Commercial Drivers License regulations took effect on January 30.* The new rules require:
1. All CDL license holders and applicants, both intrastate (transit, school bus, para-transit) and interstate
service (over-the-road, charter) subject to the federal physical qualification requirements (49 CFR
391), must certify the type of service they provide at the time of their license renewal or application no
later than January 30, 2014.
(a) CDL holders must certify whether they operate: 1) interstate (exempt or non-exempt), or
2) intrastate (exempt or non-exempt)
(b) Those CDL license holders or applicants, certifying that they only operate intrastate, are not
required to submit (see below) a copy of their medical examiners certificate to their state
licensing agency, unless their state passes legislation requiring this action. None have done so
to date. We will advise when and if any states enact such legislation.
2. Interstate CDL license holders and applicants must also provide their state licensing agency (SDLA)
with a copy of their medical examiners certificate. The SDLA is usually the state department of
transportation or motor vehicle division.
(a) Interstate drivers must also retain paper copies of their certificate until January 30, 2014.
(b) The information provided, as to type of service and medical qualification is then included by
the state agency in the national Commercial Driver License Information System (CDLIS)
that can be accessed by employers and law enforcement to verify that the driver is physically
qualified to drive.
For specific state-by-state requirements for drivers and information related to how a state is handling the
medical certification requirements, and to determine who to contact for additional information, please go
to: http://afl.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?key=1&url_num=2&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.atu.org%2Fatupdfs%2FMedicalCertificate_StateByStateSubmissionInstructions.pdf+
For more information go to CDL Renewals – Frequently Asked Questions (January 2012) at www.atu.org.
* The full text may be found in the Federal Register, 73 Fed. Reg. 73096. 45th Annual Black Caucus Conference
“Focus on the Future”
May 17-20, 2012 Dallas, TX
All information and forms pertaining to the Conference can
be downloaded from the ATU Black Caucus website:
www.atubc.org
IN TRANSIT
| March/April 2012
21
Mississauga driver
suspended 5 days for
using washroom
W
hen a Mississauga, ON, bus driver was suspended five days for taking too long in
the bathroom Local 1572 President Nick Bye knew this wasn’t just another incident of
“the boss being a jerk”, but a prevalent problem for operators across the U.S. and Canada.
ATU and the Transport Workers Union (TWU) have been working together to address this
longstanding issue and Bye saw this as an opportunity to raise awareness of the problem. Bye
called the International for assistance in bringing the story to light.
“It’s an important health and safety issue that really should be regarded as a human right.” said
International President Larry Hanley. “Our members have been dealing with this problem for
many years and this joint committee is working to find ways to deal with this issue.”
Chaos?
ATU filed a grievance on behalf of the disciplined driver, who was cited for “deliberate
delay of service for using washroom facilities.” At the hearing in response to the union
grievance company officials argued, “we can’t give every operator carte blanche to go to
the washroom and be late, that would be chaos.”
According to a recent study in Neurourology and Urodynamics an extreme urge to use
the bathroom has similar cognitive effects as 24 hours without sleep or a .05% blood
alcohol content. In addition, extreme urine retention can lead to urinary tract infections,
bladder damage, and kidney disease.
Health and safety risk
“This is not only a matter of convenience for drivers, but it threatens the safety and
security of passengers, pedestrians and other drivers on the road,” Bye stated.
Like Local 1572 bus drivers, many other ATU and TWU locals have been dealing
with the problem of bathroom breaks for years. Many transit agencies don’t provide
drivers clean, accessible bathrooms and drivers are forced to use the facilities of
restaurants and stores on their routes.
“In what job would workers stand for not having the right to use the bathroom?”
Hanley continued. “We at the International are committed to fighting to change
transit system policies on bathroom breaks.”
22
March/April 2012 | IN TRANSIT
New local presidents, financial secretaries receive training
ATU’s new local presidents and financial secretaries traveled to the Maritime Training Center in the BaltimoreWashington area, February 20 – 24, to take part in a weeklong training session led by ATU international staff
and labor experts. The participants heard from International President Larry Hanley about the challenges facing
ATU today, the labor movement, and working families, and toured ATU headquarters. Other topics covered
included coalition building, grievance training, social networking, media training, and record keeping.
IN MEMORIAM: RETIRED GEB MEMBER
& CO-FOUNDER OF THE CANADIAN COUNCIL
Gunter Bruckner
B
rother Alfred “Gunter”
Bruckner, retired member
of the ATU General Executive
Board, co-founder of the
Canadian Council, and former
financial
secretary/business
agent of Local 583-Calglary,
AB, passed away on April 19.
Gunter, a German immigrant, started as a cleaner,
then became serviceman and trolley repairman in
1957. He was elected as a Local 583 executive board
member and shop steward in 1969. In 1971, Gunter
was elected Recording Secretary of the local. He went
on to serve ATU as financial-secretary/business agent
of Local 583, co-founder of the Canadian Council,
and Canadian representative on the ATU General
Executive Board.
Bruckner’s smiling face and good-natured personality
has been a fixture at ATU events and Conventions for
decades. He will be missed.
IN TRANSIT
| March/April 2012
23
Fall River Transit Fights for “More” Service
with riders to fight service cuts and push for more
bus service.
Fall River Mayor Will Flanagan, State Representative
Paul Schmid and City Councilors Ray Mitchell and
Mike Miozza all endorsed a proposal to expand bus
service in the area at a meeting held by the Bus
Riders United, February 18. A postcard circulated
by the group has already garnered 2,000 signatures
in favor of evening and Sunday hours.
U
nlike so many cities in which commuters are
fighting just to keep the service they have,
residents of Fall River, MA, continue to lobby
for increased public transit in their area. “They
want to see better transportation options at night
and on Sundays,” says Local 174 President Eric
Carvalho, who adds, “We are 100 percent behind
it.” The campaign began in early 2011 when ATU
Locals 174 and 1037 began building coalitions
Local Unions
Celebrate 100th,
75th Anniversaries
The Amalgamated Transit Union congratulates the
officers and members all over Canada and the United
States who are celebrating historic anniversaries of
their local unions this year. The steadfastness and
solidarity these locals have demonstrated over many
years is an inspiration to us all.
24
March/April 2012 | IN TRANSIT
Recently the bus riders helped secure a federal
grant that allows transit to provide service on
Martin Luther King Day, Presidents Day, Patriots
Day and Memorial Day. They’ve also sent letters to
Senators John Kerry and Scott Brown requesting
they support the Carnahan bill that would allow
transit systems to use a portion of their federal
capital funding for operating assistance.
100th & 75th Anniversaries
Local
Year
Charter Date
580-Syracuse, NY
582-Rome, NY
583-Calgary, AB
587-Seattle, WA
588-Regina, SK
589-Boston, MA
591-Hull, QC
610-Charleston, SC
100th
100th
100th
100th
100th
100th
100th
100th
January 10, 1912
January 29, 1912
February 26, 1912
April 8, 1912
April 25, 1912
May 22, 1912
May 25, 1912
October 28, 1912
981-Alexandria, LA
75th
February 14, 1927
100 YEARS AGO IN IN TRANSIT
Labor celebrates 100th anniversary
of Bread & Roses Strike
T
his year marks the 100th anniversary of the historic Bread and
Roses Strike that moved the conscience of the nation, bringing
national attention to the plight of the families, including young children,
who toiled in the dirty and dangerous factories of Lawrence, MA, and
throughout the country.
A re-enactment in Lawrence on January 12 kicked off a yearlong
celebration of the Bread and Roses centennial, which will commemorate
historical events that gave rise to the U.S. labor movement.
On January 12, 1912, some 25,000 workers at the mills of the American
Woolen Company in Lawrence walked off the job when the company cut
their pay – already a mere $8 a week for the men, and less for the women
and children – after the state legislature passed a law shortening the length
of their workweek from 56 to 54 hours.
Workers stayed off the job for months, enduring beatings from police and the Massachusetts militia, who spared not even
women and children.
The first ‘Occupy Movement’?
Some see in the conditions that led to the Bread and Roses strike parallels to today’s growing income disparity between
the wealthy and the rest of us, as well as the exploitation of America’s workers by financial interests. Robert Forrant, a
history professor at the University of Massachusetts, calls it “the first Occupy movement.”
Start of real workplace reform
Ethan Snow, a member of the Centennial Committee and a UMass graduate student, noted that the Bread and Roses
Strike spelled the beginning of the end for child labor in America, and the start of real workplace reforms.
“The strike is notable because it was the first time that over 25,000 people from 50 nationalities speaking 27 different
languages united to win rights in the workplace,” he added. “The labor movement in 1912 was very young and few
decisive victories had really been achieved until the 1912 strike in Lawrence.”
IN TRANSIT
| March/April 2012
25
A
LEC, ALEC, ALEC! After years of toiling in
obscurity to provide anti-worker, conservative
and corporate-friendly model bills for state legislators
to turn into law, the American Legislative Exchange
Council is getting a ton of unfavorable publicity.
The news is so bad that some of its biggest corporate
members are disassociating themselves from the
organization as fast as they can.
ALEC is the organization behind legislation passed
in Wisconsin and under consideration in other states
stripping public worker unions of their collective
bargaining rights. ALEC members in state legislatures
have also introduced right-to-work legislation and
bills that prohibit dues check off.
While you may not have seen ALEC’s name until
now, you surely will recognize its supporters. WalMart, UPS, Bayer, State Farm and AT&T all help fund
ALEC’s work, sit on its board, vote on its task forces,
and access state lawmakers through its networking.
Lately ALEC has moved beyond its corporate agenda
to promote more explicitly conservative political
legislation such as the new voter ID laws that could
potentially disenfranchise up to five million voters –
especially people of color, young people, and seniors
– in the next election.
26
March/April 2012 | IN TRANSIT
Unwelcome attention
One of the bills ALEC pushed through several state
legislatures – the “Stand Your Ground” gun law – has
become a source of unwelcome attention.
The Florida “Stand your Ground“ law that may protect
George Zimmerman, the man who recently shot
and killed 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, became the
template for the ALEC model bill in dozens of states.
Recently Wendy’s, McDonalds, Kraft Foods, CocaCola, Pepsi and Intuit have decided to not renew their
membership with ALEC and the Gates Foundation has
pulled funding.
Advocacy groups are continuing to put pressure on
other ALEC sponsors and are soliciting the support of
the public. CREDO Action is targeting ALEC’s voter
suppression campaign. Join the campaign at http://act.
credoaction.com/campaign/alec_id/
Carta desde el camino
Nuestro momento se
aproxima
Escribo esta columna desde el camino. Estoy en
California, donde he estado asistiendo a reuniones
sindicales y me he reunido con funcionarios del sindicato
local. Mientras miro a los ojos de nuestros miembros y
escucho, me llegan muchas historias sobre la situación
actual del movimiento laboral.
Gary Maurer, un convocante veterano del ATU y mi mentor,
solía explicar a los grupos de trabajadores que convocaba
que las personas ricas planifican sus vidas en años y en
décadas. Las personas sin recursos planifican en semanas
y por cheque de pago —la semana próxima, pagaremos la
factura de electricidad; la siguiente, la hipoteca).
Cada semana que pasa, los miembros del ATU tienen
más dificultades para pagar sus cuentas. Y lo mismo le
ocurre al 99% de las personas.
¿Tendrán nuestros hijos una vida tan
buena como la que tuvimos nosotros?
Esto resume la situación real del sindicato. Nuestros
miembros planifican sus vidas en períodos cortos, con
dudas sobre la vivienda y la educación para sus hijos.
¿Cómo vivirán cuando se jubilen?
Una de las razones por las cuales viajo es para escuchar
a nuestros miembros y para aprender de ellos. Pero
también estoy aquí para convocar a nuestros miembros
a una campaña anual para responder a las preguntas más
urgentes: ¿Cómo se puede revertir esta situación? ¿Es
posible que desaparezca la clase media por completo?
¿Tendrán nuestros hijos una vida tan buena como la que
tuvimos nosotros?
¿Pueden los trabajadores del transporte que alimentan sus
cuerpos con el desgaste del trabajo diario en autobuses y
trenes esperar un trato digno y justo?
¿Tenía Rosa Parks la certeza de que algo
cambiaría?
Durante la reunión, les pregunté a nuestros miembros
qué creían que Rosa Parks sentía al subir al autobús. El
minuto anterior de rehusarse a ceder su asiento, ¿cómo
se sentiría? ¿Tendría la certeza de que cambiaría algo
además de su registro de antecedentes penales?
Rosa Parks sabía que arriesgaba mucho – quizás su propia
vida – como para decir “no” y dejar de lado su petición
de justicia y dignidad en un mundo injusto. Sabía que su
familia y sus amigos cuestionarían su sentido común o su
cordura cuando dio muestras de un coraje poco común.
Su vida hubiera sido mucho más fácil si hubiera
acatado el programa y se hubiera sentado en la parte
trasera del autobús. Pero no se hizo arrestar para hacer
un señalamiento; lo hizo para cambiar el programa. Y
su acto de desafiar la ley, el sistema y la segregación fue
un momento crucial para el movimiento pro derechos
civiles y para el siglo pasado. Los voluntarios crearán el cambio
Necesitamos que nuestros miembros y líderes piensen en
Rosa Parks, en su ejemplo y en su valor. Reflexionen sobre
nuestros héroes. El futuro de este movimiento laboral y el
futuro de nuestros hijos dependen de que los miembros
puedan encontrar la fuerza interior para correr el riesgo
que asumen los líderes para forzar el cambio. Mientras
viajo para participar en las reuniones sindicales en el
ATU, puedo sentir que nuestro momento se aproxima y
que nuestros miembros se están aprontando para pelear
por el cambio. Ese cambio será generado por los miembros que ofrezcan
su tiempo para trabajar en el fortalecimiento del
sindicato dentro de sus comunidades. Lidero y escucho
mientras recorro el camino del ATU de construcción de
un sindicato combatiente. ¡Debo irme ahora... hacia Bay Area! En Riverside, CA, un funcionario local me comentó que
muchos miembros se sentían desesperanzados. Creen
que no pueden ganar y ni siquiera afectar el resultado.
IN TRANSIT
| March/April 2012
27
Nuestra elección es clara:
¡sobrevivir!
El ATU ha decidido apoyar la reelección del presidente
Obama. Esto no debería ser una sorpresa para nadie que
esté familiarizado con los valores del Sindicato. Debería
servir de recordatorio para nuestros miembros de que los
instamos a votar por candidatos que apoyen el trabajo y
el tránsito.
Sabemos que algunos de nuestros miembros no desean
que se los invite a votar de determinada manera y los
entendemos perfectamente. Tengo la certeza de que
ustedes habrán escuchado lo mismo muchas veces.
Pero debido a que los intereses en juego en esta elección
son tan importantes, debemos hablar abiertamente sobre
nuestros problemas y debemos utilizar nuestra arma más
poderosa: la urna electoral.
No hay que mirar demasiado lejos
Mitt Romney y el Tea Party han apoyado las medidas
antisindicales implementadas en varios estados. Por lo
tanto, no es necesario mirar demasiado lejos para percibir
quiénes son nuestros enemigos mortales esta vez.
Las diferencias entre los candidatos en las cuestiones
laborales y de tránsito son claras. Por lo que permítanme
ser el primero en decirles a quién deben votar ustedes y
todos sus conocidos para salvar a las familias trabajadoras
de Estados Unidos.
¿Servicios esenciales – huelgas forzadas y derecho a trabajar? D-e v-e-r-a-s
¡En Canadá!
Los ultraconservadores atacan a las familias trabajadoras
por todos los frentes. En Canadá, intentan que nuestro
trabajo sea declarado un «servicio esencial» en varios sitios
de modo que nuestros miembros pierdan el derecho de
huelga. En otros lugares, su idea de negociación colectiva
es realizar demandas no negociables, negarse a negociar
y entonces tratar de deshacerse de nuestros locales en las
huelgas posteriores que causan.
28
March/April 2012 | IN TRANSIT
Stan Dera, director del Consejo Canadiense del ATU, nos
acaba de notificar que, si son electos, el Consejo Laboral
Canadiense en Alberta está desplegando toda su artillería
pesada para combatir a los conservadores de Rosedale
que han prometido introducir la legislación right-towork (derecho a trabajar) en la provincia. Todos los días
inventan algo distinto; no obstante, siempre culpan a los
trabajadores por todos los problemas que surgen.
¡Deténgase, observe, escuche!
Aquí, en la Internacional, trabajamos con dinamismo para
brindar apoyo a nuestros miembros. Mientras escribo,
nuestros funcionarios locales e internacionales junto con
nuestro Departamento de Movilización de Campo están
movilizando a nuestros amigos y a las organizaciones
comunitarias para dar batalla. Y estamos siendo testigos
de victorias impresionantes. Repelimos la ley contra los
sindicatos de empleados públicos en Ohio. Presentamos
el doble de las firmas de petición exigidas para decretar
la elección por revocación de mandato del gobernador
Walker en Wisconsin.
A pesar de algunas huelgas francamente difíciles, la
solidaridad de nuestros miembros canadienses es más fuerte
que nunca. Las próximas elecciones en EE. UU. y Canadá
no serán fáciles, pero la elección será seguramente clara. ¡Y
con la ayuda de nuestros miembros, nuestras familias
y nuestros amigos Sobreviviremos y Venceremos!! Solidariamente.
Bob Baker
¿Lograrán algunas frases
ingeniosas ocultar la verdad?
¿Siguió usted las noticias de las primarias de los
republicanos y sus camarillas políticas? Fue increíble, ¿no
lo cree? No sé cómo hacen los candidatos para decir lo
que dicen con cara de póquer.
Por ejemplo, después de perder las primarias en Carolina
del Sur, Mitt Romney acusó a sus rivales políticos de
utilizar la “política de la envidia” de los demócratas
contra él. Más adelante, después del informe de gobierno,
el orador, John Boehner, caracterizó el discurso del
presidente de la misma manera.
Es una frase ingeniosa. Debe haber provocado una buena
respuesta entre los grupos de muestra republicanos. Pero,
como muchos otros clichés políticos, tiene éxito porque
explota los prejuicios de la gente más allá de la verdad.
Política para entendidos
Cabe citar otro ejemplo en el intento de Newt Gingrich
de definir al presidente Obama como “el presidente de los
vales de despensa”. La frase les recuerda a los votantes los
reclamos del “santificado” Ronald Reagan sobre las “reinas
del bienestar social” en la década del 80. Y, como buena
“política para entendidos”, los racistas captan que el primer
orador concuerda con ellos sin extenderse demasiado.
En este momento, los republicanos están trabajando duro
para insertar epítetos no tan sutiles en nuestro léxico
nacional, con lo cual esperan crear un enfoque en el que
todos los dichos del presidente sean malinterpretados por
los votantes.
Exasperante
Lo que resulta exasperante es que tantas personas compren
esta tergiversación de la verdad (normalmente expresada
en frases de dos o tres palabras fáciles de recordar) y
pasen a ser fervientes opositores de los políticos sobre
la base de caracterizaciones erróneas de sus objetivos e
intenciones. Si estas consignas se repiten lo suficiente,
se transforman en “verdades” para mucha gente. Por
eso escuchará repetidamente frases como “política de la
envidia”, “presidente de los vales de despensa” y “economía
centralizada en el gobierno”.
Por supuesto, sabemos cuál es la verdad. Los trabajadores
no pierden tiempo celando la riqueza de los demás. Pero sí
creen en una América en la que todos tengan las mismas
posibilidades de triunfar. Y eso es lo que falta hoy en día.
Esa línea de “política de la envidia” puede funcionar bien
entre el “uno por ciento” de la élite republicana, pero
creo que les jugará en contra en las elecciones generales.
Sus propias palabras hablan por sí solas acerca de lo
alejados que están de la experiencia vital real de la vasta
mayoría de los estadounidenses. Helping ATU Locals Harness the
Power of the Internet for FREE
ATU is launching 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.
IN TRANSIT
| March/April 2012
29
In Memoriam
Death Benefits Awarded November 1, 2011 - February 29, 2012
1- MEMBERS AT LARGE
ROBERT F BARGER
WILLIAM M COWIESON
GERALD J CREEDON
TIMOTHY F DEVENY
DOUGLAS D DON SR
NELSON FRESQUEZ
EUGENE R GARRETT
RALPH WILLIAM INGLE
HAROLD W KIRKENDALL
PAUL JOSEPH KROCKMAN
JOHN D LOVE
LARRY OWEN MC LEOD
DANIEL J MITCHELL
ERNEST CALDWELL SNELL
ROSS L STAGGS
RAYMOND LEON SWINEY
SAM TEMPLEMAN
22- WORCESTER, MA
FRED A MILO
26- DETROIT, MI
WILLIAM J ANDERSON
WILLIAM P PENDER
85- PITTSBURGH, PA
JOHN A BAYER
JOHN F CALNAN
JOHN JAMES CONNERS JR
ANDREW FIORENTINI
GEORGE JOHN GERBEN
GORDON L GORR
MICHAEL D HOLLY
WILLIAM F HOLTZ JR
WILLIE HUGULEY JR
PETER P IPOLETTA
CLIFFORD L JONES
RITA E KING
HOWARD E KRAUS
DARRYL R KUNKEL
THOMAS A LANG
RICHARD ANTHONY LIPPI
JOSEPH ROBERT ROMANO
ANTHONY J ROSSETTI
RUSSELL C STALEY
JAMES G STUTHERS
JAMES A TESTA
REGIS J TOGNARINE
JOSEPH C URBANEK
WILLIAM A WEIMER
103- WHEELING, WV
JOHN C KUPCHAK
JERRY R SCOTT
107- HAMILTON, ON
HARPAL S BHANDHAL
WILLIAM K BLAIR
JOHN BOCCACCIO
GUY J HERSEY
MATTHEW K KELLY
BRIAN M LAMBERTUS
LARRY R MARTIN
HAROLD BURTON SHAW
TOMAS E WALKER
30
113- TORONTO, ON
EDWARD L DUCKWORTH
ALLAN J ADAMS
CLAUDE E FIZER
BERT W ADAMS
VICTOR FLORES
PAUL AZZOPARDI
GEORGE E GARFIELD
JOHN PEARSON BELL
CAROL L HARDY
SYLVANUS BLAIR
CHESTER HARRIS
NORMAN H BULLOCK
KYUSIK H HONG
KENNETH D COLE
EARNEST JEFFERSON JR
DAVID COOPER
BOBBY E JOHNSON
SULTAN A K DAMJI
JAMES L JONES
ANTHONY FIELD
RUBEN J LOPEZ
AGOSTINO FLORA
KAREN T LUCKETT
GEORGE LLOYD GERRIE
CHARLES LYONS
JOHN W GILLION
RUDOLPH MC DONALD
DENNIS RICHARD GORDON
JOSEPH E MC MILLAN
NICHOLAS HALEWICH
JOHNNY D MOORE
BERNARD HARRIS
RUTH M PEARSON
HARRY BARRIE HIGGINS
HATTIE B PETERSON
ALLISON IRVINE
GEORGE L POUNDS
JOSEPH JOSTIAK
ARTHUR L PRESTON
EDWARD A KEARN
IMOGENE REDD
PATRICK H KENNEDY
GENE A ROSS
JOSEPH KISH
FREDDIE SIMS JR
FREDERICK R LOCKE
LONNIE E SINGLETON
MILTON LOMAX
RONALD C STEFINSKY
FRANCESCO LUCENO
EDWARD C UNREIN
MIKE R MAC DONALD
ROBERT VINING JR
DOMENICO MANDERELLO
RILEY L WALSON
WILLIAM J MC FADDEN
LEON WILLIAMS
VERNON MC LAREN
ALOYSIOUS LEO ZUCKER
ANTONIO MELO
GARFIELD MENCHIONS
256- SACRAMENTO, CA
SALVATORE PAGLIALUNGA
LESTER RAY FRITTS
PETER POERAZAFF
THOMAS LEROY PARKISON
RENOLD RAMSARRAN
LENNARD J SCOTT
265- SAN JOSE, CA
JOHN ANTHONY SHAW
STEVEN M BURBANK
PIRATHEEB SIVAPATHASUNTHRAM ROBERT DELGADO
JAMES F TEEVAN
ERNEST E GALLEGO
VINCENT J WATTERS
FAAFOUINA LEAENO
DOUGLAS WEBSTER
JOSE LORIGO
JOHN YOUNGS
PETER OLASIMAN
RAYMOND A SAUNDERS
164- WILKES-BARRE, PA
EVANGLIST TAYLOR
WILLIAM J VETTER
268- CLEVELAND, OH
168- SCRANTON, PA
HAROLD L FUNDERBURG
ALLAN ROSSI
JOHN S GARDNER
WILBERT R GREEN
192- OAKLAND, CA
DENNIS B MC COY
LUCILLE ABNER
STEVE PACHOLEWSKI
JOEL C BROWN
PETER ANTHONY CASEY
279- OTTAWA, ON
KENNETH W DAILEY
VERNON BEATTIE
CHARLES R DENISON
HERVE M GIROUX
JAMES G DORAZIO
PATRICK J MC HUGH
PASCUAL A GUTIERREZ
JEAN M PAQUETTE
GERALD T JACOBS
ROBERT L SIMPSON
WILLIAM REYNOLDS
EDMOND WEINHOLDT
WALTER YADE
241- CHICAGO, IL
BURTON L BOCKEL
281- NEW HAVEN, CT
BEN N CARTER
JOSEPH HALTER
CURTIS COHEN
LEONARD G DAKE
282- ROCHESTER, NY
LUELLA F DAVIS
RAYMOND F CINELLI
March/April 2012 | IN TRANSIT
MILOS GLIGIC
EDWARD E HUGHES
WILLIAM C LAW
308- CHICAGO, IL
GAETANO M FAGIOLO
MICHAEL MURPHY
DEVON R OVERSTREET
ELSIE M PATTERSON
DANIEL RENO
MYRON WAITES
425- HARTFORD, CT
ROLAND BERTRAND
RONALD GINA
RICHARD HOLLAND
ROBERT JONAH
443- STAMFORD, CT
JOSEPH HARTLE
448- SPRINGFIELD, MA
LEO SAGAN
519- LA CROSSE, WI
THOMAS L SANDERSON
558- SHREVEPORT, LA
GEORGE LEE KENDRICK
568- ERIE, PA
RICHARD H COLLEY
DANIEL J WYSOCKI
569- EDMONTON, AB
PHILIP T HEEMERYCK
THOMAS G JARVIS
LORRAINE F PIERCE
JOHN M ROCHE
MATTHEW SULLIVAN
DESMOND A THOMPSON
DOUG WOLLMAN
ALEXANDER J YAROSHUK
580- SYRACUSE, NY
HARLEY S LOVELESS
LOUIS MIKE
583- CALGARY, AB
GORDON M ALEXANDER
EDWARD S BARBER
HARRY G BENNETT
BEULAH CAMUS
ANDREW CARMICHAEL
MICHAEL J GROVES
MICHAEL V RICHARD
KENNETH K SCHULTZ
RONALD G THIRLWELL
FRANK WALDRON
587- SEATTLE, WA
VERNON R ADLER
CHRISTIAN M COLLINGWOOD
JAMES T HULSLANDER JR
GORDON M JENKINS
CRYSTAL V LAW
588- REGINA, SK
BERTRAM C REIMER
589- BOSTON, MA
CHARLES E BANKS
ROBERT J BOWES
BERNARD A COGAVIN
CARLO F CORDARO
FRANCES J FLEMING
JOSEPH F GORDON
JAMES HALL
BRUCE M HAPGOOD
ANDREW HIGHET
BLAIR S JOHNSON
DAVID J LENANE
RICHARD L LEWIS
PAUL J MC CARTHY
DONALD J MC COLGAN
DOROTHY M MINGOES
STEPHEN F NESTOR
NICHOLAS OLIVOLO
JAMES R PORTER
PHILLIP K ROBERTSON
FRANK C ROOME
JAMES F RUSSELL
TIMOTHY F SULLIVAN
BENJAMIN F TILLEY
CHARLES TUMASZ
EMIL N WIEHER
591- HULL, PQ
RENE NADON
618- PROVIDENCE, RI
ROBERT S OSBORNE
BRADFORD OXNARD III
LOUIS PENNACCHIA
ANDY SANTAGATA
627- CINCINNATI, OH
JUAN J SCHAUPP
628- COVINGTON, KY
MARVIN LEE BLACK
JOSEPH RING
DANNY L WEAVER
662- PUEBLO, CO
WILLIAM M LUKENBILL
682- FORT WAYNE, IN
ALICE M WRIGHT
689- WASHINGTON, DC
COLEMAN ADAMS
SAMUEL AHN
PATRICK J ANASTASI
EDWARD ANDERSON
ALFRED D HARDY SR
WILLIAM J HARRINGTON
WILLIAM R HARRIS JR
CARL ELLIS HOLT
JOHN E JACKSON
HORACE L JOHNSON
CARROLL T JONES JR
CLARA M JONES
JOSEPH B KEPLINGER
JOHN E MACK
RICHARD C MC KOY
JAMES H MC NAIR
HUBERT DOUGLAS MIMS
JOHN C NOLAN
CLYDE PILGRIM
VICTOR LYLE QUICK
DORSEY SHOUSE JR
GEORGE P STARKS
LAWRENCE WASHINGTON
JOSEPH E WOOTEN
KAY F WRIGHT
SUMOIWU G YEKEH
HOWARD C YOUNG
694- SAN ANTONIO, TX
HENRY Z AREVALO
EDWARD AVELAR
CHARLES C CRAIG
RICHARD MUNOZ
713- MEMPHIS, TN
JAMES R AGEE
DALE M CARNEY
RALPH H GORDON JR
THOMAS R HORTON
WILLIE J HURT
RONALD L WILLEMS
RODGER C ZWETZIG
758- TACOMA, WA
WILLIAM D SMITH
765- MONTGOMERY, AL
MILFORD W BROWN
788- ST. LOUIS, MO
MARK C ABBOTT
RALPH C ANDERSON
FRANK J CAPASSO
WILLIAM CARTER JR
COY R EAKINS
THELMA JOHNSON
NANCY L LONG
MICHAEL J NOCHTA
STANLEY N PONCELET
ELLA M STANTON
RONALD J WILLIAMS
SAM J ZUCCARELLO
801- ALTOONA, PA
WILLIAM J FANELLI
714- PORTLAND, ME
JOSEPH O MALLOY
819- NEWARK, NJ
LOUIS DE MEDICI
EARL EDWARDS
JOHN M HARAS
JOSEPH E MAHON
725- BIRMINGHAM, AL
ROBERT BAKER
BOBBY G WAID
ERNEST EDGAR WHITE JR
820- UNION CITY, NJ
JUAN GONZALES
HAROLD PHILLIPS
GEORGE SOBOLEWSKI
726- STATEN ISLAND, NY
FRANK AHLBORN
CHARLES ARGENTO JR
WILLIAM W SIVERSON
824- NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ
JAMES W MAHON
MELVIN J MC GEE
JAMES REILLY
JOHN VAN HORN
732- ATLANTA, GA
MARVIN P BRITTAIN
IBRAHIMA CAMARA
GLENN COLEMAN
JOHN T CRINE
THOMAS DEBOSE
HAROLD C MC GUIRE
JAMES M POORE
JOHN D SMITH
757- PORTLAND, OR
BERTHA C APLEY
GEORGE W BOYNTON
OBEDELL COXEFF
EDWARD E CRUMBLE
ROGER L DAVIS
BILLIE D DIXON
JOHN P DROZDA
LARRY D DUNHAM
BYRON L ESTES
LEN G FAREY
LUELLA L GANT
JAMES W GARMAN
RONNIE G HARTMAN
JOHN D HODGDON JR
CURTIS A IRWIN
CHAD M MATHER
PATRICK J MURNIN
GEORGE R PAYNTER
JAMES E ROCK
SANDRA L RUTZ
ELLIS J SIPLE
MARY M WALKER
825- ORADELL, NJ
RICHARD H SCULLY
842- WILMINGTON, DE
JAMES H GILLEN
846- ST. CATHARINES, ON
RONALD S KIVELL
847- ST. JOSEPH, MO
GERALD LEHR
880- CAMDEN, NJ
CHARLES BUNDY
RICHARD DONLEY
GARY L MORGAN
THOMAS QUIGLEY
FRED SEYMOUR
956- ALLENTOWN, PA
ELAINE C MATHEWS
996- SOUTH BEND, IN
GAIL KENNETH DIVINE
998- MILWAUKEE, WI
KRISTIN GIERACH
JOSEPH F GRAHAM JR
MICHAEL J HOGAN
REGINALD R KOSTRZEWA
MICHAEL J NOONAN
CHESTER PROPP
ROLAND C RANSOM
GERALD REED
JERRY L REED
MICHAEL J VEIERSTAHLER
DENNIS ROBINSON
RUTH M RUSSO
CARMELA SCALA
RICHARD W SCHMITT
1001- DENVER, CO
BOBBY LA MARR JENT
JOHN L MARTINEZ
1225- SAN FRANCISCO, CA
MELVIN ALOYIUS ROSE
1005- MINNEAPOLIS
& ST. PAUL, MN
FRANCIS D ECKERT
JEROLD D JOHNSON
HOWARD J SWINTEK
1037- NEW BEDFORD, MA
MICHAEL F CORREIA
1039- LANSING, MI
JAVEL R LEWIS
1091- AUSTIN, TX
BENNY GOODLOE
CARLOS MEDRANO
1108- QUINCY, IL
DOLORES FRANCES BIRCK
DORIS E MILES
1160- MONROE, LA
HOLLIS C CRUSE
1164- KNOXVILLE, TN
RICHARD MC BEE
PATRICK LISA M
1177- NORFOLK, VA
JAMES W FLEETWOOD
JAMES GAMMON
1179- NEW YORK, NY
BRIAN K HARRELL
SALVATORE MANNO
ALFONSO MARULLO
SAMUEL ROBINSON
ANTHONY SAPPRAICONE
ELMER SIEGEL
1181- NEW YORK, NY
MARGARET AIELLO
MINDAUGIS BACEY
THOMAS CAMPONE
JOSEPHINE CASALE
MICHAEL CEA
JOSEPH CONNOR
BEAUBY DESROCHES
ADELE FARBER
YAKOV FILDER
HANNELORE FLOOD
BERNARD FRIEDMAN
CHARLIE W HELWIG
EDWARD W JOHNSON
DAVID THOMAS KNAB
JOSEPH LEGGIERO
JOSEPH LOCICERO
FRED WILLIAM LOFTIN
MARIA MATARESE
CARMINE MATONE
PATSY MILONE
GLADYS MOORER
ERNEST A NAVARRA
ANDREW J ORSO
STANLEY J OWENS
CHRISTINE PORFIDO
RONALD RICE
1235- NASHVILLE, TN
LEONARD ORR
JOSEPH C STOREY
1267- FT. LAUDERDALE, FL
STAFFORD KELLY
PEDRO R NIEVES
1277- LOS ANGELES, CA
MATTHEW ARAGON
THOMAS EDWARD BARHAM
VERNON E JACKSON
PAUL C KIM
1287- KANSAS CITY, MO
ROBERT E CARPENTER
MARVIN GILES
LARRY D RICE
JOHN J YAKLEY
1300- BALTIMORE, MD
EDMOND D AUSTIN
STEVEN W FOCHT
EVELYN UNDERDUE
1309- SAN DIEGO, CA
KENNETH A MAUER
DENNIS L MC KAY
ARNOLD N NELSON
HENRY L PHILLIPS
1317- CLIFTON, NJ
LEONARD PATTI
1321- ALBANY & TROY, NY
DARRYL L COLEMAN
CHARLES J FOSMIRE
THOMAS A MULLEN
GERALD A WHITNEY
1342- BUFFALO, NY
EDWARD BARRY
LORETTA DOYLE
FRANK C ERNST JR
WILLIAM S KIRSCH
JOSEPH LEWANDOWSKI
MIGUEL LUGO
CHARLES MARASCO
SALAMON MARKOVITS
SAMUEL H TEW
1374- CALGARY, AB
ALFRED F BAGDON
DAVID O BOYD
ALFRED H COUPLAND
HOWARD MILLER FORMO
ROBERT G MARSHALL
THOR SANDBERG
ERNEST THILLMANN
ALAN YAMAMOTO
1433- PHOENIX, AZ
DENNIS J AUMAN
NEIL H HAUAN
DOYA HENDRIX
JANET KARTAK
1436- HARRISBURG, PA
D L JONES
1447- LOUISVILLE, KY
ROBERT T FLEMING
1462- ST. JOHN’S, NL
FREDERICK MOORES
1464- TAMPA, FL
JERRY W WINTERS
1496- WILLIAMSPORT, PA
JARRETT F TROWBRIDGE
1498- JOPLIN, MO
DENNIS L SCHOEPHOERSTER
1505- WINNIPEG, MB
WILLIAM A BREMNER
WILLIAM A PANTING
AMY RICHARDS
MYRON D SMITH
EDWIN G SUTHERLAND
LORRAINE SUTHERLAND
LLOYD WILDE
1548- PLYMOUTH, MA
FRANCIS REYNOLDS
RAYMOND B SULLIVAN
1555- OAKLAND, CA
CHARLES E ABNER
JULIAN L HARRIS
1576- LYNNWOOD, WA
ROY D AKIN
1587- TORONTO, ON
GEORGE GAUTREAU
SCOTT GIBSON
1614- DOVER, NJ
SEAD MAHALBASIC
1625- BUFFALO, NY
CHARLES NANCE
1700- CHICAGO, IL
JOHN R CRANFILL JR
DONALD J DAVIS
ADAM FREDMONSKI
ROBERT J JURGENSEN
JAMES N O’NEAL
ANDREW J PEDDYCORD
RAY PREECE
JAMES H VICKERMAN
1701- SARASOTA, FL
LUANNE M KELLER
1753- VENETIA, PA
PEGGY KRAVEC
1385- DAYTON, OH
MICHAEL D JEFFERSON
JAMES T STORIE
1760- OTTAWA, ONT
JOSEE ROLLIN
1415- TORONTO, ON
ANTHONY FERGUSON
1765- OLYMPIA, WA
VICTOR L SHAW
IN TRANSIT
| March/April 2012
31
Amalgamated Transit Union
AFL-CIO/CLC
5025 Wisconsin Ave., NW
Washington, D.C. 20016
www.atu.org
STAY CONNECTED
PRINTED IN U.S.A.
WIN AN IPAD2 OR AN ATU JACKET!
The International has upped the ante and is holding a new lottery drawing for an Apple iPad 2 or an ATU Jacket.
All you have to do is go to the ATU website send us your email!
Be sure to tell your fellow members to do the same to get a chance to win. More importantly, sending us your email
will allow you to get the latest news and developments about ATU, politics, and the transit industry. And don’t worry,
if you’ve already sent in your email for the first lottery you will be automatically included in the lottery for the iPad 2
or an ATU Jacket. Members can submit their emails on the opening window for www.atu.org that pops up in front of
the home page or submit their email address in the “JOIN US” box in the upper right corner of the home page.