The 1005

LineThe People who know where they’re going

EDUCATION COMMITTEE

GOES TO SCHOOL

ATU 1005 recently sent the Education

Committee back to school. Originally, the

union Executive Board (E-Board) had moved

to send two Education Committee members to the

George Meany Center in Washington D.C. for a

week-long training session last June. The workshop

was cancelled due to low registration.

The fall Labor Education Service (LES) catalog listed

a two-day class on ‘Effective Writing’ that offers

skill-building in writing better grievances, letters,

newsletters, even e-mail messages. Since that was far

broader than the committee needed, LES was con-

tacted to customize a training session for the entire

committee at a fraction of the cost of two members

traveling to D.C.

The twelve-member committee and advisor Ron

Lloyd attended a one-day workshop in October titled

“Producing a Quality Union Newsletter”. Also

attending were Ken Dolney, Michael Rossini and

Delroy Schafer, E-Board members who also serve as

the newsletter Editorial Board.

Barb Kucera and Howard Kling, LES instructors,

designed the program to include news gathering

basics, writing principles, design, ethics and editing.

Holi

od

ay 2

001-0

2Mpls./

St.Paul

Continued on Page 4

January

Calendar9

Education

Committee

22

Executive

Board

22

Union

Meeting

Minneapolis

Local 1005 Officers

President

Bob Rossman

Vice-President

Ron Lloyd

Asst. Bus. Agent

Kellie Miller

Financial Secretary

Elaine Markula

Union Office Phone

612.379-2914

TH E

PRESIDENT�S

CORNER

ATU Local 1005

President–Business Agent

Bob Rossman

M ANAGEMENT TRAINING

The 2000 contract provided for

employment development opportuni-

ties for ATU members. This will

allow our members to go through a

management-training program so they

can meet the requirements of a man-

agement job. I’ll bet many ATU

members are asking why we would

work with Metro Transit on a man-

agement-training program. There

were many reasons we negotiated this

opportunity for our members.

First, over the years I’ve seen many

top-notch, high-quality ATU members

who had the leadership ability, the

intelligence and the social skills to

become excellent supervisors, but

they did not meet the requirement of

previous supervisory experience.

Second, I believe the employer’s pro-

motion process had a built in bias

against high-seniority ATU members.

In fact, a few years ago a part-time

driver who was still on probation was

promoted, over ATU members who

had many years of service. In the

Transit Control Center they’ve been

hiring some TCC supervisors directly

off the street. Third, many top-notch

ATU members who had the ability to

do the job were concerned about

leaving the bargaining unit and then

later discovering that they hated the

new job. Under this program they

can try a supervisory position without

losing their current job. Fourth,

many members enjoy the work they

are currently doing, but their bodies

are telling them it’s time to try some-

thing else to make a living. This

allows them to actively plan their

future rather than be medically dis-

qualified or work hurt, gambling with

their retirement health. Finally,

supervisors who come from outside

the agency or have been transit work-

ers a short time before being promot-

ed are often the ones who treat union

members like shit because they

haven’t shared the experiences that

lead to empathy.

The agreement on this contract article

sunsets in July of 2003; if it doesn’t

work for either party it will not be

renewed.

The Maintenance Step Program has a

process that goes through Human

Resources, while the Transportation

Career Ladders Program has no

Human Resources involvement.

Each program has an interview com-

mittee process that includes an ATU

member on the three-member com-

mittee. I have appointed Executive

Board member Russ Dixon for

Transportation and Executive Board

member Bob Schaller for the

Maintenance programs. It is agreed

that we would run a pilot program for

one person in Maintenance and four

in Transportation. The four in

Transportation have already been pro-

moted, but we’ll start the program to

see how it goes.

Finishing a management training pro-

gram is no guarantee that you will

receive a promotion. You have to

apply for a job posting and be consid-

ered along with the other candidates.

Ultimately, this key question has to

be answered: will this program be

something that improves the lives of

ATU members?

Page 2

THE

AMALGAMATED

TRANSIT UNIONOUR STO RY�OUR HISTO RY

By Scott Lindquist

Education

Comittee

RO N LLOYD

ATU 1005

VICE PRESIDENT

ADVISOR

CHAIR

SHEILA M ILLER

HE Y W O O D O FFICE

VICE CHAIR

DEL HOPPE

SNELLING

RECORDER

STEVE BABCOCK

AT LARGE

JUAN PARKER

HE Y W O O D

SCOTT LINDQUIST

RUTER

NO N A W O O D

RUTER

TO M CAMPBELL

O VERHAUL BASE

ABRAM ISAACS

SNELLING

GREYHOUND BUS LINES

A part of the history of the ATU has

to do with organizing the over- the-

road industry. A large player in that

industry was the Greyhound Lines.

You will recognize the building in the

picture below from the 1930’s.

The Greyhound Lines were originally

conceived as Motor Transit

Corporation in Sept. 1926 in the Iron

Range of Minnesota. Searching for a

name, as the story goes, one of its

owners, E.C. Eckstrom, heard some-

one say that his speedy vehicles ran

“like greyhounds”. By 1928 there

were 325 buses operating under 12

different company names in the

Motor Transit Greyhound system.

EXPANSION

Soon Greyhound began buying up

other companies and consolidating

them into its operation. It quickly

bought up routes in California and the

Midwest. the western operation

became known as Pacific Greyhound

lines. The greatest boost to

Greyhound’s solidification in the

marketplace was the Motor Carrier

Act in 1935, which extended the reg-

ulatory powers of the Interstate

Commerce Commission to interstate

motor carriers. The law had the

immediate effect of restricting entry

into the system, thus granting a virtu-

al monopoly on bus transportation to

the existing carriers. By 1936

Greyhound had consolidated its 20

operating sub-

sidiaries into 5

regional compa-

nies that were in

turn controlled by

the Greyhound

Corporation.

ENTER THE

AMALGA-

M ATED

The Union’s first foray into the bur-

geoning over-the-road system began

in 1934 when it started organizing

portions of the Greyhound system.

Conditions for the Greyhound work-

ers were poor. Drivers worked long

hours over bad roads with run-down

equipment. They had no job securi-

ty—they never knew when they

signed off a run one day whether they

had another run waiting for them the

next day. Also, Greyhound manage-

ment’s were vicious in their opposi-

tion. they did not hesitate to fire all

the workers who had joined the

Union, or even those who had talked

History (Continued)

Education

Comittee

RO N LLOYD

ATU 1005

VICE PRESIDENT

ADVISOR

CHAIR

SHEILA M ILLER

HE Y W O O D O FFICE

VICE CHAIR

DEL HOPPE

SNELLING

RECORDER

STEVE BABCOCK

AT LARGE

JU A N PARKER

HE Y W O O D

LIZ G OLDBERG

HE Y W O O D

SCOTT LINDQUIST

RUTER

NO N A W O O D

RUTER

TO M CAMPBELL

O VERHAUL BASE

LINDA KAUP

SOUTH

JO E COMERFORD

NICOLLET

M ARLIN JENSEN

AT LARGE

PETER M ALCOLM

AT LARGE

The Old Northlnd Greyhound Station In Minneapolis.

Today it is the First Ave. Nightclub.

Page 3

AT THE G ARAGE

Ruter

RUTER HOLIDAZZLE

PARADE PARTICIPANTS

This year is the 10th

anniversary of the

Holidazzle parade and as a

part of the celebration Ruter

is sending 3 goodwill ambas-

sadors, (along with 7 more

from other garages), to rep-

resent Metro Transit at the

parade. The group selected

from Ruter is James DeBill

#181, Jeffery Stephens #9071

and Nona Wood #6822. They

will be waving to the crowds

and handing out Metro

Transit promotional items to

people along the parade

route. The night for this spe-

cial event will be Saturday

Dec. 15 from 5:30 to 7:30.

NEW MANAGER

It was announced that Ruter

is to get a 3rd Assistant

manager. While this may not

immediately sound like

great news it will enable

night-time and weekend

drivers to have access to a

manager. The new manager

will have hours extending

into the evening and also

weekend hours every other

week.

Education Committee Goes

to School (Continued from

page 1)

Handouts included a resource list of

books and web-sites that will provide

reference and support after the class.

After a brief discussion of writing

principles, the class was assigned to

write three paragraphs describing

what event or person inspired the

member’s union activism. During the

lunch-break, Howard read and cri-

tiqued the exercises, then shared his

observations with the class. Two of

those writing exercises are found on

page 7.

Some of the suggestions made during

the training session will be integrated

into the newsletter. The first such

addition is the list of ATU 1005 exec-

utive officers on page 2. The 1005

Line has come a long way in over a

decade of publishing. The Education

Committee, made up of union mem-

bers volunteering their time and tal-

ents, does not intend to rest on their

laurels. Watch future issues for new

and improved features, and contact

any member or the union office with

suggestions, questions or concerns.

about it. When this tactic failed, they

attempted to forma and operate com-

pany unions.

In 1935, the labor movement had

obtained the passage of the National

Labor Relations Act, popularly

known as the Wagner Act. (which

was then touted as the “Magna Carta”

for labor in the USA). This Act gave

employees the right to organize and

established the National Labor

Relation Board (NLRB) to administer

the labor laws of the land. This act

enabled the Amalgamated to take the

Pennsylvania Greyhound lines to

court for violating this Act by engag-

ing in anti-union activities.

Greyhound challenged the constitu-

tionality of the Wagner Act and the

case eventually went to the US

Supreme court. The Amalgamated

won the case which became a mile-

stone in U.S. labor history.

The Amalgamated kept moving on

and by 1942 (ATU’s 50th

Anniversary), executive board mem-

ber Sam Berrong described the status

of the industry and its union organi-

zation.

“The highway bus industry has

had a mushroom growth and its suc-

cess has been phenomenal. There is

hardly any city of any size on this

continent that is not served by this

means of transportation today. Buses

tap places hitherto untouched by the

interurbans and team railroads. And

the Amalgamated....today is recog-

nized as the collective bargaining

agency for 95 percent of the men and

women who work at the occupation”

Page 4

AT THE G ARAGE

Heywood

November 24th in the early am

hours, Metro Transit received a

call for an S100 to assist with

displaced tenants in a

Shorewood apartment complex,

where a fire had broken out.

Being short on manpower at

that hour, a mechanic was sent

with a bus along with a street

supervisor to the scene of the

fire. Tenants, many of who lost

most of their personal posses-

sions, filled the single bus. It was

becoming evident that a second

bus would be needed.

Supervisor Ed Smith quickly

discovered that a Metro Transit

driver, was one of the tenants.

Patrick Barlow, Driver 2211#,

full time driver from Heywood

Garage. Patrick wanted to help

and offered to go pick up a bus

from the East Metro Facility.

Although Patrick and his family

had also lost much of what they

owned in the fire, he unselfishly

devoted himself to helping oth-

ers through the morning.

Patrick Barlow, Thank you for

being the Hero we needed!

Congratulations Are in Order:

New Relief Dispatchers: Marlin

Jensen #1381, Gloria Westphall

#6486, and Jeffrey Charles

#5941.

Tim Wilson #9649 and Mike

Robeck #2002 promoted to TCC.

Duane Ortlepp Driver #1240 for

thirty years of loyal service.

And scarecrow, I think I will

miss you the most:

Mark Crooks #9247 to ATM.

Happy

HolidaysFrom The

1005

Staff

(Front ) Linda Kaup, Sheila Miller, Liz Goldberg, ken Dolney

(2nd ) Nona Wood, Scott Lindquist, Mike Rossini, Steve Babcock

(3rd) Juan Parker, Ron Lloyd

(Back) Del Schafer, Del Hoppe, Pete Malcolm,Tom Campbell,

Marlin Jensen, Joe Comerford

Page 5

DRIVER SAFETY AND SECURITY C O M-

MITTEE REPORT

DRIVER SAFETY AND

SECURITY COMMITTEE

Stewart Rudi chair - South

Amailo Perez, HeywoodMark Crooks, HeywoodMarshall Freeman, SnellingTerry Dolney, Snelling

Scott Lindquist, MJRJames Vanhofwegen, MJRBarb Keener, NicolletBradford Benner, Nicollet

The Transit Police tell us that by

the 1st of the year their staffing

will allow them to put addition-

al officers on the streets. What they

will start out doing is putting 3 on the

street beat officers in Mpls and St.

Paul. The transit police have done

such a good job lately that they have

been told by their Mpls. counterparts

that Nicollet Mall and 7th St. has

been downgraded from being what

they had been calling the “hottest

spot” in Mpls. The transit police have

also been doing increased undercover

duty of late. Sometimes even 5 under-

cover on a night. Each officer has

been averaging between 5 and 6

arrests each night. A lot of this was on

the 5 line and they now surmise that

line is getting better and that the 18

line is the worst now for illegal activi-

ty.

SHELTERSAn interesting item was brought up

by the Transit Police. A small colored

dot is placed on the side of a shelter if

it has been called in for vandalism of

some sort. Drivers take note of this, if

you are unsure if a shelter has been

called in by another driver- look to

see if this dot is on it. This way the

same shelter will not constantly be

called in. The Transit police are also

actively checking shelters (up to 1000

a week) as a part of anti-grafitti pro-

gram.

The Transit Police also asked us this

question. Would you rather see more

Transit Police cars on the street or

more undercover police on buses?

Please talk to your garage representa-

tive to give your opinion. They will

never go totally one way or the other

but wish to know what the drivers

think. Seeing more cars on the streets

would help in quicker reactions when

trouble occurs on your bus, but Police

on the buses, especially undercover

produces more arrests. Again tell us

what you think.

A question that has come up again is-

When can drivers have video tapes

pulled? The reason for this question is

if you as a driver may get accused of

some violation of the rules by a pas-

senger and you feel may call in on

you. You know you have not done

whatever it was and want proof. You

ask for the tape to be pulled but

Transit Control refuses to have some-

one do it. What you need to do is

immediately on return to the garage -

talk to or call your garage manager.

They can authorize in certain extenu-

ating circumstances to have it pulled.

Do not allow gasoline powered bicy-

cles on the racks in front of buses.

This also applies to these new gaso-

line powered scooters- do not let them

onto the bus interior.

SAFETY AND SECURITY

FO R U M-HE Y W O O DIf you missed our last Safety and

Security Forum at Heywood Garage

here are a few highlights.

John Byrd gave everyone an overview

of how the Light rail line is going.

Pretty much everything is progressing

on time and on budget. Early in 2002

they will start posting for rail jobs.

Management jobs will be the first

postings to go up.

A Union-Management committee is

still working on details of a light-rail

contract agreement which will contain

the details about Metro Transit will go

about hiring drivers.

Sam Jacobs promised that all the

operators for the light rail will come

from the current bus driving ranks.

Snelling garage will be torn down in

January. 150 bus garage will probably

be built in area but may not be on

Snelling site due to the unknown

extent of environmental cleanup that

is needed.

50 new 40 foot buses are on order for

next year. An additional 25 artics are

going out for bid soon.

With 20 full-time Transit Police in

2002 budget, an emphasis on catch-ing fare evaders will happen. One at a

time certain routes will be saturated to

help drivers eliminate this ongoing

problem.

Gary Nyberg of TCC says that the

new AVL (automatic vehicle locator)

system is soon to be tested. 2 buses at

each garage will have the new system

installed for a trial period probably

starting in March. Heywood will then

be the first garage to be completely

equipped —by early summer. It will

take until apx. April of 2003 for the

entire fleet to be equipped with AVL

and the updated 800Mhz radio sys-

tem.

Page 6

W H Y W E G ET INVOLVEDAT THE RECENT EDUCATION COMMITTEE W ORKSHOP TH E ATTENDEES W E R E GIVEN A N ASSIGNMENT

TO WRITE A F E W PARAGRAPHS ABOUT W H Y THEY G O T INVOLVED IN UNION ACTIVITIES. HERE ARE

T W O O F THOSE OFFERINGS.

My first chance to attend a union

meeting was rapidly approaching. Do

I attend; do I speak up on matters that

pertain to me? These were the ques-

tions that played on my mind.

The day finally arrived and I decided

to give it a try. I didn’t know what to

do, where to sit or even if I should go

in, so my quest was to seek out the

first person I knew. “Hi Joe, what’s

new?” Suddenly the butterflies started

to calm down.

After I signed in and grabbed a roll

and coffee, things started to fall into

place. However, as the meeting pro-

gressed on to “new business”, those

butterflies became overactive. Here’s

your starring moment girl- go for it!

Finally I took my place at the micro-

phone and spoke about the rules and

regulations on the picking system. To

my surprise, my comment was readily

taken & accepted. Although I was a

bit overwhelmed by experience of

giving a speech, I realized that the

union members/committee/board were

human beings, just like me. I discov-

ered that talking in front of them on

matters that pertain to the drivers was

a piece of cake!!

Of course, envisioning them all in

their pajama’s made it a whole lot

easier, too.

This is just a story, but could be real.

Stop next month at your next union

meeting and experience for yourself

just how a union works. It is interest-

ing and a great way to meet other

drivers from the other garages. Com’

on, let’s see you there.

Nona Wood

LEGEND INSPIRES

ACTIVISM

BY SHEILA M ILLER

Melanie Benson is a legend within the

ranks of ATU 1005. A staunch

activist and rumored left-winger, she

nonetheless was always personable

and approachable. She befriended me

in the late 1980's, gently urging me to

become more active in our local

union. I resisted.

In June 1991, Melanie and I took a

road trip, a la "Thelma and Louise".

The annual International ATU

Women's Caucus Convention was

being held in Chicago and we were

going. She picked me up early on

that fine summer morning, in a rental

car (she refused to own a car most of

her adult life). We set off on an

adventure that changed my life.

There was something magical and

inspiring in that gathering of transit

union women. Chicago was the sixth

such convention, drawing bus and

train operators and union officials

(mostly of the female persuasion)

from California to Newark, from

Toronto to Puerto Rico. The common

theme binding us together was sisters

doing whatever it took to make our

non-traditional career choices safer,

saner and more accessible to other

women.

Melanie and I giggled non-stop in that

car, both to Chicago and on the way

home. Nevertheless, in the meeting

halls of that convention, a serious

conviction took root in me, the

knowledge that I could be part of a

greater good.

In recent years, Melanie's priorities

have shifted to the more personal side

of life. She's less active in both the

union and political arenas. In her

stead, I have become an out-spoken

champion for ATU members rights. I

have chosen to remain a volunteer

activist, rather than seek an elected

position, secure in the knowledge that

I am free from the commitment

required of union officials, free to

contribute at my comfort level.

Thank you, Melanie, you've passed

the torch.

Page 7

Page 8

Page 9

Human Resources:

HU M A N RESOURCES

INFORMATION CLERK

Metro Transit employs

approximately 1,672 driv-

ers, 468 mechanics and 454

administrative/clerical staff. For each

one of these employees, the Human

Resource Department was their first

initial contact with Metro Transit

itself.

Human Resources is responsible for

the recruitment, interviewing, testing,

placement and training of all potential

employees, as well as maintaining and

updating all Metro Transit personnel

actions for the agency. HR also

administers the FTA Drug and

Alcohol Policy for the agency, and is

directly responsible for the delicate

task of strategic planning for future

manpower.

CECILE CLOUTIER

ATU 1005 union member Cecile

Cloutier holds the position of Human

Resources Information Clerk.

Cecile began as a receptionist with the

Metropolitan Wastewater Plant, and

transferred six years ago to Metro

Transit, into the Human Resources

Department.

Providing information to the public at

the front desk is only part of her

responsibilities. Cecile also provides

data entry services and clerical sup-

port for her department by document-

ing, maintaining and filing the vast

amount of personnel information that

pours into the department daily. This

includes: checking and filing all

Metro Transit personnel actions,

updating employee medical records

and occupational medical bills, termi-

nation’s and transfers. She also

updates the Job Hotline and database

of names and mail applications, and

maintains records for former driver

employee jackets, archives job files

and is responsible for the Award

Certificates for years of service.

Cecile also serves as backup in the

Mailroom with the sorting and deliv-

ery of mail.

With the vast number of responsibili-

ties that the position of Information

Clerk requires, I asked Cecile to tell

me what she liked about her job.

Cecile responded that she enjoys

working in HR because of the variety

of duties and special projects that she

is assigned, and the fact that she can

work on her own to meet her numer-

ous deadlines.

“I like my department, it’s a good

position for me. I enjoy working with

computers and I like the independ-

ence that comes with the job”

Cecile is the only ATU 1005 union

member in the department of Human

Resources.

Service Development:

SCHEDULEMAKER

Schedulemakers write the schedules,

build the blocks and create driver runs

and trippers within specified direc-

tives, guidelines and union contract

provisions.

The department itself is made up of

five Schedulemakers and one Lead.

Each Schedulemaker is responsible

for his own facility.

With “Trapez”, a complex computer-

ized schedule system and an immense

amount of data, schedules are made

months in advance of the drivers

work pick.

M ARSHA ROSSMAN serves as

Lead Schedulemaker. With Metro

Transit since 1977, Marsha came to

the department in 1979, from TIC.

“ I really like the work itself, it’s chal-

lenging to me. It’s rewarding to make

it work and fit it all together within all

the constraints. This is not an easy

department to understand or to learn.

It takes at least three years just to

begin to know what and how it all

works”.

LARRY BENNET Nicollet

Larry came to Scheduling four years

ago after spending the last eight in

Payroll, and totals 26 years with

Metro Transit.

Larry says “ I like the fast pace and

deadlines, time really goes by fast

A Series: Our union ATU local 1005 includes in its membership, a variety of small specialized

non-driving departments. In past issues we introduced the Transit Information Center and

Customer Relations department. This issue explores two more departments of which 1005

members plays a unique role.

M EET O U R UNION M EMBERS

Page 12

because we get so busy. I actually

came here because it paid better, but I

find the work interesting and I like the

variety. Everyday is a learning experi-

ence and in here you can never know

too much”

Years of experience range from 2

years to 25 years in the department,

and has been in existence since 1904.

PAT PARKER

HE Y W O O D

DIANE HOLLENBECK

SOUTH

BILL SCHREIER

EAST M ETRO

SU E ASK MJR

The Qualifications for the position

require previous work experience in

public transit, detailed knowledge of

Metro Transit union contract policies

and procedures as they relate to driver

run scheduling. Knowledge of poli-

cies, guidelines and procedures of

driver route and runs, geographical

knowledge of the Twin Cities and

strong knowledge of all Metro Transit

routes.

The following are the responsibilities

for the position of Schedulemaker:

Prepare new schedules, make adjust-

ments in accordance with load checks,

service standards and recommenda-

tions from the Service Planning

Department and/or Street Operations.

Prepare running time analysis and

make recommendations using data

compiled from trail checks and other

observations.

Using the computerized scheduling

system Trapeze, prepare driver run

cuts in accordance with division spe-

cific instructions and all prevailing

union contract provisions.

Maintain accurate and up-to-date bus

count and bus mileage data for

assigned facility or system.

Prepare and deliver all documents

needed for assigned facility to con-

duct the driver’s pick.

Ensure all schedule changes are effi-

ciently and accurately carried forward

to pocket schedule preparation, edit-

ing and printing.

Provide cost efficient recommenda-

tions for optimum use of weekday

and weekend part-time drivers within

parameters.

Note: When drivers fail to use one of

the most important tools that they

have to relate scheduling problems or

concerns it will be assumed by

Scheduling and Service and Planning,

that your schedule is working out to

everyone’s advantage. Operating

Conditions Reports or OCRs are to be

used when drivers experience over-

loads, pass-up of passengers and all

schedule concerns. All OCRs are

recorded for future service changes.

Garage management (Example: Lou

Laclare at Heywood) or street opera-

tions will review the problem and

respond to it. Scheduling issues go to

Service Development for further

analysis. All major changes take 6 or

more months to incorporate. When

filling out an OCR, be specific and

detailed.

Page 13

W ish List

�I wish for Peace on Earth and Good Will Towards Men�

�Iwish that the passengers would know where they were going and

have their fare ready before they get on the bus.

�I wish the rule of 90 would return!�

�I just wish that everyone would realize that they are loved by someone, some-

where�

�I wish the Union Santa would UPS me a turkey and Ham for Xmas�

�I wish that there were less of the us and them

View in our work place.

Page 14

�That we could find a general manager who would stay loyal for 5

years at Metro Transit�

“God Bless us all everyone!”

�Cable TV and couches in the drivers room�!

�That no one ever get hurt while doing their job�

�My wish for Christmas is that all of Gods blessings and grace

be upon all of us�

�My hope is that people realize that to bring a smile to another is joy

in itself�

�I wish that the passion we felt towards one another, our lives and our country

on 9/11 forever remain a permanent condition of our hearts.�

Page 15

As the slugfest at the capitol

wound down we discovered

that the Legislature did not

pass a bill to start upgrading our tran-

sit systems and reshaping the state’s

aging highway system.

And that’s too bad because

Minnesota’s population has more

than doubled in the past half-cen-

tury while the number of vehicles

on the road has grown from 1.2

million in 1950 to 3.9 million in

1999. As a state, we are experi-

encing the personal and economic

consequences of underfunded and

outdated transit and highway sys-

tems.

Early on in the session, the House

and Senate both indicated a will-

ingness to increase transportation

investments. At various times

over $350 million in “surplus”

money, a gas tax increase, index-

ing and dedication of a significant

portion of Motor Vehicle Sales

Tax revenues and trunk highway

bonds were all on the table.

In addition, there were proposals

for permanent transit funding.

It didn’t happen. In the end, the

$700 million tax rebate eliminated

surplus funds and the massive

property tax reduction effort pro-

hibited the commitment of motor

vehicle sales tax monies as a long-

term transportation funding mech-

anism.

Although there was obvious pub-

lic support for addressing trans-

portation problems, support within

the caucuses never reached a high

priority level. The result: a trans-

portation bill that limits the dam-

age of the House proposals but

doesn’t halt the deterioration of

the state’s transportation networks.

We can now expect Minnesota

employers angry about the traffic

congestion that limits truck deliv-

eries, slows their shipping sched-

ules and raises delivery costs to

look for alterna

tives – including alternate loca-

tions.

If Minnesota doesn’t increase its

investment in transit and trans-

portation, our state economy will

lag, job creation will slide and the

“Minnesota margin” – more jobs,

higher wages and a relatively low

unemployment rate – will disap-

pear.

We can do better. But we need

legislative support to make it hap-

pen.

Originally printed in the Minnesota AFL-

CIO Viewpoint June-July 2001; reprinted

in the Minneapolis Labor Review

August 200l; also the Duluth World

ON THE ROAD AGAINBY BO B ROSSMAN

AT THE G ARAGE

East Metro

Page 16

The success of the ATU-

COPE Program has

increased the political

profile of the Amalgamated Transit

Union and ensured that the rights of

ATU members are protected. The

Committee on Political Education

(COPE) program has enabled ATU to

maximize our resources to support

labor and transit friendly candidates

across party lines. COPE funds have

helped elect presidents, defeat anti-

labor congressional candidates, and

deflect attacks on federal 13-C protec-

tions for transit labor jobs.

The ATU-COPE program is an inte-

gral part of protecting past legislative

gains and winning future gains for

transit labor. COPE continues its

education outreach to ATU locals,

assisting with voter registration, get-

out-the-vote campaigns and general

candidate information. COPE also

aids local union efforts in special

elections and ballot initiatives.

Support for the ATU-COPE program

has continued to grow over the past

ten years, ensuring that we are well

prepared and influential in the politi-

cal and legislative arenas. ATU

retiree chapters and individual retirees

play an increasingly powerful role in

assisting the COPE program, and set

a stellar example by their commit-

ment through continued contributions.

ATU-COPE awards to locals and indi-

viduals are have steadily increased

over the past decade. In recognition

of members’ commitment to the polit-

ical process, special club pins pro-

mote participation. The awards pro-

gram consists of two categories, indi-

viduals and those locals whose mem-

bers participation warrant special

recognition.

The President’s Club silver lapel pin

is issued to members who contribute

$25-49 during the calendar year.

Statesman’s Club members receive a

gold lapel pin for their annual contri-

bution of $50-99. The Century Club

recognizes those members who con-

tribute at least $100 annually with a

gold pin embossed with ‘100’. The

highest individual award for contribu-

tors of $250-499 per year is the

Congressional Club; a gold pin with

‘250’ embossed on it is awarded to

those members. A new level was cre-

ated at the 2001 convention; members

who contribute $500 or more each

year qualify for the Patriot’s Club and

are awarded a ‘500’ pin. Founder’s

Club commemorative pins are award-

ed to life-long members who continue

their commitment into retirement.

Silver cup wall plaques are awarded

annually to local unions in five cate-

gories based on the size of the local

membership as of June 1 each calen-

dar year. The President’s Award is

given to the local union having the

greatest percentage of active members

in the COPE Clubs. The Chairman’s

Award is presented to the local union

with the highest dollar contribution

based on active membership. Both

individual and local awards are pub-

lished in the In Transit magazine each

year.

ATU 1005 members have the oppor-

tunity for payroll deduction; Metro

Transit remits all member contribu-

tions for COPE to the local, which

then forwards contributions to the

International ATU-COPE program.

Payroll deduction forms are available

at the union office.

Source: In Transit magazine Sept-Oct

2001

ATU-COPE IS A JOB-SAVERBy Sheila Miller

AT THE G ARAGE

South

Change, Change, Change

We said goodbye to

Milton Spears, Cleaner.

He’s moving on up to the

eastside; Milt is now a

Helper at East Metro.

Congratulations, Milt,

we’ll miss you.

We’ll also miss Ken

Turchin, Vault Puller,

who also moved to

East Metro, and

welcome Tacoy

Sandifer, South’s new

Vault Puller.

Dispatcher Tim Bell left

us to work at Nicollet;

Gary Koll is our new

Dispatcher.

Sadly, Bob Johnson,

Driver #1371, died at

home November 3rd.

He was only 62; he’ll

be missed.

A holiday pot luck will

be held at South on

Thursday, December

20th, starting at 10:30

AM. Please bring food

to share and eat.

Questions? See Linda

Kaup, #9673 or Diane

Rude, #9204.

Page 17

Thirty-hour guarantee. “The following list covers those instances which would cause a part-time operator to lose

their weekly guarantee:

Unpaid funeral leave Suspension

Late for work Terminated

Leave of absence Transfer to fulltime driving

Leaving service Administrative leave

Medical cut guarantee Unpaid sick

No show Restricted duty

Request off Weekly vacation

“Article 21, Section 15 provides for a thirty hour (30) weekly guarantee for any weekday part-time operator who

works two (2) trippers each weekday. Weekday part-time operators doing two (2) reports shall have their work rois-

tered or pick a set minimum number of hours per week to be guaranteed payment for thirty (30) hours each week.

The applicable spread penalty on the day the employee is removed from their picked assignment will be paid.

Instruction time will be used to offset the 30-hour weekly guarantee.

Any time paid for seeing the manager will be used to offset the 30-hour weekly guarantee.

Any late pull in time will be used to offset the 30-hour guarantee.

Article 21, Section 4:

“If it becomes apparent the operator will exceed the thirty (30) hour limitation in may given week, and must be

taken off their picked work in order to remain under the thirty (30) hour limitation, the operator will be guaranteed

no less than their picked time.”

“When taken off your picked work these payroll procedures apply:

The applicable spread penalty on the day the employee is removed from their picked assignment will be paid.

Any late pull in time will be used to offset the guarantee picked time.

Instruction time will be used to offset the guarantee picked pay time if guarantee is owed.”

Vacation:

When taking your week vacation, you will be paid for the only four hours per day regardless of what you may have

worked. That was paid in full at the beginning of the year. If you should choose to take one day at a time, you will

still be paid only four hours per day, two-day limit and you will keep your thirty-hour guarantee, however, you do

lose your spread time. Vacation time may not be carried over to the next year.

Sick days:

If you are on the paid status of sick days, then you will keep the thirty-hour guarantee when you take a sick day.

However, you do lose the spread time for that day. Unused sick days may be carried over from year to year.

All of this was offered in the contract and may be changed in the coming contract issues in 2003. Now is the time to

get your ideas together and on paper to add or change issues regarding part-time issues. Let’s all work together to

get equality.

Questions/comments/ideas: nowo6822@aol.com

PA RT TIME CORRECTION

IN THE AUGUST ISSUE O F TH E 1005 LINE IN THE PA RT TIME COLUMN INACURATE INFORMATION

W AS PRINTED REGARDING VACATIONS. TH E FOLLOWING IS THE ACCURATE INFORMATION

Page 18

Betty’s humor was

one of the best gifts

she gave us; here’s

one more dose we can all relate to and

enjoy. On November 1, 1991, the day

after the infamous Halloween bliz-

zard, Betty wrote this letter to her

mother Frances, who edited it, remov-

ing a few choice expletives. Ardis

Hokins, Betty’s sister and former

driver, read the letter at Betty’s funer-

al. Many Metro Transit friends asked

that she share it with the rest of us.

Dear Mom,

This morning I am sitting out

here 30 miles from the cities in one of

the ‘new’ $300,000 double buses (that

are supposed to be GOOD in snow)

and I’m stuck. I’ve been here for two

and a half hours – and control center

hasn’t even answered the phone yet.

It’s cold in here – the heaters don’t

work good enough.

When I left home this morn-

ing I got stuck with my car, I had

three people pushing me, but I still

had to walk back home and get Shane

to get me to work on time.

Now I am stuck again, but

it’s with the bus, so at least I’m get-

ting paid to be stuck. There are two

buses ahead of me stuck also. I have

to go to the bathroom!!!! There is

nothing in sight except a bank across

the street – maybe they’ll have a bath-

room – if they’re even open.

A lot of men are out here

frantically spinning around in their

cars – probably trying to get their

wives to work to show how manly

they are!!

I wish they would come and

get us out. I shouldn’t have pulled in

here, but the buses ahead pulled in

and they got stuck so I had to stop,

then I got stuck. Just sitting here, the

heavy buses weigh down. I suppose

buses are stuck all over the city; we’ll

probably be here for hours, in

Champlin, MN!

I had call this morning. I left

one-hour early!

Well, I just trudged across a

four-lane highway. Snow up to my

waist – got severe cramps in both

legs. I thought of dying, but I had to

go to the bathroom too bad!!!

The bank wasn’t open! Half

mile down another building wasn’t

open. I asked a man plowing snow if

this town had a bathroom. He took

me in a building to use the one and

only bathroom this two-bit dive of a

town has.

Well , tomorrow is another

day – I hope I get to see it, because it

is my day off. We have had such a

week with that TWINS parade; 12-13

hours a day driving and now this crap.

I don’t have a hat along!

Maybe froze my sinuses for the win-

ter! If they don’t thaw out I’ll be

okay.

Here comes an old woman to

catch the bus!!!! I think I’ll let her

pay the fare before I tell her we’ve

been stuck for four hours. That ought

to wake her up, three buses stalled

and she didn’t notice it – this is the

type that writes in complaints about

how dumb drivers are!!!

It’s almost 11 o’clock!

I don’t know if I’ll get home!

I don’t have a shovel in my car!

I need gas and I think the tires need

air!

Of course I don’t have to

deal with it if I’m sitting in Champlin,

froze to death in a $300,000 coffin.

A little girl just came out to

see if I wanted coffee – they must see

I’m weakening.

I’m in such a bad mood –

hysteria will set in soon.

They just brought me coffee.

Little girl fell three times! Coffee’s

great – don’t think it’s decaf.

I gave them a number to call

someone to come and get us.

I hate emegencies – they

seem so unnecessary!!

I should have brought a

lunch.

If I sit here for ten hours at

least they can’t send me out on any-

thing else.

It’s almost 5 o’clock now!!!

I wish the bus was warmer –

I’d take a nap; hate to lay down and

freeze to death.

Coffee’s great!

I miss you, Mom!

Girls just brought me some

popcorn and Halloween candy; there

are good people in the world aren’t

there?

Paralysis has set in both

legs!!! Helps pain of cramps!!!

Another saga in the life of a

bus driver.

It’s 7 o’clock now.

No hopes of being rescued soon.

I’m on my last candy bar and pop-

corn. I guess buses are stuck all over.

If I can’t get a bus home and

if I can’t make it in my car, Mike will

have to come with his dump truck and

haul me home! It will be worth the

$40.00 an hour he’ll charge.

A girl just came to give me

more coffee and two donuts. I don’t

have this much food and service at

home.

Have fun with this letter. I

wrote it as a sense of humor, not a

worry project.

I’ll let you know if I ever get

home, otherwise my new address is:

County Road and

Hwy 169

Bus #2105

Champlin, MN

Love, Betty

PS: Got home – sat out there 9 and a

half hrs. Some others were stuck for

12 hours. They wanted me to go back

out; just shaking, I said NO, too wet,

too cold. I’m done!!

IN LOVING MEMORY OF

BETTY BERNEY, FORMER DRIVER #1450She passed away October 21, 2001

page 19