United States Version PDF - Amalgamated Transit Union

Transcription

2 0 0 8
nov/dec
w
w
w
.
a
t
u
.
o
r
g
Seasons Greetings
Official Journal of the Amalgamated Transit Union
AFL-CIO/CLC
from the International Officers and Staff
AMALGAMATED TRANSIT UNION
INTERNATIONAL OFFICERS
WARREN S. GEORGE
International President
MICHAEL J. SIANO
MESSAGE DU PRÉSIDENT INTERNATIONAL PAR WARREN S. GEORGE
VOUS AVEZ RÉUSSI!
Les mots ne peuvent pas exprimer la fierté que je ressens pour le travail que les membres de l’ATU ont fourni pour cette élection.
OSCAR OWENS
Comme vous pouvez le constater par les photos figurant dans ce magazine et les photos et vidéos qui sont sur le site web de l’ATU, les
membres de l’ATU, de tous les coins du pays - dans les états en ballottage et dans les autres états - de toutes les races et des deux sexes et
de toutes les croyances religieuses ont contribué à cet effort historique.
International Vice Presidents
TOMMY MULLINS
Je veux dire merci aux membres tels qu’Arnold Kuba d’Alexandria, VA, 689; Lee Lasse et Tom Shakelford, tous les deux d’Eugene, OR
757, Rudolph Markoe, 26, de Detroit, MI; Phil Swanhorst, 1310, d’Eau Claire, WI; Bob Mazzei, 85 (retraité) de Pittsburgh, PA; Sheila
Roberson, 682 de Fort Wayne, IN et Charles Endsley de St. Joseph, MO, 847, tous avec des centaines de membres de l’ATU de tout le pays
qui ont sacrifié du temps loin de leur famille et de leurs amis pour aider à élire un président, un congrès et un sénat amis des travailleurs
International Executive Vice President
International Secretary-Treasurer
Roanoke, VA – [email protected]
JOSEPH WELCH
Syracuse, NY
RODNEY RICHMOND
New Orleans, LA – [email protected]
DONALD T. HANSEN
Tenino, WA – [email protected]
ROBERT H. BAKER
Washington, DC – [email protected]
LARRY R. KINNEAR
Ashburn, ON – [email protected]
RANDY GRAHAM
Gloucester, ON – [email protected]
JAVIER M. PEREZ, JR.
Kansas City, MO – [email protected]
RICHARD M. MURPHY
Braintree, MA
BOB M. HYKAWAY
Calgary, AB – [email protected]
CHARLES COOK
Merci
J’aimerais sincèrement pouvoir remercier individuellement tous ceux d’entre vous qui se sont portés volontaires mais vous êtes trop
nombreux. Veuillez considérer cette colonne du magazine comme un témoignage de mes humbles et sincères remerciements pour chaque
heure pendant laquelle vous vous êtes portés volontaires, pour chaque coup de téléphone, chaque porte à laquelle vous avez frappé et
chaque tract que vous avez distribué.
En agissant ensemble vos efforts ont fait une différence immense et ont contribué à assurer le 4 novembre une victoire écrasante pour
toutes les familles de travailleurs.
L’effort ne s’arrête pas maintenant
Cet effort ne s’arrête pas maintenant. Je vous promets que l’ATU Internationale continuera à travailler pour représenter vos intérêts et pour
s’assurer que vos voix seront entendues par le nouveau Président et le Congrès.
Nous continuerons à pousser pour obtenir une couverture universelle de santé, pour que soit adopté l’acte sur la liberté de choix des
employés, pour que soit augmenté le financement des transports fédéraux en commun et pour que soient maintenues nos protections de
la « Section 13(c)».
J’espère que vous vous joindrez à nous en vous maintenant informés sur les sujets traités par l’ATU en lisant ce magazine, le site web de
l’ATU (atu.org) et en vous inscrivant sur le site web pour recevoir les courriers électroniques de l’ATU.
Une fois de plus recevez tous mes remerciements. Dieu vous bénisse ainsi que vos familles pour cette prochaine période de vacances et la
nouvelle année.
Petaluma, CA – [email protected]
WILLIAM G. McLEAN
Reno, NV – [email protected]
UN MENSAJE DEL PRESIDENTE INTERNACIONAL POR WARREN S. GEORGE
RONALD J. HEINTZMAN
¡USTEDES LO LOGRARON!
JANIS M. BORCHARDT
No se puede expresar en palabras lo muy orgulloso que yo estoy del trabajo que los miembros de la ATU realizaron en esta elección.
Mt. Angel, OR – [email protected]
Madison, WI – [email protected]
PAUL BOWEN
Canton, MI – [email protected]
LAWRENCE J. HANLEY
Staten Island, NY – [email protected]
KENNETH R. KIRK
Lancaster, TX – [email protected]
GARY RAUEN
Clayton, NC – [email protected]
International Representatives
RAY RIVERA
Lilburn, GA– [email protected]
MARCELLUS BARNES
Flossmoor, IL – [email protected]
YVETTE SALAZAR
Thornton, CO – [email protected]
ANTHONY WITHINGTON
Sebastopol, CA – [email protected]
VIRGINIA LEWIS
Charleston, SC – [email protected]
Canadian Council
ROBIN G. WEST
Canadian Director
61 International Boulevard, Suite 210
Rexdale, ON M9W 6K4
[email protected]
Como puedes ustedes notar en las fotografías que aparecen en esta revista y en las fotografías y videos mostradas en el sitio Web de ATU,
miembros de ATU de todos los rincones del país – en los estados que fueron campos de batalla y en aquellos que no lo fueron, desde cada
grupo racial y de género, y de diferentes creencias religiosas y antecedentes personales contribuyeron a este histórico esfuerzo.
Yo quiero darles las gracias a miembros como Arnold Kuba de Alexandria, VA, 689; Lee Lasse y Tom Shakelford, ambos de 757, from
Eugene, OR; Rudolf Markoe, 26, de Detroit, MI; Phil Swanhorst, 1310, de Eau Claire, WI; Bob Mazzei, 85 (ret.), in Pittsburgh, PA;
Sheila Roberson, 682, in Fort Wayne, IN; and Charles Endsley from St. Joseph, MO, 847 – todos los cuales, conjuntamente con cientos
de otros miembros de ATU a través de todo el país, sacrificaron tiempo alejados de sus familias y amigos a fin de ayudar a elegir a un
presidente amigo de los trabajadores, y amigos en la Cámara y en el Senado.
Muchas Gracias
Verdaderamente yo quisiera poder darles las gracias a todos y cada uno de los miembros que se presentaron individualmente como
voluntarios, pero hay un número demasiado grande de todos ustedes. Por favor, consideren esta columna como mis más humilde y sincero
agradecimiento por cada hora que ustedes sirvieron como voluntarios, por cada llamada telefónica que ustedes hicieron, por cada puerta
en la que ustedes tocaron, y por cada folleto o panfleto que ustedes distribuyeron.
Colectivamente, sus esfuerzos hicieron una enorme diferencia y ayudaron a entregar una abrumadora victoria para las familias trabajadoras
el día 4 de noviembre.
EL Esfuerzo no Termina Ahora
Este esfuerzo no termina ahora. Yo les prometo que la unión internacional ATU continuará trabajando para representar vuestros intereses
y asegurarnos de que sus voces sean oídas por el nuevo Presidente y Congreso.
Nosotros continuaremos abogando por un cuidado de la salud con cobertura universal, por la promulgación de la Ley La Libre Opción
del Empleado, a favor de aumentos en el financiamiento federal del tránsito, y la preservación de las protecciones contenidas en nuestra
“Sección 13 (c).”
Yo espero que todos ustedes se unirán a nosotros en este esfuerzo manteniéndose informados y actualizados sobre temas de la ATU a
través de esta revista, el sitio Web de ATU (atu.org), e inscribiéndose para recibir alertas vía correo electrónico a través del sitio Web en
la Internet.
Una vez más, yo les doy las gracias más expresivas. ¡Que Dios los bendiga a todos ustedes y a sus respectivas familias en estas festivas
estaciones de navidades y del nuevo año!
2
IN TRANSIT
www.atu.org
A MESSAGE FROM THE INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT
You Did It!
W
ords simply can not express how proud I am of the work ATU members put
into this election.
As you can see from the photos in this magazine and the photos and videos on the
ATU website, ATU members from every corner of the U.S. – in battleground states
and non-battleground states - from every race and gender, and from different religious
beliefs and backgrounds contributed to the historic effort.
I want to say thank you to members like Arnold Kuba from Alexandria, VA, Local 689;
Lee Lasse and Tom Shakelford, both Local 757, from Eugene, OR; Rudolph Markoe,
Local 26, from Detroit, MI; Phil Swanhorst, Local 1310, from Eau Claire, WI; Bob Mazzei,
Local 85 (ret.), in Pittsburgh, PA; Sheila Roberson, Local 682, in Fort Wayne, IN; and
Charles Endsley, Local 847, from St. Joseph, MO – all of whom, along with hundreds of
other ATU members across the country, sacrificed time away from their families and friends to
help elect a worker-friendly president, Senate and House.
‘Please consider
this column
my humble and
sincere thanks…’
THANK YOU
I truly wish I could thank each and every member who volunteered individually, but there
are just too many of you. Please consider this column my humble and sincere thanks for every
hour you volunteered, every phone call you made, every door you knocked on, and every leaflet
you passed out.
Collectively, your efforts made a huge difference and helped to deliver an overwhelming
victory for working families on November 4.
EFFORT DOES NOT END NOW
This effort does not end now. I promise you that the ATU International will continue
to work to represent your interests and make sure your voices are heard by the new
president and Congress.
We will continue to push for universal health care, for passage of the Employee Free Choice Act,
for increases in federal transit funding, and preservation of our “Section 13(c)” protections.
I hope you will all join us in this effort by keeping up to date on ATU issues through
this magazine, the ATU website (atu.org), and by signing up for ATU email alerts through
the website.
Again, I say thanks. May God bless you and your families in this holiday season
and in the new year.
www.atu.org
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2008
3
nov/dec
2008
Vol. 117, No. 6
w w w . a t u . o r g
Contents
2
International Officers &
General Executive Board
International President’s Message
in French & Spanish
3
International President’s Message
You Did It!
4
Magazine Index
5
International Executive
Vice President’s Message
Wishes for 2009
6
International SecretaryTreasurer’s Message
Understanding Your Pension
During the ‘Economic Crisis’
7
News From The Front Lines
Vancouver, BC’s HandyDart Workers
Vote to Consolidate into ATU
8
Workers Win, Corporate
Interests Lose in Election
Poll Shows Strong Support for EFCA
Despite Corporate Campaign
9
Canadian Agenda
Canadians Elect Second Highest Number
of New Democrats to Parliament
10 Legislative Report
A Pivotal Time
11 New York Maintenance Workers Sue
Diesel Makers Over Health Problems
12 NDP Proposes 1¢/Litre Transit Gas Tax
13 Tony Withington, Int. Rep.
1976 Strike Motivation Behind New
International Representative’s Activism
3
You Did It!
8
16 Labor Lingo: R to Z
17 Arbitration Decisions
Workers Win, Corporate
Interests Lose in Election
Poll Shows Strong Support for EFCA
Despite Corporate Campaign
9
Canadian Agenda
10
Legislative Report:
14
ATU Activists Help Elect Obama,
Labor-Endorsed Candidates
A Pivotal Time
Members Integral Part of Massive
Labor Mobilization
13 Virginia Lewis, New Int. Rep.
Charleston, SC Member Goes From
Cooking to International Representative
14 ATU Activists Help Elect Obama,
Labor-Endorsed Candidates
A Message from the
20
Legal Notice for Fair Share
Fee-Payers
18 Local News
20 Legal Notice for Fair Share Fee-Payers
22 In Memoriam
23 ATU MS Research Tournament Brings
Year’s Fundraising Total to $144,159.51
24 With Your Help, We Did It!
4
IN TRANSIT
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, Assistant: 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, USPS: 260-280.
PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 40033361. RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO: B&M Mailing Service Limited, 35 Van Kirk Drive,
Unit 15, Brampton, Ontario L7A 1A5, [email protected]
The objects of this International Union shall be to organize Local Unions; to place our occupation upon a higher plane of intelligence, efficiency and skill; to encourage the
formation in Local Unions of sick and funeral benefit funds in order that we may properly care for our sick and bury our dead; to encourage the organization of cooperative
credit unions in the Local Unions; to establish schools of instruction for imparting a practical knowledge of modern and improved methods and systems of transportation and
trade matters generally; to encourage the settlement of all disputes between employees and employers by arbitration; to secure employment and adequate pay for our work,
including vacations with pay and old age pensions; to reduce the hours of labor and by all legal and proper means to elevate our moral, intellectual and social condition. To engage
in such legislative, political, educational, cultural, social, and welfare activities as will further the interests and welfare of the membership of the Organization. To seek the
improvement of social and economic conditions in the United States and Canada and to promote the interests of labor everywhere.
www.atu.org
A MESSAGE FROM THE INTERNATIONAL EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT
WISHES FOR
2009
E
ach year at this time, I write down my thoughts, prayers and wishes for the new year and
share them with you. In past holiday columns, I have told you about my thoughts on
ending the senseless war in Iraq, electing a president who wakes up every morning thinking
about working families, and other critical matters important to all of us.
My laundry list for 2009 is longer than usual. Maybe it is because the recent elections have
restored my faith in people and given me hope that there is much that we can achieve.
HOPE
Next year, I hope that each member of the ATU can go to sleep at night without having to
worry about whether their home is the next one on the block set for foreclosure.
I hope that your retirement savings and the money that you have set aside for your children’s
education will recuperate, despite the incredible greed of Wall Street’s corporate thugs.
‘‘...if you are
employed, and
you are
surrounded
by friends and
family with a
roof over your
head, consider
yourself
fortunate.’
I hope that the price of gasoline will decline further so that you won’t have to think twice about
traveling to see family and friends who provide you with comfort during these difficult times.
I hope that the 47 million Americans who have no health insurance will soon no longer have to
choose between buying food and getting medical care.
I hope that the ATU members throughout North America will get the protections they need in
the wake of heinous attacks of our drivers and passengers on transit and intercity buses.
I hope that any of our members who were laid off in 2008 due to these economic times get their
jobs back soon.
Finally, I hope that unions will once again rise up and provide working families with a voice
in this changing world.
FRIENDS AND FAMILY
If you do not get exactly what you want for the holidays this year, you are not alone. Experts say
that this is expected to be the slowest shopping season in decades. During these difficult
times, if you are employed, and you are surrounded by friends and family with a roof
over your head, consider yourself fortunate. I know that I do.
On behalf of my wife Judy and our entire family, I wish you a peaceful 2009.
www.atu.org
5
A MESSAGE FROM THE INTERNATIONAL SECRETARY-TREASURER
UNDERSTANDING YOUR PENSION DURING THE
‘ECONOMIC CRISIS’
‘Without a
doubt, pension
plans serve a
vital role in
retirement
security and
are worth
preserving.’
A
s our members try to weather the economic downturn, it is an important time to assess
and understand what is happening to both private and public sector pensions in the
United States. Many of our members have pension plans and they, like me, are concerned
about the security of these retirement funds in light of the present economic crisis. This is of
particular concern for our retired members. So without window dressing, I will try to generally
explain the economy’s affect on these retirement plans. (If you need to know details pertaining
to your specific pension plan you should talk with your local union.)
‘DOUBLE-WHAMMY’
Under the current economic crisis, private pension plans are suffering from a “double whammy.”
The Pension Protection Act of 2006 – which became effective in 2008 – generally requires
accelerated-funding of pension plans. Earnings from the equity market help to fund the plans.
Big losses in the market, however, lead to the need for significant increases in pension
contributions that will generally require private plans to consider one of three choices, each of
which is less than ideal for our members:
The first choice is to keep the same benefits with large increases in the contributions as stated
above. During collective bargaining this alternative will, of course, adversely affect other financial
benefits such as take-home pay or health insurance benefits. The second option is a decrease
in the accrual of future pension benefits which will result in lower benefits at retirement and
less retirement security. Finally, a third option is for the union and the employer to terminate
the pension plan and replace it with a 401(k) plan. Of course, this final option is the least palatable
of the potential scenarios because there is no guarantee of retirement security amounts under
a 401(k), as the potential payouts are based on the profits from the investments.
PUBLIC SECTOR PENSIONS SOMEWHAT BETTER
Most of our U.S. locals, though, have members participating in public sector pension plans.
These are in somewhat better shape than those generally found in the private sector, although
just barely. They are healthier because they are not subject to the accelerated funding
requirements imposed on private sector pensions by the Pension Protection Act. Due to the
financial market conditions, however, these plans are similarly pressured by the threat
of underfunding. These locals, then, are also forced to consider either increasing
contributions or lowering benefits. Nevertheless, because the funding guidelines for
public sector pensions are not as strict, governmental plans generally have more flexibility
to “weather the current storm.”
Without a doubt, pension plans serve a vital role in retirement security and are worth
preserving. To the extent possible these plans should remain intact through the economic
crisis. My sincere hope is that under the gifted leadership of President Barack Obama,
this storm will be short-lived and our pensions will continue to be safe and secure!
Have a happy holiday season and a happy new year!
6
IN TRANSIT
www.atu.org
N E W S
F R O M
T H E
FRONT LINES
Vancouver, BC’s HandyDart Workers
Vote to Consolidate into ATU
O
n January 1, 2009, when MV Transportation takes over all HandyDart operations in Vancouver, BC, all of its operators will be represented
by ATU Local 1724.
Presently HandyDart operations are run by many different employers and represented by three different unions – ATU, the Canadian Auto
Workers (CAW) and the BC Government Employees’ Union (BCGEU) – plus one non-union group. However, now that MV Transportation has
been awarded all HardyDart operations, come January 1, the three unions involved agreed it was best that one union represent all.
Therefore on October 30, a vote was held by the BC Labour Relation Board to see which union would have the honour of representing
the entire membership.
OUTNUMBERED
Local 1724 members went into that vote knowing full well that they were outnumbered by more than three to one, as there were only 160
ATU members out of the total of 517 employees. CAW had the vast majority of HandyDart’s union members. BCGEU decided not to be on
the ballot, so the vote came down to ATU and CAW, with ATU winning the vote.
These new members will officially come over to Local 1724 on January 1, 2009, and we welcome them with open arms into our Union, growing
Local 1724’s membership from 160 to 517, and giving the ATU the strength to finally bargain as one, for the betterment of all.
www.atu.org
— Robin West, ATU Canadian Director
7
WORKERS WIN, CORPORATE
INTERESTS LOSE IN ELECTION
POLL SHOWS STRONG SUPPORT FOR EFCA DESPITE CORPORATE CAMPAIGN
D
espite an extraordinary $20 million spent in nine U.S. battleground states to defeat candidates on November 4 who support the Employee
Free Choice Act (EFCA), voters soundly rejected this misleading anti-union campaign from corporate interests and overwhelmingly
backed candidates who support working families. A poll by Peter D. Hart Research Associates commissioned by American Rights at
Work shows that anti-union advertising was among the least important factors in determining voters’ choices for Senate, and further indicated
that they continue to support making it easier for workers to join unions.
Throughout this historic campaign, the economy has been the most dominant issue on the minds of American voters. But as the
middle class bore the burden of this struggling economy, corporate interest groups have vigorously fought to mislead the public on
the EFCA – a reasonable legislative proposal that would help restore balance in this economy by making it easier for workers to
form unions.
EFCA NOT A WEDGE ISSUE
According to David Bonior, chair of American Rights at Work, “No matter how hard corporate interests tried to mislead voters, it just
didn’t work. State by state, millions were spent, but the fact remains the Employee Free Choice Act never became the wedge issue corporate
interests sought.”
In fact, not only did the opponents of the Employee Free Choice Act fail to affect these races, often those candidates supporting the
bill steadily rose in the polls despite massive advertising on the issue. The poll reveals that nearly two-thirds (60%) of voters believe even in these tough economic times, it is important to pass the Employee Free
Choice Act, and nearly one-third (31%) of voters strongly believe it should be a priority for Congress. OBAMA, NEW SENATORS SUPPORT MEASURE
President-elect Barack Obama has already signaled his strong support of the measure: “I’ve fought to pass the Employee Free Choice Act
in the Senate. And I will make it the law of the land when I’m president…” (Philadephia, 4/2/08). Newly-elected Senators Kay Hagen,
Mary Landrieu, Jeff Merkley, Jeanne Shaheen, and Mark Udall also voiced their strong support for the bill, despite the millions of
dollars spent in a misleading campaign waged against them for their stance. “We have only seen the beginning of the fight to restore workers’ rights in this country as we can expect more sound and fury from
opponents of this bill,” Bonior commented. “But voters have clearly spoken. In our current economic climate, the American public
is hungry for measures to strengthen the middle class, and our new Congress should heed this call and make it a priority to pass the Employee Free
Choice Act.”
8
IN TRANSIT
www.atu.org
canadianagenda
T
he October 14 Canadian federal election resulted in Canada’s third consecutive minority government, re-electing Prime Minister Stephen
Harper and the Conservative Party.
Though the Conservatives fell 12 seats short of a majority government, their minority was strengthened to 143 seats, up from 127 in the
2006 election. NEW DEMOCRATS WIN 37 SEATS
Significantly, for trade unionists, voters gave the New Democratic Party a stronger mandate, electing the labour-oriented party’s second largest
caucus ever, receiving 18.2 percent of the vote, and 37 seats in the House of Parliament.
NDP candidate Linda Duncan was elected in staunchly conservative Alberta, and 17 New Democrats were elected in Ontario – virtually sweeping
the northern area of the province.
NDP Leader Jack Layton has promised that in the current economic climate “the first item of business for New Democrat MPs (Members of
Parliament) will to be to roll up our sleeves and get to work on ensuring ordinary Canadians are [financially] protected.”
PENSION GUARANTEES
On October 29, Layton called on the new government to provide new guarantees for Canadians who are about to retire. He is proposing that
the federal government create a new fund to “backstop pension failures” to protect retirees.
In his first meeting with NDP MPs since the election Layton asserted, “If there ever was a time for us to come together with some common
policies, this is it.” adding, “We’re looking for a more activist approach – one that involves the government… taking concrete action to protect
people in their daily lives.”
Conservative Party:
Liberal Party:
New Democratic Party:
Bloc Quebecois:
Green Party:
Independents/others:
37.6 %
26.2 %
18.2 %
10.0 %
6.8 %
1.0 %
143 seats
76 seats
37 seats
50 seats
0 seats
2 seats
Voter turnout was a record low 59 percent.
www.atu.org
9
LEGISLATIVE REPORT:
A PIVOTAL TIME
W
ith all of the attention focused on the recent U.S. presidential election, you might not have heard that working families also made significant
gains in Congress. As of press time, Democrats picked up six seats in the Senate and 19 seats in the House of Representatives.
The timing could not have been better for ATU. In 2009, Congress is scheduled to consider changes to the Safe, Accountable, Flexible,
and Efficient Transportation Equity Act - A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU), the six-year highway-transit bill that expires in September
of next year. More than any other piece of legislation, this bill affects the livelihood of America’s 360,000 transit workers. It sets the
policies and funding levels for all public transit programs nationwide.
SECTION 13(C)
When the last surface transportation bill was considered and finally acted upon by Congress between 2003-2005, Republicans had a solid
majority in both the U.S. House and Senate. As a result, transportation unions were confronted with a slew of anti-labor amendments that
could have had a devastating effect on ATU members.
Most significantly, there was an effort to repeal long-standing transit labor (also known as “Section 13(c)”) protections which state that when
federal funds are used to acquire, improve or operate a transit system, there must be arrangements to protect the rights of affected transit
employees. This provision ensures the continuation of collective bargaining rights and benefits for transit workers nationwide.
With help from Democrats and moderate Republicans, ATU was able to fight off significant changes to Section 13(c) in 2005. And despite a
strong effort from the Bush administration, we were also successful in ensuring that the bill did not expand privatization mandates. Nevertheless,
the make-up of Congress at the time caused ATU and all transit labor to play “defense” throughout the reauthorization period. As a result,
we were not able to actively push any of our progressive ideas to improve the federal transit program.
ABLE TO PUSH PRIORITIES
This time, thanks to your hard work in electing a Democratic majority in both houses of Congress and a president who believes that
working families should come first, the transit bill debate should be totally different. For the first time in decades, we should be able to
push some of our highest priorities – including increased transit funding, money for federal transit operating assistance, workforce development
programs, and others – without a credible threat of repealing Section 13(c).
Of course, challenges still lie ahead. The financial needs of our entire transportation system are astounding, and thanks to the recent
financial crisis and eight years of mismanagement of our economy by George W. Bush, the federal government is broke. New sources of
revenue will be needed to fund our priorities. We will have to work very hard with our allies to make a strong case to members of
Congress that this is the time to get people to switch to transit.
However, at least we know that our friends in Congress will be listening.
10
IN TRANSIT
www.atu.org
New York Maintenance
Workers Sue Diesel Makers
Over Health Problems
“From ’76 – ’91, I worked at the 100th St. Depot – that was the old depot that used to be a trolley barn at one time.
That had very poor ventilation; they had some windows there, but I don’t think they could be opened.
“In January of ’92 I retired. In 1995, I had three coronary stints put in. In 2002, I had a carotid stint. In 2006,
I had four more coronary stints installed. And in 2007, I was diagnosed with lung cancer which I’m suffering from
right now and being treated for with ‘chemo.’”
— CONNOR HARTNET, RETIRED DISPATCHER
A
group of seriously ill retired transit workers have brought a lawsuit against the makers of diesel engines in the Manhattan, Brooklyn, and
Bronx Supreme Courts alleging that the fumes from those engines were the cause of their sickness. The 13 initial litigants average 25 years with
the transit authority. So far, the litigants are all members of the Transport Workers Union.
UNVENTILATED, DILAPIDATED FORMER TROLLEY BARNS
In an August 18 news conference, John Dearie, the retirees’ attorney, said that the theory of their case was “relatively simple”:
“These gentlemen,” he explained, “worked in unventilated, dilapidated former trolley barns that were never converted. Many of these
depots were windowless.” Dearie continued, saying that because the diesel engines were often difficult to start in the morning, the transit
authority would have the shifters bring up to 100 buses inside at night and keep them running so that operators could begin their morning routes
without having to start a cold engine.
“And when you had, as in most of these depots, windowless barns,” Dearie added, “it just kept the diesel air inside, stagnant. And if you were a
shifter you were breathing it eight hours a day. If you were a mechanic you were breathing it eight hours a day. If you were a bus operator you
were breathing it about an hour a day.” They were all exposed, he said, “to a very dangerous, toxic material.”
“The smoke and fumes were terrible, and there was no ventilation. Buses were running continuously,” Hartnet agreed.
OTHER INDUSTRIES?
There is no doubt in my mind, Dearie asserted, “that in the general industries of transportation, construction, package delivery,
locomotive and trains there are tens of thousands of other individuals who were similarly exposed to heavy concentrations of diesel
who have had a heart problem or a lung malignancy and were affected by the same conditions as these gentlemen.”
“I worked at 100th St. – Lexington Ave. I spent 20 years at ‘100th St.’ As in all old garages, there were no windows
open at any time... The fumes would come up through the floor and you had to breathe that all the time. You couldn’t
stop, [because the buses had to keep] going down Lexington Ave. and coming up Third Ave. Those were hard times…”
— DAVIDSON JACKSON, RETIRED OPERATOR
Jackson now suffers from a heart condition and has just had bypass surgery.
www.atu.org
— continued over
11
— from previous page
‘WE’VE BEEN TELLING THEM FOR 30 YEARS’
Attorney John Durst will serve as co-counsel in the suit. Durst gave some background about the case saying, “We’ve been telling
people since the 1970s that emissions from vehicles can be hazardous to your health. Studies have been finding over that period that
diesel fumes, especially, cause cancer, cause heart disease, and cause respiratory disease.
“So, finally,” Durst said, “the Court of Appeals in the DC circuit found that the studies overwhelmingly prove that diesel fumes cause
lung cancer and others health hazards.
“Now the question is what the diesel engine manufacturers are going to do about the diseases they have caused to all these people.” Durst said.
All of those bringing the lawsuit insist that they never smoked.
“That was the question at the hospital when I walked in: ‘How many packs of cigarettes a day have you smoked?’ I said
I have never smoked a cigarette in my life. And when I said that they [were astounded].”
— EMIDIO DESTAFANO, RETIRED SHIFTER
DeStafano has cancer of the esophagus. Pointing to his wristband, he says, “This is my ‘easy pass’ to the hospital… It’s not ‘easy’ at all.”
“The diesel manufacturers didn’t move until the government forced them to move,” Durst said, and their reaction was to “fight, and fight, and fight.”
“These are the gentlemen [the litigants] who have paid the price for their recalcitrance; for their delays in dealing with the problem,” Durst
concluded, “They are going to have to do something to rectify what they have done.”
In Transit will keep you updated on this case.
NDP PROPOSES 1¢/LITRE TRANSIT GAS TAX
T
he election of the second highest number of New Democratic Members of Parliament in
history (37) is of particular significance to ATU members in light of the position on transit taken by
NDP Leader Jack Layton on September 29.
CRITICAL NEED
“Better public transit is a critical need all across Canada,” Layton asserted. He pointed to his election
platform. “It’s a balanced and responsible plan. It shows exactly how we will pay for our commitments to
working families.”
Focusing on a key commitment to invest in public transit, Layton emphasized its importance. “Better public
transit creates better communities. It makes life more affordable for working families. It means cleaner air
and fewer smog days.”
Highlighting his own record on public transit and that of leading New Democrat MPs - Olivia Chow and Peggy Nash - Layton set out his plan.
“We have a prudent and practical plan that will increase support for cleaner, greener transit across Canada.”
THE NDP TRANSIT PLAN:
• Dedicates one cent per litre of the federal gas tax to public transit, beginning at $400 million in the first year and increasing as finances permit.
• Invests revenue raised by the sale of carbon permits to big polluters directly into green transit solutions, beginning at $350 million a year.
• Ensures stable, annual funding to cities and provinces for newer, cleaner and better public transit.
• Creates good green-collar jobs, strengthens communities, and eases pressure on family budgets.
12
IN TRANSIT
www.atu.org
TONY WI T H I NGT ON, I NT ER N AT I O N A L R E P R E S E N TAT I V E
1976 Strike Motivation Behind New
International Representative’s Activism
Union membership is in his blood. Tony Withington’s father was a union worker who was jailed during the famous 1934
San Francisco dockworker strike. His mother was the president of a large Office Employees local in northern California.
It was natural therefore, when he was looking for a steady work in 1975, that he chose a union job; in this case Golden
Gate Transit represented by ATU. As it happened, labor strife erupted at Golden Gate just after he was employed, resulting
in a strike.
The event made a lasting impression on the young bus operator, convincing him of the importance of political action in
support of Labor.
In 1976, Withington joined a group of ATU members who established their own local – 1575 – in San Rafael, CA. And
32 years later, he was still a leader in that local.”
Withington became president of the local in 1987, and was elected and re-elected to that post until his appointment as an international representative
by International President Warren S. George, August 1. Withington also served as president of the ATU California Legislative Conference Board from
1992, until his recent appointment.
“I’m a firm believer that it all comes back to politics – both inside and outside the union,” he asserts. “You have to get involved with members as well
as local, state and national politics to be successful.”
VI RGI NIA L EW I S, NEW I NT E R N AT I O N A L R E P R E S E N TAT I V E
Charleston, SC Member Goes From
Cooking to International Representative
It began with a chance bus conversation in 1975. Virginia Lewis was chatting with the driver who mentioned that
the transit agency was hiring. Lewis was apprehensive, thinking that she needed to be bigger or stronger than her
99-lb. frame would allow. But the driver allayed her fears and soon she was tooling a bus around Charleston.
Lewis was happily surprised when the financial secretary of Local 610, approached her about becoming a member
of ATU “He didn’t need to do a ‘song-and-dance’ or a ‘dog-and-pony show,’” she laughed, “I always wanted to
be in a union, but I thought they were only in the North.”
The new operator wasted no time, attending meetings, and doing the tasks performed by women in 1975. She
cooked meals, sold tickets, and decorated halls for union events.
It wasn’t until 1996, that she started thinking she might like to be a local officer. She was appointed vice president
that year. In 2003, she was elected financial secretary, and in 2007, she was elected president. She was the first
woman to hold any of those offices in the local.
She was appointed international representative by International President Warren S. George beginning August 1, 2008. Lewis’ first
assignment was as a regional election coordinator which concluded with the election of Barack Obama, November 4.
When she organizes she’ll say, “Come in. Learn as much as you can. Be excited. Be everything you can. It’s a way of life.” International
Representative Virginia Lewis obviously follows her own advice.
www.atu.org
13
ATU Activists Help
Labor-Endorsed
14
Dan Kane, 519-La Crosse, WI,
knocks on doors for Barack Obama and transit
and labor friendly candidates.
From left, local release staff members Rick Steffles
and Ilona LaDouceur, both members of Local 1005St. Paul & Minneapolis, MN, confer with International
Representative Tony Withington.
Cynthia Bettz, 627-Cincinnati, OH, braves the cold
to leaflet for union-endorsed candidates.
Local 689-Washington DC members
get ready to roll in Virginia, October 18.
Sheila Roberson, 682-Fort Wayne, IN,
works a phone-bank.
Retired Chapter President Joe Hanson, 1001-Denver, CO,
on right, joins ATU Activist Christine Campbell, 1001,
in leafleting at a garage, October 22.
IN TRANSIT
www.atu.org
Elect Obama,
Candidates
Latino Caucus members formed one of the
largest pro-Obama groups in the ATU.
Then-Senatorial candidate Jeff Merkely, center,
joins Danny Taitague, and Mike Francois, both from
Local 757-Portland, OR. Merkely was elected and is
going to the Senate.
Shop Steward Ted Kielur, 85-Pittsburgh, PA, left,
talks to Bill Wiess, 85, about Barack Obama’s support
for working families at the West Mifflin Port Authority
Garage, July 8. (photo by Molly Theobald).
Local 1220 members call fellow
union members in Richmond, VA.
Louis Besses, 268-Cleveland, OH,
reaches out to union members.
Local President Edward Figueroa, 1056-Flushing, NY,
leads a group of fellow members cheering for Obama.
www.atu.org
15
LABOR LINGO: R TO Z
An essential element of knowing your rights as an ATU member is understanding the terminology of labor-management relations.
With that in mind, this is the fourth and final in a series of columns providing a glossary of common labor terminology.
Ratification: Formal approval of a tentative agreement negotiated by
the employer and the union which requires its submission to a vote of
the rank-and file of the union membership.
Recognition Clause: A provision in a labor contract which commits
the employer to dealing with the named union as the bargaining
agent for those in the employee unit whose terms and conditions of
employment are set forth in and governed by the contract.
Reinstatement: The return of a discharged employee to his or her
former job. The crucial issue in discharge cases is whether the job
termination was for just cause and whether the penalty imposed was
fair and reasonable.
Reopener Clause: A provision in a collective bargaining agreement
setting forth a time and/or the circumstances under which the parties
can reopen negotiations on some part of the labor contract even before
it expires.
Representational Election: A secret ballot vote conducted to determine
whether the majority of employees in a group want union representation.
Right to Work: A term used to describe U.S. state laws that ban union
security agreements by forbidding labor contracts to make employment
conditional on union membership.
SAFETEA-LU: Signed into law in August of 2005, the Safe, Accountable,
Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act - A Legacy for Users
authorizes the U.S. federal surface transportation programs for transit,
highways and highway safety over the five-year period expiring on
September 30, 2009.
Scab: An employee who fails to support his fellow workers by joining
them in striking an employer as authorized by their union.
Section 13(c): A provision in the U.S. Federal Transit Act which
requires that certain labor protections be honored as a condition to
the receipt of any federal transit grant funding. First enacted in 1964
at the insistence of the ATU, the requirements administered by the
U.S. Department of Labor are currently set forth as Section 533(b)
of the U.S. Transportation Code.
Seniority: The length of service of an employee in the total
employment with that employer, or in some particular seniority unit.
Comparative seniority often determines the rights of the employee in
relation to other workers as to job bidding, vacation and other benefits,
and layoff. The seniority rights of an employer are defined in the
collective bargaining contract.
Shop Steward: A person designated by a union or elected by a segment
of its membership to take up with management the grievances of fellow
employees as they arise.
16
IN TRANSIT
Statute of Limitations: A law that determines the time during which
an action may be taken to enforce any legal claim or right. In labor
arbitration, the term is also loosely used for the time periods contained
in the labor contract, including those which govern the processing of a
grievance through the grievance and arbitration procedure established in
the contract.
Strike: The concerted cessation of work as a form of economic pressure
by employees aimed at forcing employer acceptance of their collective
bargaining demands.
Suit to Compel Arbitration: A legal action to force another party
to arbitrate a particular labor dispute or contract grievance. A court
considering a motion to compel arbitration does not review the merits
of the underlying controversy.
Tentative Agreement or “TA”: As collective bargaining negotiations
progress, the parties typically sign-off on individual portions of the
labor contract and refer to each element as a tentative agreement that is
conditioned upon settlement of the entire labor contract. Even when
all contract portions have been satisfactorily negotiated by those at the
bargaining table, the product is referred to as a tentative agreement
pending its ratification by the union membership.
Unauthorized Strike: A job action by employees contrary to the advice
and without the consent of their union.
Unfair Labor Practice: An act on the part of an employer or a union
which interferes with the rights of workers as established under some
applicable labor relations act. Arbitrators have no jurisdiction over
unfair labor practices except in those cases where the actions at issue
also violate the collective bargaining agreement.
Union Security Clause: A provision in a labor contract making the
payment of union dues mandatory for all or some of the employees
in a bargaining unit.
Union Shop: Arrangement with a labor organization by which the
employer may hire any worker, union or nonunion, but the new
employee must join the union within a specified time and remain a
member in good standing along with his co-workers in the designated
bargaining unit.
Weingarten Rights: The right of an employee to have a union
representative present in any meeting with management where there
is a reasonable expectation that discipline may result.
Zipper Clause: A provision in a collective bargaining agreement that
seeks to close all employment terms for the duration of the labor
contract from any further discussion by stating that the agreement is
“complete in itself ” and that anything not contained therein is not
agreed to unless put into writing and signed by both parties.
www.atu.org
Arbitration Decisions
Local 1624 and Canada Coach Trentway-Wagar, Inc. (August 15, 2008)
ISSUE: Was Canada Coach Trentway-Wagar, Inc., justified in removing Grievant from service and holding her without pay, due to the suspicion that
her medications may make her fatigued and prone to experiencing blurred vision; and if not, what should the remedy be?
SUMMARY: Grievant is a full time coach operator working out of Kingston, ON, who commenced her employment in the summer of 2005.
In November of 2006, Grievant went on medical leave, returning before the end of November. Grievant then took medical leave again the
following month, and remained on leave through January of 2007. The employer was not informed of the nature of Grievant’s condition (later
discovered to be depression) and any attempts by the employer to contact Grievant were denied by her family. On January 30, 2007, Grievant
submitted a letter from her doctor indicating that she would be able to return to work on February 5, 2007. Per the employer’s request, Grievant’s
doctor submitted a “Return to Work Medical Report” indicating that Grievant was fit to resume operating the coach; in the report, the doctor
asserted that Grievant was not taking any medication that could impair her driving ability. Grievant returned to work on February 7, 2007.
At some point Grievant was issued prescriptions for two prescription medications—Cipralex and Wellbutrin—to control her depression. The employer
was not informed that Grievant had been prescribed any medication.
Subsequently, Grievant was subject to two random drug tests, on March 27 and July 6, 2007, both of which she passed. On August 24, 2007,
Trentway-Wagar’s Kingston Division Manager Dennis Frost received a telephone call from Grievant’s husband, alerting the employer to the fact
that Grievant was taking medications that may make her drowsy and subject to blurred vision and migraines. Frost, along with the director of
safety and the president of the employer, proceeded to research the two medications on the internet and found that side effects of the two
medications may include the aforementioned symptoms. The decision was made to remove Grievant from service and have her visit a company
doctor, who would decide whether she was fit to operate a bus. An appointment with the doctor could not be scheduled until September 11, 2007.
Grievant agreed and visited with the doctor on the specified date, and also provided consent for her own doctor’s notes to be released to the company
doctor. The company doctor subsequently declared Grievant fit to return to service, and free of any side effects that may impair her ability to operate
a commercial vehicle. Grievant was released back into service on September 9, 2007, without compensation for the period she was inactive.
HOLDING: Arbitrator Norm Jesin held that while it was reasonable for the employer to temporarily remove Grievant from service with the
sincere concern that her medication may make her unfit to operate, it was however unreasonable for Grievant to be uncompensated for such a long
period of time ‑ particularly considering she was cleared of any side effects. Jesin ruled that the situation was covered by the employer’s disciplinary
policy, and that according to the Collective Bargaining Agreement, an employee cleared of wrongdoing is to be compensated for the period they
were removed from service. The employer was ordered to compensate Grievant for the period she was out of service.
WHAT’S HAPPENING?
There’s a big wide world out there, and it’s tough to keep up with all the events which
can affect your profession and your livelihood. One of the easiest ways to stay
informed is to go to your union’s website: www.atu.org. There you’ll find the latest
news about the ATU, mass transit, and Labor which will put you ahead of the curve in
your knowledge of the issues which are most important to you, your family, and your
co-workers.
Don’t stay in the dark! Find out what’s going on.
Check in with www.atu.org, often.
www.atu.org
17
LOCAL 618 - Providence, RI
First Student (Warwick, RI)
Local President Stephen Farrell and International Vice President Richard Murphy report settlement.
TERM:
7/1/08 - 6/30/11
WAGES:
Top Operator
7/1/08 - 3.9%
1/1/09 - 1.6%
7/1/09 - 3.1%
7/1/10 - 3.0%
* Employee’s with 10+ years of service receive 50¢/hour above top rate (longevity)
BONUS:
Safety - no preventable accident’s during school year - $1.50 for each day.
-
3 years
60¢
25¢
50¢
50¢
-
$16.00 (was $15.40)
$16.25
$16.75
$17.25
PROGRESSION: Five years ( was six years)
LIFE INSUR.: $10,000 (was $5,000)
PENSION: Employer to match up to $225/year (was Ø)
HOLIDAYS: Add Veteran’s Day - 7/1/10 add Labor Day
BEREAVEMENT: 3 days for immediate family (was one) at regular route pay (was non-revenue rate)
NOTE:
(New) Instructor’s pay 50¢/hour. The contract was ratified by a vote of 37 to 29.
LOCAL 857 - Green Bay, WI
City of Green Bay
Local President Larry Juley and International Vice President Janis Borchardt report settlement.
TERM:
1/1/07 - 12/31/08
WAGES:
Top Operator
1/7/07 - 1.5%
6/24/07 - 1.5%
1/6/08 - 1.5%
6/22/08 - 1.5%
H & W:
Increase preventative care benefit from $500 to $1,000
- Employer contribution maximum 92.5% of premium
-
2 years
28¢
29¢
29¢
30¢
-
$19.26 (was $18.98)
$19.55
$19.84
$20.14
LOCAL 1225 - San Francisco, CA
MV Transportation
Local President William Parks and International Vice President Chuck Cook report settlement.
TERM:
10/1/08 - 9/30/09
WAGES:
Top Operator
10/1/08 - 3% - 59¢ - $20.38 (was $19.79)
1 year
PENSION: ATU 401(k) employer match $185/month, (was $102.50)
HOLIDAYS: Replace a floating with President’s Day & Veteran’s Day
GUARANTEE: 36 hours/week for extra board drivers
LOCAL 1309 - San Diego, CA
Veolia Transportation (Main St. property)
Local President Steve Alcove and International Vice President Chuck Cook report settlement.
CORRECTION: The May/June In Transit incorrectly
listed the charter city for Local 256 as Concord, CA.
It should have listed Sacramento, CA.
18
IN TRANSIT
TERM:
7/1/07 - 6/30/10
WAGES:
Top Operator
7/1/07 - 3.5% - 50¢ - $15.00 (was $14.50)
7/1/08 - 3.25% - 50¢ - $15.50
7/1/09 - 3.25% - 50¢ - $16.00
3 years
www.atu.org
Top Mechanic
7/1/07 - 2% - 52¢ - $26.29 (was $25.77)
7/1/08 - 2% - 52¢ - $26.81
7/1/09 - 2% - 54¢ - $27.35
H & W:
Employer contribution $425/month (was $325/month)
VACATION: 4 weeks - 20 years of service (was 3 weeks)
SICK LEAVE:PTO to 240 hours (was 200 hours)
TOOL ALLOW.: $50 increase/year over term
NOTE:
The contract was ratified by a vote of 212 to 33.
Trustee Marcellus Barnes reports settlement.
TERM:
7/1/06 - 6/30/09
WAGES:
Top Operator
7/1/06 - 3.3% - 53¢ - $16.76 (was $16.23)
7/1/07 - 3.5% - 58¢ - $17.34
7/1/08 - 3.5% - 61¢ - $17.95
Top Mechanic “A”
7/1/06 - 3.2% - 58¢ - $18.47 (was $17.89)
7/1/07 - 3.5% - 65¢ - $19.12
7/1/08 - 3.5% - 67¢ - $19.79
3 years
PENSION: Employer contributes 80¢/hour (was 70¢/hour)
TOOL ALLOW.: $470 (was $450)
LOCAL 1729 - Pittsburgh, PA
First Student (Wall, PA)
UNIF. ALLOW.: $400
Local President Patricia Carfagna and International Vice President
Richard Murphy report 1st agreement.
TERM:
5/1/08 - 6/30/11
WAGES:
Top Operator
5/1/08 - 3.0% - 35¢ - $11.96 (was $11.61)
6/1/09 - 3.5% - 42¢ - $12.38
6/1/10 - 3.7% - 46¢ - $12.84
H & W:
Employer match $225/year (was Ø)
3 years
LOCAL 1761 - Charlotte, MI
Eaton County Transportation Authority
Local President Barbara Lomax and International Vice President
Paul Bowen report settlement.
TERM:
7/1/08 - 6/30/09
WAGES:
Top Operator
7/1/08 - $16.85
GUARANTEE: drivers - 4 ½ hours (was 4)
Top Mechanic
7/1/08 - $16.37
NOTE:
H & W:
Opt out - $165/month (was $150)
LIFE INSUR.:$10,000 (was $5,000)
HOLIDAYS: 9/1/09 - Add Labor Day
1 year
PENSION: Part-time allowed to participate after 2 years of service.
SPREAD TIME: Split shift premium rate 50¢/hour
LOCAL 1753 - Venetia, PA
First Student
Local President Deborah DeMart and International Vice President
Richard Murphy report settlement.
TERM:
7/1/08 - 6/30/11
WAGES:
Top Operator
7/1/08 - 3.0% - 47¢ - $16.27 (was $15.80)
7/1/09 - 3.5% - 57¢ - $16.84
7/1/10 - 4.0% - 67¢ - $17.51
Top Mechanic
7/1/08 - 4.1%
1/1/09 - 4.2%
7/1/09 - 3.7%
7/1/10 - 4.0%
-
BREAKS:
Full-time dispatchers - 60 minutes unpaid lunch
Part-time - 20 minutes paid break
NOTE:
ASE certification - 40¢/hour for each certificate up to 6.
3 years
70¢
75¢
68¢
77¢
-
$17.88 (was $17.28)
$18.63
$19.31
$20.08
LOCAL 1505 - Winnipeg, MB
Winnipeg Transit
Local President Keith Scott and International Vice President
Bob Hykaway report settlement.
TERM:
1/13/08 - 1/15/11
WAGES:
Top Operator
1/13/08 - 2.0%
11/1/08 - 1.1%
1/13/09 - 2.2%
1/13/10 - 3.0%
BEREAVEMENT: Add step-parent & step-child - one day
H & W:
Increase lifetime orthodontic to maximum $2,200
Vision - increase to $250 for full-time, $125 for part-time.
NOTE:
SICK LEAVE:Add parental leave - up to 52 weeks with 12 months of service.
LIFE INSUR.:$20,000 (was $15,000)
PENSION: 401(k) - employer match $225/year (was Ø)
VACATION: 20 days - 10 years of service (was 16 years of service)
HOLIDAYS: P/T - Add Martin Luther King Day
GUARANTEE: driver - 4 ½ hours (was 4)
-
3 years
45¢
25¢
50¢
69¢
-
$22.46 (was $22.01)
$22.71
$23.21
$23.90
Top Mechanic
1/13/08 - 1.9% - 50¢ - $26.76 (was $26.26)
1/13/11 - 1.9% - 50¢ - $27.26
TOOL ALLOW: $410 (to $430)
LOCAL 639 - Lexington, KY
Transit Authority of Lexington-Fayette Urban County (Lextran)
www.atu.org
NOTE:
Shift premium - $1/hour
19
LEGAL NOTICE
TO: Employees Represented by ATU Locals in U.S. Bargaining Units Who Are Subject to Union Security Arrangements
Employees working under collective bargaining agreements which contain a union security clause are required,
as a condition of their employment, to pay monthly dues or fees to the union. Regardless of the specific wording
used in such a clause, however, formal union membership cannot be, and is not, actually mandated. Those who
are members of the ATU pay monthly union dues. Nonmembers, or “agency feepayers,” meet their obligation
through the payment of an equivalent “agency fee.”
Nonmembers subject to a union security clause also have the additional legal right to file objections to their
funding of certain expenditures with which they may disagree. More specifically, in a series of judicial and agency
decisions it has been determined that objecting nonmembers may not properly be charged for union activities
and expenditures which are “unrelated to collective bargaining, contract administration, or grievance adjustment”
and/or are otherwise “nongermane to the collective bargaining process.”
When considering these matters, individuals should remember that the union security clause included in
their labor contract was negotiated and ratified by their fellow employees based upon the principle that everyone
who benefits from the collective bargaining process should share in its costs. Simply stated, the well-being of
all bargaining unit employees is improved immeasurably when the union obtains higher wages, better health
care and retirement benefits, fairness in the discipline system, and the many other improvements realized in
contract negotiations. But it would be difficult to provide such effective representation at the bargaining table
without the influence earned through the “nongermane” political and ideological activities of the trade union
movement. It is, after all, our political and legislative work on behalf of working families that has lead to the
likes of the Family Medical Leave Act. And our community activism was key to the recently concluded election
which brought us the hope of a Barrack Obama Administration and the promise of a more worker-friendly U.S.
Senate and House of Representatives.
Any individual thinking of electing objector status also needs to keep in mind the considerable benefits of
union membership that must first be surrendered. As a nonmember, a fee objector relinquishes many valuable
privileges, including the right to attend and participate in union meetings; the right to run in local union elections and to otherwise nominate and vote for any candidates for union office; the right to participate in the
The following ATU Statement of Law and Procedures concerning union security
objections applies only to the International per capita tax charged to objectors
as part of local union fees (unless this Notice and Statement has been adopted
by the local union for application to the local union’s total fees).
1. Any ATU-represented nonmember employee, whether publicly or
privately employed, who is subject to a union security clause conditioning continued employment on the payment of dues or fees has the right
to become an objector to expenditures not related to collective bargaining, contract administration, grievance adjustment, or other chargeable
expenditures. A current ATU member who chooses not to tender the
full periodic (monthly) dues and assesments uniformly required for the
acquisition or retention of full membership in the union, but who instead
opts to become an objector, must assume nonmember status prior to filing
an objection through these procedures. An objector shall pay reduced fees
calculated in accordance with Section 5.
2. To become an objector,1 an ATU-represented nonmember employee
shall notify the International Secretary-Treasurer in writing of the objection
transmitted during the month of January each year or within thirty (30) days
after assuming nonmember status. Employees who were not subject to an
ATU union security clause as of January in any given year must forward an
objection within thirty (30) days after becoming subject to union security
obligations and receiving notice of these procedures or within thirty (30)
days after assuming nonmember status. The objection shall be signed and
shall specify the objector’s current home mailing address, name the objector’s employer with which the applicable union security arrangements have
been entered into, and identify the ATU local union number, if known.
All objections should be mailed to the International Secretary-Treasurer,
5025 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20016-4139 or transmitted
by facsimile to 202-244-7824 with a separate cover page directing such
to the attention of the International Secretary-Treasurer and specifying
the subject thereof to be the “Election of Fee Objector Status.” A person
who wishes to continue an objection in a subsequent twelve (12) month
period shall so provide notice of objection each January.
3. The following categories of expenditure are chargeable to the extent
permitted by law:
a. All expenses concerning the negotiation of agreements, practices
and working conditions;
b. All expenses concerning the administration of agreements, practices
and working conditions, including grievance handling, all activities related
to arbitration, and discussion with employees in the bargaining unit or
employer representatives regarding working conditions, benefits and
contract rights;
c. Convention expenses and other normal union internal governance
and management expenses;
d. Social activities and union business meeting expenses;
e. Publication expenses to the extent coverage is related to otherwise
chargeable activities;
f. Expenses of litigation before the courts and administrative agencies
related to contract administration, collective bargaining rights and internal
governance;
g. Expenses for legislative, executive branch and administrative agency
representation on legislative and regulatory matters closely related to
contract ratification or the implementation of contracts;
h. All expenses for the education and training of members, officers,
and staff intended to prepare the participants to better perform chargeable
activities;
20
IN TRANSIT
formation of ATU bargaining demands; the right to vote on contract ratification questions; and the right to
enjoy the many benefits of the Union Privilege Benefits Program, which offers low-interest credit cards, legal
and travel services, prescription drug cards, and life insurance.
The Notice of Statement of Law and Procedures which appears below sets forth the specific means by which
an individual who decides to become a nonmember agency feepayer notwithstanding the above considerations
may lodge and perfect a request for a reduction in the amount of his or her monthly International per capita fee
obligation. (This notice applies only to the International Union expenditures and to the per capita tax portion
of local union dues except where – as is typically the case – the local union has, by voluntary and affirmative
action, adopted this Notice and Statement for application to the local union’s total fees in order to comply with
the dictates of the applicable law in this area.) First implemented two decades ago, this detailed process has been
carefully tailored to satisfy the objectors’ rights to not financially support “nongermane” activities while still
requiring them to share in the full costs of union representation.
As noted, these procedures have been effectively imposed upon us. It remains our opinion that all of our organizing and all the legislative, litigation, and similar activities undertaken by the ATU – some of which tribunals
have indicated may in part be ideological and, therefore, nonchargeable – are essential to improving the working
conditions of all the employees we represent. Still, as a democratic and law-abiding union, we acknowledge and
stand fully prepared to honor an individual’s freedom to choose not to participate as a full member of the ATU
and to not support these essential union endeavors.
The rights are, of course, yours. But for only pennies more per day, you can enjoy the many advantages of
union membership in the ATU.
Warren S. George
i. All strike fund expenditures and costs of group cohesion and economic
action, e.g., general strike activity, informational picketing, etc.;
j. All funeral or dismemberment benefits; and
k. A proportional share of all overhead and administrative expenses.
4. Each December, the International Union shall publish these policies
and procedures in the In Transit to provide to ATU-represented employees
notice of their right to object and of the procedures for objecting. The
International shall also send a copy of these policies and procedures to
each person who objected the previous year to inform the person of his
or her right to renew the objection for the current year.
5. The International retains an independent auditor who submits an annual report for the purpose of verifying the percentage of expenditures
that fall within the categories specified in Section 3. Similarly, if the local
union has adopted these procedures for application to its total fees, the
local union arranges for the audit of the records, enabling the local union
to verify annually the percentage of its total expenditures other than the
International per capita tax that is chargeable to objectors. The amount
of the International and local union expenditures falling within Section
3 made during that fiscal year which ended in the previous calendar year
shall be the basis for calculating the reduced fees that must be paid by
the objector for the current calendar year.2 For each objector, an amount
equal to the reduced fees paid by the objector shall be placed in an interestbearing escrow account.
6. The report(s) of the independent auditor(s) shall be completed prior to
the publication of these policies and procedures in December. The report(s)
shall include verification of the major categories of union expenses attributable to chargeable and nonchargeable activities. Local unions which adopt
these procedures shall provide a copy of their independent auditor’s report
to each nonmember employee represented by the local union.
7. In the absence of an exclusive statutory review procedure,3 each objector may challenge the legal and arithmetical bases of the calculations
contained in the independent auditor report(s) by filing an appeal with
the International Secretary-Treasurer. Nonmember objectors in bargaining units covered by the National Labor Relations Act shall also have the
right to seek a determination of any issues relating to these procedures
by invoking the jurisdiction of the National Labor Relations Board. If
such an objector chooses not to invoke the Board’s jurisdiction, or if the
Board defers to these appeal procedures, the nonmember objector’s appeal
shall be filed exclusively with the International Secretary-Treasurer. Any
such appeal must be made by sending a signed letter to the International
Secretary-Treasurer postmarked or transmitted via facsimile no later than
thirty (30) days after the International Secretary-Treasurer has forwarded
a letter to the objector acknowledging receipt of the objection or the date
the National Labor Relations Board affirmatively declines to assert its
reviewing jurisdiction, whichever is later.
8. Except where state law provides an exclusive statutory review procedure
as discussed in Note 3 below or when an objector proceeds before the
National Labor Relations Board as set forth in Section 7, all such appeals
received by the union within the time limits specified above shall be determined by expeditious referral to an impartial arbitrator appointed by
the American Arbitration Association (AAA) under its rules for impartial
determination of union fees and these procedures. The International
Union will notify the AAA that challenges of its fees, which have been
received from one or more individual employees, are to be determined
by an impartial arbitrator and will include the names and addresses of the
individuals who have filed the appeals challenging the union’s fees and
who should be notified of the proceedings.
a. All appeals filed within any given forty-five (45) day period shall
be consolidated. Appeals shall be heard as soon as the AAA can schedule
the arbitration and shall be at a location selected by the AAA to be the
most convenient for those involved in the proceeding.
b. Each party to the arbitration shall bear its own costs. The challengers shall have the option of paying a pro-rata portion of the arbitrator’s fees and expenses. The union shall pay the balance of such fees and
expenses.
c. Challengers may, at their expense, be represented by counsel or
other representative of choice. Challengers need not appear at the hearing
and shall be permitted to instead file written statements with the arbitrator
no later than the beginning of the arbitration hearing. Post-hearing statements may be filed in accordance with the provisions of Section 8(g).
d. Fourteen (14) days prior to the start of the arbitration, challengers
shall be provided with copies of all exhibits or a list of all such exhibits
intended to be introduced at the arbitration by the union and a list of
all witnesses the union intends to call, except for exhibits and witnesses
the union may introduce for rebuttal. Where a list of exhibits has been
provided, challengers shall have a right to receive copies of such exhibits by
making a written request for them to the International Secretary-Treasurer.
Additionally, copies of all exhibits shall be available for inspection and
copying at the hearing.
e. A court reporter shall make a transcript of all proceedings before
the arbitrator. This transcript shall be the only official record of the proceedings and may be purchased by the challengers. If challengers do not
purchase a copy of the transcript, a copy shall be available for inspection
by challengers at the International headquarters during normal business
hours.
f. The arbitrator shall have control over all procedural matters affecting
the arbitration in order to fulfill the dual needs of an informed and an
expeditious arbitration. The arbitrator shall set forth in the decision the
legal and arithmetic bases for the decision, giving full consideration to
the legal requirements limiting the amount objectors may be charged.
g. The parties to the arbitration shall have the right to file a post-hearing
statement within fifteen (15) days after both parties have completed submission of their cases at the hearing. Such statements may not introduce
new evidence nor discuss evidence not introduced in the arbitration.
The arbitrator shall issue a decision within forty-five (45) days after the
final date for submission of post-hearing statements or within such other
reasonable period as is consistent with the applicable AAA rules and the
requirements of law.
h. The decision of the arbitrator shall be final and binding on all
findings of fact supported by substantial evidence on the record considered
as a whole and on other findings legally permitted to be binding on all
parties.
i. Upon receipt of the arbitrator’s award, any adjustment in favor of
the challenger will be made from the escrow account.
9. Under Section 18.1 of the ATU Constitution and General Laws, each
local union will be responsible for collecting and transmitting to the International Union each month from those who have made an objection
the amount of the per capita tax certified as due under these procedures.
In addition, each local will be responsible for developing a system covering local union fees that will meet the legal requirements relative to the
objectors in the local. If the local union affirmatively opts to adopt the
International procedures concerning fee objections on a integrated basis,
www.atu.org
no multiple notice (other than providing its independent auditor’s report to nonmember employees represented
by the local union), objection, challenge or appeal procedures will be necessary. If, however, the local union
adopts an independent system covering local union expenditures other than per capita tax, such arrangements
must, by law, be included in the local’s procedures. The local’s procedures must, further, at a minimum: (1)
establish record-keeping methods sufficient to permit an accurate calculation of the percentage of the local’s
total expenditures that are chargeable to objectors; (2) provide for an independent audit which will enable the
local union to verify annually the chargeable portion of the local’s total expenditures, the amount of the reduced
fees payable by objectors, and the appropriate escrow amount; and (3) provide objectors a single, expeditious
review of the calculation of the chargeable expenditures before a neutral person not selected by the local. Under
either an integrated or independent local system governing local union fees, each local union is responsible for
collecting only those fees as may be certified as properly due to the local union.
10. The provisions of this procedure shall be considered legally separable. Should any provision or portion hereof
be held contrary to law by a court, administrative agency or arbitrator, the remaining provisions or portions
thereof shall continue to be legally effective and binding. If, after consultation with each other, the International
President or the local union business agent determines that modifications in this procedure are necessary to
maintain compliance with applicable law, such modifications may be made in accordance with the Constitution
and General Laws of the International Union or the bylaws of the local union, as applicable.
Amalgamated Transit Union Analysis of Objectors’ Expenses Year Ended June 30, 2008
NOTES
1. ATU-represented public employees in Illinois, Minnesota, Montana, or Oregon who are not members of
the union are automatically considered objectors and are not required to make a filing under the provisions of
Sections 2 and 4 of this Statement of Law and Procedures. The collective bargaining statute applicable to New
Jersey public employers (with the significant exceptions of New Jersey Transit and NJT-Mercer) has the same
impact. Similarly, except where a more stringent union security arrangement was in place on January 1, 1970,
and has been continued in accordance with the “grand fathering” provisions of state law, the Pennsylvania public
employee bargaining statute only permits a fair share union security clause under which every nonmember is
obligated to pay only a reduced fee based upon prior chargeable expenditures. Local unions representing such
members shall forward the names of all such nonmember objectors to the International Secretary-Treasurer,
including the objector’s current home address and employer.
2. In accordance with applicable state laws, the reduced per capita tax owed by nonmember public employee
objectors in Minnesota and New Jersey (except those working for New Jersey Transit or NJT-Mercer) shall be
computed utilizing either the percentage of chargeable expenditures as verified by the report of the independent
auditor retained by the International or eighty-five (85%) percent, whichever is lesser.
3. State statutes covering public employees in Minnesota and New Jersey (again, other than those workers
employed by New Jersey Transit or NJT-Mercer) require that any person wishing to challenge the fees file an
action with the state public employment board (Minnesota) or with a three-member board appointed by the
governor specifically to hear fair share challenges (New Jersey). Where these statutes are applicable, any local
union procedure must provide that the binding expeditious review be through the applicable state process.
Amalgamated Transit Union - Analysis of Objectors’ Expense for the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2008
To the Chair and Members of the General Executive Board of the
Amalgamated Transit Union
We have audited the accompanying Analysis of Objectors’ Expenses of
the Amalgamated Transit Union (the Analysis) for the year ended June 30,
2008. The Analysis is the responsibility of the Union’s management. Our
responsibility is to express an opinion on the Analysis based on our audit.
We conducted our audit in accordance with auditing standards generally
accepted in the United States of America. Those standards require that we
plan and perlorm the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether
the Analysis is free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining,
on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the
Analysis. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used
and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the
overall presentation of the Analysis. We believe that our audit provides a
reasonable basis for our opinion.
As described in Note 1, the Analysis was prepared on a modified cash
basis of accounting, which is a comprehensive basis of accounting other
than generally accepted accounting principles.
The total net (U.S.) includable expenses presented in the Analysis agree
to the expenses in the audited financial statements of the Amalgamated
Transit Union for the year ended June 30, 2008, as modified as discussed
in Note 3. The allocations of expenses between chargeable and nonchargeable are based on the descriptions and the significant factors and
assumptions described in Note 2. The accompanying Analysis was prepared
for the purpose of determining the amount of the Union’s expenses that
are chargeable or non-chargeable to fee objectors. The accompanying
Analysis is not intended to be a complete presentation of the Union’s
financial statements.
In our opinion, the Analysis referred to above presents fairly, in all
material respects, the includable expenses of the Amalgamated Transit
Union for the year ended June 30, 2008, and the allocation between
chargeable and non-chargeable expenses, on the basis of accounting
described in Note 1 and significant factors and assumptions described
in Note 2.
This report is intended solely for the infonnation and use of the
Amalgamated Transit Union and its fee objectors and is not intended to
be and should not be used by anyone other than these specified parties.
Washington, DC
Dated: October 22, 2008, except for the allocation of expenditures
described in Note 2 as to which the date is November 13, 2008
www.atu.org
NOTES TO ANALYSIS OF OBJECTORS’ EXPENSES
YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2008
NOTE 1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Method of Accounting - The Analysis is presented using a modified
cash basis of accounting. Generally, expenses are recognized when paid
rather than when the obligation is incurred. However, accruals of expenses
are recorded for certain transactions with local unions, funeral benefits,
accrued compensated absences and other items.
Depreciation - Depreciation of property and equipment is charged to
operations over the estimated useful lives of the assets using the straightline method.
Benefit Payments - The Union’s Constitution and General Laws
provide for the payment of a $1,000 funeral or dismemberment benefit
on behalf of members and fee payers in good standing with one or more
years of continuous membership or fee payment at the time of their
death or dismemberment. An expense is recognized for the benefit for
life members at the time they become life members. The costs associated
with this benefit for other members and fee payers are accounted for upon
disbursement of the benefit.
Estimates - The preparation of this Analysis requires management
to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts
of expenses during the reporting period. Actual results may differ from
those estimates.
NOTE 2. PURPOSE OF ANALYSIS OF OBJECTORS’ EXPENSES
AND SIGNIFICANT FACTORS AND ASSUMPTIONS USED IN
DETERMINING CHARGEABLE AND NON-CHARGEABLE EXPENSES
The purpose of this Analysis is for the determination of the percentage
of fee objector dues (or their equivalent) expended by the Union for
chargeable activities. Expenses for chargeable activities are those deemed
“necessarily or reasonably incurred” to execute the representational duties
of the Union. The percentage of Union expenses deemed not chargeable
is used for determining advance dues (or their equivalent) reduction for
fee objectors for the subsequent calendar year.
The procedures followed in the preparation of this Analysis include
categorization of each classification of expenses by chargeable and nonchargeable activities. This is accomplished by analyzing each classification
of expenses and identifying amounts which are either chargeable or
non-chargeable.
The Union engaged professional assistance to determine criteria for
identifying chargeable and non-chargeable expenses. The procedures and
significant factors and assumptions used in this Analysis in determining
these expenses are as follows:
A. All expenses are identified by fund and reconciled to the Union’s
annual financial statements.
B. Canadian expenses within each fund are eliminated.
C. Certain interfund transfers are recorded to more accurately reflect
the Union activity for which certain expenditures were made.
D. Expenses are analyzed to identify chargeable and non-chargeable
amounts using the following criteria:
1. Chargeable expenses include:
• All expenses concerning the negotiation of agreements, practices
and working conditions;
• All expenses concerning the administration of agreements,
practices and working conditions, including grievance handling,
all activities related to arbitration and discussion with employees
in the bargaining unit or employer representatives regarding
working conditions, benefits and contract rights;
• Convention expenses and other normal Union internal
governance and management expenses;
• Social activities and Union business meeting expenses;
• Publication expenses to the extent coverage is related to
• Expenses of litigation before the courts and administrative
agencies related to contract administration, collective bargaining
rights and internal governance;
• Expenses for legislative, executive branch and administrative
agency representation on legislative and regulatory matters
closely related to contract ratification or the implementation
of contracts;
• All strike fund expenditures and other costs of group cohesion
and economic action, e.g., demonstrations, general strike activity,
informational picketing, etc.;
• All expenses for the education and training of members, officers
and staff intended to prepare the participants to better perform
• All funeral and dismemberment benefits; and
• An allocable amount of all net building expenses.
2. Non-chargeable expenses include all other expenses.
E. For those expenses which have both chargeable or non-chargeable
aspects, allocations are made using certain ratios. Significant ratios
used for these allocated expenses include ratios based on salary
costs supported by time records and other ratios such as printed
line ratios for allocation of certain publication costs.
NOTE 3. RECONCILIATION OF ANALYSIS TO AUDITED
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The expenses included in this analysis are based upon the total expenses
of $28,148,143 reported in the audited financial statements of the
Amalgamated Transit Union modified for the following:
$2,759,445 in Canadian expenses has been excluded from this analysis.
$345,889 relating to various expenses which have been offset by
corresponding revenue items have been excluded from this analysis.
21
In Memoriam
Death Benefits Awarded September 1, 2008 - October 31, 2008
1- MEMBERS AT LARGE
CHARLES LEE ABERNATHY
MICHELE D’ESPOSITO
DEE C DAVIS
VERNON I GALYEN
ARTHUR STEVENS GREEN
FRANK HAYWARD JR
WILLIAM A HUNNICUTT
EDWARD J LUND
JAMES N MITCHELL
JOHN R OVERTON
JOHN PIAZZA
WILLIAM G SMITH
EVERETT SPIDLE
STUART VANDER SCHAAF
JOHN W YORDY
26- DETROIT, MI
VICTOR J CANTALINI
VICTOR P HABROWSKI
85- PITTSBURGH, PA
ALAN J BROCKLEBANK
ROBERT H BROWN JR
JAMES G CARYLL
GILBERT L GONGAWARE
ROBERT J GREBNER
JAMES E LALLEY
GAYLE E REINERTH
RAYMOND H SAGER
WILLIAM E SPITZNAGEL
NATHAN WRIGHT
107- HAMILTON, ON
MICHAEL J TAGGART
113- TORONTO, ON
STEFANO BELLISSIMO
JAMES STIRLING BLAIR
WALTER W BLAIR
GILBERTO CONTRERAS
JOSEPH C COOMBS
JOHN ANGUS FARRELL
FREDERICK V FORTUNE
GEOFFREY E GAVINS
ARTHUR ROBERT GIBSON
DONALD R JACKSON
RONALD A KENNEDY
J E ROLAND LOCKE
JOSEPH E LOUGHEED
HENRY JOSEPH MC GILL
WILLIAM JOHN MEEK
KENNETH N NESBITT
EAMON O’DWYER
THOMAS O’NEIL
PHILIP RENWICK
LUTHER A TROTTER
CHARLES R WELLS
192- OAKLAND, CA
TERRY R MURPHY
JOHN MELTON NIX
JEWELL PRICE
22
22
INTRANSIT
TRANSIT
IN
HENRY SHEPARD
JOSEPH A VELARDE
241- CHICAGO, IL
CORNELIUS L ALLEN
KENNETH J BRUCKER
LEWIS COMBS
JERRY P DUBIN
ESCO DUCKSWORTH
EUGENE EASON
AUGUST J ELKE
DOMINIC S FINOCCHIO
WILLIE E KELLEY
ROBERT C LEGG
HUE A MAXWELL
FRED H MILLER
JOSEPH P PHILIP SR
PRESIDENT PUCKETT
GEORGE D RASCH
JAMES M RICHARD
PAUL H SAMPSON
JAMES E ZENAWICK
265- SAN JOSE, CA
ROBERT DOUGHTY
268- CLEVELAND, OH
CLIFTON N CARDWELL
FRANK H HUBER
279- OTTAWA, ON
ALBERT CLERMONT
RAYMOND GOYETTE
MARCEL A LAVIGNE
RICHARD LAVIGNE
587- SEATTLE, WA
KOJI BIOSE
ROBERT J WITHEY
757- PORTLAND, OR
TONY GOMEZ
HAROLD O LAMBERT
588- REGINA, SK
JOSEPH J LESPERANCE
DONALD M PATTERSON
758- TACOMA, WA
AVELINO SAARENAS
589- BOSTON, MA
OSMAN CABRAL
FRANCIS J CAHILL
JOHN A DE FRANCISCO
ROBERT J EAD
MARY E FORZESE
WALTER A KUEGEL
CHARLES H MATHENA JR
RYAN P MC CAFFERTY
CHARLES MC GOVERN JR
DAVID J MOGE
MAX R MOISE
EDWARD C SHELDON
CARL F STEAD
618- PROVIDENCE, RI
JAMES A TUCKER
628- COVINGTON, KY
CHARLES F SARGENT
685- BRANTFORD, ON
PAUL L CLARKSON
308- CHICAGO, IL
WALTER S BOCHENEK
ARTHUR J BOYACK
JOHN COOK
ELIJAH JAMISON
EDGAR SHAW
689- WASHINGTON, DC
GLENN O BLACKSON
ERNEST E BLAND JR
SAMUEL WELLS HAND
SIDNEY C HUGULEY
JIN H LEE
WILLIAM F NORTON
JAMES F RANEY
FRANCIS P REBHOLTZ
WILLIAM SHIELDS JR
JACK P SHINNEMAN
JOHN W SIERS
JESSE W STAFFORD JR
ROLAND D WANDJI
448- SPRINGFIELD, MA
WOLF R HAAGA
691- SPRINGFIELD, MO
THOMAS J BARRETT
558- SHREVEPORT, LA
CLIFFORD MC ALEXANDER
694- SAN ANTONIO, TX
ERNEST R ALANIZ
GILBERT T CORNEJO
SEBASTIAN W KAMMER
PETE F OLIVARES
281- NEW HAVEN, CT
EDWARD M CANNING
569- EDMONTON, AB
RICHARD J ASLIN
STEPHEN F SCHIWECK
ROY BRYAN ZIPSE
580- SYRACUSE, NY
DONALD CARSON
583- CALGARY, AB
ED MACKAY
YVONNE M QUEBEC
732- ATLANTA, GA
MOSES BRITT JR
KENNETH G BRYANT
CARLTON L CRENSHAW
BOBBIE A LEE
JOHNNY A STOKES
W E WALSH
CLARK G WHITE
788- ST. LOUIS, MO
EUGENE G CHRIST
RAYMOND HARRIS
KEITH L RIDENHOUR
RONALD J THOMAS
AARON L WARD
WILLIAM T KELLEHER
MOSES D LATTIMER
ALBERT GEORGE PARA
THOMAS PORTER
GEORGE A REIS
1309- SAN DIEGO, CA
KAREN A GARRETT
1091- AUSTIN, TX
GLENDA P COLEMAN
1342- BUFFALO, NY
KAREN GIANGROSSO
WILLIAM ROBINSON
VINCENT ZAGARRIGO
1119- WILKES-BARRE, PA
EDWARD A VNUK
1181- NEW YORK, NY
SANDRA BALAN
819- NEWARK, NJ
MARY BIANCO
MILDRED ACKERMANN
ROBERT W BOSSERT
JOSEPH RUGGIERO
JOAN C BURNSIDE
ALBERT YOUNG
JOSEPH L CAPUTO
PATSY CARRAFA
823- ELIZABETH, NJ
LOUIS J FORLENZA
JOHN W KAIN
MARY GONEDES
824- NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ EDWARD LUCAS
ANTHONY MINAFO
WILLIAM E FISSELL
JORGE TORRES
JERRY YACCARINO
825- ORADELL, NJ
RALPH ZANFARDINO
RICHARD MC ELROY
KENNETH EDWARD SIMEK
1182- ST. JOHN, NB
RICHARD C WALSH
842- WILMINGTON, DE
ROBERT H HARRINGTON
1220- RICHMOND, VA
ROBERT S SMITH
BERNARD D HENDERSON
FLOYD E SWEENEY
1321- ALBANY & TROY, NY
EMANUEL D BERRINGS
1345- READING, PA
LEE L SELL
MICHAEL TOMKO
1374- CALGARY, AB
HECTOR GIROUX
EUGENE HORDICHUK
1385- DAYTON, OH
EMMA JANE MOHAMED
859- DECATUR, IL
CHARLES E COVENTRY
1505- WINNIPEG, MB
GILLES J BERARD
AURELE BLANCHETTE
JAMES CALDERWOOD
MARTIN W DE KLUYVER
PETER FROESE FUNK
DAVID M HAYNES
MELVIN JOHN HAYNES
LUCIEN LEMOINE
EDWARD C MC CORMICK
AZARIE G POIRIER
1225- SAN FRANCISCO, CA ALVA I SAMPLE
EDWARD STEFANIUK
ZANIS ELEVANS
880- CAMDEN, NJ
TONYA L MILBOURNE
WILLIAM OCCHUZZO
HARRY M ROSENBAUM
ROBERT WINSTON
1235- NASHVILLE, TN
WILLIAM M GLENN
LEO EDWARD HARDING
JOHN E HEAD
THOMAS V PENNINGTON
1555- OAKLAND, CA
ROBERT F SMITH
956- ALLENTOWN, PA
EARL R SHELLHAMMER
1241- LANCASTER, PA
FRANK B ESHELMAN JR
1575- SAN RAFAEL, CA
QUINCY W KING
966- THUNDER BAY, ON
ROBERT CAPULAK
1249- SPRINGFIELD, IL
DONALD R DYER
1587- TORONTO, ON
SUSAN ADAMSON
998- MILWAUKEE, WI
JOSEPH BORKENHAGEN
JAMES BROWN JR
HERMAN R FOX
1277- LOS ANGELES, CA
LAWRENCE COSTANTINE
RAMIRO R ESTAVILLO
PAUL G STANLEY
HUBERT COWELL THOMAS
1589- LONG BEACH, CA
EUGENE FLOURNOY
1001- DENVER, CO
MANUAL GOMEZ
1005- MINNEAPOLIS
& ST. PAUL, MN
LEONARD W BYERLY
HAROLD R GORTON
1056- FLUSHING, NY
LORNE E BILLINGTON
1287- KANSAS CITY, MO
JOHN F DAVIS
DONALD GLENN WILLIAMS
1300- BALTIMORE, MD
ERVIN J CLEMONS
ELTON L SORROW
MARGARET E WARREN
1565- CHAPEL HILL, NC
ELIZABETH KELL
1700- CHICAGO, IL
FRED WILLIAMS CAMILLE
LUTHER I DAVIS
CHARLES E JACKSON
NEIL J LOGUE
JUSTIN C MERRILL
RALPH E ROGERS JR
CORNELIUS S STEPHENS
1764- WASHINGTON, DC
JOHN P EVANS
www.atu.org
www.atu.org
ATU MS RESEARCH TOURNAMENT BRINGS
YEAR’S FUNDRAISING TOTAL TO $144,159.51
The Amalgamated Transit Union held its 23 rd Annual Golf Tournament for the benefit of the ATU Multiple Sclerosis Research Funds,
September 22, 2008, at the Norbeck Country Club in Silver Spring, MD. Proceeds from the tournament brought the amount raised
for the funds to a total of $144,159.51 over the past year.
ATU FUNDS GROUNDBREAKING RESEARCH
ATU contributions to MS research in the US and Canada continue to lead to significant discoveries that show the way to a possible cure.
On August 19, the US National Multiple Sclerosis Society, a recipient of ATU MS Fund contributions, released the results of Society-funded
research which studied brain tissue taken from nine victims of MS. The study revealed that while many areas of damage showed the expected
loss of myelin and nerve cells which cause MS, a few older lesions showed a 72 percent increase in nerve cells when compared with neighboring
brain regions.
This is a groundbreaking, basic research finding that adds to growing information on the ability of the brain to rebuild itself. Much further
research is necessary to determine how well these identified nerve cells function, and how they might be harnessed in future therapeutic
strategies aimed at restoring function in people with MS.
This, as well as the ATU-supported work done by Mt. Sinai Hospital in Toronto, ON, brings the day when there will be a cure for Multiple
Sclerosis that much closer.
www.atu.org
23
WITH YOUR HELP,
WE DID IT!
Presiden
t-Elect B
arack Ob
Internatio
ama, left
nal Presi
, and
d e n t Wa r
ren S. Ge
orge.
Amalgamated Transit Union
AFL-CIO/CLC
5025 Wisconsin Ave., NW
Washington, D.C. 20016
www.atu.org
PRINTED IN U.S.A.
NON-PROFIT ORG.
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
WASHINGTON, D.C.
PERMIT NO. 2656

United States Version PDF - Amalgamated Transit Union

Transcription

Similar documents

ATU Express.7.28.16

atu, usw and seiu invite you to a free union night at the movies

Froggy Drawing handout2 - Mid Mon Valley Transit Authority

Fastfrate Roadfrate SS.indd

Strolls through the parks of central Tampere (tourist map)

D 2 0 0 9 www . atu . org - Amalgamated Transit Union

june 4 : fado irish pub

atu most valuable international union

U.S. Version - Amalgamated Transit Union