New Team - Amalgamated Transit Union · · 2011-08-17 JULY / AUGUST 2010 3 I am truly honored to lead this

JUL/A

UG

2010

Offi cial Journal of the Amalgamated Transit UnionAFL-CIO/CLC

w w w . a t u . o r g

Heintzman Takes Charge as International President, Appoints Canada’s Graham IEVP, Joining Long-Time IST Oscar Owens

New TeamHits the Ground Running

2 IN TRANSIT www.atu.org

Je suis vraiment honoré d’être à la tête de ce grand Syndicat en tant que votre nouveau Président de l’International. Alors que je réfléchis sur ma nouvelle position, je me rends compte que tout nouvel exécutif de section syndicale ou de l’International qui entre en fonction doit faire face à des défis difficiles, et, sans aucun doute, ce sera la même chose pour moi.

Mais je sais qu’en restant unis et solidaires, comme nous l’avons toujours été, nous allons non seulement répondre à ces défis, mais les transformer en opportunités pour progresser. Ma priorité sera de faire exactement cela, et de promouvoir les transports en commun au Canada et aux États-Unis dans le processus.

À l’heure actuelle, nous devons attaquer de front une myriade de problèmes qui menacent non seulement nos emplois et notre niveau de vie, mais notre industrie tout entière.

Au Canada, nous avons besoin de nous assurer que nos élus gardent le pied à l’étrier et tiennent leurs promesses concernant le financement des transports en commun. Nous devons aller de l’avant avec un projet de loi à présenter au Parlement pour augmenter les peines encourues pour l’agression des employés des transports en commun et pour que des mesures soient prises pour protéger nos membres contre la violence au travail.

Aux États-Unis, sept systèmes de transport en commun sur dix sont actuellement déficitaires, les partenariats public-privé sont en augmentation, et les efforts législatifs qui nuisent à nos membres et à l’industrie des transports en commun au niveau local, étatique et fédéral s’accélèrent.

Crise du finanCement des transports en Commun

La condition financière précaire de transports en commun aux États-Unis a conduit à des licenciements et à des réductions des services dans tout le pays. Et les services de transports en commun ne sont pas les seuls services à faire face à d’importantes coupures. Les effectifs des agents de police, des pompiers et des enseignants sont réduits dans tout le pays de façon encore plus conséquente.

La raison pour laquelle ceci a eu lieu n’est pas un mystère. La récession a entraîné une forte réduction des recettes fiscales sur lesquelles les gouvernements locaux comptent pour financer les services publics - y compris les transports en commun. Malheureusement, même s’ils sont utiles et vivifiants, tous les rallyes du monde ne changeront pas cet état de fait.

L’objectif consiste à amener le Congrès à apporter une solution permanente au problème. Pour maintenir les niveaux actuels de service de transports urbain et ferroviaire, nous avons besoin que le Congrès autorise les organismes de transport à utiliser au moins une partie des fonds fédéraux pour financer les dépenses d’exploitation, le cas échéant.

C’est la raison pour laquelle l’ATU a fait du lobbying pour faire passer le projet de loi à la Chambre Carnahan, et le projet de loi Brown au Sénat. Jusqu’à présent, nous avons réussi à obtenir que les membres du Congrès des deux parties signent ces projets de loi.

Nous avons encore besoin d’avoir plus de membres dans notre syndicat, et je n’ai aucun doute sur le fait que nous y arriverons. Mais, ceux qui vous disent que l’adoption de ces lois sera facile ou que cela se produira cette année, ou l’année prochaine, ne sont pas honnêtes avec vous. Cela a été, et continuera à être une longue et dure bataille. C’est le type de combat auquel l’ATU se livre tous les jours en votre nom, le type de combat pour lequel l’ATU est particulièrement bien équipé.

partenariats publiC-privé

Tout aussi important que la menace de pertes d’emplois dans les systèmes de transport en commun, les emplois bien rémunérés et les avantages sont en baisse en raison des partenariats public-privé. Comme je l’ai déjà dit, l’expression «partenariat public-privé» est juste une façon élégante de dire «sous-traitance». Cela veut dire exactement la même chose.

Pour combattre cette tendance nous devons agir de manière stratégique. Lorsque les dirigeants des sections syndicales apprennent

défis à venir – Recherche de la page 4

Yo francamente estoy muy honrado de poder dirigir a esta gran Unión en calidad de vuestro nuevo Presidente Internacional. A medida que reflexiono en las responsabilidades que atañen a esta nueva posición, me doy cuenta de que cualquier nuevo dirigente ejecutivo local o internacional asume un cargo que viene acompañado de difíciles desafíos y, claramente, esto será lo mismo para mi también.

Pero yo bien sé que si nos mantenemos unidos en solidaridad, como siempre lo hemos hecho, no solamente podremos enfrentar con acierto esos desafíos, sino que también podremos tornar los mismos en oportunidades para el progreso. Mi prioridad principal será el hacer justamente eso, y en ese proceso también promover el crecimiento del transporte público en Canadá y en los Estados Unidos.

En estos momentos, debemos enfrentar con determinación, una variedad de temas que amenazan no solamente nuestros empleos y nuestro estándar de vida, sino también a nuestra industria en su totalidad.

En Canadá, necesitamos hacer responsables con creces a nuestros políticos y funcionarios elegidos para forzarlos a que ellos cumplan con sus promesas de financiar el sistema de tránsito, y debemos presentar y promover un proyecto de ley en el Parlamento que tenga el efecto de aumentar las penalidades por el asalto a un trabajador del tránsito, y demandar que una acción firme sea tomada para proteger a nuestros miembros contra la violencia en el sitio de trabajo.

En los Estados Unidos siete de cada diez sistemas de tránsito actualmente enfrentan una posición deficitaria, las sociedades público-privadas están aumentando, y los esfuerzos legislativos que dañan a nuestros miembros y as la industria del tránsito a nivel, local, estatal y federal están aumentado a toda máquina.

la Crisis del finanCiamiento del trÁnsito

Las pésimas condiciones financieras de tránsito en los Estados Unidos ha conducido a despidos masivos de trabajadores y a recortes del servicio a través de toda la nación. Y el transporte público no es el único servicio gubernamental que está enfrentando serios recortes. La policía, los bomberos y maestros están siendo despedidos por todo el país en números mayores.

No es ningún misterio el porqué esto ha ocurrido. La recesión económica ha causado una dramática reducción en los ingresos resultante de impuestos de los cuales los gobiernos locales dependen para proveer servicios públicos – incluyendo el transporte público. Y, desafortunadamente, mientras que aunque valorables y reforzadoras, todas las demostraciones, marchas, paradas o protestas públicas que se hagan en el mundo no podrán cambiar ese hecho.

La solución es persuadir al Congreso a que promulgue una solución permanente. Necesitamos que el Congreso le permita a agencias del tránsito que puedan utilizar, por lo menos, una porción de sus fundos de capital federal para gastos de operación, según sea necesario, a fin de mantener los actuales niveles de servicios en nuestras calles y rieles.

Por eso es que la ATU ha estado realizando cabildeo intenso para la promulgación del proyecto de ley Carnean en la Cámara de Representantes, y el proyecto de ley Brown en el Senado. Hasta la fecha, hemos tenido éxito en obtener el apoyo formal a esos proyectos por parte de varios miembros del Congreso militantes de ambos partidos políticos.

Todavía necesitamos obtener el apoyo de más Congresistas, y no tenemos dudas que así lo haremos. Pero quienquiera le diga a usted que la promulgación de esas leyes será una tarea fácil, o que eso ocurrirá durante este año, o tal vez el próximo año, realmente no está siendo honesto con usted. Esto ha sido, y continuará siendo una larga y ardua batalla. Es el tipo de batalla que la ATU lucha en contra todos y cada día en nombre suyo; el tipo de batalla para la cual la ATU está singularmente equipada.

soCiedades públiCo-privadas

De igual importancia a la amenaza de perder empleos del tránsito, es el caso de los buenos salarios y beneficios de los empleos del tránsito que están también disminuyendo como resultado de las sociedades público-privadas. Según he declarado anteriormente, la sociedad público-privada es solamente una nueva, atractiva y engañosa manera de decir “sub-contratación del empleo.” Esto significa exactamente lo mismo.

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ronald J. HeintZmaninternational president

randY GraHam international executive vice president

osCar owensinternational secretary-treasurer

international vice presidents

JosepH welCHsyracuse, nY

rodneY riCHmondnew orleans, la – [email protected]

robert H. baKerwashington, dC – [email protected]

larrY r. Kinnearashburn, on – [email protected]

Javier m. pereZ, Jr.Kansas City, mo – [email protected]

riCHard m. murpHYbraintree, ma

bob m. HYKawaYCalgary, ab – [email protected]

CHarles CooKpetaluma, Ca – [email protected]

william G. mcleanreno, nv – [email protected]

Janis m. borCHardtmadison, wi – [email protected]

paul bowenCanton, mi – [email protected]

lawrenCe J. HanleYstaten island, nY – [email protected]

KennetH r. KirK lancaster, tX – [email protected]

GarY rauenClayton, nC – [email protected]

marCellus barnesflossmore, il – [email protected]

raY rivera lilburn, Ga– [email protected]

Yvette salaZar thornton, Co – [email protected]

GarY JoHnson, sr. Cleveland, oH – [email protected]

international representatives

antHonY witHinGton sebastopol, Ca – [email protected]

dennis antonellis spokane, wa – [email protected]

Karen miller-lewis memphis, tn – [email protected]

miKe maHar Calgary, ab – [email protected]

Canadian Council

robin G. westCanadian director

61 international boulevard, suite 210rexdale, on m9w [email protected]

amalGamated transit unioninternational offiCers Prêt à faire face aux défis à venir

PreParadOs Para LOs desafÍOs Que nOs esPeran

www.atu.org JULY / AUGUST 2010 3

I am truly honored to lead this great Union as your new international president. As I reflect on this new position, I realize

that any new local or international executive comes into office facing tough challenges, and, clearly, it will be the same for me.

But I know that by standing together in solidarity, as we always have, we will not only meet those challenges, but turn them into opportunities for progress. My top priority will be to do just that, and to promote public transportation in Canada and the United States in the process.

Right now, we must address head-on a myriad of issues that threaten not only our jobs and our standard-of-living, but our entire industry.

In Canada, we need to hold our elected officials’ feet to the fire to make them live up to their transit-funding promises, we must push forward with a bill in Parliament which will increase the penalty for assaulting a transit worker, and demand that action be taken to protect our members from violence on the job.

In the U.S., seven out of 10 transit systems are currently in a deficit position, public-private partnerships are on the rise, and legislative efforts that hurt our members and the transit industry on the local, state, and federal levels are picking up steam.

transit fundinG Crisis

The dire financial condition of U.S. transit has led to layoffs and service cuts all across the nation. And mass transit is not the only government service facing severe cuts. Police officers, firefighters and teachers are being laid-off across the country in even greater numbers.

It’s no mystery why this has occurred. The recession has caused a sharp reduction in the tax revenue that local governments rely on to provide public services – including mass transit. And, unfortunately, while valuable and invigorating, all the rallies in the world won’t change that fact.

The solution is to get Congress to pass a permanent fix. We need Congress to allow transit agencies to use at least a portion of their federal capital funds for operating expenses, as necessary, to maintain current levels of service on our streets and railways.

That is why the ATU has been lobbying for passage of the Carnahan bill in the House, and the Brown bill in the Senate. So far, we have been successful in getting members of Congress from both parties to sign-on to the bills.

We still need to get more members on board, and I have no doubt we will get there. But, anyone who tells you that passage of these laws will be easy, or that it will happen this year, or even next, isn’t being honest with you. This has been, and will continue to be a long, hard battle. It is the type of battle that ATU fights everyday on your behalf; the kind of battle for which the ATU is uniquely suited.

publiC-private partnersHips

Equally important to the threat of losing transit jobs, is how good paying wage and benefit transit jobs are diminishing as a result of public-private partnerships. As I’ve said before, public-private partnership is just a sexy new way of saying “contracting-out.” It means exactly the same thing.

continued at ready for Challenges on page 4

ready fOr the chaLLenges ahead

RoNALd J. heINTzmAN, INTeRNATIoNAL pReSIdeNT

“Right now, we must address head-on a myriad

of issues that threaten not only our jobs and

our standard-of-living, but our entire industry.”


ready for Challenges continued from page 3

We need to act strategically to beat this trend. When local union leaders learn that their public agency is considering contracting-out, or putting their current private service contract out for bid, they should contact the International Union. Working together, we can lobby against contracting out the service, unless, of course, the public agency agrees to require the contractor to maintain existing wages and benefits.

The ATU Strategic Planning Department is equipped and ready to provide locals with the information, resources and assistance necessary to put on a credible campaign against public-private partnerships that threaten our members’ standard-of-living. We are in this fight together, and together we will prevail in keeping our jobs from being destroyed.

tHreats in tHe leGislative arena

We are hearing more and more about efforts to introduce the “Colorado Transit Contracting Model” in state legislatures across the country.

For those who don’t know, the Colorado legislature in 1988 passed a law requiring public transit systems to contract out 20 percent of their service to private providers.

In my opinion, the law has only been effective in doing one thing – lowering the wages and benefits of those who operate and maintain Colorado buses and trains.

Reports are surfacing that the former general manager of Denver’s Regional Transit Authority is popping up at state legislatures (most recently in Florida) armed with the Colorado transit “dog

and pony show,” hoping to persuade legislators that they can save money by contracting out transportation services. We will be hearing about, and seeing more of these presentations in state bodies nationwide – guaranteed.

If you hear about proposed transit contracting-out legislation being dangled before your state legislature, you should immediately contact the International Union. We will assist you in putting together a presentation for your legislators, and help you present it, if necessary.

The International recently commissioned a new study by Columbia University Professor Elliot Sclar, which when completed, will analyze the real effects of the mandatory contracting law in Colorado now, as compared to over 20 years ago when it first passed. I firmly and wholeheartedly believe that the report will show that it actually costs more to contract out public services than to provide them in-house, and that the quality of transit service has been greatly diminished through sub-contracting.

in-House and eXternal orGaniZinG

One area we need to direct our resources toward is in-house organizing, particularly in right-to-work states in the U.S. In Florida for example, our membership could almost double if we concentrated on those workers who are part of established bargaining units, but who are not members. Nationally, we estimate that there are some 7,000-10,000 potential members in right-to-work states who are part of ATU bargaining units.

To that end, we are hiring an internal organizer/strategic campaigner who will help locals in right-to-work states establish effective campaigns to recruit new members; to assist

locals in improving representation and member satisfaction; to help local unions fend off decertification and raids; and to assist locals involved in contract campaigns by providing outreach to labor and community organizations and implementing campaign strategy.

Our external organizing has been very effective, though we currently only have one fulltime organizing director and one lead organizer. While we can’t compete with unions five or 10 times our size, we can and will do better. We have recently increased our organizing staff with another fulltime organizer, and will begin aggressively using member organizers for the various strategic organizing campaigns we have identified throughout the U.S. and Canada.

There are no better organizers than our own members who know and understand the industry we represent. We will utilize the talents of these members – not only to organize new members – but to assist in building campaigns toward first collective bargaining agreements once they are organized. The job of organizing is only one element of a successful campaign. If we can’t get a respectable first-time agreement for a new unit once organized, then we have failed in our mission and commitment to new members.

atu international leGal department

The attorneys and legal staff of this International Union are second to none. We have an opportunity with new international executive officers to look at how we might do things differently, with the focus on how to best represent our membership. With the onset of more public-private partnerships in the U.S., we

continued at ready for Challenges on page 7


que leur organisme public envisage de sous-traiter ou de soumettre leur contrat actuel à candidature, ils doivent communiquer cette information à l’International. En travaillant ensemble, nous pouvons exercer des pressions contre la sous-traitance, à moins, bien sûr, que l’organisme public s’engage à exiger de l’entrepreneur que les salaires et prestations existants soient maintenus.

Le Département de planification stratégique de l’ATU est capable et prêt à fournir aux sections syndicales les informations, ressources et assistance nécessaires pour organiser une campagne crédible contre les partenariats public-privé qui menacent les niveaux de vie de nos membres. Nous sommes dans cette lutte ensemble, et ensemble nous pourrons nous assurer que nos emplois ne seront pas détruits.

menaCes sur le plan léGislatif

Nous entendons parler de plus en plus des efforts visant à adopter le «Modèle de contrat des transports en commun du Colorado» au sein des législatures des États à travers le pays

Pour ceux qui ne savent pas ce que c’est : en 1988 la législature du Colorado a adopté une loi obligeant les systèmes de transport en commun à sous-traiter 20 pour cent de leur service à des prestataires privés.

À mon avis, la loi a seulement réussi à réduire les salaires et les avantages de ceux qui font fonctionner et maintiennent les autobus et les trains du Colorado.

Des rapports apparaissent dans différentes législatures étatiques (le plus récemment en Floride) concernant l’ancien directeur général de l’Autorité des transports en commun régionaux le citant comme exemple à suivre de transports en commun « avec spectacle à l’appui » dans l’espoir

de convaincre les législateurs qu’ils peuvent économiser de l’argent en sous-traitant les services de transport en commun. Nous allons de plus en plus voir et entendre parler de ce type de présentations dans les institutions d’État à l’échelle nationale – ca c’est garanti.

Si, dans la législature de votre Etat, vous entendez dire que l’on fait miroiter des propositions de législation permettant de sous-traiter les services de transport, vous devez immédiatement communiquer cette information à l’International. Nous vous aiderons à mettre sur pied un argumentaire à l’attention de vos législateurs, et nous vous aiderons à le présenter, si nécessaire.

L’International a récemment commandé une nouvelle étude qui est réalisée par le Professeur Sclar Elliot de l’Université de Columbia. Cette étude, une fois achevée, permettra d’analyser les effets réels de la loi sur l’adjudication obligatoire dans le Colorado en comparant les résultats actuels à ceux d’il y a 20 ans lorsqu’elle fut votée pour la première fois. Je crois fermement que le rapport indique qu’il coûte, en fait, plus cher de sous-traiter des services publics que de les fournir en interne, et que la qualité des services fournis est fortement diminuée lorsque ceux-ci sont sous-traités.

orGanisations interne et eXterne

Un domaine dans lequel nous devons placer nos ressources est l’organisation interne, en particulier dans le droit au travail dans les États des États-Unis. En Floride, par exemple, le nombre de nos membres pourrait presque doubler si nous concentrions nos efforts sur les travailleurs qui font partie des unités de négociation déjà établies, mais qui ne sont pas encore membres. À l’échelle nationale, nous estimons qu’il y a entre 7.000 et 10.000 membres potentiels dans les Etats qui ont le droit au travail et qui font partie des unités de négociation de l’ATU.



2 0 1 0J U L / A U G

Contents2 International Offi cers & General Executive Board

International President’s Message in French & Spanish

3 International President’s MessageReady for the Challenges Ahead

5 Magazine Index

8 International Executive Vice President’s Message in French & Spanish

9 International Executive Vice President’s Message

What is the Best Use of Our Resources?

10 International Secretary- Treasurer’s Message in French & Spanish

11 International Secretary- Treasurer’s Message

The Most Important Election of Our Lives?

12 Legislative Report Bus Driver, Labor Activist, and Now,

Board Member

14 COVER STORY Heintzman Appointed International President

Upon George’s Retirement / Canada’s Graham Appointed International Executive Vice President

16 Salazar, Johnson Appointed International Vice Presidents

17 Canadian Agenda Failure to Invest in Infrastructure

Will Cost Canadians Dearly

18 First Transit Sued for DiscriminationWorker Argues First Transit Discriminates

Against African-American, Latino Employees & Job Applicants

19 Notes from the Meeting of the GEBSan Diego, CA – April 19 - 23, 2010

25 Notes from Special Meeting of the GEBChevy Chase, MD – June 26, 2010

26 In Memoriam

27 Convention Memorial Submission Form for Deceased Local Offi cers

ATU’s Top Talent Entry Form

28 Fifty-Sixth Convention Ad

Vol. 119, No. 4

Contents

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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, Designer: David F. Highnote. Editorial Offi ce: 5025 Wisconsin Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20016-4139. Tel: 1-202-537-1645. Please sendall 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, effi ciency and skill; to encourage theformation in Local Unions of sick and funeral benefi t funds in order that we may properly care for our sick and bury our dead; to encourage the organization of cooperativecredit 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 engagein such legislative, political, educational, cultural, social, and welfare activities as will further the interests and welfare of the membership of the Organization. To seek theimprovement of social and economic conditions in the United States and Canada and to promote the interests of labor everywhere.

13

A Message from theInternational President

Ready for the Challenges Ahead

3

18 First Transit Sued for Discrimination

Worker Argues First Transit Discriminates Against African-American, Latino Employees & Job Applicants

Legislative Report

Bus Driver, Labor Activist, and Now, Board Member

12

Canadian Agenda

Failure to Invest in Infrastructure Will Cost Canadians Dearly

17

Upon the retirement of Warren S. George, ATU’s General Executive Board appointed IEVP Ronald J. Heintzman as the Union’s eighth international president at a special meeting on June 26. Canada’s Randy Graham was appointed international executive vice president. Long-time International Secretary-Treasurer Oscar Owens completes the executive team.

New Executive Announcements – Page 14

Upon the retirement of Warren S. George, ATU’s General Executive Board appointed

New TeamHits the Ground Running

Text TRANSIT to 69866

SIGN UP FOR THE“TEXT ON WASHINGTON”

PHOTO CREDITS David Toerge Photography – cover, 15Sean Shanahan Photography– 3, 9


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Nosotros necesitamos actuar estratégicamente para poder derrotar esa tendencia. Cuando los líderes de la unión local se enteren de que su agencia pública está considerando emitir una oferta de la práctica de “sub-contratación del empleo“, ellos deben ponerse en contacto con la Unión Internacional. Trabajando unidos, nosotros podremos hacer cabildeo en contra de tal práctica de la sub-contratación de esos empleos. Desde luego, a menos de que la agencia pública concuerde en requerir que el contratista mantenga los existentes salarios y beneficios.

El Departamento de Planificación Estratégica de la ATU está equipado y preparado para proveer a las uniones locales, con la información, recursos, y asesoramiento necesario para lanzar una campaña con credibilidad en contra de las sociedades público-privadas que amenazan el estándar de vida de nuestros miembros. Estamos en esta lucha juntos, y juntos triunfaremos en proteger y evitar que nuestros empleos sea destruidos.

amenaZas en el Campo leGislativo

Cada día que pasa oímos de más y más esfuerzos para introducir el “Modelo Colorado en la “sub-contratación del trabajo del tránsito” en varias legislaturas estatales a través del país.

Para aquellos que no conocen esta situación, en 1988 la legislatura del Estado de Colorado promulgó una ley que requiere que los sistemas públicos de tránsito sub-contraten un 20% de sus servicios a contratista u operadores privados. En mi opinión, esa ley ha sido efectiva en solamente una cosa – la reducción de salarios y beneficios para aquellos trabajadores que operan y mantienen los autobuses y trenes de Colorado.

Informes están apareciendo indicando que el ex Gerente General del la Autoridad Regional de Tránsito de Denver está haciendo presentaciones ante varias legislaturas estatales [la más reciente en el Estado de la Florida], armado con una “demostración animada” con el propósito de persuadir a legisladores de que ellos pueden ahorrar dinero del estado sub-contratando los servicios de transporte. Estoy seguro de que estaremos oyendo y viendo mucho más sobre esas presentaciones en instituciones estatales por todo el país – es que algo que puedo garantizar.

Si usted toma conocimiento de que cualquier propuesta diseñada para la sub-contratación del trabajo de tránsito está siendo promovida ante los cuerpos legislativos de su estado, usted debe inmediatamente contactar a la Unión Internacional. Nosotros le prestaremos asesoramiento a usted en la preparación de una presentación dirigida a sus legisladores, así como ayudarlo a que usted pueda presentar la misma, si fuera necesario.

La Unión Internacional recientemente comisionó un nuevo estudio a ser realizado por el Profesor Ellliot Sclar de la Universidad de Columbia, el cual cuando completo, analizará los verdaderos efectos de la ley actualmente en vigor en Colorado que obliga el proceso de de la sub-contratación del trabajo del tránsito, comparada con los 20 años pasados cuando la misma fue promulgada por la legislatura. Yo estoy firmemente y totalmente convencido que este estudio demostrará que actualmente cuesta más la sub-contratación de los servicios públicos que proveer los mismos por la agencias públicas respectivas, y que la calidad del servicio de tránsito has sido disminuido grandemente a través de dicha sub-contratación.

orGaniZaCión interna Y eXterna

Un área en la cual nosotros debemos concentrar nuestros recursos es hacia la organización interna, particularmente en aquellos estados conocidos en Estados Unidos como de “derecho al trabajo.” En la Florida, por ejemplo, nuestra base de miembros podría doblarse en números si nos concentramos en aquellos trabajadores que ya son parte de unidades de contratación colectiva ya establecidas, pero quienes aun no son miembros de nuestra Unión. Nacionalmente, nosotros estimamos que existen de 7,000 a 10,000 miembros potenciales en esos estados de “derecho al trabajo” quienes son partes de unidades de contratación colectiva de ATU.

Con ese propósito, estamos empleando a un organizador interno, también experto en campañas estratégicas quien podrá asesorar a las uniones locales en los estados de “derecho al trabajo” en el establecimiento de campañas efectivas para reclutar nuevos miembros; para ayudar a las uniones locales en mejorar la representación y satisfacción de los miembros; ayudar a las uniones locales a que puedan rechazar actos de piratería de nuestra membresia y estratagemas dirigidas a cancelar la certificación de nuestra Unión; y para ayudar a las uniones locales a participar en campañas de contratación, facilitándoles alcance a organizaciones laborales y comunitarias e implementado estrategias de campaña.

Nuestra organización interna has sido muy efectiva, a pesar de que actualmente solamente tenemos un director de organización a tiempo completo y un organizador líder. Mientras que no podemos competir con otras uniones que son cinco o diez veces mayores que la nuestra, nosotros podemos y debemos hacer una mejor función. Recientemente hemos aumentado nuestro personal de organización añadiendo otro organizador a tiempo completo, y comenzaremos agresivamente a utilizar miembros organizadores para las varias campañas estratégicas de organización que ya hemos identificado a través de los Estados Unidos y Canadá.


Pour cela, nous sommes en train d’embaucher un organisateur interne/spécialiste de campagne stratégique pour : (a) aider les habitants des États qui ont le droit au travail à organiser des campagnes efficaces afin de recruter de nouveaux membres ; (b) aider les sections syndicales à améliorer leur représentation et la satisfaction de leurs membres ; (c) aider les sections syndicales à se protéger contre la révocation de l’accréditation et les raids ; et (d) aider les sections syndicales dans leurs campagnes de sensibilisation auprès des organismes de travail et communautaires pour leurs contrats et mettre en œuvre la stratégie de campagne.

Notre organisation externe a été très efficace, bien que nous n’ayons actuellement qu’un seul directeur chargé de l’organisation, organisateur principal. Bien que nous ne puissions pas rivaliser avec les syndicats ayant cinq ou dix fois notre taille, nous pouvons et allons faire mieux. Nous avons récemment augmenté notre capacité d’organisation en employant un autre organisateur à temps plein. Il débutera de façon agressive en travaillant avec les membres organisateurs pour les différentes campagnes stratégiques de recrutement que nous avons identifiées à travers les États-Unis et le Canada.

Il n’y a pas meilleurs organisateurs que nos propres membres car ils connaissent et comprennent l’industrie que nous représentons. Nous allons utiliser les talents de ces membres - pas seulement pour organiser de nouveaux membres - mais aussi pour aider à renforcer les campagnes pour négocier les premiers accords collectifs une fois qu’ils sont organisés. Le travail de l’organisation n’est qu’un élément de réussite des campagnes. Si nous ne pouvons pas obtenir un premier accord respectable pour une unité nouvellement organisée, alors nous avons échoué dans notre mission et dans notre engagement envers les nouveaux membres.

département Juridique de l’international à l’atu

Les avocats et le personnel juridique de ce Syndicat International n’ont rien à envier à personne. Grace à nos nouveaux Officiers de l’International, nous avons la possibilité d’examiner comment faire les choses différemment, en mettant l’accent sur la meilleure façon de représenter nos membres. Avec l’arrivée des partenariats public-privé aux Etats-Unis, nous devons nous concentrer sur la section (13c) et les conséquences qui en résultent sur les contrats de transport en commun et nous devons établir nos priorités pour l’avenir.

Le Syndicat International est composé principalement de sections syndicales ayant moins de 160 membres. En ces temps, avec des fournisseurs privés et multinationaux de transport en commun, et avec défis qu’ils posent, nous devons être prêts à aider les sections syndicales à repousser les attaques sur leurs conventions collectives et le niveau de vie de leurs membres.

Une étude objective de la façon dont nous fournissons des services à nos membres ne peut que donner des résultats positifs. Nous sommes déterminés à évaluer tout ce que nous faisons actuellement pour voir comment nous pouvons nous améliorer à l’avenir.

CommuniCations de l’atu

La façon dont les gens communiquent aux États-Unis et au Canada a beaucoup changé au cours des dernières décennies et la manière dont l’ATU communique avec ses membres et avec ses officiers a également changé. Le temps où l’on envoyait un magazine simple tel qu’In transit et un bulletin d’information par «courrier escargot» est révolu.

Aujourd’hui, nos membres adeptes de l’informatique s’attendent à plus. Nous avons donc répondu à leurs attentes avec le site de l’ATU (www.atu.org) et l’utilisation de courriers électroniques. Nous avons remanié l’ancien bulletin ATU Dispatch avec une version électronique et nous avons créé d’autres bulletins d’information par courriel destinés à des groupes spécifiques de l’ATU. Nous avons créé des formulaires que les membres peuvent remplir et envoyer en ligne. Nous avons créé notre propre page pour l’International dans Facebook et nous avons également commencé à produire des vidéos.

Nous devons évaluer le contenu et l’efficacité de chacune de ces formes de communication pour déterminer si nous pouvons maximiser l’utilisation des ces outils pour le bénéfice de nos membres. En bref, quel est le meilleur moyen de communication entre le Syndicat et vous?

Le résultat devrait être d’avoir des communications de l’ATU qui vous motivent et vous impliquent encore plus dans notre cause commune.

D’autre part, on a dit que l’ATU ne fait pas un assez bon travail pour “claironner» les enjeux et les réalisations dans les médias locaux et nationaux. Nous allons regarder cela de plus près et étudier ce que nous pourrions faire pour accroître la visibilité de l’ATU aux États-Unis et au Canada.

orGanisation struCturelle de l’atu

Notre grand syndicat existe depuis 118 ans. Nous nous sommes très bien débrouillés pour nous-mêmes, bien que notre structure organisationnelle soit restée pratiquement inchangée pendant tout ce temps. Il est sain d’étudier notre structure, d’analyser ce que nous avons fait et comment nous l’avons fait, et ce que nous pourrions faire différemment, le cas échéant, pour mieux représenter nos membres.

A la 56° Convention de l’ATU je vais proposer une résolution pour convoquer un comité qui se réunira entre la 56° et la 57° Convention, pour étudier et évaluer la structure organisationnelle de cette grande organisation, et pour fournir un rapport complet avec des recommandations, et le cas échéant, pour un plan d’organisation pour nous propulser dans les cent prochaines années.

Nous aurons donc une excellente occasion d’évaluer ce que nous pouvons améliorer pour nous assurer que le Syndicat continue à être un leader de premier plan qui représente l’industrie des transports en commun des États-Unis et du Canada.

Nous avons du pain sur la planche. En travaillant ensemble, nous vaincrons et nous maintiendrons l’ATU comme le meilleur syndicat pour représenter les travailleurs des transports en commun aux États-Unis et au Canada. Merci à vous tous de m’avoir donné la possibilité de servir en tant que Président de l’International.


ready for Challenges continued from page 4

need to focus on Section (13c) implications as applicable to public transit contracts and what priorities we must set for the future.

The International Union is comprised mostly of small locals. Out of our 264 locals, 132 (half ) have memberships of 160 or less. In these times of multi-national private transit providers, and the challenges they pose, we have to be ready to assist locals in fending off attacks on their collective bargaining agreements and standard-of-living.

An objective review of how we provide services to our members can only produce positive results. We are committed to evaluating everything we are currently doing to see how we can do it better.

atu CommuniCations

The ways in which people communicate in the United States and Canada have changed dramatically in the last several decades, and the ways in which the ATU communicates with its members and officers have changed as well. Gone are the days when a simple magazine such as the In Transit, and a newsletter delivered by “snail-mail” could do it all.

Today, our increasingly computer-savvy members expect more. And we have responded

with the ATU website (www.atu.org) and email. We have re-vamped the old ATU Dispatch into an emailed version, and created other email newsletters for specific ATU groups.

We’ve created forms which members can complete and submit online. We’ve created a Facebook page for the International Union, and we have launched our first text-messaging campaign as part of our push for federal transit operating assistance. We’ve started producing videos as well.

We need to evaluate the content and effectiveness of each of these forms of communication in order to determine how to best utilize these tools for the benefit of our members. In short, what is the best way for the Union to communicate with you?

The result should be ATU communications which motivate and engage more of you in our common cause.

Also, it has been said that the ATU doesn’t do a good enough job “tooting its own horn” about its issues and accomplishments in local and national media. We’ll take a look at that and see what we can do to increase ATU’s public profile in the U.S. and Canada.

tHe atu’s orGaniZational struCture

This great Union has been around for 118 years. We have done very well for ourselves, though our organizational structure has remained virtually unchanged throughout this entire time. It is healthy to look at our structure, analyze what we have done and how well we have done it, and what we can do differently, if anything, to better represent our membership.

I will be proposing a resolution at the 56th ATU Convention to convene a committee that will meet between this and the 57th ATU Convention, to study and evaluate the organizational structure of this great organization, and provide a full report with recommendations, if any, for an organizational plan to move us forward for the next hundred years.

This will provide us an exciting opportunity to evaluate what we can do better to insure that this Union will continue to be the prominent leader representing the transportation industry in the United States and Canada.

We have our work cut out for us. Working together, we will prevail and keep ATU the best Union representing transit workers in the United States and Canada. Thanks to all of you for giving me the opportunity to serve as your international president.

No existen mejores organizadores que nuestros propios miembros, quienes conocen y entienden la industria que nosotros representamos. Utilizaremos el talento de esos miembros – no solamente para organizar a nuevos miembros – pero también para que nos asistan en realizar campañas que nos lleven a obtener el primer contrato colectivo una vez que los trabajadores han sido organizados. El trabajo de organización es solamente uno de los elementos de una exitosa campaña. Si nosotros no podemos conseguir un primer contrato colectivo que sea respetable para una nueva unidad una vez organizada, entonces habremos fallado en nuestra misión y compromiso con nuestros nuevos miembros.

el departamento leGal de la atu

Los abogados y el personal legal de esta Unión Internacional no están en segundo lugar a nadie. Nosotros tenemos una oportunidad con los nuevos dirigentes ejecutivos internacionales de examinar cómo podremos hacer las cosas de manera diferente, con un enfoque concentrado en como mejor representar a nuestra membresia. Con la aparición de más sociedades público-privadas en los Estados Unidos, nosotros necesitamos enfocarnos en las implicaciones de la Sección (13 c) según la misma se aplica a los contratos de tránsito público y que prioridades nosotros debemos establecer para el futuro.

La Unión Internacional está compuesta, en su mayor parte, de uniones locales con menos de 160 miembros. En esta era de proveedores multi-nacionales de tránsito privado, y los desafíos que los mismos representan. Nosotros tenemos que estar preparados para asesorar a las uniones locales para que puedan rechazar ataques contras sus contratos colectivos y su estándar de vida.

Una revisión objetiva de cómo podemos proveer servicios a nuestros miembros solamente puede producir resultados positivos. Nosotros estamos comprometidos a evaluar todos los aspectos de nuestras actuales operaciones para ver cómo podemos hacer las cosas mejor aun.

ComuniCaCiones de atu

Las maneras en que la gente se comunica en los Estados Unidos y el Canadá ha cambiado dramáticamente en las últimas décadas, y los modos en que la ATU se comunica con sus miembros y dirigentes también han cambiado. Ya son pasados los días en que una simple revista como In Transit , y un boletín de noticas entregado por un sistema de correos “a paso de tortuga” podía hacerlo todo.

Hoy día, el creciente número de nuestros miembros ya adeptos a la informática y computadores esperan mucho más de nosotros. Y hemos respondido con el sitio web (www.atu.org) y correo electrónico. También hemos modernizado el boletín titulado ATU Dispatch convirtiéndolo en una versión de correo electrónico, y hemos creado otros boletines electrónicos diseñados para grupos

específicos de la ATU. Hemos creado formularios que los miembros pueden llenar y devolver los mismos a la ATU a través de la Internet. Hemos creado nuestra página Internacional de Facebook, y también hemos comenzado a producir videos.

Necesitamos evaluar el contenido y efectividad de cada una de estas formas de comunicación a fin de determinar como mejor utilizar esas herramientas para beneficio de nuestros miembros. En resumen, ¿cuál es el mejor método para la Unión de comunicarse con usted?

El resultado debe ser unas comunicaciones de ATU que motiven y envuelvan a más de ustedes en nuestra causa común.

También se ha dicho que la ATU no hace una buena labor usando los medios locales y nacionales y de “tocar sus propios bombos y platillos” para difundir los temas y realizaciones de la Unión. Haremos un profundo examen de estas cuestiones para determinar cómo podemos aumentar la visibilidad y perfil público de la ATU en los Estados Unidos y el Canadá.

la estruCtura orGaniZaCional de la atu

Esta gran Unión has estado en operaciones por 118 años. Nosotros hemos hecho mucho por no-sotros mismos, aunque nuestra estructura organizacional ha permanecido virtualmente sin cambio alguno a través de ese largo período. Es saludable que examinemos nuestra estructura, que analic-emos lo que hemos hecho bien y lo que podemos hacer diferente, si algo es necesario, para mejor representar a nuestra membresia.

Yo estaré proponiendo una resolución durante nuestra 56ª Convención de ATU para convocar un comité que se reunirá entre esta y la 57ª Convención de ATU para evaluar la estructura organizacio-nal de nuestra gran Unión y emitir un informe apoyado con recomendaciones, si hubieran algunas, para un plan organizacional que pueda llevar a nuestra Unión adelante por los próximos cien años.

Esto nos provee de una excitante oportunidad para evaluar lo que podemos hacer para asegurar-nos de que esta Unión continuará siendo el líder más prominente en la industria del transporte en los Estados Unidos y el Canadá.

Nos espera a nosotros un gran trabajo y gran responsabilidad. Trabajando unidos, nosotros po-dremos prevalecer y mantener a la ATU como la mejor Unión que representa a los trabajadores del tránsito en los Estados Unidos y el Canadá. Muchas gracias a todos ustedes por haberme dado la oportunidad de servirlos en calidad de vuestro presidente internacional.


C’est avec beaucoup d’humilité que j’assume ma nouvelle fonction de vice-président exécutif de l’International (VPEI), et je suis particulièrement honoré d’être le premier canadien nommé Officier Exécutif de l’International.

Je voudrais remercier tous les gens qui ont travaillé avec moi au fil des années et qui ont rendu cela possible.

Aujourd’hui, certains d’entre vous – et plus particulièrement si vous êtes américains – peuvent se demander: «Qui est ce type?»

Une réponse courte est que je suis membre de l’ATU depuis 1974. J’ai travaillé comme chauffeur d’autobus, commerçant, organisateur, président de section syndicale et vice-président de l’International. Et maintenant, je suis impatient de mettre toute mon expérience au service de mon nouvel emploi au siège de l’International.

Avoir un VPEI canadien peut sembler quelque chose de nouveau, mais en fait c’est vraiment le tout dernier résultat de la longue association des travailleurs des transports en commun de nos deux pays.

Notre première section syndicale canadienne (à cette époque la Division 30) a été créée le 28 septembre 1893, un an après la création de notre syndicat. Depuis, l’ATU s’est propagé dans

tout le Canada et la solidarité entre nos membres américains et nos membres canadiens n’a fait que croître.

Comme l’a déclaré Art Burke, exécutif à la retraite du Conseil d’Administration canadien :

« Je suis toujours en première position quand il s’agit de respecter et d’honorer mon pays et son drapeau, mais la négociation collective ne se fait pas avec un drapeau. Quand il s’agit de s’asseoir à la table des négociations, je veux que l’on ait la meilleure organisation qui puisse exister pour représenter nos membres - et ça c’est l’ATU. »

Je parle du passé parce qu’il façonne l’avenir. Avec Ron Heintzman, Président de l’International et Oscar Owens, Secrétaire-Trésorier de l’International, nous sommes prêts à nous battre pour votre avenir.

quelle est la meilleure utilisation de nos ressourCes?

Une partie de notre travail en tant qu’officier est d’examiner la façon dont nous utilisons nos ressources. L’Union internationale fonctionne avec moins de personnel et d’officiers élus que la plupart des autres syndicats nationaux ou internationaux de taille comparable à la nôtre. Nous fonctionnons également avec un budget relativement peu important par rapport à tout le travail que nous fournissons.

Donc, nous devons utiliser nos ressources avec sagesse et la nouvelle équipe passera en revue les pratiques existantes et des questions telles que:

Lorsque des postes sont vacants, est-il raisonnable de nommer de nouveaux vice-présidents ou de nouveaux représentants à l’International?

Quand faut-il augmenter le personnel, et quand faut-il réaffecter le personnel existant de façon à optimiser l’utilisation de nos ressources?

Comment devons-nous répartir nos ressources entre les différents départements pour mieux servir nos membres?

Comment devons-nous répartir nos ressources pour aider nos sections syndicales dans la négociation, la défense des intérêts des individus, l’organisation interne, et l’organisation de nouveaux membres?

Les réponses à ces questions nous aideront à mieux travailler pour représenter et servir les membres de nos deux pays.

Que vous appeliez l’ATU un «labour» syndicat ou «labor» syndicat, soyez assurés que nous travaillons chaque jour pour continuer à obtenir les meilleurs contrats pour les hommes et les femmes de notre Syndicat.

QueLLe est La meiLLeure utiLisatiOn de nOs ressOurces?

¿cuÁL es eL meJOr usO de nuestrOs recursOs?

The Amalgamated Transit Union will hold the 25th Annual Golf Tournament for the benefit of the ATU’s U.S. and Canadian multiple Sclerosis Research Funds from Sunday, october 24th – monday, october 25th, at the Worthington manor Golf Club in Urbana, md. Sunday will be reserved for a practice round, and the actual tournament will be held on monday.

For more information, please contact Ynez Wells at (202) 537-1645 or by email at [email protected].

Humildemente confieso que me siento muy orgulloso por mi reciente nombramiento como Vicepresidente Ejecutivo Internacional, y estoy especialmente honrado de haberme convertido en el primer dirigente ejecutivo internacional de nacionalidad Canadiense.

Yo quisiera darles las gracias más expresivas a todos aquellos que han trabajado conmigo a través de los años para hacer esta realidad posible.

Hoy día, algunos de ustedes – particularmente si ustedes son americanos – pueden que se estén preguntado a sí mismos “¿Quién es este individuo?”

La respuesta escueta es que yo he sido miembro de la ATU desde 1974. Yo he trabajado como operador de autobuses, como proveedor de mantenimiento, organizador, presidente de una unión local, y vicepresidente internacional. Ahora, yo estoy anticipando con ansias la oportunidad de llevar toda esa experiencia a mi nuevo cargo en la sede central de la Unión Internacional.

Tener como Vicepresidente Ejecutivo Internacional a un Canadiense puede que les parezca a ustedes algo totalmente nuevo. Pero realmente, esto solo representa los últimos acontecimientos en la muy larga asociación de los trabajadores del tránsito en nuestros dos países.

Nuestra primera unión local Canadiense (en aquel entonces la División 30) fue creada el 28 de septiembre de 1893, un año

después de la fundación de la Unión. Desde entonces, la ATU se ha esparcido por todo el territorio de Canadá, y la solidaridad entre nuestros miembros de Estados Unidos y de Canadá ha crecido enormemente y con gran fortaleza.

Según dijo una vez el jubilado miembro Canadiense de la Junta Directiva General, Art Burke:

“Yo no estoy en segundo lugar a nadie en lo que respecta a respetar y honrar a mi país y a su bandera, pues la contratación colectiva no se hace con una bandera; y cuando se trata de sentarse en esa mesa de contratación colectiva yo quiero que la mejor organización posible pueda representar a nuestros miembros – y esa es la Unión ATU.”

Yo solamente hago una referencia breve al pasado porque eso instruye el futuro. Junto al Presidente Internacional Ron Heitzman y al Secretario Tesorero Internacional Oscar Owens, nosotros estamos listos y preparados para luchar por vuestro futuro.

¿CuÁl es el meJor uso de nuestros reCursos?

Parte de nuestra función como dirigentes elegidos es revisar como mejor utilizar nuestros recursos. La Unión Internacional opera con menos personal administrativo y dirigentes elegidos que la mayor parte de otras uniones nacionales e internacionales de nuestro tamaño. Nosotros también operamos comparativamente en un presupuesto bien limitado considerando todas las actividades que nosotros realizamos.

Por lo tanto, nosotros debemos utilizar nuestros recursos sabiamente – y en calidad de nuevo equipo director – nosotros revisaremos las prácticas existentes y haremos preguntas tales como:

¿Cuándo tiene sentido común el nombrar a nuevos vicepresidentes internacionales o representantes internacionales a medida que tales cargos se hagan disponibles?

¿Donde tiene mejor sentido común la asignación de nuestros recursos a departamentos de la Unión para mejor server a nuestra membresia?

¿Cómo nosotros asignaremos nuestros recursos para asesorar y ayudar a nuestras uniones locales durante la contratación, en la lucha por las quejas y reclamos, en la organización interna y en la organización de nuevos miembros?

Las respuestas a esas preguntas nos ayudarán a nosotros en hacer un mejor trabajo de representación y de servicio a nuestros miembros en ambos de nuestros países.

Ya clasifique usted a la ATU como una “labour union” [como decimos en Canadá], o “labor union” [como la organización se define en Estados Unidos], usted puede estar asegurado de que nosotros trabajaremos cada día para continuar obteniendo los mejores contratos colectivos posibles para los hombres y mujeres trabajadoras de nuestra Unión.



I am humbled by my recent appointment as international executive vice president, and I am especially honored to

become the first international executive officer from Canada. I would like to thank all of the people who have worked with me throughout the years to make this possible.

Today, some of you – particularly if you are American – may be asking, “Who is this guy?”

The short answer is that I have been an ATU member since 1974. I have worked as a bus operator, a tradesman, an organizer, a local union president, and an international vice president. Now I’m looking forward to bringing all of that experience to my new job at international headquarters.

Having a Canadian IEVP may seem like something new, but it is really just the latest development in the long association of transit workers in our two countries.

Our first Canadian local (then Division 30) was formed on September 28, 1893, a year after the Union was founded. Since then, ATU has spread all across Canada, and the solidarity between our U.S. and Canadian members has grown stronger.

As a retired Canadian General Executive Board Member Art Burke once stated:

I take a back seat to no one when it comes to respecting and honoring my country and its flag, but collective bargaining is not done with a flag and when it comes to sitting down at that bargaining table I want the best damn organization representing our members – and that is the ATU.

I only dwell for a moment on the past because it instructs the future. Along with International President Ron Heintzman and

International Secretary-Treasurer Oscar Owens, we are ready to fight for your future.

wHat is tHe best use of our resourCes?

Part of our job as officers is to review how we utilize our resources. The International Union operates with fewer staff and elected officers than most other national or international unions of our size. We also operate on a comparatively lean budget considering all of the work that we do.

So, we must use our resources wisely – and as the new team – we will review existing practices and ask questions such as:

Where does it make sense to appoint new international vice presidents or international representatives as positions become available?

Where does it make sense to add staff, or reallocate existing staff to create efficient use of our resources?

How do we allocate our resources among departments to best serve our members?

How do we allocate our resources to assist our locals in bargaining, fighting grievances, internal organizing, and organizing new members?

The answers to these questions will help us do a better job of representing and serving the members of both of our countries.

Whether you call the ATU a “labour” union or “labor” union, you can rest assured that we will work every day to continue to get the best contracts for the men and women we represent.

What is the Best use Of Our resOurces?

RANdY GRAhAm, INTeRNATIoNAL exeCUTIve vICe pReSIdeNT

“Whether you call the ATU a ‘labour’ union or

‘labor’ union, you can rest assured that we

will work every day to continue to get the best

contracts for the men and women we represent.”


Tous les deux ans nous entendons: «C’est l’élection la plus importante de notre vie!»

Et en 2008, c’était véritablement vrai. Avec nos frères et sœurs du mouvement syndical, les membres de l’ATU ont travaillé sans relâche des heures entières pour un évènement historique en élisant le président Barack Obama. En Janvier 2009, lorsque le Président Obama a prêté serment le temps glacial ne pouvait rien faire pour diminuer la chaleur dans nos cœurs parce que l’espoir et le changement étaient arrivés à Washington, DC.

Malheureusement l’espoir et le changement n’étaient pas seuls lorsque le Président a pris ses fonctions, on avait la pire crise économique depuis la Grande Dépression, et deux guerres à l’autre bout du monde.

Pour aggraver les choses, ses adversaires ont utilisé toutes les fourberies possibles de l’intérieur du périphérique de Washington pour ralentir et bloquer son programme de réformes. Ils ont refusé de traverser l’allée pour donner leur soutien à son ensemble décisif de résolutions pour la reprise économique. Ils ont attisé des craintes sur « les panneaux de la mort » afin d’éviter un vrai débat sur la réforme de la santé.

Le sénateur Jim DeMint de la Caroline du sud n’a même pas essayé de garder le secret en déclarant : «Si nous sommes en mesure d’arrêter Obama à ce sujet, ce sera son Waterloo. Ca le brisera ».»

Mais la réforme de la santé n’a pas été le Waterloo du président Obama. Sans un seul vote des républicains, en mars

dernier il a apporté un changement réel pour l’Amérique. On n’a peut-être pas eu tout ce que nous voulions, mais on a accompli une bonne partie du chemin. Comme l’a mentionné le Vice-président Biden à l’époque, c’était un immense progrès.

la proCHaine étape

Quel va être le prochain thème des opposants pour arrêter l’espoir et le changement?

Ils veulent vous n’accordiez aucune importance aux élections de mi-mandat et que vous restiez à la maison le jour du scrutin en Novembre prochain. Pourquoi?

Parce qu’ils ont aligné une série de candidats anti-travailleurs pour mettre fin aux réinvestissements dans les infrastructures telles que le transport, pour faire dérailler les réformes dans les secteurs de l’énergie et de la climatologie et transformer la réforme dans le secteur de la finance en un cadeau pour leurs amis de Wall Street.

Dans mon état d’origine, la Californie, le choix ne pouvait pas être plus clair. Avec le Sénateur Barbara Boxer qui se présente pour être réélue et Jerry Brown qui cherche à revenir comme Gouverneur, les familles de travailleurs ont des alliés qui sont solidement dans leur camp.

Qui sont leurs adversaires? D’anciens dirigeants d’entreprises de Fortune 500 suffisamment riches pour faire des chèques personnels pour des millions et des millions de dollars pour financer leurs campagnes.

Si en novembre les démocrates perdent le contrôle du Congrès, ce sera “sans” les vrais amis de l’ATU, tels que Jim Oberstar, représentant démocrate du Minnesota, et le Sénateur démocrate Tom Harkin de l’Indiana, et “avec” avec un retour à la Bush d’un groupe anti-travailleurs et pro-Wall Street.

veneZ donner votre soutien à nos alliés

Cet automne, je fais appel à vous tous pour venir donner votre soutien à nos alliés du Congrès ... et à nos alliés dans les gouvernements des Etats, et dans les conseils municipaux. Bien que son nom n’apparaisse pas sur le bulletin de vote, l’espoir et le programme de changements du Président Obama sont en jeu dans tous les bureaux.

Cet automne soutenez nos alliés du Congrès ... et des gouvernements des Etats, et des conseils municipaux. Cet automne, montrez votre soutien en frappant aux portes, en téléphonant, en organisant, en organisant et en organisant encore plus. Et pas seulement le jour des élections, mais chaque jour de cet automne !

Nous devons rester avec les candidats pro-travailleurs et maintenir la ligne. Je serai là-bas, je me battrai pour que ce pays reste un endroit où les travailleurs ont une chance d’aller de l’avant grâce au travail acharné et en respectant les règles du jeu - Où serez-vous?

Esto lo oímos cada dos años: “¡Esta es la elección más importante de nuestras vidas!”

Y en el año 2008 verdaderamente se sintió como si eso fuera verdad. Conjuntamente con nuestros hermanos y hermanas en el movimiento sindical, los miembros de la ATU trabajaron innúmeras horas para realizar la histórica elección de Barack Obama. En enero 2009, cuando el Presidente Obama oficialmente asumió el cargo de Presidente, las frígidas temperaturas no pudieron hacer nada para disminuir el calor que existía en nuestros corazones, porque la esperanza y el cambio habían arribado en Washington, D.C.

Desafortunadamente, la esperanza y el cambio no estaban solos, a medida que el Presidente asumió el poder en medio de la peor economía nacional que ha existido desde la Gran Depresión y de dos guerras mundiales que tomaron lugar en la otra parte del mundo.

Para hacer las cosas peor aún, los oponentes del Presidente usaron todas las trampas y engaños que se han practicado dentro del territorio mejor conocido como “el cinturón que rodea a Washington” con el fin de demorar y bloquear la agenda de reforma propuesta por Obama. Ellos rehusaron cruzar el pasillo que divide los representantes de los partidos en el Congreso para no apoyar su histórico paquete de recuperación económica. Ellos azuzaron los temores de “paneles de muerte” para evitar un real debate sobre la propuesta reforma del sistema del cuidado de la salud.

El Senador del estado de Carolina del Norte, Jim DeMint mantuvo su posición en secreto. “Si nosotros podemos detener a Obama en esta propuesta, esto representará una derrota de proporciones similares a la ocurrida en Waterloo. Esta derrota lo destruirá por completo.”

Pero, a final de cuentas, la reforma del sistema de la salud no resultó ser el evento Waterloo de Obama. Sin obtener un solo voto del Partido Republicano, el pasado mes de marzo Obama trajo un verdadero cambio a nuestra América. Tal vez no haya sido todo lo que esperábamos, pero la reforma fue amplia y de gran beneficio para todos. Según el vicepresidente Joe Biden declaró [indiscretamente en micrófono abierto] en esa oportunidad, la reforma fue una obra de ¡gran envergadura! [omitiendo el lenguaje actualmente utilizado por Biden].

la próXima JuGarreta

¿Cuál es la próxima jugarreta de los negativistas para bloquear o detener la esperanza y el cambio?

Ellos quieren que ustedes sean indiferentes ante la importancia de las elecciones en noviembre y se queden el casa el Día de las Elecciones sin salir a votar. ¿Por qué?

Porque ellos han preparado una lista de candidatos de inclinación anti-trabajador para detener la reinversión de recursos en infra-estructuras como el tránsito, descarrilar la reforma del sistema energético y del control del medio ambiente y tornar la reforma financiera en un obsequio para sus amigotes en Wall Street.

En mi estado nativo de California, las opciones que se nos presentan no podrían estar más claras. Con la Senadora Bárbara Boxer en campaña de reelección y Jerry Brown de candidato a gobernador del estado, las familias trabajadoras tienen aliados que están sólidamente en nuestro campo.

¿Quiénes son sus opositores? Jefes ejecutivos corporativos ligados a las 500 corporaciones más poderosas del país, quienes

son tan acaudalados que ellos pueden escribir cheques personales a sus propias campañas eleccionarias en cantidades de millones y millones de dólares.

Si los Demócratas pierden el control del Congreso este noviembre, será el fin de verdaderos amigos de la ATU como el Representante Jim Oberstar (D-MN), del Senador Tom Harkin (D-IA) y el regreso del grupo de la era anti-trabajadora de George Bush y de favorecimiento a sus amigotes de Wall Street.

salGa a votar Y apoYe a nuestros aliados

En este otoño, yo les estoy urgiendo a todos los miembros de ATU a que salgan a votar y apoyen a nuestros aliados en el Congreso….y en las Cámaras estatales…..y en los municipios. Aunque su nombre no estará en ninguna de las boletas de votación, la agenda del Presidente Obama de cambio y esperanza está en juego en todas las elecciones que se realicen.

Este otoño, apoye a nuestros aliados haciendo presencia y tocando en puertas, haciendo de trabajador voluntario en bancos telefónicos, organizando, organizando y organizando aun más. ¡Y no solamente el Día de las Elecciones, pero cada uno de los días de este otoño venidero!

Nosotros debemos responder presente, ayudando a los candidatos que son pro-trabajador y a mantener lo que hemos conseguido. Yo estaré en la vanguardia de esos esfuerzos en las calles, luchando para hacer que esta nación continúe siendo un país donde los trabajadores tienen la oportunidad de salir adelante a través del arduo trabajo y siempre respetando las normas existentes – ¿donde estará usted?

L’éLectiOn La PLus imPOrtante de nOtre vie?

La eLección mÁs imPOrtante de nuestras vidas



We hear it every two years: “This is the most important election of our lives!”

And in 2008 it really felt true. Along with our brothers and sisters in the labor movement, ATU members worked countless hours to make history by electing Barack Obama president. In January 2009, when President Obama was sworn into office the frigid temperatures could do nothing to diminish the warmth in our hearts because hope and change had arrived in Washington, DC.

Unfortunately hope and change were not alone as the president took office in the midst of the worst economy since the Great Depression, and two wars half a world away.

To make matters worse, his opponents used every “inside-the-beltway” trick in the book to slow down and block his reform agenda. They refused to cross the aisle to support his landmark economic recovery package. They stirred up fears about “death panels” to avoid a real debate about health care reform.

South Carolina’s Senator Jim DeMint didn’t even attempt to keep it a secret, declaring, “If we’re able to stop Obama on this, it will be his Waterloo. It will break him.”

But health care reform was not President Obama’s Waterloo. Without a single Republican vote this March he brought real change to America. It may not have been all that we wanted, but it went a long way. As Vice President Biden noted at the time, it was a big [blanking] deal.

tHe neXt plaYWhat is the next play of the naysayers to stop hope and

change? They want you to tune out the midterm elections and stay home on Election Day this November. Why?

Because they have lined up a host of anti-worker candidates to stop reinvestment in infrastructure like transit, derail energy and climate reform and turn financial reform into a giveaway for their friends on Wall Street.

In my home state of California the choices could not be clearer. With Senator Barbara Boxer running for reelection and Jerry Brown seeking to return to the governor’s office, working families have allies who are solidly in their camp.

Who are their opponents? – former Fortune 500 Company executives wealthy enough to write personal checks to their campaigns for millions and millions of dollars.

If the Democrats lose control of Congress this November, it will be “out” with true friends of ATU like Rep. Jim Oberstar, D-MN, and Senator Tom Harkin, D-IA, and “in” with a return to the Bush-era anti-worker and pro-Wall Street crowd.

Come out to support our alliesThis fall I am calling on you to come out to support our allies

in the Congress… and the state house… and the city council. While his name might not be on the ballot, President Obama’s hope and change agenda is on the line in every office.

This fall, support our allies by showing up and knocking on doors, by getting on the phones, by organizing, organizing and more organizing. And not just on Election Day, but Every Day this fall!

We must stand with pro-worker candidates and hold the line. I will be out there, fighting to keep this a country where workers have a chance to get ahead through hard work and playing by the rules – where will you be?

the mOst imPOrtant eLectiOn Of Our Lives?

oSCAR oWeNS, INTeRNATIoNAL SeCReTARY-TReASUReR

“What is the next play of the naysayers to stop

hope and change? They want you to tune out the

midterm elections and stay home on election

day this november. ”


Being a transit worker can be a thankless job. Newspapers sometimes call us “greedy.”

Management might refer to one of us as “hardheaded.” Members of the riding public, on a good day, might say a driver was courteous, on a bad day, “rude.” But make no mistake, in a growing number of cities you can now refer to your ATU representative as “commissioner.”

ATU is leading a national campaign to provide labor representatives with a voice in a new arena, and its a� ects can now be seen from coast to coast. Due to the passage of recent state legislation crafted by ATU, labor representatives are now being seated as members on public transit governing boards, providing workers with the opportunity to develop local transit policies, and giving them more of a say of what occurs in the day-to-day issues that impact operations.

� e � rst “board bill” passed in New York in 2007, and since then the trend has continued, with similar legislation becoming law in New Jersey and Washington State in 2010.

“We recognized the need for representation on NJ Transit’s Board of Directors, so we did what we do best. We organized our campaign and put the wheels in motion,” recounted John Costa, state business agent and chair of the ATU New Jersey State Council.

Where labor representatives have been given an opportunity to serve on transit boards, workers provide an asset to each community, with the ability to educate other members on real world issues, such as the impact of certain actions on riders, surrounding businesses, and land use.

Workers have been particularly helpful on issues involving transit operations, safety, security, and the implementation of new technology. Transit workers – the people who proudly serve as the “eyes and ears” of any system – are the men and women who have the most unique perspective to understand the needs of transit agencies.

FOUR YEAR STRUGGLE

But getting state legislators to believe that transit boards should be expanded to include workforce representatives has not been easy. According to Rick Sepolen, the new president of the ATU Washington State Legislative Council, it was a “four-year struggle.”

In response to the introduction of legislation, state transit associations – management groups representing the transit authorities – have fought back hard, telling lawmakers that carving out board seats for labor representatives would initiate a process that would likely have to be extended to other constituencies. � ey say that there are many other special interest groups that have at least as much interest in transit board governance as labor unions.

� at might be true. ATU therefore supports the expansion of such boards to also include physically challenged riders, transit dependent people and senior citizens.

Bus driver, labor activist, and now, board member

— L E G I S L A T I V E R E P O R T —

Join our national campaign as we prepare for our

“Text on Washington” for public transit funding.

TEXT THE WORD “TRANSIT” TO 69866.

Remember all those long bus rides to rallies and demonstrations when you were young?Today all you have to do is take out your cell phone.


Washington Governor Christine Gregior, seated, recently signed a bill advocated by the ATU which requires the appointment of non-voting labor representatives to public transportation governing boards. The law went into effect on June 10. Standing in the front row, from left, is Board Representative Claudia Kauffman, ATU lobbyist Cody Arledge, Board Representative Geoff Simpson, Financial Secretary pattie

Ceis, 1576-Lynwood, WA; ATU lobbyist pam Crone, Local president Karen Stites, 1765-olympia, WA; International Representative dennis Antonellis, and Board Representative phyllis Kenney. Standing in the second row, from left, is Roy Jennings, 757-portland, oR; and Board Representatives Steve Conway, Larry Brown, and Joe mcdermott.

foot in tHe door

While the legislation provides that the labor representatives will serve in nonvoting capacities, and are excused from executive session when discussion turns to the subject of labor negotiations, the bills provide a “foot in the door,” providing early access to board information. As a result, labor representatives should be in a better position to respond to proposed service changes and many other matters pending at the authorities.

Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA) Commissioner and Local President Vincent G. Crehan, 1342-Buffalo, NY, says that his experience in Buffalo has been very positive. At first, he says, the other commissioners did not favor his new position, but over time, he has gained their trust.

“Now they actually listen to me!,” he says. Crehan notes that being on the board, even in a nonvoting capacity, has put a real face on Labor. In fact, as a result of his new position, Crehan has been tapped to be part of the NFTA’s committee in search of a new executive director. Overall, he says, “I have gotten a lot of mileage out of it.”

ever Get tHe feelinG You’re not wanted?

While transit systems may be losing the battle in their state legislatures, they continue to throw up roadblocks when it comes to amending their bylaws and seating union members on the board.

“In what I can only characterize as a coordinated effort, all in the same week, members of the Washington State Transit Association chose to change their bylaws, attempt to limit the authority and rights of the new member of the board, set the terms of their appointment/selection, as well as mandate who they would select to join them,” said Sepolen.

For example, Community Transit in Washington State tried to insert language saying that labor representatives, unlike their colleagues on the board, would not be required to attend meetings and workshops. At nearby Ben Franklin Transit, the board is currently attempting to restrict the labor representative from all executive sessions.

Our locals are fighting back, noting that these moves are clearly outside of the legislation’s intent, but it will likely take a while for the transit systems’ frustration to simmer down. In the meantime, the new commissioners will take their place and prove to everyone that workers have a valuable role to play in the delivery of quality public transit to our communities.

“Legislation of this nature is designed to add another dimension to the deliberations and considerations of an agency’s board. These, after all, are the folks that must put into action the policies and procedures that the board develops. Needless to say, this is a good idea and, and as has been proven in New York, it even works,” said Sepolen.


Ron Heintzman has been appointed international president by the ATU General Executive Board

following the retirement of International President Warren S. George, effective July 1. He becomes the eighth international president in the ATU’s 118-year history.

Heintzman thanked George for his many years of service, and announced that the former international president would hold the title “emeritus.” George is planning a farewell column for the next issue of In Transit.

Randy Graham was subsequently appointed by International President Ron Heintzman, and approved by the General Executive Board, to serve as international executive vice president. Graham is the first Canadian to hold one of the executive officer

positions in the Union.* His appointment became effective July 1.

Both will serve the remainder of their predecessors’ terms until new elections are held for international offices at the 56th ATU Convention in Orlando, FL, this September.

international president ron HeintZman serviCe as international eXeCutive viCe president

International President Heintzman served as the international executive vice president for the past

year, and prior to that served as an international vice president for seven years. As executive vice president, he was responsible for directing the activities of 18 international vice presidents and four international representatives in Canada and the United States.

In addition to directing the IVPs, Heintzman was responsible for overseeing the organizing and strategic planning departments. During the past year, more than 1,000 new members were organized into the ATU.

serviCe as international viCe presidentAs an international vice president, he assisted locals

in organizing and negotiating collective bargaining agreements in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana,

Heintzman appointed international president upon George’s retirement; Canada’s Graham appointed international executive vice president

Heintzman, nommé président de l’international, succède à George qui part à la retraite le Canadien Graham nommé vice-président exécutif de l’international

Ron Heintzman a été nommé Président de l’International par le Conseil Exécutif Général de l’ATU et succède à George S. Warren qui a pris sa retraite le 1er juillet. Il devient le huitième Président de l’International dans ses 118 années d’histoire de l’ATU.

Heintzman a remercié George pour ses nombreuses années de service, et il a annoncé que l’ancien Président de l’International porterait le titre de «fonctionnaire émérite.» George prépare un éditorial d’adieu pour la prochaine édition d’In Transit.

Randy Graham a ensuite été nommé par le président de l’International, Ron Heintzman, et confirmé par le Conseil Exécutif Général pour servir comme Vice-président exécutif de l’International. Graham est le premier Canadien à occuper un des postes d’officiers exécutifs du syndicat.* Sa nomination a été effective le 1er juillet.

Les deux vont poursuivre le reste des mandats de leurs prédécesseurs jusqu’à ce que de nouvelles élections soient organisées pour les officiers de l’International durant la 56e Convention de l’ATU à Orlando, FL, en Septembre.

président de l’international ron HeintZman

serviCe rendu en tant que viCe-président eXéCutif de l’international

Le Président de l’International, Heintzman, a été vice-président exécutif de l’International cette dernière année. Avant cela, il a été Vice-président de l’International pendant sept ans. En tant que Vice-président exécutif, il a été chargé de diriger les activités de 18 vice-présidents internationaux et de 4 représentants internationaux au Canada et aux États-Unis.

En plus de diriger les vice-présidents internationaux, Heintzman était chargé de superviser l’organisation et la planification stratégique des départements. Au cours de l’année écoulée, plus de 1000 nouveaux membres ont rejoint les rangs de l’ATU.

serviCe rendu en tant que viCe-président international

En tant que vice-président international, il a aidé à organiser les sections syndicales et à négocier des conventions collectives dans les Etats de Washington, de l’Oregon, de l’Idaho, du Montana, du Colorado, du Nevada et du Texas. Dans beaucoup de ces campagnes, il a utilisé ses compétences uniques pour aider les sections syndicales à utiliser des approches novatrices pour obtenir, à la fois du public et des personnalités politiques, des appuis pour les travailleurs des transports en commun..

serviCe rendu en tant que président de seCtion sYndiCale

Avant de servir à l’International, Heintzman a été président de la section syndicale 757-Portland, OR. Premier président de la section syndicale 1988, il a été élu pour cinq mandats consécutifs jusqu’à sa nomination comme Vice-président de l’International en 2002. Sous sa direction et au cours de ses mandats, le nombre de membres de la section syndicale 757 a plus que doublé, pour atteindre 5.000 membres avec 23 accords collectifs négociés distincts dans l’Oregon et le sud-ouest de Washington.

En reconnaissance de ses réalisations exceptionnelles, le Président Heintzman et la section syndicale 757 ont reçu le prix John Sweeney de l’AFL-CIO pour la mobilisation des travailleurs en 1997 et 1998. Durant son mandat, la section syndicale a recruté et formé plus de 3600 nouveaux membres dans tous les types de classifications.

Lorsqu’il était président de la section syndicale 757, Heintzman a acquis une grande notoriété au niveau de l’Etat, de la Région et de la Nation pour sa recherche novatrice vers une justice économique. Il a organisé une conférence de syndicats de plusieurs régions pour discuter des approches stratégiques pour faire face à la multinationale Corporation Laidlaw. Ce modèle a ensuite été adopté par l’ATU International pour être présenté dans un programme similaire au niveau national.

Heintzman a toujours négocié des améliorations importantes pour les salaires, les avantages sociaux et les conditions de travail des membres de la section syndicale 757. Il a été l’un des premiers à développer le «moi aussi», approche durant les négociations collectives où l’auto-indulgence des dirigeants devint à la fois un sujet de discussion avec le public et un levier à la table des négociations. Les employeurs s’attendirent à des demandes de documents et à des négociations intenses de la part de la section syndicale.

Pour obtenir l’appui du public lors de ses campagnes de négociation, la section syndicale 757 a également développé un personnage digne de Disney, « Pepper the Greed Fighting Possum » qui est devenu un des piliers du syndicat et des activités communautaires. Le personnage est largement connu et utilisé encore aujourd’hui pour des litiges contractuels, des événements politiques et autres.

Sous la direction de Heintzman, la section syndicale 757 est devenue un chef de file dans l’utilisation du droit étatique pour améliorer les conditions des travailleurs. En 2000, les électeurs de Corvallis, OR, sont venus en nombre record pour approuver à une large majorité, une initiative sur les transports en commun. Cette initiative exige que les sous-traitants paient les mêmes salaires et offrent les mêmes avantages sociaux que ceux de tous les autres systèmes de transport en commun dans un rayon de 100 miles. La plupart de ces systèmes étaient représentés par la section syndicale 757.

Le résultat fut que les opérateurs du système de transport en commun Corvallis virent leurs salaires augmenter de 6,65 $ à plus de $ 19,00 l’heure, et l’employeur paya 100 pour cent de la couverture médicale, les pensions, les vacances et les congés payés. Le cri de ralliement de la section syndicale «justice économique» a totalement changé cette communauté et est devenu le cri de ralliement de nombreux autres syndicats dans l’État et le pays.

le leadersHip loCal, national, international

Dans le contexte de la mondialisation, Heintzman a déployé des efforts pour que l’ATU soit le premier syndicat américain international des Etats-Unis à établir des liens officiels avec un syndicat européen. Il a également fait en sorte que la section syndicale 757 ait une forte présence lors des manifestations contre l’Organisation Mondiale du Commerce qui a eu lieu à Seattle, WA. En tant que vice-président exécutif, Heintzman a été actif et au premier rang à l’échelle nationale dans la lutte contre les accords commerciaux facilitant la suppression d’emplois et en répondant à l’impact du réchauffement climatique sur l’industrie des transports.

Sous la direction de Heintzman la section syndicale 757 a connu de nombreuses victoires législatives. Il s’agit notamment de lois qui considèrent comme un crime le fait d’agresser les conducteurs d’autobus et le personnel paramédical. Sous sa direction, l’état de l’Oregon a adopté une loi exigeant l’installation et l’utilisation du premier signal lumineux clignotant «céder le passage au bus» situé à l’arrière de celui-ci. La section syndicale 757 a également repoussé plusieurs attaques concertées au sein de l’Assemblée législative pour privatiser les services de transport en commun d’après le modèle du Colorado et faire appliquer la législation sur les marchés publics des transports en commun.

etudes et serviCe militaire

Heintzman, Président de l’International a obtenu une licence en sciences de l’Université de l’Etat de Washington et fait une maîtrise en sciences à l’Université de Portland. Il a servi 15 ans comme officier actif et de réserve dans l’armée américaine. En plus de cet enseignement supérieur, le Président Heintzman a également reçu plus de 2000 heures d’enseignement sur le leadership et la formation ouvrière.

Heintzman et son épouse, Linda, ont deux filles.

eXéCutif viCe-président de l’international randY GraHam La carrière syndicale de Randy Graham a commencé en 1971 lorsqu’il a participé à la mobilisation syndicale des conducteurs d’une compagnie d’autobus scolaires à Ottawa, ON, et fut élu président de la section syndicale.

Il a commencé à travailler à OC Transport en 1974 où il devint membre de l’ATU et syndicaliste actif.

En 1986, il a été élu président de la section syndicale comprenant 2000 membres - un poste qu’il a occupé pendant neuf ans, jusqu’à son élection en 1995, comme vice-président de l’International. Il a été réélu à ce poste lors de chaque Convention de l’ATU.

Son expérience de carrossier agréé, de conducteur d’autobus scolaire, de conducteur d’autocars et de conducteur pour les systèmes urbains de transport en commun l’a aidé à comprendre les multiples facettes et les défis de notre industrie. Il a réussi à attirer l’attention des municipalités, des gouvernements provinciaux et du gouvernement fédéral sur les problèmes de nos membres. Il a travaillé avec le Congrès Canadien du Travail pour apporter des modifications au Code canadien du travail.

Il apporte avec lui son expérience d’administrateur d’un fonds de pension et d’avantages sociaux de plusieurs millions de dollars.

Randy a une connaissance approfondie de l’organisation syndicale dans notre industrie et il est fier de son expérience solide lorsqu’il s’agit d’aider les sections syndicales à négocier des accords collectifs sur les chantiers à travers le Canada.

Randy et son épouse, Linda ont deux fils adultes.* Graham est le premier Canadien à servir comme Officier Exécutif de l’International à l’ATU. JC Manuel, un canadien travaillant à Detroit, avait été élu premier Secrétaire-trésorier national lors de la Convention Constitutive de l’ATU en septembre 1892.


Colorado, Nevada and Texas. In many of these campaigns he used his unique skills to assist the locals in using innovative approaches to the marshalling of public and political support for transit workers.

serviCe as loCal presidentPrior to service with the International, Heintzman

served as the president of Local 757-Portland, OR. First elected local president in 1988, he was elected to five consecutive terms until appointed as international vice president in 2002. Under President Heintzman’s direction and tenure, Local 757 more than doubled in size, growing to over 5,000 members with 23 separate collective bargaining agreements in Oregon and southwest Washington.

In recognition of this outstanding achievement, President Heintzman and Local 757 received the AFL-CIO John Sweeney organizing award in 1997 and 1998. During his tenure, the local organized over 3,600 new members in all types of classifications.

As Local 757 president, Heintzman gained statewide, regional and national recognition for his creative pursuit of economic justice. He organized a multi-union regional conference to discuss strategic approaches to dealing with the multinational Laidlaw corporation. This model was later adopted by ATU International to present a similar program at the national level.

Heintzman consistently bargained significant improvements in the wages, benefits and working conditions of Local 757 members. He was one of the first to develop the “me too” approach to collective bargaining whereby management’s self-indulgences became both a talking point with the public and a

bargaining chip at the table. Employers came to expect thorough document requests and tenacious bargaining by the local.

To garner public support for its bargaining campaigns, Local 757 also developed a Disney-like character, “Pepper the Greed Fighting Possum,” who became a mainstay of union and community activities. The character is widely known and still used today for contract disputes, political events and the like.

Under Heintzman’s leadership Local 757 became a leader in the use of state initiative law to improve worker conditions. In 2000, the voters of Corvallis, OR, turned out in record numbers to approve, by a wide margin, a transit initiative that required subcontractors to pay wages and benefits equal those of all transit systems within a 100 mile radius – most all of whom were represented by Local 757.

As a result, Corvallis transit operators have seen their wages increase from $6.65 to over $19.00 per hour as well as gaining 100% employer-paid family health benefits, pensions, vacations and holiday pay. The local’s rallying cry of “economic justice” changed that community and has become the rallying cry of many other unions in the state and the country.

loCal, national, international leadersHipIn the face of globalization, Heintzman led the effort

to make the ATU the first U.S. international union to forge official ties with a European labor union. He also made certain that Local 757 had a significant presence at the World Trade Organization protests that took place in Seattle, WA. As ATU executive vice president, Heintzman has been active on the national forefront in the fight against job-robbing trade agreements and in responding to global warming’s impact on the transit industry.

Under Heintzman’s leadership Local 757 experienced numerous legislative wins as well. These include laws making it a felony to assault bus operators and paramedics. Under his leadership, Oregon passed a law requiring the installation and use of the nation’s first illuminated and flashing “yield to bus” signage on the back of buses. Local 757 also beat back several concerted efforts in the legislature to privatize transit services modeled after the Colorado public transportation contracting law.

eduCation and militarY serviCeInternational President Heintzman received a

Bachelor of Science degree from Washington State University, and a Master of Science degree from the University of Portland. He served 15 years of active and reserve duty as a Commissioned Officer in the U.S. Army. In addition to this higher education, President Heintzman has also completed more than 2000 hours of leadership and labor education.

Heintzman and his wife, Linda, have two daughters.

international eXeCutive viCe president randY GraHam

Randy Graham’s union career began in 1971, when he helped organize the drivers of a school bus company in Ottawa, ON, and was elected the local president.

He began employment at OC Transpo in 1974, where he became a member of Local 279 and continued as an active trade unionist.

In 1986, he was elected local president of the 2000-member local – a post he held for the next nine years until his election in 1995, as international vice president of the Union. He was re-elected to that post by every subsequent ATU Convention

His experience as a licensed auto body repairer, school bus operator, highway coach driver and city transit driver has assisted him in understanding the many facets and challenges of our industry. He has successfully lobbied municipal, provincial and federal governments on issues for our members. He has worked with the Canadian Labour Congress to make amendments to the Canada Labour Code.

He brings with him experience as a trustee of a number of multimillion-dollar pension and benefit funds.

Randy has a thorough knowledge of organizing in our industry and is proud of a solid record when assisting locals in negotiating collective agreements at worksites across Canada.

Randy and his wife, Linda, have two grown sons.

* Graham is the first Canadian to serve as an ATU international executive officer. J.C. Manuel, a native Canadian working in Detroit, was elected as the first national secretary-treasurer at the founding ATU Convention in September 1892.

Heintzman appointed international president upon George’s retirement; Canada’s Graham appointed international executive vice president

Heintzman, nommé président de l’international, succède à George qui part à la retraite le Canadien Graham nommé vice-président exécutif de l’international

ronald J. HeintzmanInternational president

randy GrahamInternational executive vice president


Salazar, Johnson Appointed International Vice PresidentsFormer International Representatives Appointed International Vice Presidents

GarY JoHnson, sr.

Gary Johnson, Sr., has been an active ATU member for 25 years. Because Johnson loves to talk a lot the executive board member of the Hayden District of Local 268-Cleveland, OH, appointed Johnson to be his steward in 1994.

In 1997, Brother Johnson was elected to the local’s executive board as an operational representative from the Hayden District. And in 2000, he was elected assistant business agent for operations.

In 2003, Johnson was elected president of the local and served two terms in that capacity until 2008. In 2008, the local president was appointed international representative, and this year International President Ron Heintzman appointed Johnson international vice president to fill the vacancy created by International President Warren George upon his retirement.

As an international representative, Johnson provided valuable assistance to many of our local unions and has been an effective negotiator across the table from private companies and public sector employers alike. He just recently finished aiding in the stewardship of Local 282-Rochester, NY. Before that Johnson assisted in the successful campaign to turn back the Teamster raid of Local 241-Chicago, IL.

Internal organizing is one goal that Johnson has in his new job. He wants to “make sure members understand what the ATU is all about and what we stand for.”

The new IVP says that being a member of the ATU has meant a lot to him and his family. “None of us would be where we are today without the International Union,” he says, adding that, “This didn’t happen overnight. We benefit from over 100 years of work of ATU members who came before us.”

Yvette salaZar

Yvette Salazar was just 15 when her grandfather started telling her that she “really should get a good union job with good union benefits.” She says she really didn’t understand why getting a union job was so important, but when it came time for her to start earning a living she got a job as an RTD operator and joined Local 1001-Denver, CO.

Sister Salazar became a shop steward for the local in 1998, and an executive board member in 1999. Her enthusiasm for the work made her a natural for these jobs. Her co-workers encouraged her to run for recording secretary.

Salazar was elected recording secretary and three years later ran unopposed for local president – the first time that had happened in the local’s history.

During her time as local president Salazar took the local out on strike over a contract offer that would have effectively given her members a wage decrease – and the local won! In fact, the new contract gave her members the largest wage increase in the local’s history.

In 2007, Salazar was appointed international representative, and she has just been appointed international vice president to serve the remainder of the term vacated by the retirement of International Vice President Don Hansen.

The new IVP appreciates what the labor movement, and in particular the ATU, can do for people. Not surprisingly, today she finds herself telling her children, “You know, you really should get a good union job with good union benefits.”


Canadian AgendaFAILURe To INveST IN INFRASTRUCTURe WILL CoST CANAdIANS deARLY

The failure of Canadian governments to invest adequately in the roads, public transit and water systems that their economies need in the coming decades will cost the average Canadian tens of thousands of dollars in lost income, according to a new report released July 15, by the Residential and Civil Construction Alliance of Ontario.

The report shows that continued underinvestment in infrastructure over the next 50 years will slow economic growth, reduce profitability for businesses by up to 20% and, most damaging, cost the average Canadian now entering the workforce up to $51,000 in reduced wages over the course of their career.

sustained investment needed

“Stimulus spending delivered a one-time spike in infrastructure spending to fight the recession, but what today’s report demonstrates is that sustained investments are even more critical to the success of the country’s economy,” said Federation of Canadian Municipalities CEO Brock Carlton.

“Stimulus spending will end next year – that’s clear - but as governments work their way back to balanced budgets they also need a longer-term strategy to keep our drinking water clean, repair our roads and bridges, and build 21st century public transit systems. As governments fight their

budget deficits, they need to get ready to fight the infrastructure deficit too,” Carlton asserted.

some of tHe worst Commutes in nortH ameriCa

Inadequate infrastructure investment lowers productivity levels in communities in many ways. For example, a lack of sustained transit funding has resulted in some of Canada’s largest cities facing the worst commute times in North America.

Recent investments in infrastructure through the Economic Action Plan have slowed growth in the $123 billion municipal infrastructure deficit and slowed the decline in Canada’s cities and communities, and brought all orders of government together to start dealing with some of our biggest national challenges. This partnership must be expanded to turn ad hoc spending into coordinated strategies that deliver clear, measurable results on issues affecting Canadians.

“Saddling our future generations with a completely avoidable burden is bad economics,” said Carlton. “We need to build on the successful partnership created by the Economic Action Plan to set Canada up for success during the next 50 years.”

L’échec des gouvernements canadiens à investir suffisamment dans les routes, les transports en commun et les systèmes d’approvisionnement en eau, dont leurs économies ont besoin dans les décennies à venir, va coûter au citoyen moyen des dizaines de milliers de dollars en pertes de revenus, selon un nouveau rapport publié le 15 juillet par Residential and Civil Construction Alliance of Ontario.

Le rapport montre qu’un sous-investissement soutenu dans les infrastructures au cours des 50 prochaines années devrait ralentir la croissance économique, réduire la rentabilité des entreprises de près de 20% et, plus dommageable encore, le coût pour le citoyen canadien moyen qui entre maintenant dans la population active sera de 51.000 dollars en perte de salaire au cours de sa carrière.

un investissement soutenu est néCessaire«Les dépenses destinées à stimuler l’économie ont

engendré un pic ponctuel de dépenses d’infrastructure pour lutter contre la récession, mais ce que le rapport d’aujourd’hui démontre est que des investissements

soutenus sont encore plus critiques pour le succès de l’économie du pays», a déclaré Brock Carlton, CEP de la Fédération canadienne des municipalités.

«Les dépenses réalisées pour stimuler l’économie prendront fin l’année prochaine - c’est clair - mais tandis que les gouvernements travaillent pour revenir vers un budget équilibré, ils ont aussi besoin d’une stratégie à long terme pour garder notre eau potable, pour réparer nos routes et nos ponts, et pour construire des systèmes de transports en commun du 21e siècle. Alors que les gouvernements se battent contre leurs déficits budgétaires, ils ont besoin de se préparer à lutter contre le déficit des infrastructures aussi» a affirmé Carlton.

les pires traJets domiCile-travail en amérique du nord

Des investissements inappropriés dans les infrastructures réduisent les niveaux de productivité des communautés de plusieurs façons. Par exemple, une insuffisance de financement dans les transports durables a fait que certaines des plus grandes villes du

Canada doivent faire face aux pires trajets domicile-travail en termes de temps de déplacement en Amérique du Nord.

Grâce au Plan d’action économique, des investissements récents dans les infrastructures ont ralenti l’augmentation du déficit de 123 milliards des infrastructures municipales et ralentit le déclin dans les villes et collectivités du Canada. Cela a motivé tous les organes gouvernement pour qu’ils travaillent ensemble au traitement de nos plus grands défis nationaux. Ce partenariat doit être élargi à son tour pour que les des dépenses ad hoc soient intégrées dans les stratégies de coordination qui offrent des résultats clairs et mesurables sur les questions qui touchent les Canadiens.

«C’est une mauvaise économie que de placer sur nos générations futures un fardeau complètement évitable», a déclaré Carlton. «Nous avons besoin de nous appuyer sur le partenariat fructueux créée par le Plan d’action économique du Canada pour que le succès soit présent au cours des 50 prochaines années.»

L’ABSeNCe d’INveSTISSemeNTS dANS LeS INFRASTRUCTUReS CoûTeRA TRèS CheR AUx CANAdIeNS


A class action lawsuit was fi led July 20 against First Transit, Inc., one of the nation’s largest bus companies and the largest single employer of ATU members, for illegal discrimination against African-American and Latino employees and job applicants.

Th e lead plaintiff , Adrienne Hudson, is an African-American woman who was fi red in 2009 by First Transit in Oakland, CA, after just two days on the job. Th e legal action is supported by the ATU and the National Employment Law Project (NELP), a non-profi t organization advocating for employee rights.

At issue is a company-wide policy implemented by First Transit – a subsidiary of British conglomerate FirstGroup, plc, which also owns First Student, the nation’s largest school bus company, and Greyhound, the nation’s largest provider of intercity bus transportation.

First Transit refuses employment to any job applicant who has a past felony conviction or who has been sentenced to any term of incarceration, no matter how brief. Th e “no-hire” policy is in force regardless of the nature and gravity of the off ense, the amount of time passed since the conviction, or whether the off ense has any relationship to the job in question.

disparate impaCt

According to Hudson’s complaint, fi led July 20 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, the policy has a “disparate impact” on African-American and Latino job seekers, because they are arrested and convicted at far greater rates than their white counterparts.

“More than 13,000 ATU members at 75 locations in the U.S. and Canada work for First Transit or for another company owned by FirstGroup,” said ATU International President Ron Heintzman. “If an African-American or Latino worker applies for a job at one of those properties, we expect them to be treated fairly – to have an equal shot at the job, just like anyone else.”

First Transit has contracts to provide bus service in major metropolitan areas including Denver, Phoenix, Portland and Vancouver, as well as dozens of smaller contracts in the U.S. and Canada to provide bus, paratransit, university and airport transportation services.

One of Hudson’s attorneys, Kalman Resnick of the Chicago law fi rm Hughes Socol, Piers Resnick & Dym, Ltd. added, “When an employer puts in barriers that have nothing to do with the job, that’s unfair. And when those barriers aff ect African-Americans and Latinos more than anyone else, it’s more than unfair – it’s illegal.” Hudson is also represented by NELP

attorneys and the Oakland law fi rm of Goldstein, Demchak, Baller, Borgen & Dardarian.

Policy guidelines of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), cited in the class action complaint fi led today, support the claim of discriminatory practices at First Transit. According to the EEOC:

[A]n employer’s policy or practice of excluding individuals from employment on the basis of their conviction records has an adverse impact on [African Americans and Latinos]... such a policy or practice is unlawful under Title VII [of the U.S. Civil Rights Act of 1964] in the absence of a justifying business necessity.

dediCated driver

In 2009, Hudson, an experienced and dedicated bus driver skilled at assisting elderly and infi rm riders, voluntarily left her employment at a diff erent bus company to join First Transit’s Oakland transportation facility as a paratransit driver. Despite her strong work record and experience driving paratransit buses, Hudson was fi red after just two days on the job due to a seven-year-old felony welfare fraud conviction, which had been expunged from her record by the state of California.

“Th is is a person who was convicted many years ago for an off ense that is completely unrelated to driving a bus,” says ATU International Secretary-Treasurer Oscar Owens. “She did everything she was asked to do. She served her sentence, she completed her probation, and her conviction was expunged. Seven years later, ºshe’s got a good-paying job, she’s supporting her family – and you’re going to kick her out on the street and bar her from employment? It doesn’t make any sense; we can’t let employers get away with that kind of discriminatory behavior.”

Hudson has since found employment at another bus company. “Adrienne has a good work record, and it’s very clear that her past issues have nothing whatsoever to do with her ability to be a safe and responsible transit operator,” said Owens. “She was harmed by First Transit when they fi red her after two days on the job, and the evidence will show that First Transit is also discriminating against other African-Americans and Latino employees and job applicants.”

“Members of our Union believe very strongly in equal opportunity, so we’re going to stand together and fi ght discrimination wherever we fi nd it,” said International President Heintzman.

First Transit Sued for Discrimination Worker Argues First Transit Discriminates Against African-American, Latino Employees & Job Applicants



N o T e S F R o m T h e m e e T I N G o F T h e

GENERAL EXECUTIVE BOARDS A N d I e G o , C A — A p R I L 1 9 - 2 3 , 2 0 1 0

FIRST SESSION The meeting convened at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, April 19, 2010. General

Executive Board members present were Joseph Welch, Rodney Richmond, Donald Hansen, Robert Baker, Larry Kinnear, Randy Graham, Javier Perez, Jr., Richard Murphy, Bob Hykaway, Charles Cook, William McLean, Janis Borchardt, Paul Bowen, Lawrence Hanley, Kenneth Kirk, Gary Rauen, Marcellus Barnes, and Rafael Rivera. International President Warren George presided. Also in attendance were International Executive Vice President Ronald Heintzman, International Secretary-Treasurer Oscar Owens, Chief of Staff Benetta Mansfield, Assistant General Counsel Aaron Hilligas, and Executive Assistant to the International President Beth Petrusic.

introduCtorY remarKsInternational President George briefly detailed the menu of formal matters which

would be put before members of the Board for action over the course of their meeting sessions and otherwise reviewed the informational program on the week’s agenda.

audit Committee appointedAppointed to the Audit Committee were International Vice Presidents Charles

Cook, William McLean, and Janis Borchardt. International Vice President Cook, further, was designated as Chair of the panel.

striKe sanCtions approvedUpon the request of International Vice President Baker, the Board granted strike

sanction to the members of Local 1764 (Washington, DC), employed as service operators for the National Institute of Health (NIH) Employee Shuttle Services operated by W & T Travel Services.

report of tHe international seCretarY-treasurer on ms researCH funds

It was reported that the twenty-fourth annual golf tournament, jointly sponsored by the ATU MS Research Funds of the United States and Canada, was held Monday, September 21, 2009, at the Worthington Manor Country Club in Urbana, Maryland, preceded by the first “practice round”on Sunday, September 20th. The results of this period’s efforts are as follows:

The U.S. fund had, as of July 1, 2009, available cash of $7,019.35. The collections during the six-month period ended December 31, 2009, amounted to $90,212.78. These receipts were as follows: General Contributions $11,261.78, Local Union Contributions $19,308.00, Golf Tournament Receipts of $56,890.00, and Booster Contributions of $2,163.00 and Other Receipts of $590.00.

During the same six-month period, the fund paid golf tournament expenses of $36,786.22. These transactions created an available cash balance for charitable purposes and for future operations of $60,445.91. Of this amount, $58,000.00 was contributed to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

The Canadian fund had available cash, as of July 1, 2009, of $6,742.88. The collections for the six-month period ended December 31, 2009, totaled $60,691.91. These receipts consisted of General Contributions of $198.45, Local Union Contributions of $52,920.00, Interest Income of $.78, Golf Tournament Receipts of $7,130.00, Foreign Exchange of $221.68, and Booster Contributions of $221.00.

During the period, the fund incurred miscellaneous administrative expenses of $770.32. As a result, the fund had $66,664.47 available for contribution and future

operations. Of this amount, $51,000.00 was forwarded to Local Union 113 for presentation to Dr. John Roder of Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, to further assist his ongoing MS research efforts, and $14,000.00 was forwarded to the MS Society of Canada Research Fund.

Financial statements for the United States and Canada for the six months ended December 31, 2009, were provided to the General Executive Board.

Members of the Board were informed that special recognition was again appropriate for the officers and members of Local Union 113 (Toronto, ON), who generously donated $41,000.00, and special mention was also due to Local Union 589 (Boston, MA), Local Union 1145 (Binghampton, NY), Local Union 1181 (New York, NY), Local Union 1277 (Los Angeles, CA), and Local Union 1572 (Mississauga, ON) for the sizable contributions of their members.

report of tHe international seCretarY-treasurer on tHe atu sCHolarsHip proGram

The General Executive Board was advised that the 2009 Scholarship Program named in memory of Oliver W. Green, former International Secretary-Treasurer, was concluded with the issuance of checks in the amount of $5,000.00 to the following: Penn State University for the scholarship of Nicholas Hannan, Quinnipiac University for the scholarship of Krystina Mistretta, Stephen F. Austin State University for the scholarship of Christine L. Villarreal, Illinois Institute of Technology for the scholarship of David Burchell and the University of Calgary for the scholarship of Audrey Cheung. A check in the amount of $2,000.00 was issued to Sir Sandford Fleming College for the vocational scholarship of Carolyn Baker.

The 2010 Scholarship Program named in memory of Bruce P. Foster, former International Vice President, who passed away on March 19, 2009, commenced with the publication of the official application and guidelines in the 2009 September/October issue of the In Transit. A subsequent mailing of a supply of applications, accompanied by the official guidelines, was made to each local union.

As of December 31, 2009, 73 applications had been received from U.S. residents and 21 applications had been received from Canadian applicants. Each was forwarded a scholarship questionnaire and a bibliography of suggested references for the required essay on the subject of “Organized Labor’s Contribution to the Welfare of the People.”

Prospective applicants were afforded until January 31, 2010, to file their application for this year’s scholarship, with all subsequent materials to be postmarked by March 15, 2010.

report of tHe international seCretarY-treasurer on atu-CopeThe Amalgamated Transit Union Committee on Political Education (ATU-

COPE) program collects voluntary contributions from ATU members for the purposes of making contributions to and expenditures for candidates for federal, state and local offices and addressing federal, state and local political issues.

ATU-COPE consists primarily of the Voluntary Account, which is used to make contributions to candidates for federal elections (i.e., U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. President), and to state and local candidates in jurisdictions which strictly regulate political contributions. In addition to the Voluntary Account, ATU-COPE maintains the Special Holding Account for contributions to state and local candidates and also maintains separate accounts in Florida, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, New York, Virginia and Wisconsin, as required by those states’ laws.


A complete financial report was provided to members of the General Executive Board. Highlights of the contributions paid from the various funds (combined) for the six-month period ending December 31, 2009, were reported as follows:

FederalSenatorial Campaigns $ 32,000.00Congressional Campaigns $ 83,750.00Other $ 30,000.00

StateSenatorial Campaigns $ 26,306.00Representative Campaigns $ 38,675.00Other $ 94,300.00

LocalMayoral Campaigns $ 10,150.00Councilperson Campaigns $ 32,887.00Other $ 21,489.60

International Secretary-Treasurer Owens informed the Board that between July 1, 2009, and December 31, 2009, ATU-COPE took in contributions totaling $492,095.18. As of December 31, 2009, the funds had a combined available balance of $509,652.88.

requests for finanCial assistanCe

loCal 1360 (topeKa, Ks)Joe A. Stickles, President/Business Agent of Local 1360, requested financial

assistance as a result of the local’s incurred costs related to interest arbitration and other attorney fees totaling $19,702.03. The amount of attorney’s fees related to this request included costs of over $5,000.00 for an arbitration case. As a result, the local stated that it was “financially devastated.” In its request, Local 1360 also stated that it had not previously requested financial assistance.

International Secretary-Treasurer Owens reported that the financial statement of Local 1360 for the period ended December 31, 2009, listed a beginning balance of $3,890.91. Receipts for the period amounted to $7,932.80 and disbursements were $6,571.71, leaving a balance at the end of the period of $5,252.00. The Board was further advised that the most recent Local 1360 roster has 50 active members and 11 pension members.

The General Executive Board, after careful review and consideration of the facts, voted to deny the request, as the local union has already received $15,000.00 to cover the costs of interest arbitration in accordance with the procedures set forth under Section 19.2 of the Constitution.

loCal 1701 (sarasota, fl)Anthony Gonzalez, President/Business Agent of Local 1701, requested financial

assistance due to costs charged to the local by Sarasota County for “time out” given to the contract bargaining team of $5,200.00 and a bill for legal expenses (totaling $14,000.00) which resulted from the local defending itself against unfair labor practice charges filed by the County. The local also noted that it had two arbitration cases scheduled for February 2010 and did not have the funds to “pay for these cases.”

International Secretary-Treasurer Owens reported that the financial statement of Local 1701 for the period ended June 30, 2009, listed a beginning balance of $24,154.26. Receipts for the period amounted to $24,601.17 and disbursements were $16,911.11, leaving a balance at the end of the period of $31,844.32. The Board was further advised that the most recent Local 1701 roster has 106 active members and no pension members.

The General Executive Board, after careful review and consideration of the facts, voted to deny the financial request of the local union.

loCal 1181 (new YorK, nY)

Jean Claude Calixte, Financial Secretary of Local 1181, requested financial assistance to defray the costs of ongoing organizing expenses. The specific request was for lost time for member organizers for the period of September 1, 2009, through November 18, 2009. The local requested $44,073.38 for these expenses.

International Secretary-Treasurer Owens reported that the financial statement of Local 1181 for the period ended June 30, 2009, listed a beginning balance of $5,647,462.00. Receipts for the period amounted to $7,225,661.00 and disbursements were $7,575,185.00, leaving a balance at the end of the period of $5,297,938.00.

The Board was further advised that the most recent Local 1181 roster has 14,498 active members and 1,409 pension members.

The General Executive Board, after careful review and consideration of the facts, voted to authorize providing financial assistance in the amount of $25,000.00 to Local 1181.

loCal 1208 (JaCKson, ms)Mario Harmon, Financial Secretary of Local 1208, requested financial assistance

due to the extraordinary costs of the protracted first contract negotiations for the Crimson Ride drivers at the University of Alabama (Tuscaloosa, AL) employed by First Transit, which resulted in significant expenditures for lost time, hotel and meeting room. In addition, Local 1208 stated that it was entering into “interest arbitration” with the employer in Jackson, MS, which would result in significant additional costs.

International Secretary-Treasurer Owens reported that the financial statement of Local 1208 for the period ended June 30, 2009, listed a beginning balance of $5,946.00. Receipts for the period amounted to $14,072.00 and disbursements were $14,158.00, leaving a balance at the end of the period of $5,860.00. The Board was further advised that the most recent Local 1208 roster has 60 active members and 13 pension members.

The General Executive Board, after careful review and consideration of the facts, voted to authorize providing financial assistance to Local 1208 in the amount of $7,000.

report on loCal 1754 trusteesHipInternational Vice President Perez reported on the status of the trusteeship of

Local 1754 (Lawrence, KS) first instituted in April of 2009. The Board was informed that progress is continuing to be made in the administration of the local union’s affairs. Initiative has been undertaken to develop appropriate bylaw amendments for membership consideration and to otherwise assist the local union in ultimately regaining its autonomy.

motion to eXamine fCra-related issuesUpon a duly seconded motion the Board authorized the ATU Legal Department’s

examination of potential Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA)-related issues involving the use of release of information forms by MV Transportation.

report on loCal 282 trusteesHipInternational Vice President Rauen offered an accounting of the International

Union’s stewardship of Local 282 (Rochester, NY), which was first undertaken on January 22, 2010, and was thereafter the subject of a hearing before International Representative Anthony Withington in mid-February. The Board was informed that considerable progress has already been made to address the deficient financial practices afflicting Local 282 and to significantly reduce the outstanding financial debts owed by the local union. Brother Rauen further advised the Board that steps have been taken to improve the grievance review process of the local union, to drastically reduce the backlog of grievances since the trusteeship was initially imposed, and to resolve the outstanding disciplinary discharge cases. It was also reported that work was already being done to develop appropriate bylaw amendments for Local 282.


General disCussionInternational President George brought to the Board’s attention his recent

discussions with the Transport Workers Union (TWU) and the United Transportation Union (UTU) about supporting the ATU’s efforts to secure federal legislation to provide transit operating assistance. It was further noted that there would be a presentation by the ATU Legislative Department on this important issue at the next day’s session.

A somewhat lengthy discussion then transpired on the issue of the ATU’s membership in the Blue-Green Alliance and the organization’s support of the ATU’s transit-related interests. Amongst the items discussed were the alliance’s hiring of a lobbyist for the purpose of handling transit and transportation-related issues and supporting ATU efforts to obtain transit operating assistance through a jobs bill.

seCtion 22.2 CHarGes ConsideredInternational Vice President McLean advised the General Executive Board of

the results of his investigation into the circumstances underlying Section 22.2 dual unionism charges filed against a member of Local 1309 (San Diego, CA). More specifically, it was claimed that this individual advocated for the decertification of the union and suggested to Teamster’s organizers that they look at the “Main Street” property while he was an executive board member of Local 1309. International Vice President McLean reported that there was a significant delay between the alleged activities underlying the charges of dual unionism and that the local union had an incorrect understanding of the nature of penalties that could actually be imposed through the Constitutional process. After charges were brought forth, the member in question resigned from his position with the local’s executive board. After a thorough consideration of the applicable circumstances, the General Executive Board, subsequent to a previously defeated motion to defer the consideration of issuing a complaint on charges until the outcome of the decertification election with the NLRB was known, voted to refer the “dual unionism” charges to the local union for its consideration.

General disCussion Members of the Board briefly discussed issues pertaining to local union utilization

of a portion of financial awards derived through the contractual grievance process to offset its costs of processing the particular case at issue. Related to this discussion, a motion was brought forth to prohibit ATU locals from utilizing any portion of a wage-based grievance settlement to offset the related representational costs incurred by a local union. Because the motion failed to receive a second, however, it was not the subject of consideration by the Board.

retirement announCement of international viCe president HansenInternational Vice President Hansen announced to the General Executive Board

his plans to retire effective July 1, 2010. The meeting adjourned at 3:10 p.m. to reconvene at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday,

April 20, 2010.

SECOND SESSION

The meeting convened at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, April 20, 2010. General Executive Board members present were Joseph Welch, Rodney Richmond, Donald Hansen, Robert Baker, Larry Kinnear, Randy Graham, Javier Perez, Jr., Richard Murphy, Bob Hykaway, Charles Cook, William McLean, Janis Borchardt, Paul Bowen, Lawrence Hanley, Kenneth Kirk, Gary Rauen, Marcellus Barnes, and Rafael Rivera. International President Warren George presided. Also in attendance were International Executive Vice President Ronald Heintzman, International Secretary-Treasurer Oscar Owens, Chief of Staff Benetta Mansfield, Assistant General Counsel Aaron Hilligas, Legislative Director Jeffrey Rosenberg, Strategic Campaigns Director Clayton Sinyai, and Executive Assistant to the International President Beth Petrusic.

federal leGislative update on operatinG assistanCe bY atu leGislative direCtor

Legislative Director Jeff Rosenberg reviewed plans for multifaceted efforts to obtain federal transit operating assistance. Amongst the items discussed included an update on the apparent delays in obtaining a reauthorization of the U.S. Public Transportation Act and the funding program of the Federal Transit Administration, the vital need for transit operating funds in light of layoffs in the public transportation industry, and current legislative efforts to expand the transit operating assistance grant program including H.R. 2746 and S. 3189. Following Rosenberg’s detailed

presentation, members of the Board engaged each other and the executive officers in an extensive discussion of the issues presented.

atu in tHe 21st CenturY strateGiC proGramATU Strategic Campaigns Director Clayton Sinyai made a well-received

presentation on ATU organizational goals that could combat anticipated challenges by utilizing the ATU’s positions of strength. Through a detailed discussion, Sinyai outlined for the Board the framework of a strategic program that would facilitate the attainment of these goals.

Following discussion between members of the Board and the executive officers generated by the day’s presentations, the meeting adjourned at 4:40 p.m. to reconvene at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, April 22.

THIRD SESSION

The meeting convened at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, April 22, 2010. General Executive Board members present were Joseph Welch, Rodney Richmond, Donald Hansen, Robert Baker, Larry Kinnear, Randy Graham, Javier Perez, Jr., Richard Murphy, Bob Hykaway, Charles Cook, William McLean, Janis Borchardt, Paul Bowen, Lawrence Hanley, Kenneth Kirk, Gary Rauen, Marcellus Barnes, and Rafael Rivera. International President Warren George presided. Also present were International Executive Vice President Ronald Heintzman, International Secretary-Treasurer Oscar Owens, Chief of Staff Benetta Mansfield, Assistant General Counsel Aaron Hilligas, and Executive Assistant to the International President Beth Petrusic.

International Representatives in attendance were Yvette Salazar, Anthony Withington, Gary Johnson, Sr., Dennis Antonellis, and Karen Miller-Lewis. Canadian Council Director Robin West was also present.

introduCtorY remarKsInternational President George briefly detailed the recent efforts in Atlanta

to protest the potential funding cuts for MARTA operations. As a result of these successful publicity actions, the Georgia Legislature passed the “Transportation Investment Act of 2010” that would provide funding for MARTA transit operations.

minutes approvedThe minutes of the previous General Executive Board meeting were approved.

international seCretarY-treasurer’s report approvedUpon a motion duly made and seconded, the report of the International Secretary-

Treasurer for the six-month period ended December 31, 2009, was approved.

international president’s report adoptedThe report of the International President for the six-month period ending

December 31, 2009, was approved

audit Committee report adoptedThe previously-appointed Chair of the Audit Committee, International Vice

President Cook, reviewed at some length the activities of the panel in its study of the financial records made available to it. The formal report of the Audit Committee for the six-month period ended December 31, 2009, was approved as written.

General disCussionsMembers of the Board engaged in discussion about the ATU Defined Benefit

Pension Plan and the diversification of Plan assets. In light of this discussion it was suggested that changes to the allocation of assets be provided to the Board whenever there is a change, a proposition with which International President George readily agreed.

motion relative to laYovers for travel arranGements defeatedUpon a duly seconded motion, the members of the Board debated a proposal

that no International Vice Presidents or International Representatives would be required to book a flight that would require a layover of more than ninety minutes. After the proposition was discussed at some length, a hand vote showed 6 in favor and 12 against, thereby defeating the motion.


ivp KennetH KirK presentation on tHe “Crimson ride” CampaiGn International Vice President Kirk provided the Board with an update on the

strategic efforts of the International to assist Local 1208 in its efforts to secure a fair first contract on behalf of the University of Alabama Shuttle (“Crimson Ride”) drivers employed by First Transit. He further detailed the significant efforts of the represented employees, Local 1208, the ATU Strategic Campaigns Department, the executive officers, and a core group of students from the University of Alabama. The presentation detailing this highly successful strategic campaign was well received by the Board.

letter of appreCiation from loCal 788 (st. louis, mo)International President George advised the Board of recent correspondence

from Local 788 expressing sincere appreciation for the efforts of the International to support the passage of Proposition A – a mass transit sales tax proposition supporting St. Louis area transit.

report of tHe international eXeCutive viCe president ondevelopment of lonG-term strateGiC orGaniZinG Goals

It was reported that a long term strategic plan for organizing was developed under International Executive Vice President Heintzman’s direction by the Organizing and Strategic Campaigns and Legal Departments. He further detailed the internal coordination of efforts amongst departments to assess and confront the targets falling within the strategic organizing plan. In this effort, strategic targets and a process for reaching the related goals were developed. One component detailed by International Executive Vice President Heintzman was the development of a process of awarding “Strategic Organizing Grants” to local unions which have plans to organize properties designated as a strategic target by the International. To apply for these strategic organizing grants, the Board was advised that a local must develop an organizing plan in coordination with the Organizing and Strategic Campaigns Departments and complete the appropriate grant application. Thus far, it was reported that two locals have already developed such plans in accordance with this process.

orGaniZinG CampaiGns It was reported that during the six months ending December 31, 2009, the ATU

successfully organized 800 new members – quite a significant number considering that many of the recently-organized units were relatively small in size. The Board was also advised that after the close of the reporting period, there were several additional organizing victories and that the union remained involved in numerous active organizing campaigns.

The Board then discussed various matters related to strategic organizing efforts and the utilization of the Strategic Campaigns Department to provide assistance with a variety of issues impacting ATU locals.

report of tHe General Counsel

The Board was apprised of several cases related to Section 13(c) employee protections. One of those cases involved efforts to address evidence of noncompliance with a 1993 settlement of a Section 13(c) claim filed on behalf of Local 847 (St. Joseph, MO) with a private contractor then managing the St. Joseph Transit System. More specifically, it was discovered that the current service provider and employer – First Transit – was not providing health insurance benefits to the spouses of deceased retirees as called for by the terms of the previously-referenced settlement. The Board was advised in detail of the terms of a comprehensive settlement agreement which set forth the general rights and benefits of retiree spouses, retiree widows, retiree widowers, eligible employee widows, and eligible employee widowers to health and prescription insurance benefits, while also providing the two adversely-impacted widows with a monetary payment in addition to insurance coverage.

The Board was informed of a second matter similarly harkening back to a prior Section 13(c) resolution and also involving First Transit, where the ATU invoked the employee protections afforded to Local 19 (Colorado Springs, CO), contesting the termination of an employee as a result of the company’s new corporate-wide emphasis on criminal background checks. That action was initiated despite the discharged employee having worked in a non-operational position pursuant to written arrangements that had been developed just a few years ago when a new contract operator of the City’s transit system resisted retaining the driver due to his past criminal conviction. In that prior action, we insisted that all those employed on the system were entitled to an absolute and ongoing preference in hiring with the new management company because the system, after all, tracks back to an initial acquisition with federal funding. The Board was informed that at that time the framework for a mutually acceptable resolution of our new Section 13(c) claim on behalf of the worker in question appeared imminent.

Details were also provided about a Section 13(c) claim initiated on behalf of Local 1560 (New Orleans, LA) seeking satisfaction of full “contractor-to-contractor” rights upon the transition to a new employing entity on the Regional Transit Authority’s bus and light rail system. Though the Section 13(c) agreement specifically provides that all system workers are to be carried over, with their existing terms and conditions of employment, to any new “Memphis Formula” contractor, when Veolia Transportation assumed comprehensive responsibility for management and operation of the RTA’s services in the fall of 2009, the company failed to retain several bargaining unit members, unilaterally implemented a 401(k) retirement plan in lieu of contributing to the pre-existing defined benefit pension, and eliminated retiree health care benefits for employees and their dependents. The Board was apprised of Veolia’s initial responses to the resulting Section 13(c) claim of the union – that it had never agreed to any employee protections and otherwise had no authority to address the issues presented even though the U.S. Department of Labor’s prior certifications were premised on the contrary. In light of Veolia’s defiant contentions, RTA representatives were directly confronted about the compelling need for complete and proper satisfaction of the Section 13(c) arrangements attached to its federal funding and details of substantive discussions with the RTA to outline a possible framework to resolve the underlying issues were supplied to the Board.

It was reported that the litigation involving the City of Knoxville and its current transit management contractor challenging the interest arbitration provision of Local 1164’s Section 13(c) agreement remains pending. As previously reported, this suit urges that the arbitration of labor contract terms with the private sector employer somehow amounts to an unconstitutional delegation of the City’s legislative authority over matters of public finance. When the parties reached an impasse in the negotiation of a successor labor agreement, management resisted and we began to prepare the case for presentation in court. The Board was informed that, in light of the changed circumstances presented by the finalization of a three year labor agreement, the case was effectively rendered moot.

Members of the Board were then provided a comprehensive summary of the litigation matters related to our ongoing legal action against the City of Colorado Springs for damages in connection with its acknowledged failure to bind its then-service contractor to the Section 13(c) agreement thus violating the 13(c) protections of those employees represented by Local 19 (Colorado Springs, CO). The Board was advised that the status of the present claims of the parties related to this ongoing legal action – the local union’s breach of contract claim against the City and the City’s counterclaim that the 13(c) Agreement is an invalid contract in perpetuity are still pending before the trial court. It was further detailed that the City’s additional counterclaim was the subject of consideration by the Court of Appeals.

Members of the Board were also informed of a favorable federal appeals court ruling against the City of Colorado Springs in a suit where it challenged the 2007 U.S. Department of Labor certification action. In that decision, the appellate court found the City’s stated objections to various elements of Colorado Springs’ Section 13(c) Agreement were not “sufficient” to require any potential revisiting of the protective language at issue. It was reported that after considering briefs from all the interested parties, the appellate court agreed with the trial judge’s conclusion that the DOL certification process is “not . . . to invalidate overly-protective terms in a Section 13(c) agreement, but rather to prevent federal funds from being used to destroy the collective-bargaining rights of organized workers.”

The Board was also apprised of the additional legal matters which included an update on the status of the previously-reported lawsuit on behalf of Local 398 (Boise, ID) seeking satisfaction of an arbitration award finding the Boise transit system in violation of subcontracting language in the parties’ labor contract. The Board was reminded that this case began with a route restructuring that effectively transferred work from our Boise bargaining unit to a then-unorganized subcontractor of Valley Regional Transit which operates its distinct service in the Nampa, Idaho, area. Determining that a segment of the new Nampa service replicated a contemporaneously-discontinued Boise route and therefore amounted to an improper subcontracting, in 2007 an arbitrator awarded damages to each impacted employee pending a return of the work to the Local 398 unit. While the Transit Authority subsequently provided an initial set of lump sum payments, it computed such based only on the route portion which was found to replicate the union’s prior work and then summarily announced plans to eliminate the offending Nampa route in its entirety. After obtaining a previously-reported judgment confirming the arbitrator’s award, during the six month reporting period we sought a formal judgment for additional employee payments totaling nearly $125,000.00 for damages through the


October 2008 discontinuance of the Nampa route (leaving for later the question of whether that action terminated the monetary award obligations of the public body given that the award called for a return of the work to the bargaining unit). It was reported that management, not surprisingly, opposed the union’s filing on the basis of rather vague objections and that the matter of additional monetary payments being sought on behalf of the impacted employees was still under consideration by the Idaho District Court.

It was further reported that, acting on behalf of ATU-represented employees of First Transit and First Student throughout the United States, an aggressive legal assault was initiated to contest one of the more disturbing employment practices adopted by the American operations of London-based First Group. Responding to concerns expressed by several local unions, class action lawsuits were filed alleging that each company violated the due process safeguards of the Fair Credit Reporting Act by undertaking and acting upon nationwide criminal background checks of its employees. In separate federal court complaints, the individuals named as initial plaintiffs sought monetary damages, injunctive relief and attorney fees to redress a sizeable number of dismissals premised upon often incomplete and sometimes erroneous third-party reports of criminal records. The Board was advised that an additional, broader aim of this effort was to impress upon First Group’s British executives that the rights of those in ATU-represented bargaining units must be honored. Also discussed was that our retained litigation counsel was pursuing discovery and other pre-trial proceedings.

Acting on behalf of the ATU National 401(k) Pension Plan, the Board was

informed of recent attempts to recover assets owed to the Plan by Edenfield Stages on behalf of its former employees represented by ATU Local 1738 (Latrobe, PA). Given the company’s significant debts, which included delinquent contributions owed to the ATU-sponsored 401(k) Plan, Edenfield initially filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, but after the Wesmoreland County Transit Authority terminated its service contract in late November, the matter was converted to a Chapter 7 liquidation. Counsel was therefore retained to investigate the options of recovering the pre-and post-petition obligations owed to the 401(k) Plan, including potential creditor claims in bankruptcy court and possible actions against the principal officer of Edenfield in his individual capacity and/or the transit authority, which had assumed the company’s employment and service obligations after abruptly cancelling the service agreement with Edenfield. It was further reported that, in light of the variables involved in the dispute, the diverse options aimed at recovery of Plan assets are still being explored.

Finally, details were provided on litigation previously commenced by Local 589 (Boston, MA) and the other nine unions in the coalition of labor organizations representing MBTA workers, contesting two objectionable provisions in a 2009 state statute abolishing the health care plan for Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority employees and amending the terms of the transit system’s retirement plan, for which the International assumed principal responsibility. Among the claims was a challenge to the legislative dictate that all active employees and MBTA retirees be transferred to a health care plan administered by the state’s general insurance commission for other public sector workers. The Board was informed that the basis of the union challenge was that the law violates constitutional protections of earned pension rights and, by effectively precluding bargaining over the subjects addressed, contravenes applicable Section 13(c) obligations of the Transit Authority. Though an initial court hearing on this matter denied a union request for a preliminary injunction to preclude the initial January 1, 2010, termination of non-contributory health benefits for several hundred unrepresented active and retired management personnel, details were also provided about the union’s recent filing of a Motion for Summary Judgment, in attempt to halt the implementation of the statutory changes at issue, based on information garnered through the pre-trial discovery process.

presentation on limited mediCal benefit plan offerinGThe Board was provided with background information and details related to a

possible, relatively low-cost limited medical benefit insurance plan that could be offered to ATU-represented employees who either have no insurance or are unable to afford the insurance offered by the employer.

Following discussion between members of the Board and the executive officers generated by the day’s presentations, the meeting adjourned at 5:00 p.m. to reconvene at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, April 23, 2010.

FOURTH SESSION

The meeting convened at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, April 23, 2010. General Executive Board members present were Joseph Welch, Rodney Richmond, Donald Hansen, Robert Baker, Larry Kinnear, Randy Graham, Javier Perez, Jr., Richard Murphy, Bob Hykaway, Charles Cook, William McLean, Janis Borchardt, Paul Bowen, Lawrence Hanley, Kenneth Kirk, Gary Rauen, Marcellus Barnes, and Rafael Rivera. International President Warren George presided. Also present were International Executive Vice President Ronald Heintzman, International Secretary-Treasurer Oscar Owens, Chief of Staff Benetta Mansfield, Assistant General Counsel Aaron Hilligas, and Executive Assistant to the International President Beth Petrusic.

International Representatives in attendance were Yvette Salazar, Anthony Withington, Gary Johnson, Sr., Dennis Antonellis, and Karen Miller-Lewis. Canadian Council Director Robin West was also present.

retainer of reverend Jesse JaCKson and James HorwitZ approved Upon a duly seconded Motion, the Board authorized the retainer of the Reverend

Jesse Jackson and the public relations services of James Horwitz to facilitate the joint efforts of the ATU and TWU to secure transit operating funds.

finanCial support of Costs relatinG to tHe transport of atu members to wasHinGton, dC, for april 27, 2010, lobbY daY and rallY approved

Upon a duly seconded motion, the Board authorized financially supporting the costs of transporting members of ATU locals to the lobby day and rally for transit operating assistance in Washington, D.C., scheduled for April 27, 2010.

atu provision of limited mediCal benefit plan option for qualified emploYees approved

Upon a duly seconded motion, the Board authorized the ATU’s provision of a Limited Medical Benefit insurance option for qualified employees without other realized coverage.

General disCussionsAt the invitation of International President George, each of the International

Representatives in attendance briefly reviewed the status of their pending activities for the benefit of the Board. The Canadian Council Director also provided a summary of the Union’s current agenda across the provinces.

appointment of Yvette salaZar as international viCe president and General eXeCutive board member

Upon the recommendation of International President George, the Board voted to approve the appointment of Yvette Salazar as the 18th International Vice President and a member of the General Executive Board effective July 1, 2010.

invitation of dr. beverlY sCott to be a Guest speaKer at tHe atu’s 56tH Convention approved

Upon a duly seconded motion, the Board approved the invitation of Dr. Beverly Scott, General Manager and CEO of MARTA, as a guest speaker at the 56th Convention of the ATU.

General disCussionThe remainder of the session was devoted to discourse between members of

the Board and executive officers regarding other various matters of union interest.

The meeting adjourned sine die at 11:40 a.m.


1. striKe sanCtion Granted to members of loCal 610 (CHarleston, sC) emploYed bY veolia transportation, inC. Under authority vested in International President George by action of the General Executive Board and pursuant to Section 20.2 of the ATU Constitution and General Laws, on July 20, 2009, strike sanction was granted at the request of International Vice President Kirk to the members of Local 610 employed by Veolia Transportation, Inc.

2. striKe sanCtion Granted to members of loCal 1028 (des plaines, il) emploYed bY paCe foX valleY Under authority vested in International President George by action of the General Executive Board and pursuant to Section 20.2 of the ATU Constitution and General Laws, on July 20, 2009, strike sanction was granted at the request of International Representative Salazar to the members of Local 1028 employed by PACE Fox Valley.

3. autHoriZation for loCal 1028 (des plaines, il) to enter into interest arbitration Under authority vested in International President George by action of the General Executive Board and pursuant to Section 19.2 of the Constitution and General Laws, on September 1, 2009, Local 1028 was authorized to enter into interest arbitration with PACE Fox Valley.

4. autHoriZation for loCal 1064 (terre Haute, in) to enter into interest arbitration Under authority vested in International President George by action of the General Executive Board and pursuant to Section 19.2 of the Constitution and General Laws, on September 4, 2009, Local 1064 was authorized to enter into interest arbitration with the City of Terre Haute.

5. striKe sanCtion Granted to members of loCal 1724 (vanCouver, bC) emploYed bY mv transportation, inC. Under authority vested in International President George by action of the General Executive Board and pursuant to Section 20.2 of the ATU Constitution and General Laws, on September 11, 2009, strike sanction was granted at the request of International Vice President Hykaway to the members of Local 1724 employed by MV Transportation, Inc.

6. autHoriZation for loCal 1724 (vanCouver, bC) to enter into interest arbitration

Under authority vested in International President George by action of the General Executive Board and pursuant to Section 19.2 of the Constitution and General Laws, on September 29, 2009, Local 1724 was authorized to enter into interest arbitration with MV Transportation, Inc.

7. striKe sanCtion Granted to members of loCal 1415 (toronto, on) emploYed bY first transit, inC. Under authority vested in International President George by action of the General Executive Board and pursuant to Section 20.2 of the ATU Constitution and General Laws, on September 29, 2009, strike sanction was granted at the request of International Vice President Graham to the members of Local 1415 employed by First Transit, Inc.

8. autHoriZation for loCal 1384 (olYmpia, wa) to enter into interest arbitration Under authority vested in International President George by action of the General Executive Board and pursuant to Section 19.2 of the Constitution and General Laws, on October 13, 2009, Local 1384 was authorized to enter into interest arbitration with Kitsap Transit (Routed and ACCESS).

9. autHoriZation for loCal 1385 (daYton, oH) to enter into faCt findinG Under authority vested in International President George by action of the General Executive Board and pursuant to Section 19.2 of the Constitution and General Laws, on November 13, 2009, Local 1385 was authorized to enter fact-finding with the Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority.

10. autHoriZation for loCal 1596 (orlando, fl) to retain a lower dues struCture Under the authority vested in International President George by action of the General Executive Board and pursuant to Section 18.3 of the ATU Constitution and General Laws, on November 23, 2009, Local 1596 was granted permission to retain a lower dues structure.

11. approval of amendment no. 8 to tHe atu pension plan Upon a polling of its membership conducted pursuant to 12.8 of the ATU Constitution and General Laws, on December 4, 2009, the General Executive Board approved the recommendation of International President George to make certain additional changes to the ATU Pension Plan in final satisfaction of the U.S. Pension Protection Act of 2006.

12. autHoriZation for loCal 1179 (new YorK, nY) to enter into interest arbitration Under authority vested in International President George by action of the General Executive Board and pursuant to Section 19.2 of the Constitution and General Laws, on December 14, 2009, Local 1179 was authorized to enter into interest arbitration with the MTA Bus Company, Inc.

13. autHoriZation for loCal 1363 (providenCe, ri) to enter 50-montH aGreement Under authority vested in International President George by action of the General Executive Board and pursuant to Section 33.1 of the ATU Constitution and General Laws, on December 14, 2009, Local 1363 was authorized, at the request of International Vice President Hanley, to enter into a 50-month agreement with Bonanza Bus Lines, Inc.

14. autHoriZation for loCal 741 (london, on) to enter tHree-Year nine-montH aGreement Under authority vested in International President George by action of the General Executive Board and pursuant to Section 33.1 of the ATU Constitution and General Laws, on December 22, 2009, Local 741 was authorized, at the request of International Vice President Graham, to enter into a three-year nine-month agreement with the London Transit Commission.

interim aCtions and rulinGs bY tHe General eXeCutive boardfor tHe period JulY 1, 2009, tHrouGH deCember 31, 2009


FIRST SESSION

The meeting convened at 1:15 p.m. on Saturday, June 26, 2010. General Executive Board members present were Joseph Welch, Rodney Richmond, Donald Hansen, Robert Baker, Larry Kinnear, Randy Graham, Javier Perez, Jr., Richard Murphy, Bob Hykaway, Charles Cook, William McLean, Janis Borchardt, Paul Bowen, Lawrence Hanley, Kenneth Kirk, Marcellus Barnes, and Rafael Rivera. International President Warren George presided. Also in attendance were International Executive Vice President Ronald Heintzman, International Secretary-Treasurer Oscar Owens, and Assistant General Counsel Aaron Hilligas.

International Vice President Gary Rauen was excused.

introduCtorY remarKs

International President George gave introductory remarks and briefly discussed the materials prepared on the issue of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters’ unprecedented raids of ATU locals. President George apprised of the development that manifested only the evening prior to the meeting where the Teamsters agreed to back off from its raiding activities.

retirement of international president GeorGe

International President George announced to the Board that after more than 45 years as an activist and leader with the ATU – first with Local 85 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and then as an International Vice President, the International Executive Vice President, and ultimately the International President beginning in 2003 – he was retiring effective July 1, 2010.

motion made to appoint ronald HeintZman as new international president

In light of the announced retirement of International President George, in accordance with Section 7.2 of the Constitution, a motion was duly made and seconded to appoint International Executive Vice President Heintzman as the International President effective July 1, 2010. International Vice President Murphy sought to make a Point of Order that President George was not vested with the authority to “nominate” an individual to fill the upcoming vacancy in the International President post. This claim was ruled out of order by the chair, however, as President George only made a recommendation that the Board consider Brother Heintzman for the post, and clarified that the nomination of Brother Heintzman was by a motion duly made and seconded by the Board.

motion to postpone tHe Consideration of tHe appointment of brotHer HeintZman as international president - defeated

By a vote of 10 (Richmond, Hansen, Graham, Cook, McLean, Borchardt, Bowen, Kirk, Barnes, and Rivera) to 7 (Welch, Baker, Kinnear, Perez, Murphy, Hykaway, and Hanley), the GEB voted against postponing consideration of the potential appointment of Brother Heintzman to the International President post until the ATU Can-Am conference scheduled for July 20-25, 2010.

ronald HeintZman named as new international president In accordance with the procedures set forth under Section 7.2 of the Constitution,

the General Executive Board approved the recommendation of International President George to appoint Ronald Heintzman to serve in the position of International President effective July 1, 2010, by a vote of 11 (Richmond, Hansen, Graham, Perez, Cook, McLean, Borchardt, Bowen, Kirk, Barnes, and Rivera) to 6 (Welch, Baker, Kinnear, Murphy, Hykaway, and Hanley).

randY GraHam named as new international eXeCutive viCe president

In accordance with Section 7.2 of the Constitution, the General Executive Board approved by a vote of 10 (Richmond, Hansen, Graham, Cook, McLean, Borchardt, Bowen, Kirk, Barnes, and Rivera) to 7 (Welch, Baker, Kinnear, Perez, Murphy, Hykaway, and Hanley) the recommendation of International President George and International Executive Vice President Heintzman to appoint Randy Graham to serve in the position of International Executive Vice President effective July 1, 2010.

board approves tribute to international president GeorGe Upon the announcement of his planned retirement effective July 1, 2010, the

General Executive Board adopted a resolution acknowledging the dedicated years of service provided by International President George, granted Brother George President Emeritus status, and recognizing the valuable leadership of Brother George by providing him an appropriate tribute in the form of a retirement event and an American-made automobile, comparable to the one provided during his tenure as an executive officer, for his use and enjoyment as an esteemed pensioned member.

disCussion about tHe unpreCedented teamster raids aCross tHe u.s. and Canada

International President George and International Executive Vice President Heintzman reported on the Teamsters’ recent raiding of several ATU locals and that, in light of such, it was discovered that many of these locals were not members of their area Central Labor Councils. The importance of ATU local union involvement with area CLCs was stressed to the Board and the members were urged to undertake efforts to confirm local union participation in such. The Board was further advised that International staff had been informed the prior evening that it was the intent of the Teamsters to both “call off” its raids of ATU locals and to revert to the previously-understood agreement to not raid each other.

The executive officers and members of the Board thereafter engaged at some length on the issues relative to potential raids and efforts to keep abreast of potential issues in the future.

The meeting adjourned sine die at 4:00 p.m.

N o T e S F R o m T h e S p e C I A L m e e T I N G o F T h e

GENERAL EXECUTIVE BOARDC h e v Y C h A S e , m d — J U N e 2 6 , 2 0 1 0


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615- sasKatoon, sKJohN d mANSFIeLdLeoNARd N ThIeSSeNSCoTT WALdeN

618- providenCe, rieUGeNe R dAIGLeeRNeST de CeSUReChARLeS SANToS

627- CinCinnati, oHJUANITA BeSTphILLIp W GRAYGeoRGe A KoCh

628- CovinGton, KYWILLIAm C hICKS

685- brantford, onRodNeY m SChopF

689- wasHinGton, dCNoRmAN R ALoNzoRIChARd A ANdeRSoNJACK CURTIS BARNhILLRoBeRT A ChApoLASAmUeL BIddLe dAvISCoBeL GAUSevAN A NIxoNCARRoLL A peRKINSm e pReNdeRSILAS m SChWARTzoTIS p veSSeLSmAURICe WALLeR

694- san antonio, tXmARY m BeNAvIdezmARK edmoNd dAFFINvALeNTe G GARCIA JRRIChARd A URIeGAS

713- mempHis, tnLUe eLLeN dAvISmACK R TeRReLLeWITT YoUNG

725- birminGHam, alWILLIAm CARL hAmBY

726- staten island, nYJohN m GIAmBRoNe

732- atlanta, GaALBeRT d ABRoNGUSSIe m hUFFmANmeLvIN L poLe

757- portland, ormIChAeL A de CRISCIoSTeveN B pARKeRJAmeS h UNRUh

758- taComa, waJACK SeIdeLmANmATTheW JohN YoUNKeR

788- st. louis, moRoBeRT BARTLeTTdeRRICK S hARRISGeoRGe e meISTeRmIKe NIChLoSGeRALd F SmITh

819- newarK, nJFRANK e KLImeKpeTeR mYeRS

820- union CitY, nJedmUNd dAvIeSBRUCe d STAFFoRd

821- JerseY CitY, nJJohN R SImKo

822- paterson, nJGeRALd ANGeLo TRIBUNA

823- eliZabetH, nJJeSUS BoNILLA

824- new brunswiCK, nJRIChARd WALKeR

842- wilminGton, deFRANK ANdeRSoNWILLIS R GReeNRoNALd p LopeR

846- st. CatHarines, onpeGGY FeNToN

880- Camden, nJWILLIAm W hACKeTTWILLIAm L RoBINSoN

998- milwauKee, wiJohN J domJeNmCKINLeY Y hILLSALBeRT W ITzIN

1001- denver, ComARY eLIzABeTh mC GoWANWILLIAm d SWAN

1005- minneapolis & st. paul, mnJohN m NovAKdALe d RoBeRGe

1179- new YorK, nYKeNNeTh GAWRYSzeSKIJoSeph F LoCoTeTA

1181- new YorK, nYFRANCIS AUGUSTINKeNNeTh m de GRoFFBARBARA J FALGIANoFRANK e GoTTUSoLoRRAINe KempJoSeph LUCCAJoSeph mASTRoCovIJULIA pozoQUINToN J RoBINSoNBARBARA RYAN

1225- san franCisCo, CaWILLIAm R BoSTWICKJAmeS R GILLILANdJoSe TABeRNILLAoTho v WISe JR

1229- st JoHn, nbpAUL deAN doYLe

1235- nasHville, tnSAmUeL vAUGhT

1249- sprinGfield, ilRoBeRT W WooSLeY

1267- ft.lauderdale, flmARShALL LATULIppeWILLIAm J ShANAhAN JRLeSToN h ThomAS

1300- baltimore, mdBoBBY S vANLANdINGhAm

1320- peterborouGH, onRoY h hoBSoN

1321- albanY & troY, nYJohN p doNohUe

1336- bridGeport, CtdoNALd vINSoNJoANN WIeRzBICKI

1338- dallas, tXJeRALd L FINNeYChARLeS e JACKSoNRIChARd h WeBB

1342- buffalo, nYBoNNIe R CoFIeLdJAmeS JoNeSJoSeph mACKdAvId F mULReAdYmARY NeAveRTh

1374- CalGarY, abdUANe d BARAN

1385- daYton, oHJAKe JohNSoN CARdWeLL

1436- HarrisburG, padoNALd m WoLFe

1464- tampa, fldIeGo h RIveRA

1505- winnipeG, mbGeoRGe A CompToNTeRRY J hUdSoNJeFF LedINGhAmKeNNeTh B o’doNNeLL

1564- detroit, mio T GRAY

1575- san rafael, CaTheodoRe L ALBReChTpAUL F hAUNLLoYd UNdeRhILL

1591- broward CountY, flJohN m KoWALSKI

1724- vanCouver, bCBILL GIANG

In MemoriamDeath Benefi ts Awarded May 1, 2010 - June 30, 2010



Got talent? Can you sing, dance, play an instrument or juggle? do you have an especially entertaining talent? If you are attending the ATU Convention, you can apply now to be a contestant in “ATU’s Top Talent” Show!

Try out your best family-friendly talent at the “ATU’s Top Talent” show on monday, September 27 at the Contemporary Resort in Lake Buena vista, FL from 7:30 to 9:30 pm. only ATU convention delegates and registered guests are eligible to compete.

A panel of non-ATU entertainment professionals will judge the performances and determine the winners. prizes, including an “ATU’s Top Talent” trophy and cash prizes (see list on back cover), will be awarded to the top performers, but the real winner will be the atu ms research funds – the recipient of all show proceeds. Tickets will be available during convention registration for $10.

If you’ve got talent or just love to perform, enter now! You’ll have a great time and support the search for a cure for mS as well.

Don’t delay. Performance slots are limited.

All performances must be family-friendly. Singers’ song selection must be made from the karaoke list — selections not on this list will not be accepted. The list is available on the 56th International Convention website at www.atu2010.org.

There are a limited number of contestant slots available. Contestants will be selected based upon date of entry and variety of talent, and delegates will be given priority. We reserve the right to deny entry if a talent is deemed inappropriate, or if the proposed performance requires props, live music, etc. that the ATU cannot fulfill.

name ___________________________________________________________ local union # ______________ Check One delegate Guest

address _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

email ___________________________________________________________ phone ______________________ fax ________________________

individual or Group? individual Group (list other members) ________________________________________________________________________

talent: singing (must select song from karaoke list*) dancing (unless providing own music, must select song from karaoke list*)

Song Selection _________________________________________________ providing own music. (Dancers only!)

musical instrument band (Describe.) __________________________________________________________________

Instrument _________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________

other __________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

enter online atwww.atu2010.org

international to memorialize deceasedLocal Officers at international convention

The International is seeking the names of elected local union presidents, business agents and financial secretaries who have passed away since September 17, 2007. These individuals will be displayed during a special memorial for our local officers who have died since the last Convention.

please either submit the form available online on the Convention website at www.atu2010.org, or use the form below and mail the name, title/office, local number and charter city,* and date of death to International president Ronald J. heintzman, ATU, 5025 Wisconsin Ave., NW, Washington, dC 20016, no later than August 31, 2010.

officer’s Name _______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Title/office: _________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Local Number: __________________________ Local Charter City: __________________________

date of death: __________________________

* for example: Local Number: 113 Local Charter City: Toronto, ON

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return entry form to: atu international • attn: top talent • 5025 wisconsin avenue, nw • washington, dc 20016 • fax (202) 244-1726

* view the karaoke list and register online at the 56th international convention website at atu2010.org!

Attending Convention? Got Talent?

Compete in ATU’s Top Talent competition, entertain other delegates and guests, support ATU’s MS Research Fund, and win great prizes!

PRIZES 1st.......................$500 gift card + trophy

2nd .....................$400 gift card + trophy

3rd ......................$300 gift card + trophy

4th .....................$200 gift card + trophy

Other...................$50 gift cardContestants

Amalgamated Transit Union

AFL-CIO/CLC 5025 Wisconsin Ave., NW Washington, D.C. 20016 www.atu.org

PRINTED IN U.S.A.

Working

To Secure Our FutureTHE FIFTY-SIXTH INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION OF THE AMALGAMATED TRANSIT UNION • SEPTEMBER 26 – OCTOBER 1, 2010

THE CONVENTION CENTER AT DISNEY’S CONTEMPORARY RESORT • LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA

SEE INSIDE BACK COVER

FOR DETAILS AND ENTRY FORM

2010 Convention Delegate & Guest Checklist

DELEGATES: BE CERTAIN YOUR CREDENTIALS ARE IN ORDER Elected delegates should receive the duplicate copy of their

credential certifi cate from their local union. Remember to bring that duplicate copy with you to Florida. Without it you will have to appear before the Credentials Committee in order to be seated at the Convention.

REGISTER FOR THE 56TH INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION Please complete your convention registration form as soon as

possible and return it to your local union for submission to the International offi ce with registration fees. The cost for each delegate and guest is $175 ($50 for guests age 12 and under).

BOOK YOUR HOTEL RESERVATION Delegates and guests will need to reserve a hotel room at

Disney’s Contemporary Resort or Disney’s Polynesian Resort by calling Disney at 1-407-824-3869, or by using the online link for reservations located on the Convention website. The deadline for booking Disney hotel reservations is Friday, August 9, 2010.

VISIT THE CONVENTION WEBSITE FOR THE LATEST DETAILS AND UPDATES!

You can fi nd almost anything you need to know about the convention on the Fifty-Sixth Convention website at www.atu2010.org.

Documents

New Team - Amalgamated Transit Union · · 2011-08-17 JULY / AUGUST 2010 3 I am truly honored to lead this