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Clerical workers represented by AFSCME ended a15-day walkout at the University of Minnesota afterreaching a tentative contract agreement on November4, 2003. About 700 members of Local 3800 went on strike over pay and benefits. Ratification was done by mail last week; results were not available at press time. Mpls./ St.Paul
Citation preview
Novem
ber
200
3Mpls./
St.Paul
Contract
Negotiations
Update
ATU Local 1005 and Metro Transit
continue to negotiate the expired contract,
with the assistance of International Vice
President Javier Perez and State Mediator
Alan Olson. At press time, a session was
scheduled for Tuesday, November 18, 2003.
Elsewhere ATU Local 1277 mechanics for the
nation's third-largest public transportation
system went on strike October 14, 2003, shut-
ting down buses and trains, stranding about
500,000 daily riders in Los Angeles County,
CA. Union officials said bus and train opera-
tors and other workers would honor picket
lines, halting 1,900 buses, and light-rail and
subway lines.
Clerical workers represented by AFSCME
ended a15-day walkout at the University of
Minnesota after reaching a tentative contract
agreement on November 4, 2003. About 700
members of Local 3800 went on strike over
pay and benefits. Ratification was done by
mail last week; results were not available at
press time.
November
Calendar17 Education
Committee
25 Executive
Board
25 Union
Meeting
St. Paul
Local 1005
Officers
President/Business
Agent
Ron Lloyd
Vice-President
Michelle
Sommers
Recording Secretary &
Asst. Business Agent
Kellie Miller
Financial Secretary
Treasurer
Jerry Ewald
Union Office Phone
612-379-2914
www.atu1005.com
THE
PRESIDENT�S
CORNER
ATU Local 1005
President–Business Agent
Ron Lloyd
Page 2
We reported that changes
were coming from the
federal level that will
affect members’ CDL at the
February union meeting. Some of
those changes are now in effect.
The new penalties for non-com-
mercial convictions resulting in
the issuing state’s suspension, rev-
ocation or cancellation of a CDL
holder’s license are the same as
existing penalties for offenses
committed while driving a com-
mercial vehicle. Under this rule, a
CDL holder will be disqualified
for 60 days following a second
conviction of a serious traffic
offense involving a non-commer-
cial motor vehicle within a three-
year period resulting in the state’s
revocation of the person’s license.
A third or subsequent conviction
of any such serious offense will
result in disqualification for 120
days.
Serious traffic violations include
excessive speeding of 15 mph or
more over the posted speed limit,
reckless driving, making improper
of erratic lane changes, following
too closely, violating state or local
law relating to motor vehicle traf-
fic control arising in connection
with a fatal accident. Just about
the only traffic violation not
deemed serious is a parking ticket.
The disqualification period for a
CDL holder convicted of a drug or
alcohol related violation commit-
ted while operating a non-com-
mercial motor vehicle is one year
after the first conviction and life
following a second conviction.
The same penalties apply where a
CDL holder refuses to be tested
for drugs or alcohol related to a
driving offense.
While the new rule became effec-
tive September 30, 2002, (with
new revisions effective immedi-
ately) states will have until
September 30, 2005 to amend
their licensing laws and regula-
tions to trigger the new disqualifi-
cation requirements. The new rule
will not be retroactive, so CDL
holders will not be further penal-
ized under this rule for non-com-
mercial vehicle violations commit-
ted before the effective dates. In
addition, violations committed
prior to a person obtaining a CDL
will not be considered for penalty.
THE
AMALGAMATED
TRANSIT UNIONOUR STORY�OUR HISTORY
By Scott Lindquist
Education
Comittee
RON LLOYD
ATU 1005
VICE PRESIDENT
ADVISOR
CHAIR
SHEILA MILLER
HEYWOOD OFFICE
VICE CHAIR
DEL HOPPE
SNELLING
RECORDER
STEVE BABCOCK
AT LARGE
JUAN PARKER
HEYWOOD
SCOTT LINDQUIST
RUTER
NONA WOOD
RUTER
TOM CAMPBELL
OVERHAUL BASE
ABRAM ISAACS
SNELLING
Education
Committee
MICHELLE SOMMERS
ATU 1005
VICE PRESIDENT
ADVISOR
CHAIR
SHEILA MILLER
HEYWOOD OFFICE
VICE CHAIR
TOM CAMPBELL
OVERHAUL BASE
RECORDER
LINDA KAUP
EAST METRO
LAYOUT
STEPHEN BABCOCK
OVERHAUL BASE
LIZ GOLDBERG
SOUTH
SCOTT LINDQUIST
RUTER
NONA WOOD
RUTER
JOHN SUTTLES
NICOLLET
EDITORIAL BOARD
DELROY SCHAFER
DAN ABRAMOWICZ
KEN DOLNEY
SHEILA MILLER
Page 3
Robberies and Assaults on Bus Drivers
‘Exact Fare’ Reduces
Risk in 1970’s
“Bus drivers in our area should
get hazard pay. No matter how
many ways we try, it seems we
just cannot stop the robberies of
the bus drivers.” This was said in
1965 by the Richmond California
chief of police at the ATU conven-
tion. This was an accelerating
problem not only in California but
in many metropolitan areas.
In 1961 reports from Washington
DC told of “a wave of holdup men
and hoodlumism that has been hit-
ting the city’s transit system on
late-at-night lonely runs.” A mem-
ber of Local 1001 in Denver,
Colorado received a gunshot
wound in a holdup attempt. The
bullet lodged in his spine.
As time passed, concerns grew
even more urgent. In January of
1967 a Toronto bus driver and
member of Local 113 was the vic-
tim of an attempted robbery dur-
ing which he was viciously
attacked and stabbed 11 times,
once in the lung with two other
stab wounds grazing his heart.
Fortunately he recovered and his
assailants were imprisoned.
Some Drivers Killed
Other victims did not survive. In
1961 a Birmingham bus driver
and Local 725 member was shot
and killed over $63.00 which the
murderer took from the farebox. A
driver-member of Local 268 in
Cleveland was killed in March
1967 in a holdup attempt where
the loot totaled only $54.00. In
Seattle one assailant received the
death penalty and two others life
imprisonment after being convict-
ed of the robbery slaying of a
Seattle transit driver, a member of
Local 387, in May of 1967.
Exact Fare Proves Effective
In May 1968 the safety issue came
to a head after members of
Washington DC Locals 689 and
1300 were killed in robbery
attempts. ATU President Elliott,
taking bold action, promptly
announced that union drivers
would refuse to carry cash on
Continued on Page 8
Headlines from the early 70�s
AT THE GARAGE
HeywoodEffective with the June pick,
the Liz Goldberg, who wrote
for the Heywood column,
transferred to South Garage.
Heywood now needs a repre-
sentative. Contact Greg
Hall, maintenance board
member or Russ Dixon, driv-
er/dispatcher board member,
or Sheila Miller, editor (Ext.
7691), if interested or to con-
tribute interesting, insightful
or educational tidbits.
AT THE OFFICE
HEYWOODContact Sheila Miller to contribute
ATU 1005 has donated a
turkey certificate for each
floor at the FTH Office
building for holiday gather-
ings. At press time, it was
undecided whether to have a
single potluck with lots of
turkeys for the whole build-
ing or if each floor would
prefer to celebrate as a work
unit. Either way, thanks
ATU 1005.
Shop Union
This year shop with your
conscience at the AFL-CIO's
online retail store featuring
top-quality, union-made-in-
the-USA clothing and gifts.
Go to www.unionvoice.org
fleece jackets, books, music
or the perfect little red
wagon. Not wired? Visit
Northland Poster at 1613 E.
Lake.
And check those labels.
Page 4
PAYROLL DEPARTMENT
BY LIZBETH GOLDBERG
MEET OUR UNION MEMBERS
This is the eleventh in our series of introduc-
tions to ATU Local 1005 members and the var-
ied roles they play within the complex struc-
ture of Metro Transit.
Employment means many different
things to different people.
For some, it is the process of
achievments aimed towards a life
long goal. For others, it is merely
a means to sustain a lifestyle.
As varied as the where, what and
how’s of our work lives, we can
all still agree on the why, and that
the most wonderful day of the
week is: Payday!
Payroll
Department
Within the division of
Finance located at the
Heywood Office
Facility, the Payroll Department
has the sole responsibility to gath-
er and enter related data for the
computation and issue of payroll
at Metro Transit.
Each of the twelve ATU Local
1005 members are responsible for
a specific area of the payroll,
determined by seniority-based
work picks held concurrent with
Driver work picks. Payroll Clerks
are responsible for union clerical,
mechanical and administrative
payrolls. Timekeepers are respon-
sible for the drivers’ payroll.
Payroll Department Positions:
Five Timekeeper Computer
Operators:
One Timekeeper responsible for
Drivers payroll for each of the
five Operations Facilities
Three Payroll Clerks: One each
for Administrative, Mechanics and
Office personnel.
One Payroll Instructor
One Senior Timekeeper Computer
Operator
One Payroll Clerk Floater
One HRIS Implementation Team
Worker: Testing and verification
of data with Peoplesoft8.
Non-ATU Positions: Payroll
Manager and Payroll Analyst
Timekeeper Computer
OperatorThe primary duties of the position
are to calculate and post work
time for drivers pay correctly.
The Timekeeper uses in-depth
knowledge of rules and proce-
dures relating to the calculation of
driver pay time, together with the
rules established by the Union
contract and agreement between
ATU Local 1005 and Metro
Transit relating to wages hours
and working conditions.
The computation of drivers’ pay-
roll is by far the most complex
and time-consuming of the divi-
sions in payroll and requires five
Timekeepers, one for each of the
Operations facilities. The process
Page 5
AT THE GARAGE
NicolletContact Theresa Collins, #1378
toContribute
Future Nicollet drivers recent-
ly born:
Jodi and Steve Nichols, driver
#9485, have a new baby boy
named Michael, born Sept. 21.
Teresa Johnson, driver #9894,
named her son Nathan,
born Oct. 17.
Welcome to Assistant Manager
Mary Jo Carrier; she and
Annette Floysand ‘traded
places’. Annette transferred to
South; she’ll be missed.
Dispatcher Lee ‘Lars’ Larson
retired recently. Replacing
Lars is veteran dispatcher
Louie Lofton. Make him feel
welcome.
Free flu shots were offered
throughout Metro Transit;
many Nicollet drivers took
advantage of the opportunity
last week.
The Nicollet Holiday Potluck is
tentatively scheduled for
Wednesday, December 17.
Watch for details and help
make this year’s party another
success.
to compute drivers payroll uses
Time Roll, information from
garages entered by dispatchers or
managers, including regular work
exceptions, and Time Calc, a cal-
culation process. Payroll also
enters Driver Exception Reports
(DER) documenting accident/inci-
dent or late pull-in and Daily
Work Fill reports sent by dis-
patchers.
Drivers’ work picks allow them to
select work either on a regular
work basis or the extra board. The
Extra Board, due to work need
variables and changing character,
present a huge challenge to dis-
patchers and to payroll.
The Extra Board is a revolving
work schedule made up of excep-
tions from regular work. These
exceptions include short
trippers/stubs, full-day runs not
included in regular work, work fill
or regular work not covered due
to regular driver’s illness, vacation
day-at-a-time, birthday, emer-
gency and special projects or
operations, bus changes, call time,
etc. The Extra Board driver’s
workday may vary daily with a
different combination of work,
which may be spread over 13
hours.
Position Responsibilities:
Calculate driver pay time in an
accurate and timely manner.
Research, investigate and analyze
reports. Verify accuracy and com-
pleteness of source documents;
make revisions as needed to
documentation. Audit and balance.
Mark off drivers open work
assignments: enter leave informa-
tion, open runs and trippers, over-
time to regular, miscellaneous,
part time and extra board drivers,
enter call time for extraboard driv-
ers.
Calculate mark-up time and verify
the accuracy and completeness of
work.
Enter data from run guide into
time calc system.
Run the 90 report; print and enter
student workweeks to calculate
overtime.
Balance and analyze run guide
times.
Sort trainers and clerk, enter time
and list pay time received.
Determine the pay time for drivers
who are absent.
Run exception reports to deter-
mine if driver is not working
picked work.
Balance run guide times and run
pay totals.
Run a time calc holding genera-
tion report and compare with run
guide.
Required Qualifications:
Knowledge of rules and proce-
dures relating to the calculation of
driver pay time or must work with
detail and perform calculations
with a high degree of accuracy.
Adept at problem solving.
Must have a minimum of 80 hours
of PC spreadsheet, word process-
ing. Candidates without these
skills must complete training
within a six-month evaluation
period and qualify on personnel
tests.
Must have Data entry skills and
10-key adding machine with accu-
racy of a minimum of 5000 key-
strokes per hour.
Continued on Page 9
Page 6
AT THE GARAGE
SouthContact Liz Goldberg To
contribute.
Congratulations To Art Hayne,
#9414, South's member-elect to
the Transit Safety and Security
Committee. The election for
TSSC resulted in a tie-vote with
candidate Glenda Quashie,
#6356, relief dispatcher, fol-
lowed by a suspenseful runoff
election. Previous committee
members were Stewart Rudi,
who served as chairperson, and
Mike Qualy. Committee mem-
bers will select a new chair soon.
New Dispatch Pick
Effective 10/17, South welcomes
back Bob Patkoff from
Heywood. In turn, we lose dis-
patcher Sharyn Basso to East
Metro; we'll miss her!
SouthSiders Club
The long history of the famed
Southsiders Club continues with
many events and fund-raisers.
October featured "Taco
Tuesday" and a raffle for a
color TV and a therapeutic mas-
sager; proceeds were donated to
the Charitable Giving
Campaign. Mary Vasterling,
#9662, cooked and served the
taco feast. Diane and Chuck
Casterline, #9799 & #9411
respectively, orchestrate these
events. Thanks to their time
and efforts, the funds collected
are used for various garage
activities, retiree cards and gifts,
and they contribute greatly to
the 'southern hospitality' for
which South has a long-held
reputation. Thank you Diane
and Chuck, and to all of the
Southsider contributors!
Nothing gets to operators
quite as much as those
customers who don't pay
their 'fare' share, especially sus-
pected limited mobility cheaters.
While many qualifying disabilities
are not immediately discernible,
the suspicious mind goes on alert
when a young, able-bodied pas-
senger pays with a 31-Day
Mobility Pass that cost someone
(perhaps not the user) a fraction of
what most customers pay to ride
our buses.
After months of study, pinpointing
problems, analyzing federal
expectations for these reduced
fares, and brainstorming options,
Metro Transit, along with other
regional transit providers,
launched a campaign to crack
down on Mobility scammers earli-
er this month. Preceded by
notices in Takeout reminding
reduced fare customers of identifi-
cation requirements, and interior
signs on buses instructing them to
'Play their cards right', Metro took
the campaign to the streets.
Beginning November 1, 2003, a
pass 'sleeve' will be included with
every Mobility Pass sold. This
sleeve will clearly state the rules
for use. New language on the
pass itself advises the user that
required ID must be presented
both to purchase and to ride with
the pass. Accepted identification
to buy and use a Mobility Pass
include:
*State ID with an 'L' endorsement.
*Minnesota driver's license with
an 'L' endorsement.
*Metro Mobility ID (plus a photo
ID if card does not have photo).
*Metro Transit temporary ID with
an 'L' endorsement PLUS a photo
ID.
Operators will receive a pad of
informational notes to hand out to
customers who attempt to use a
Mobility Pass without identifica-
tion. Georgia Stinson, assistant
director of garage operations,
emphasized that this is a cam-
paign to eliminate fraud, not to
cause problems for legitimate
users.
Enforcement days, similar to
those used with the MetroPass
program, are planned for the near
future. And agency employees
will attempt 'stings' at retail out-
lets near you soon. Staff will
attempt to purchase Mobility pass-
es to verify that retailers are ask-
ing for appropriate identification
with each sale.
Customers who qualify for dis-
counted limited mobility fares
already face challenges; there may
be a learning or communication
factor that will take time and
patience to address. Remember
that all of our customers must be
treated with dignity and respect.
Info for this article from Insights
& Bulletin 89.
MOBILITY PASS ENFORCEMENT
LONG OVERDUEBy Sheila Miller
AT THE GARAGE
Overhaul BaseContact Tom Campbell
to contribute
Overhaul Base will be closed
for Thanksgiving and the
Friday after, November 27
and 28.
Friday is a reduced service
day, not a paid holiday.
OHB personnel may take a
vacation day, a floater or
choose to work at a service
garage.
OHB is in the middle of
retro-fitting every bus with a
bicycle rack.
AT THE GARAGE
Light RailContact Bob Boyle to contribute
The Hiawatha project was
80.6 % complete at the end
of September.
Trains will be testing during
daylight hours through
November. Exercise caution
near the test tracks between
Downtown East / Metrodome
and Fort Snelling stations.
There are now six lightrail
vehicles (LRV) in our main-
tenance facility. LRVs 107
and 108 are in final testing in
Plattsburgh, NY. Testing of
LRV 101 is complete with the
exception of a 4,000 mile
burn-in.
Page 7
DALLAS HOSTS
ATU
LATINO CAUCUSBy Ken Dolney
The 14th Annual
International ATU Latino
Caucus Conference was
held September 26-27, 2003, at
the Sterling Hotel in Dallas,
Texas. ATU Local 1338 and the
Dallas chapter of the Latino
Caucus hosted the event. Tom
Crooks and Ken Dolney represent-
ed Local 1005.
The conference opened on Friday
with the Presentation of Colors by
the Dart Transit Police Color
Guards. Jose Guerrero, President,
ATU Latino Caucus, made intro-
ductions of the Board and confer-
ence attendees.
Guest speaker Roberto Alonzo,
Texas State Representative, shared
his experience as a member of the
legislature who went to Oklahoma
to protest redistricting. His recur-
ring theme was “Keep going,
stand your ground, never give up”.
Rep. Alonzo said there are two
things in politics, money and
votes; we don’t have the ‘big’
money, so we have to get those
votes.
Kenneth Kirk, ATU Local #1338
President, welcomed the delegates
to Dallas. Retired Int’l. ATU
President Jim La Sala sent his
regrets, unable to attend following
back surgery.
Int’l. Representative Ray Rivera
has been attending the caucus con-
ferences for about ten years. The
caucus has grown to about 150
members in that time. Mr. Rivera
stated that for us to succeed, we
must organize other workers.
Many workers who are not repre-
sented by labor unions want to
organize, but are unsure how to
proceed; that is where labor
activists are needed. ATU has
grown by more than 20,000 mem-
bers in recent years as a result of
labor organizing.
Marcellas Barnes, Chairman of the
ATU Black Caucus, said that
Blacks and Latinos face similar
problems and challenges. We
must change the ‘weapons of mass
destruction’; we spend more
money to keep our children in
prisons than we spend to keep our
children in school.
Rudy Medina talked about his par-
ticipation in the Latino Caucus
since its’ beginning in 1988; he
was the second Caucus president.
Mr. Medina said that the caucus
by-laws are for all ATU members,
186,000 strong.
Ben Gomez, Dart Executive Vice-
President has worked in transit for
the past eighteen years. He has
had a very good working relation-
ship with ATU. Mr. Gomez
expressed surprise at the size of
the Latino Caucus and the number
of members.
The Dart Police Department was
organized 15 years ago with the
ATU’s help. When Dart drivers
needed police help, local police
were slow to respond. The Dart
Continued On Page 11
AT THE GARAGE
East MetroContact Linda Kaup
to contribute.
East Metro employees know
how to do a great potluck.
The biggest and best poluck
will be this Holiday Season
with turkey served many
ways. Please sign up. What
would happen if everyone
brought brownies?
E.M welcomes :
Carie Andrew #5954,
Timothy Herds #2434,
Joan Rodriguez # 2441 to the
ranks as full time drivers.
The Training Center is now
at East Metro, come visit
Maria, Mary Keil and Larry
Rolf. Larry would be happy
to show you his new closet.
Farebox:
When you have trouble with
your farebox, you can give
your customers a Milwaukee
Trolley Pass to replace a
transfer. They are located by
the Four Day Board.
Everytime you change your
direction sign, remember to
change your farebox. Your
AVL doesn’t keep track of
this, you need to.
Page 8
night runs in Washington DC and
Baltimore. The management of
the Washington transit system first
ridiculed the Union’s proposal
calling it a harebrained scheme.
But the system of ready cash fares
put into locked fareboxes won the
approval of the Washington
Metropolitan Area Transit
Commission which ordered that
passengers without exact fares be
given a script (voucher) refund.
Within weeks, some form of ready
or exact fare system as proposed
by the Union was put into effect
in many other cities throughout
the United States. By the New
York convention in 1969, Elliott
reported that exact fare was then
in effect in 39 cities and would be
extended to nine more cities,
Continued from Page 3 including New York and Chicago,
by January 1970. (Metro Transit,
called MTC at the time, also
enacted this policy.)
New York Governor Rockefeller
proclaimed to the 1969 conven-
tion delegates: “The exact fare
plan is a terrific idea. It has just
been adopted here in New York
City. How many measures are
there that can cut time, improve
safety and preserve a bus driver’s
sanity all at the same time? You
hit the jackpot on that one.” The
final report of the U. S. govern-
ment’s robbery and assault study
issued at the end of 1970 con-
firmed that exact fare had largely
solved the robbery problem and
had gained widespread acceptance
from the riding public, bus driv-
ers, and management.
CRYPTOS by PAT KELEHAN
Each letter stands for another. Ifyou think X=O, for example, itwould equal O throughout thepuzzle.
Clue: O=S
BCDF GH FJK LMO GBKDCFGD’O DKPM
SCD DGMFK RCO C OFGB CF FJK
BKCQMF HCTFGDX. VQ FJK ZGDQVQP,
LGCDYVQP KZBSGXKKO TGMSY LK JKCDY
OCXVQP, “FCEK ZK FG FJK QMF JGMOK!”
Answer on page 11
History
AT THE GARAGE
RuterContract Scott Lindquist or Nona
Wood to contribute
Full Stomachs!
Thanks to Roxanne, Arlene,
Kevin and whoever else
helped with the breakfast on
Sept. 22nd. The food was
great and was well appreciat-
ed by all. Keep up the good
work. Did it make anyone
else think about how LeRoy
loved to help out on these
events?
How About Running 26.2
Miles!
James Rath, driver #2255,
ran in the Twin Cities
Marathon last month again.
Jim is 65 years young; he’s
been running for over 20
years with a personal best of
3 hours 32 minutes. His time
is not as good as it used to be
but his enthusiasm for the
sport has not fallen off. Jim’s
first marathon was
Grandma’s in 1982. If you
have any interest in running
at any distance he would be
more than willing to talk to
you.
Feel Lucky?
Not only is Ruter one of the
best garages in the system
but it may be the luckiest.
Last month an unnamed
Ruter driver went into a
northern Minnesota casino
and won $20,000.00 on the
dollar slots.
Did You Know?
The 5 Line accounts for 24%
of all accidents at Ruter
Garage. If you have to call
Control and your SmartCom
radio is out, see your manag-
er to be reimbursed for pay
Page 9
Must have an excellent work
record.
Must work well under the pres-
sure of a strict deadline.
Education/Experience:
High School / GED, with three
years of administrative office
experience including one year or
more in payroll or accounting.
Prior experience with microcom-
puters.
Payroll ClerkPrimary Purpose of Position:
To issue payroll checks to union
office clerical employees,
mechanical.
To process operator sick leave and
maintain payroll leave accrual and
wage progression records for
operators.
Position Responsibilities:
Audit and enter time records from
time cards, time sheets and TX
base. Update TX base as needed.
Execute payroll processes,
research and correct error mes-
sages for actual payroll checks.
Upon completion of payroll pro-
cessing, balance gross and deduc-
tions, and prepare bank statement.
Compute and input sick leave,
vacation, floating holiday and per-
fect attendance, and FMLA appli-
cations for union clerical employ-
ees.
Execute manual checks for union
clerical and drivers if needed.
Maintain database records of
union clerical employees, includ-
ing W-4, deduction changes, and
120 working probation. Create
and distribute union office time
sheets as needed.
Compute and input operators sick
leave and FMLA weekly. Run
reports from the driver’s Time
Roll/Time Calc system for utiliza-
tion of calculating sick leave and
FMLA pay.
Maintain files on sick leave usage
average.
Handle telephone inquiries for
union clerical employees and
operators regarding policy guide-
lines and procedures.
Compute final pay input for union
clerical employees.
Administer payroll policies and
procedures and clarify contract
violations.
Calculate leave accrual dates on
employees transferring from part
time to full time.
Required Qualifications:
High School diploma/GED.
Minimum of 40 hours PC spread-
sheet training or equivalent expe-
rience.
Internal candidates without this
skill must complete training and
qualify on personnel testing.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
Must have data entry accuracy of
5,000 keystrokes an hour.
Ability to operate a 10 key adding
machine.
Must be able to grasp, retain and
apply complex payroll rules set
forth in bargaining unit.
Work well with others in a team
setting.
Communicate effectively in both
verbal and written form.
Work well under time pressures.
Internal candidates must meet
Payroll
From Page 5
Page 10transfer policy.
Must pass Personnel Selection
Tests.
Members, Position, Co.
Hire dateBarb Habermann, Confidential
Payroll Clerk (Admin, Payroll,
Police) 4/08/71
Penny T’Kach, Timekeeper
Computer Operator - Heywood
7/12/76
Marquitta Ransom, Timekeeper
Instructor
10/11/77
Connie Hill, Payroll Clerk
Computer Operator – Office
7/17/78
Ed Beyer, Senior Timekeeper
Computer Operator
7/19/78
Mary Dolney, Payroll Clerk
Computer Operator – Mechanical
8/14/78
Vickie Ebel, HRIS
Implementation Team Worker
2/13/95
Nancy Mastenbrook, Timekeeper
Computer Operator – Nicollet
4/07/97
Jodi Fromenthal, Payroll Clerk
Floater
4/03/99
Cheryl Holloway, TimeKeeper
Computer Operator – East Metro
9/13/99
Shawn Colrud, Timekeeper
Computer Operator – South
10/01/02
Mary Irving, Timekeeper
Computer Operator – M.J. Ruter
1/22/02
Meet the Members:Mary Dolney“It is much more involved than
just doing payroll and keeping
track of peoples hours, we also
keep a lot of records. It can be
very stressful. At the same time,
we spend a lot of time in commu-
nications with employees with
questions about their checks,”
Mary said, explaining a common
misconception regarding her
department.
Connie HillConnie, hired in 1978, spent her
first 12 ½ years at Metro as a
Driver/Operator. “I loved driv-
ing!” She transferred to TIC for 5
½ years and has been in Payroll
for eight years. “I like it here. I
like this job, it’s fun. It is a hard
job and you are working all the
time. I have seen all aspects of the
agency. It’s interesting to see the
process that payroll goes through
to issue the checks.” Connie said
her retirement was only 16
months away; asked about her
plans, Connie exclaimed
“February 8, 2005! Oh do I have
hobbies! Lot’s of hobbies! And I
want to do lots of things!”
Shawn ColrudShawn spent 3 ½ years doing the
payroll for a small company
before coming to Metro Transit
where he has been for two years.
“I like it here a lot! It keeps the
mind fresh, with the calculations.
It’s diverse and its fun!” Shawn
holds a four-year degree in
Criminal Justice.
The Metro Transit Payroll depart-
ment has undergone significant
changes from the days when pay-
roll was manually calculated on
paper, with an adding machine
and keyboard, and paper run
guides. In March 03, 2003 payroll
migrated from its previous in
house “Mainframe” to the sophis-
ticated client/server based soft-
ware, PeopleSoft 8. PeopleSoft
currently has several contracts
with the Federal Government,
including the Navy’s personnel
management system, the Navy
Standard Integrated Personnel sys-
tem and the Defense Integrated
Military Human Resources sys-
tem, which is a Defense
Department-wide system set to
come online by the end of 2005.
This involves 3.1 million military
personnel worldwide.
During this intense period of
implementation of the new soft-
ware system in payroll, the train-
ing of personnel by the HRIS
implementation worker to all pay-
roll employees is currently being
initiated. The Payroll Dept. must
train and adapt to this new sys-
tem, while at the same time pro-
cessing daily payroll tasks.
Payroll: under pressure and strict
deadlines each member must work
with exact precision to produce
our paychecks each payday on
time. We thank them for their per-
severance, diligence, talent and
hard work.
I extend a sincere thanks to ATU Local
1005 members of payroll for lending their
valuable time for the interviews for this
Page 11
Transit Police force has grown
from a single officer to 237 offi-
cers today.
Warren George, Int’l. ATU
President, said he took over a
strong union. He named three
things that he intends to continue,
keep ATU strong and growing,
organize other properties and
training / education opportunities
for local officers and members.
President George reminded mem-
bers that it’s only thirteen months
until the next national election.
ATU will do everything it can to
encourage every member to vote,
so representatives can be elected
who will help labor’s cause.
Oscar Owens, Int’l. Secretary-
Treasurer, promised that the ATU
is in good hands with Warren
George as our President.
President George served as
Executive Vice President under
retired President Jim La Sala.
Secretary Owens also spoke about
the Committee on Political
Education (COPE) and thanked all
contributing members.
Following the lunch break Rudy
Medina presented a Diversity
Training Workshop. The balance
of the afternoon was spent on cau-
cus business.
International Vice President Javier
Perez was unable to speak as
scheduled on Saturday. VP Perez
was in Minneapolis, assisting in
contract mediation between Local
Latino Caucus from Page 7
1005 and Metro Transit.
The National Transit Institute
(NTI), Rutgers University, pre-
sented a workshop on Bloodborne
Pathogens / Infectious Disease.
Instructor Adrian May presented
this excellent workshop, which
would be a valuable course for all
our members at Metro Transit.
Following additional caucus busi-
ness and lunch, instructor Adrian
May presented another excellent
NTI workshop called Safety
Sentinel – Ergonomics Module.
Saturday’s abbreviated schedule
allowed caucus members to attend
a midday freedom rally at the old
courthouse in downtown Dallas.
It was a fitting close to a good
conference.
Answer to Crypto:Part of the bus operator’s regu-
lar route was a stop at the
peanut factory. In the morning,
boarding employees could be
heard saying, “Take me to the
nut house!”
Union members earn 26 percent
more than their nonunion counter-
parts.
More than 75 percent of union
workers have health benefits.
Less than half of nonunion work-
ers have health coverage.
Nearly 70 percent of union work-
ers have a pension. Only 14 per-
cent of nonunion workers have
one.
The 10 states where unions are
strongest have higher earnings,
better health coverage, less
crime, more civic participation,
less poverty and better schools
than the 10 states where union
membership is lowest.
That is why more and more of
America’s workers want union
jobs or want a union where they
work. More than 42 million
nonunion workers say they want
to join a union. However,
employers often harass and intimi-
date workers when they join
together to form their union. That
is wrong, often illegal and most
definitely a violation of the human
rights of those workers.
Independent research shows that,
25 percent of employers illegally
fire at least one worker for union
activity during organizing cam-
paigns.
75 percent of employers hire
union-busters to fight union
organizing.
78 percent of employers force
employees to attend one-on-one
meetings with their own supervi-
sors against the union.
52 percent of employers threaten
to call the Immigration and
Naturalization Service during
organizing that includes undocu-
mented workers.
51 percent of companies threat-
en to close the plant if the union
wins the election, however, less
than 1 percent ever actually do
that.
Interesting Facts about UnionsReprint from AFL-CIO
The Turkey give away was
a big success. Additional
Turkeys were given to
Board members for each
facility. See your Board
member for a turkey for
facility dinners.
Robinette, Harold “Stooge”, January 8, 1937 – October 12, 2003
Harold, long time employee of 20 years from January,1981
to June, 2001. Retired from the afternoon stockkeeper shift at the
old Snelling Garage. Harold was a unique person that will be
missed, loved his family, was always talking about those grand-
children and his life’s experiences. In retirement he played in his
church band. Harold went out in a ‘38 Packard hearse. Rest in
Other Members that have died, all retired: Marvin Rogholt, Vincent Morrison, Curtis
Powers, Donna Dawson, Snelling driver #2775 (1/98) passed away 10/25, just 61 yrs
young.
Danny R Boden
Loving Husband and Father, May 12, 1956 - November 8,2003
Age 47, died after a courageous battle with cancer.
Employed at Metro Transit since October 23, 1979, excellent
mechanic, at the Old Snelling and the new East Metro, was on the
Education Committee, his wit and humor will be missed, he would
always tell you like it is. Survived by loving wife, Mary; and three
children.
