ATU Express.7.28.16

ATU Local 1433 Member Newsletter
July 28, 2016
ATU EXPRESS
Phoenix | Tempe| Mesa| Yuma
ACI-Rail
A troubling new development is
that ACI management has taken a
new posi0on that a “write-up” is
issued, once it is handed to a
dispatcher, not to you. This new
argumentisjustpreposterous.The
CBA is clear and under their new
posi0on, a dispatcher could hold
on to a “write-up” for months
beforeyoueverhearaboutit.The
issue seems more mo0vated on
theRFPthatisoutandthealleged
opinion by the City of Phoenix
publictransitdirectorthatACIand
ATU have too good of a working
rela0onship. We believe the issue
ismo0vatedbyadesireforACIto
appear less friendly to workers,
which we believe the City of
Phoenixtransitdepartmentwants.
Remember,theCityofPhoenixhas
a controlling interest on the RPTA
Metro Board of Directors. The
issuehasbeengrieved.
ATU Member Sami Haddad
Recently,localradiosta0on91.5“KJZZ”tookarideontherailwith
Local1433memberSamiHaddad.Samishowedthesta0on,among
other things, the process of Opera0ng the Light Rail. During their
conversa0on, Brother Haddad said that he has always wanted to
driveatrainandthat“everybodyneedstransporta0on.”Hewenton
to say, “our biggest concern is the safety of the people.” Brother
Haddaddidagreatjobrepresen0ngACI,RPTAandATU.
Yuma
Transdev Phoenix
ATU is happy and proud to count
all of you in. There is currently
discussionsbetweenseveralYuma
members to update the Local ByLaws to address how to be`er
includeYumaintheLocalbusiness
mee0ngs,elec0onsandmore.We
willkeepyouposted.
ATU and Transdev have been working hard (on both sides) to deal
with the very real issues that separate us. Obviously we will
con0nuetohavedisagreements,suchasdisciplinefor“SmartDrive.”
The arbitra0on is scheduled for September 20, 2016. But both
par0es have tried to put aside old arguments and disagreements
andhavebeenfocusedontryingtofindcommonground.Thereis
currentlydiscussionsongeYngusallinvolvedincharitableworkto
helpimprovethecommunitythatwelivein.
ATU EXPRESS
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ATU Local 1433 Member Newsletter
July 28, 2016
Another Operator
returned to work
Way back in October, First Transit
West management terminated the
employment of Brother Luis Boykin.
They falsely accused him of not
securing a mobility device. The case
wenttoarbitra0onandwearehappy
to report that Brother Boykin has
been returned to work. During the
arbitra0on, it was uncovered that
IreneandEve`edidnotseemtoknow
the types of securement systems on
thebuses.Thearbitratornotedafew
important comments. “The ambiguity
of the videotape evidence,” “the
Company’sswi8decision,”“pointstoa
precipitous judgement which did not
meet the standard for a just cause
discharge.”Itbecameclearduringthe
inves0ga0on that a certain manager
for First Transit allowed her personal
opinion to influence her decision and
we are happy to report that the
arbitratorsawrightthroughit.
First Transit East new GM
starts with a rocky start
The new GM for the east valley, in
his very first grievance mee0ng
placedhishandsontheUnion’sVice
President and police reports were
filed.Theinves0ga0onisongoing.In
doing our research we have found
that the new GM has worked for
both Transdev and First Transit. We
weretoldthatwhenhewasfiredin
Denver, he was walked off of the
property. It should be pointed out
that this is the 2nd 0me in only a
few months that a manager in
TempehasplacedhandsonourVP.
ATU EXPRESS
ATU & Transdev Partner with LCSA
In keeping with our mutual commitment with Transdev to develop a
stronger rela0onship, we have both agreed to partner with LCSA
(“Labor’s Community Service Agency”) to help improve the
communi0es that we live in. This commitment will begin with
something as simple and easy as cleaning some transi0onal housing
units, to give struggling families a place to call home while they are
workingtogetbackontheirfeet.Transdevwillbeseekingvolunteers
in the very near future and we encourage anyone interested in
reachingoutandhelpingyourfellowmanoutandsignuptohelp.
Transdev RCC Operators and Ambassadors
BothRCCOperatorandAmbassadorCBA’swillbeexpiringattheend
ofthisyear.CurrentlytheUnionandtheCompanyhavebeenworking
onschedulingdates.TheUnionhasalreadyfiledtherequiredFederal
form F-7, which is the requirement to open the CBA’s up for
bargaining. We will be reques0ng the assistance of the Federal
Mediators and the Interna0onal Union. We have submi`ed requests
for informa0on that includes informa0on such as total straight 0me
hours worked and over0me hours worked, vaca0on usage,
bereavement usage, medical coverage informa0on, etc. So far
Management has only supplied a par0al amount of the informa0on
requested. Contract sugges0on boxes will be placed on the property
inthenextfewweeks.
ATULocal1433-FinalThought
RecentlythemembersofLocal1433votedandpassednewBy-Laws.
Asaresultofthatdecision,theLocalisproudtoreportthatweare
nowstrongerthatwehavebeeninyears.Wearefinanciallysolvent,
we are growing and soon we will have the means to begin the
process of purchasing our own property, which is something we
have been trying to do for more years than many of us can
remember.Youshouldapplaudyourselvesforcomingoutofavery
difficultfewyearsbigger,bolderandstrongerthanever.
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