Canadian Version - Amalgamated Transit Union

OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE AMALGAMATED TRANSIT UNION | AFL-CIO/CLC
NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2014
INTERNATIONAL OFFICERS
LAWRENCE J. HANLEY
International President
JAVIER M. PEREZ, JR.
International Executive Vice President
OSCAR OWENS
International Secretary-Treasurer
INTERNATIONAL VICE PRESIDENTS
NEWSBRIEFS
ATU wins ILCA media awards
For excellence and distinction in communications ATU
was honored to receive six 2014 Labor Media Awards
from the International Labor Communicators Association
(ILCA). ILCA says winners represent some of the best and
most inspired work in labor communications and that the
awardees are to be congratulated in promoting the highest
standards of labor journalism.
LARRY R. KINNEAR
Ashburn, ON – [email protected]
RICHARD M. MURPHY
Newburyport, MA – [email protected]
BOB M. HYKAWAY
Calgary, AB – [email protected]
WILLIAM G. McLEAN
Reno, NV – [email protected]
JANIS M. BORCHARDT
Madison, WI – [email protected]
PAUL BOWEN
Canton, MI – [email protected]
KENNETH R. KIRK
Lancaster, TX – [email protected]
GARY RAUEN
Clayton, NC – [email protected]
MARCELLUS BARNES
Flossmore, IL – [email protected]
RAY RIVERA
Lilburn, GA – [email protected]
YVETTE SALAZAR
Thornton, CO – [email protected]
GARY JOHNSON, SR.
Cleveland, OH – [email protected]
ROBIN WEST
Halifax, NS – [email protected]
JOHN COSTA
Kenilworth, NJ – [email protected]
CHUCK WATSON
Syracuse, NY – [email protected]
CLAUDIA HUDSON
Oakland, CA – [email protected]
BRUCE HAMILTON
New York, NY – [email protected]
MICHELLE SOMMERS
Brooklyn Park, MN – [email protected]
INTERNATIONAL REPRESENTATIVES
ANTHONY WITHINGTON
Sebastopol, CA – [email protected]
DENNIS ANTONELLIS
Spokane, WA – [email protected]
STEPHAN MACDOUGALL
Boston, MA – [email protected]
ANTHONY GARLAND
Washington, DC – [email protected]
ANTONETTE BRYANT
Oakland, CA – [email protected]
CANADIAN DIRECTOR
MICHAEL MAHAR
Rexdale, ON - [email protected]
“The ATU is honored to receive these prestigious awards,” says International President
Larry Hanley. “With the fast moving, changing and ever expanding media world,
we recognize the importance of effectively and creatively communicating with our
members and the public. I’d like to commend our communications staff, writers,
graphic designer and cartoonist for their excellent work.”
The awards included:
• 1st Place: Best Design Internet, “ATU International Website”
• 1st Place: Best Cartoon, “Struggle Against Austerity”
In Transit Jan/Feb 2013
• 1st Place: Saul Miller Award / Political Action, “What Works - ATU
Members Shaking Things Up All over U.S. and Canada”
In Transit May/June 2013
• 2nd Place: Best Design Magazines, “Struggle Against Austerity”
In Transit Jan/Feb 2013
• 2nd Place: Best Editorial or Column, “Atlanta Transit Bill Harkens Back to
the Days of Jim Crow”
• 3rd Place: Best Front Page/Cover, “Struggle Against Austerity”
In Transit Jan/Feb 2013
INTERNATIONAL OFFICERS EMERITUS
International President Jim La Sala, ret.
International President Warren George, ret.
International Executive Vice President Ellis Franklin, ret.
International Executive Vice President Mike Siano, ret.
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: Paul A. Fitzgerald.Editorial Office: 5025 Wisconsin Ave., NW,
Washington, DC 20016-4139. Tel: 1-202-537-1645. Please send all requests for address changes to the ATU Registry Dept.
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CONTENT
N OV/ D E C
2014
Vol. 123, No. 6
13 International observes moment of silence in memory
of slain Canadian soldier
14 Boston operator returns wallet containing $1,700
MEMBERS VICTORIOUS OVER LOCKOUT
IN ONGOING SASKATOON SAGA
4
Poor job access compels people without cars
to drive
Sprawl, bad transit increase unemployment
15 NOLA retirees’ benefits jeopardized in
pension dispute
Portland Local hits ‘reset’ with TriMet
16 How They Do It: Locals active everywhere
17 Toronto Local: ‘Stop begging - start demanding
federal transit funding’
18 ATU Heroes
19 Dallas members complain unfair pay, poor conditions
TORONTO ELECTS TORY MAYOR IN
VIRTUAL TRANSIT REFERENDUM
7
2 International Officers & General Executive Board
NEWS Briefs
3 Index Page
5 Commitment + Coalition = Victory
6 Wynne happy with Tory election
8 Canadian Agenda: ATU applauds Second
Reading passage of anti-assault bill
9 International President’s Message:
Richer than you’ll ever be
10 International Executive Vice President’s
Message: Restructuring plan succeeding
in the trenches
11 International Secretary-Treasurer’s Message:
This is the fight we trained for
12 Kelowna members hold moment of silence
for slain passenger
Mayor Rahm brings the hammer down
on CTA workers
State fines Metro for restroom violation for
Seattle bus drivers
20 New Sudbury Handi-Transit policies ignore
persons with mental disabilities
Paratransit survey: Ridership, ‘travel
training’ increasing
21 Report: Millenials’ shift to public transit
is permanent
Poll: More Americans prefer public transit
to road building
23 Movement to raise minimum wage
gains momentum
24 New York Local mourns loss of
recording secretary
25 Public transit: Infrastructure and investment that
knows no boundaries
Private transit buses roll into Toronto
26 Regina struggles to find mechanics
Transit use growing in smaller Canadian cities
27 Hamilton to install security cameras,
possibly shields
Thunder Bay specialized transit strike averted
12 Terror boards bus in fatal Texas shooting
28 Translations (Spanish)
31 In Memoriam
Driver assaults up in Edmonton
13 Citizens getting wise to outsourcing predators
32 Cartoon: Ten Reasons We’re Against Unions!
IN TRANSIT
| www.atu.org
3
Members
victorious
over lockout
in ongoing
Saskatoon saga
Local 615 has emerged the winner in a high stakes game of
“chicken” with the City of Saskatoon, SK, and Saskatoon
Transit management. Following a scenario that has played
out in ATU contract negotiations throughout North
America, the City is demanding that the Local accept wage
proposals that don’t keep up with the cost-of-living, and
changes to their pension plan that would likely decrease
future benefits.
The City continued to follow the script performed at
transit properties in so many cities by refusing to budge
on the retirement issue in negotiations they have dragged
out over many months. Then in a bold move designed to
increase pressure on the Local, Saskatoon Transit locked
out its employees, shuttering public transit service in the
city.
Two days later, in what they may have thought was a deft
move, the city council unilaterally changed the pension from
the current defined benefit plan to the defined contribution
plan Local 615 has been rejecting in negotiations.
Not so fast
Not so fast, said the Local, which just happened to have a
grievance under consideration by the Saskatchewan Labour
Relations Board (SLRB). ATU filed a grievance, reminding
the board that provincial labor law forbids employers to
lock out their workers while a grievance is being considered.
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November/December 2014 | IN TRANSIT
Eventually, the SLRB decided that the lockout was, indeed,
a violation of provincial labour law, and ordered the City to
make no changes to the pension.
With the earlier grievance settled, Saskatchewan Transit
notified the public that they intended to force a new, legal
lockout. But, the council and Saskatoon residents had had
enough, and told Transit not to lock out their employees
again. Local 615 members returned to work after a monthlong lockout, and transit riders had their service back.
With solidarity and guts, Local 615 members stood
strong together, and reversed a lockout that was imposing
unnecessary harm on them and their passengers.
Long-standing dispute
The Local has shown extraordinary courage and resolution
throughout negotiations, resisting the pension changes the
City has tried to force on them since their contract expired,
December 31, 2012 – especially since all eight other city
labour unions have accepted the revisions.
But the pension isn’t the only problem. Local 615 members
are paid so little that many of them qualify for affordable
housing and public assistance.
Last spring, with negotiations going nowhere, 94% of Local
615 members voted to give the Local strike authorization,
which they have not used.
actuarial valuation process, and not in real dollars. And as
a matter of fact, the analysis showed that the City’s June
2014 update did not reflect the pension fund’s positive
investment gains during 2013 - 2014. If the positive
investment gains had been reflected, the report said, it is
likely that the plan would have been presented as fully
funded! Victory
In May, over 94% of members voting rejected a proposed
contract offering some wage increases, while retaining
the pension changes they don’t want. Then the transit
authority, put another proposal on the table that 91% of
Local 615 members rejected because it included the same
pension provisions.
When the SLRB ruled the lockout illegal it, ordered
the City to allow its employees to return to work and
compensate them for lost time at work.
The City subsequently overruled Saskatoon Transit’s
plan for a new, legal lockout – a great victory for Local
615 members.
Local President Jim Yakubowski explained that his
members were being asked to “sell off” their pension plan
and that was unacceptable, asserting, “Our members are
not willing to give that up – especially for a wage package
that still leaves us at the bottom of the pay scale.”
Bus breakdowns, cancelled routes
The labour dispute, this summer, took place against the
backdrop of increasingly unreliable service provided by
Saskatoon Transit. Buses broke down with one actually
catching on fire (thankfully, with no injuries), and seven
routes were temporarily shut down. The problem – not
enough mechanics to maintain the City’s aging bus fleet.
It’s not over
The City had the temerity to blame the local union for the
breakdowns, saying it just couldn’t attract good mechanics
because it could not offer applicants the higher wages
contained in their contract proposal until the Local agreed
to it.
But the dispute is not over. The City is appealing the SLRB
ruling. And the board decided that Saskatoon Transit
workers are only entitled to compensation for the two
weeks that its employees were illegally locked out prior to
October 3, when the SLRB rendered its decision on the
Local’s previous grievance.
Need for pension changes challenged
But, the local was actually locked out an additional two
weeks, and may end up filing another grievance to regain
compensation for those lost wages as well.
Two days after the lockout began, the city council voted
to impose the pension changes they were demanding in
negotiations with the Local. Speaking before the council,
Local President Yakubowski questioned whether the
$6.7 million pension deficit the City cited to justify the
retirement changes was real.
Yakubowski released a report by pension experts revealing
that the City’s deficit figures reflected changes in the
Then, there’s the problem of reaching settlement on a
new collective bargaining agreement that still remains a
challenge. Until then Local 615 members will be working
without a contract for wages that don’t pay the bills.
Check back with the ATU website, atu.org, for the latest
updates in this ongoing saga. v
IN TRANSIT
| www.atu.org
5
Wynne happy
with Tory
election
Toronto mayor-elect John Tory and Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne
appeared for the first time together publicly after Tory’s election,
November 5. BERNARD WEIL / TORONTO STAR
“Hallelujah!”
That’s what Ontario’s Liberal Premiere Kathleen Wynne
exclaimed when she heard the news that Progressive
Conservative John Tory was elected mayor of the province’s
biggest city – Toronto. “Congratulations to John,” she said.
“I’m very pleased for him and I look forward to working
with him.”
Political observers remarked about the friendly relationship
between the PC mayor and the Liberal premier who beat
him in a 2007 election to represent Don Valley West.
6
November/December 2014 | IN TRANSIT
“It’s not common when you compete for the same
seat in the legislature with somebody that you necessarily
emerge with a good relationship and emerge as people
who can work together and I would say as friends,”
Tory told a crowd at an event attended by both officials.
‘Huge anticipation’
“I have huge anticipation of the opportunity to work with
Premier Kathleen Wynne and with her government to
advance the interests of Toronto,” he said.
Hopefully Tory will work with Local 113 and their recently
released plan on how to improve Toronto’s once world
renowned transit system (see story on page 17). v
Toronto elects
Tory mayor in
virtual transit
referendum
Toronto voters went to the polls and elected Progressive
Conservative (PC) candidate John Tory mayor to succeed
the incumbent Rob Ford, who dropped out of the race
after being diagnosed with cancer.
Ford’s mayoralty, which featured a revolving door of staff
members, admissions of illegal drug and alcohol abuse,
and embarrassing verbal gaffes, generated more American
curiosity than ever before in a Canadian election.
Ford’s brother, Doug, who ran in Rob’s stead, came in
second, ahead of the early frontrunner, Olivia Chow. The
New Democratic Party (NDP) candidate slipped behind
both Fords in the polls, as Tory surged ahead.
Focus on public transit
The most important aspect of the race for ATU
members was the intense interest it provoked in public
transportation. Transit has been a problem in Toronto
since Ontario “downloaded” financial responsibility for
the public service onto the City a decade ago.
Subsequent cuts in maintenance, service, and capital
expenditure have frustrated the system’s ability to stay
apace of population growth and economic expansion in
the region. As a result, rush hour has become a nightmare
in this transit dependent municipality.
The mayoral election became a referendum on the
candidates’ transit agenda in a city that desperately
wants to move beyond all the talk to actual infrastructure
improvements.
Funding fantasy?
Paying for it, of course, is the hard part, and the plans
of all of the candidates hinged on finding new funding
– something Canada’s tax-averse populace doesn’t like to
think about.
Tory, a Progressive Conservative, says that his most
ambitious idea, “Smart Tracks” – an $8 billion, 22-stop
“surface subway” project using existing provincial GO
Transit tracks – will be built without raising property
taxes.
Rather, the new mayor says, he’ll get $5 billion from
Queen’s Park, and borrow $2.6 billion that the City will
pay back as its property tax base increases. Tory is also
committed to the former mayor’s plan to abandon the
fully funded light rail addition to the Scarborough line in
favor of a more expensive subway extension.
Time to deal with ATU
Local 113-Toronto, ON, fed up after hearing every
possible idea about how to improve Toronto’s once world
renowned transit system, recently released a plan on how
to improve the system. The report, Toronto’s Transit
Future, analyzes in detail the many challenges facing the
TTC and provides dozens of specific recommendations
for addressing them. v
IN TRANSIT
| www.atu.org
7
Canadian Agenda
ATU applauds Second Reading
passage of anti-assault bill
With violent assaults on bus drivers and riders on
the rise, ATU members are applauding movement on
legislation to punish attackers for their actions. The
House of Commons unanimously passed the Second
Reading of Bill S-221. Now that it has been debated and
voted upon, the bill has been referred to the House of
Commons Justice Committee.
Bill S-221 would amend the Canadian Criminal Code
to make it an aggravating circumstance that a judge
must consider if the victim in an assault case is a public
transit operator, which is defined to include drivers of
not just city buses and streetcars, but also school buses,
taxi drivers, ferries and subways.
A decade of work
Mahar further says: “ATU Canada has been working
tirelessly on this initiative for over 10 years; meeting with
Senators and Members of Parliament from all parties.
Our resolve never wavered and now with the incredible
ground that Senator Runciman and now MP Chisu have
made toward making Bill S-221 become law, along with
members of the Opposition, we are doubly committed to
further engage with Members of Parliament to insure that
this bill receives Royal Assent in 2014.”
The passage of such a bill has been a priority of ATU
Canada for close to a decade as each year over 2,000 of
our members have been the victims of life altering and
career ending assaults.
Timely passage
This is very timely as yet another ATU driver, this time
with OC Transpo, was recently punched after requesting
payment of a fare. The police did their job and the suspect
was arrested. This bill would provide the judge the tools
to apply a more severe sentence than currently required.
The legislation was introduced in the Senate this past May
by Progressive Conservative (PC) Senator Bob Runciman
(Thousand Islands-Rideau Lakes), and introduced
in to the House of Commons in September by MP
Corneliu Chisu, PC (Pickering-Scarborough East). It is
widely believed that no other private member’s bill ever
transversed the Senate and House so quickly. “We are
grateful to Mr. Chisu who has agreed to sponsor this bill
in the House of Commons,” says ATU Canadian Director
Mike Mahar.
8
November/December 2014 | IN TRANSIT
Safety of the public
ATU is pleased with Senator Runciman’s comment that,
“No one should face the violence that threatens bus and
taxi drivers on a daily basis. We also have to consider the
risk to the safety of the broader public in these cases –
passengers, other motorists, pedestrians – when someone
is assaulted while driving a vehicle down a busy city
street.”
MPs from coast to coast have had these same conversations
and ATU members are grateful for their ongoing support
in helping put this through Parliament. This is not
a partisan issue; Conservatives, New Democrats and
Liberals have all introduced similar private members’ bills
and the unanimous votes in the Senate and now in the
House of Commons support this. v
Public transit: Infrastructure and investment
that knows no boundaries
“Our urban centres are the economic drivers of our
national economy. Strengthening investments in public
transit, for example, creates a win-win across all orders
of government and across provincial and territorial
boundaries.”
In fact, other observers noted, for every dollar invested in
Canada in public transit, three dollars are returned to the
economy, the kind of news any investor would like to hear.
Representatives from the Canadian Urban Transit
Association (CUTA) joined premiers and delegates
at the Council of the Federation meeting in August
in Charlottetown, PEI, to collaborate on efforts to
improve infrastructure across provincial lines, and
throughout Canada.
“Investing in the building blocks of our cities through
integrated urban mobility is a recipe for economic
growth” said CUTA Chair Daniel Bergeron, who added,
“To keep pace with our urban population growth, public
transit in Canada needs an investment partnership between
all orders of government as well as the private sector,” said
CUTA President and CEO Michael Roschlau.
The transit industry contributes 12 billion to the national
economy every year, making this municipal matter not
only a provincial priority, but a federal investment that
knows no boundaries. v
Private transit buses roll in Toronto
Following the lead of similar enterprises in San Francisco and
Boston, a new private bus enterprise called “Line 6” has begun
along one of Toronto’s busiest transit corridors where streetcars are
routinely packed tight during peak service hours.
The new service provides express bus service for residents of a
new housing development, to Union Station during rush hours.
The express bus charges passengers $5 for an assured ride into
downtown Toronto, complete with complimentary Wi-Fi and
coffee or tea.
Bus patrons are asking if this is a good thing that improves service
in the City, or if it is a service for the elite that will lead to a twotiered transit system for the “haves” and the “have-nots.”
Commentators agree that the City’s failure to upgrade transit to keep
pace with the growth of the City has lead to this development. v
IN TRANSIT
| www.atu.org
25
Regina struggles to
find mechanics
Transit use growing in
smaller Canadian cities
Canadians continue to demonstrate their increased use of public transit across
the country with recent data indicating a national ridership growth of 16
million trips in 2013.
The City of Regina, SK, is having the
same trouble finding mechanics for its
transit service as Saskatoon, SK. Local
President Don Baker, 588-Regina, SK,
has been raising the issue for a year.
“I understand the situation. I get it,”
he says. “They don’t grow on trees,
these guys.” But, he adds, “From my
point of view, I believe the city could
be doing just a little bit more to attract
these mechanics to Regina Transit.”
Baker says the problem will probably
be addressed during the union’s next
contract negotiations in December 2015.
The City counters that it has
advertised, attended job fairs and sent
representatives overseas to Ireland
and England in an effort to recruit
mechanics. It has also paid $12,000
so far to a consultant that specializes
in recruitment in Africa.
One company spokesman may have
put is finger on the problem when
he observed that, given the current
strong economy in Saskatchewan, it’s
tough for the City to compete with
private industry wages.
The same argument was made in
Saskatoon, where the City claims it
is forced to advertise lower mechanic
wages until an agreement is reached
on a contract with Local 615.
The job vacancies have forced Regina
to outsource a lot of its maintenance
work, which has proven to be a lot
more expensive than using in-house
employees. v
26
According to data released by the Canadian Urban Transit Association (CUTA)
that figure represents an increase of 0.78%. Electronic fare systems that
report more accurate ridership data, and the extreme weather events
experienced by much of the country last year were both factors in the smaller
number compared to last year’s increase of 2.8%.
Cities of 2 million or less saw an increase in ridership
of 7%, across the board
While ridership continues its upward trend on average across the entire
country, there was a marked increase in smaller cities across Canada. Smaller
cities and regions by population size saw the greatest increase in ridership with
Ontario’s Niagara Falls experiencing the highest percentage of growth at 67%
and Niagara-on-the-lake a 75% increase.
By geographic region, Canada’s territories experienced the greatest growth
in 2013, with a 16% increase in ridership and 688,818 additional regular
service passenger rides. This increase can partially be attributed to the success
of Whitehorse’s extended late night weekday service hours.
Big cities hold steady, Saskatchewan cities mixed
On average, Canada’s largest cities held steady on ridership at a 1% increase,
with Montreal increasing by 1% and Toronto increasing by 2%. Vancouver
saw a 2% decrease in ridership.
Saskatchewan on average witnessed the greatest decrease in reported
provincial and territorial ridership across the country, with a 26% decrease in
reported trips, due to large decreases in reported trips in the urban centers of
Saskatoon and Regina. “These decreases can also be attributed to electronic
fare systems, such as the one implemented in Saskatoon explains Roschlau.
“These systems collect real-time data and therefore report accurate ridership
numbers compared to the manual fare collection and reporting methods”
he adds.
Regina’s decrease was due to a route review and route updates, in addition to a
fare increase. Elsewhere in Saskatchewan, Moose Jaw and Prince Albert both
saw significant ridership increases with 20% and 3% respectively.
Overall, 2013 data continues to demonstrate that Canadians continue to turn
to public transit, and that more and more, investments in transit in Canada’s
smaller cities are resulting in ridership growth for these communities. v
November/December 2014 | IN TRANSIT
Hamilton to install security
cameras, possibly shields
Thunder Bay
specialized transit
strike averted
Hamilton
Street
Railroad (HSR) in
Ontario plans to enact
proposals made by
an assault prevention
task force by installing
security cameras on
buses and, possibly
protective shields.
“It’s been a long time
coming,” says Local
President Eric Tuck, 107-Hamilton, ON, who is pleased that HSR is acting
on the task force’s suggestions.
Police have been hampered in investigating serious assaults involving weapons
because assailants have been able to quickly disappear after leaving the bus.
“We’re hoping cameras will help with that,” Tuck says.
Tuck acknowledges that operators are all too often interacting with riders who
appear to be mentally ill. “These issues are becoming more prevalent and you
need to train your front-line staff in how to deal with it,” he adds.
An escalation in the number of assaults on operators provided the impetus
for the City to take action. Driver Amy Semple is one such victim, who is
returning to work after being spat upon and threatened earlier this year.
Assault numbers may be higher
than reported
She thinks the actual number of assaults is higher than what’s been reported.
“I think a lot of drivers, myself among them, start out not reporting
incidents,” she explains. “You just take it and take it until you can’t take it
anymore. I became frustrated, because I didn’t think my concerns were being
taken seriously.”
Shields are more controversial in Hamilton due to members’ negative reaction
to their installation on two buses in 2012. But, Tuck thinks his members might
be open to more flexible barriers that can be used at drivers’ discretion. v
In what’s hailed as a win for all sides,
the city of Thunder Bay announced
in late October it has reached a
memorandum of understanding with
Local 966 for its Lift+ operators.
“We are extremely pleased to reach
a tentative deal and, subject to
ratification, prevent any disruption
in the delivery of this important
public service,” said City Manager
Tim Commisso in a statement. “It’s a
credit to the bargaining team on both
sides.”
This was the first contract negotiated
for the Lift+ operators by ATU and
the City. Events leading up to the
memorandum however, had appeared
fairly grim. Members of the local
viewed the city as being unreasonable
and unable to meet their most basic
needs. Members were fed up. They
were the second lowest paid ATU
transit members in the Province of
Ontario, and needed issues addressed
that would help them better serve
their community.
“The executives of Local 966 are not
very optimistic about the outcome,”
Local President Sheila Kivisto remarked
prior to the meeting. “There has been
no sign of optimism with regards to
establishing a settlement because this
matter has fallen on deaf ears.”
Regardless of the depressed nature of
attitudes leading into negotiations,
members steeled their resolve for the
fight saying, “we’re tired of being put
on the backburner,” and managed to
win their first contract negotiation
without having to sacrifice their service
to the public. It’s a feat that is nodoubt a cause for celebration. v
IN TRANSIT
| www.atu.org
27
Plus riche que vous ne l’aurez
jamais été :
Nous ne sommes pas parfaits. Personne ne l’est. Mais, au
cœur du SUT se trouve la conviction que nous sommes
plus forts ensemble que divisés. C’est une valeur. Nous
valorisons les gens davantage que les profits et nous nous
soucions de notre grande famille : le syndicat. Facile à dire
pour moi.
Alors qu’une année s’achève et qu’une autre commence, je
tiens à saluer les gens du SUT qui le rendent digne d’être
appelé un syndicat. Je demande souvent à des officiers
locaux : « Dirigeons-nous un syndicat ou une liste de
diffusion? » Et nos dirigeants syndicaux et les membres
ont saisi l’occasion et répondu à cette question tout au
long de l’année de façon à nous rendre tous fiers. À SaintLouis et à Saskatoon, plus récemment, et à Atlanta, des
membres SUT ont utilisé leurs téléphones, sont descendus
dans les rues et, dans la lutte pour eux-mêmes et pour leur
communauté, ont fait de ce monde un endroit meilleur.
Notre travail exige du courage. Robert Kennedy a dit :
« Peu d’hommes sont prêts à braver la désapprobation
de leurs camarades, la censure de leurs collègues, la
colère de leur société. Le courage moral est une denrée
plus rare que la bravoure au combat ou qu’une grande
intelligence. Pourtant, c’est la qualité essentielle, vitale
de ceux qui cherchent à changer un monde qui cède
douloureusement au changement ».
Quelque part dans le SUT ce soir, un intendant ou officier
s’interrogera sur les sacrifices qu’il a faits en 2014 pour
ses collègues. Le temps qu’il a perdu avec sa famille a-t-il
même été remarqué? Est-ce que quelqu’un sait comment
il peut être difficile de diriger les autres? En lisant ceci,
j’espère qu’il y a certains membres, ayant traité leurs
dirigeants d’une manière dure ou injuste, qui se rendront
compte que même si nous avons des différences, nous
sommes tous du même côté. Et j’espère que nos officiers
vont se re-consacrer à essayer de comprendre davantage
qu’ils dirigent parfois dans les temps les plus difficiles.
Encore une fois, nos officiers locaux et internationaux ne
sont pas parfaits. Mais, ils sont le groupe qui a le courage
d’entrer dans le conflit moral, et de sacrifier et de diriger.
Ils sont prêts à risquer la censure de leurs collègues et de
faire du monde un meilleur endroit où vivre. Ils cherchent
à changer une petite partie des événements, et dans leur
poursuite des idéaux, nous rappellent combien il est
difficile de naviguer à contre-courant. Ils sont les jeunes
de cœur, bénis d’un mélange d’idéalisme, de grâce sous la
pression et de persistance. Dans un monde qui ressemble
28
November/December 2014 | IN TRANSIT
trop souvent une veille d’ouragan, ils sont le soleil et les
roses. La prochaine fois que vous les verrez, remerciez-les
de ne pas abandonner, donnez-leur un gros câlin et un
sourire et n’oubliez pas que, si ce n’était pas d’eux, nous
serions à la merci des banquiers, des courtiers et de tous
ceux qui cherchent à nous diviser et nous exploiter.
En 2015, notre message aux frères Koch et aux hommes
politiques qui ne partagent pas nos valeurs imitera ceux
de George Bailey dans « La vie est belle » (It’s a Wonderful
Life) :
George Bailey : « Juste une minute... juste une minute.
Attendez, M. Potter. Vous avez raison quand vous dites
que mon père n’était pas un homme d’affaires. Je le
sais. Pourquoi at-il jamais commencé cette entreprise de
bâtiment et de prêt bon marché, je ne saurai jamais. Mais
ni vous ni personne d’autre ne pouvez rien dire contre son
caractère, parce que toute sa vie a été..., dans les 25 années
depuis que lui et son frère, l’oncle Billy, ont commencé
cette chose, jamais il n’a jamais pensé à lui-même. N’estce pas, oncle Billy? Il n’a pas épargné assez d’argent pour
envoyer Harry à l’université, encore moins moi. Mais
il a aidé quelques personnes à sortir de vos bidonvilles,
M. Potter, et qu’est-ce qu’il y a de mal à cela? Ici, vous
êtes tous des hommes d’affaires. Est-ce que cela n’en fait
pas de meilleurs citoyens? Est-ce que cela n’en fait pas
de meilleurs clients? Vous... vous avez dit... qu’avez-vous
dit il y a une minute? Ils ont dû attendre et économiser
leur argent avant même qu’ils ne pensent à un logement
décent. Attendre? Attendre quoi? Jusqu’à ce que leurs
enfants grandissent et les quittent? Jusqu’à ce qu’ils soient
si vieux et brisés qu’ils... Savez-vous combien de temps il
faut à un travailleur pour économiser 5000 $? Rappelezvous, M. Potter, que ces canailles dont vous parlez... ils
font la majorité du travail et ils paient et vivent et meurent
dans cette communauté. Eh bien, est-ce trop de les avoir
à travailler et payer et vivre et mourir dans quelques pièces
décentes et un bain? Quoi qu’il en soit, mon père ne le
pensait pas.
Les gens sont des êtres humains pour lui. Mais pour vous,
un vieil homme frustré, déformé, c’est comme du bétail.
Eh bien dans mon livre à moi, mon père est mort comme
un homme beaucoup plus riche que vous ne le serez
jamais! » Merci à vous tous qui me rendez si fier. C’est
cela, l’esprit du SUT. Joyeuses Fêtes ......... et en avant! v
euillez visiter le www.atu.org pour plus de renseignements
et les récentes nouvelles du SUT.
Plan de restructuration réussi
dans les tranchées
Aux États-Unis, l’élection est derrière nous, mais nous
entendons encore le bruit des têtes parlantes sur la morosité
des Démocrates et l’euphorie des Républicains.
Nous, le SUT, avons beaucoup à être reconnaissants, causer
pour célébrer, et des réalisations dont nous pouvons être
fiers. Soixante-dix pour cent des initiatives de vote pour
soutenir le transport en commun ont réussi.
Nos membres se sont prononcés contre le projet mal conçu
de tramway qui enlèverait le travail de nos membres et
exploiterait la population. Ces plans ont été défaits.
Nous, les membre du SUT et le personnel, à travers nos
actes de mobilisation et d’alliances, avons non seulement
sauvé la pension pour nos membres de la section locale
788 de St. Louis, mais avons aussi jeté les bases pour une
ratification du contrat après plusieurs années de démarches.
Nos membres de la section locale 732 d’Atlanta ont ratifié
leur contrat par environ 88% des voix, parvenant ainsi à un
accord qui autrefois semblait peu probable.
Nos membres de la section locale 615 à Saskatoon, en
Saskatchewan, sont de retour au travail et se battent pour
obtenir un contrat et une retraite équitables, après un lockout non désiré.
Tout cela survient après un combat et, éventuellement, un
effort couronné de succès pour l’obtention d’un contrat
pour nos membres de la section 1287 de Kansas City,
au Missouri.
Connaître le succès dans la
restructuration
Avant notre Convention, j’ai parlé de notre plan de
restructuration comme étant similaire à « Amazon».
Signifiant que l’on peut naviguer sur les pages Web du
géant en ligne et voir un produit, mais encore avoir l’envie
et le besoin de toucher et de voir ce produit en personne.
Maintenant, nous avons vu, senti et vécu les luttes et les
succès de notre programme de restructuration approuvé par
la convention. Les membres voient les résultats de première
main et les bénéfices sont tangibles.
Le processus a dynamisé les membres. Ce que fait le SUT a
été appelé non seulement un gain pour le SUT, mais pour
l’ensemble de la classe ouvrière. Nous, du SUT, ouvrons la
voie pour tous les travailleurs.
La lutte pour le transit sera gagnée dans
les tranchées
Alors que nous sommes fiers d’être le SUT et de nos
réalisations récentes, nos efforts ont été en partie des
campagnes d’urgences et de réanimation. Une chose que
les élections ont clairement indiquée : la lutte sur les projets
de transport en commun et les dollars nécessaires pour les
soutenir seront gagnées ou perdues dans les tranchées de
nos communautés.
Pour l’année 2015, nous avons de nombreux contrats qui
arrivent à échéance, en plus de nos négociations de longue
haleine qui sont toujours en cours. Nous avons appris de
nos efforts récents. Nous devons planifier, éduquer et lutter
plus intelligemment, et ainsi devenir plus proactifs.
Des plans sont en bonne voie d’élargir notre capacité à
offrir de la formation et de l’assistance. Comment établir
le coût d’un contrat? Quel effet produit Obamacare sur les
provisions d’assurance? Qu’est-ce que cela signifie d’être
un expert en transit dans notre communauté d’accueil, et
sommes-nous prêts à fournir l’effort supplémentaire avec
nos alliés des transits?
Chaque section locale doit s’engager dans une culture
d’apprentissage et de suivi. Nos membres n’en méritent pas
moins.
Profitons tous de cette période des Fêtes en sachant que 2015
sera l’année où nous ferons passer notre restructuration au
niveau suivant.v
Veuillez visiter le www.atu.org pour plus de renseignements
et les récentes nouvelles du SUT.
C’est la bataille pour laquelle
nous nous sommes entraînés
Je suis sûr que vous avez entendu dire que « Quand les temps
sont durs, les courageux s’endurcissent ». Eh bien, le SUT
et tous les travailleurs aux États-Unis peuvent s’attendre à
ce que les choses se corsent au cours des deux prochaines
années, suite à la déroute du GOP du Parti démocrate aux
élections de mi-mandat de cette année.
Une guerre totale contre le président
Malgré tous les discours conciliants pro forma qu’ils ont
donnés après l’élection, vous pouvez vous attendre à ce que
IN TRANSIT
| www.atu.org
29
les dirigeants républicains au Congrès aillent lancer une
animosité à son paroxysme contre le président Obama .
Cela commencera avec n’importe quelle mesure prise par
le président au sujet de l’immigration – que la majorité
utilisera comme une excuse pour déclarer la guerre à la
capacité du président à gouverner.
Pendant ce temps, les membres parrainés par des entreprises
du Congrès et ceux qui contrôlent maintenant plusieurs
législatures vont brandir leur nouveau pouvoir pour
marteler la loi fédérale et de droit du travail, et supprimer le
financement du transport en commun.
Alors que ce n’est pas ce que nous souhaitions, c’est le
combat pour lequel nous nous sommes entraînés. Et, aucun
syndicat n’est mieux préparé pour ce combat que le SUT.
Alors, membres américains, il est temps de « s’endurcir ».
Nous nous battrons aussi dur que n’importe qui pour ce à
quoi nous croyons, et nous continuerons à former davantage
de nos membres à le faire aussi.
Besoins de transport en commun
reconnus au Canada
Nous faisons face aux mêmes menaces au Canada qu’aux
États-Unis, mais il y a des raisons d’être optimiste quant à
l’avenir. La plupart des candidats dans toutes les élections
canadiennes de cet automne ont reconnu la nécessité pour
davantage et de meilleurs transports en commun.
Cela ne pourrait pas être plus vrai qu’à Toronto, où les
résidents ont élu le candidat progressiste-conservateur, John
Tory, pour succéder au maire Rob Ford.
L’élection de Tory a été accueillie avec enthousiasme par la
première ministre libérale de l’Ontario, Kathleen Wynne,
qui pourrait travailler avec Tory pour réparer le système de
transport en commun de la ville et de la province.
Ce qui n’est pas clair, c’est si oui ou non ces anciens
opposants envisagent d’étendre, et de reconstruire le
système des partenariats publics / privés qui exigent
habituellement qu’ils soient autorisés à faire fonctionner ce
qu’ils construisent avec des travailleurs non syndiqués.
Peu importe ce que le premier ministre et le maire disent,
il y aura des intérêts puissants, tout comme il en existe aux
États-Unis, qui y verront une occasion d’augmenter leurs
profits en faisant reculer les Droits du travail au Canada.
Alors, nous avons du pain sur la planche, dans nos deux
pays. Mettons-nous au travail. v
P.-S. : Joyeuses fêtes à vous et vos familles en cette belle
période de l’année. Que la paix et la joie vous accompagnent
maintenant, et tout au long de l’année 2015.
Veuillez visiter le www.atu.org pour plus de
renseignements et les récentes nouvelles du SUT.
STAY
CONNECTED
For the latest ATU News and Action Alerts please check out the ATU’s social media network
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November/December 2014 | IN TRANSIT
In Memoriam
Death Benefits Awarded September 1, 2014 - October 31, 2014
1- MEMBERS AT LARGE
RAYMOND H ETHERIDGE
ALBERT P JOSSI
ELMER KUSSRO
GEORGE LEGORIUS
MYRON WOODSO NICHOLLS
JOSEPH ROGALA
WILLIAM EARL STEPHENS
WILMER TURNER
VIOLA PASCHAL
EARL R RICKMON
LUIS A RIVERA
ERVIN G SCHULTZ
ALBERT WILLS
ROBERT L ZIRKLE
22- WORCESTER, MA
FRANCIS HEBERT
265- SAN JOSE, CA
ADRIENNE C CAMPBELL
IRVIN J DAVIS
THOMAS W HOGGS
RICHARD R MARTIN
26- DETROIT, MI
TOMMIE L BALDWIN
GREGORY COTTON
WILLIE JOHNS
85- PITTSBURGH, PA
HERBERT L BLAND
REED A DAVIDSON
HERMAN H DE SHANTZ
FRANK JOSEPH DI FIORE
ANDREW J KRYZOSIAK
DONALD H LYNCH
ROBERT E RIHS
SANDRA STRADER
89- NEW CASTLE, PA
EDWARD EZZO
107- HAMILTON, ON
GABRIELE GAGLIARDI
113- TORONTO, ON
JOHN BORTNIKAS
CLEVELAND CARACCIOLO
THOMAS CHARLES CHILD
LEONARDUS DEROOY
VICTOR GEORGE DEVEAU
ROGER J DICKIN
CANIO GRIESI
GEORGE HADDEN
PETER P KILKENNY
MICHAEL LEE
NICHOLAS MARANGOS
JOHN MARSHALL
HAROLD W MC CLEAN
ROBERT OLENCHUK
GEORGE ALLEN SPICER
HUGH W SUMMERFIELD
JASON WILSON
174- FALL RIVER, MA
TODD C PEREIRA
192- OAKLAND, CA
CONNIE C BAILEY
JOHN D BRUMFIELD
TYREE JONES JR
JOHN B PURCELL
GROVER A STEPHENS
HUEY P WILLIAMS
241- CHICAGO, IL
ROBERT M BRACKEN
LEON A DAVIS
DAVID EATMON
ROBERT J HAMILTON
EDWARD M IGNACEK
EDWARD L LOVE
JOHN MURRAY
BEZELL NICHOLSON
256- SACRAMENTO, CA
RAYMOND GLENN
268- CLEVELAND, OH
EMIL V DI CHIRO
JEAN SURACE
272- YOUNGSTOWN, OH
ROBERT RAPONE
276- STOCKTON, CA
DEBORAH A PRIDE
279- OTTAWA, ON
JEAN P ARCHAMBAULT
RICHARD LATOUR
DONALD J LOYER
DONALD SCHWARTZ
ANGELO VILELA
282- ROCHESTER, NY
CARL F LEEGE
308- CHICAGO, IL
WAULENE GEORGE
LEONARD A JOYCE
JOHN H STOKES JR
MC ROY TIMMONS
JOSEPH L WASHINGTON
425- HARTFORD, CT
JAMES D TEMPLE
569- EDMONTON, AB
MICHELLE M MCLEAN
WALTER L TURLOCK
583- CALGARY, AB
GUY J DESCHATELETS
CARY A MC AMMOND
DENNIS ALVIN NATE
TERRANCE SMITH
GILBERT H TERLSON
587- SEATTLE, WA
ERIC S HANSEN
JOHN W SEPOLEN
588- REGINA, SK
ALEXANDER J PARLEY
589- BOSTON, MA
JAMES A BARRY
FREDERICK T CHASE
JOHN J DOHERTY
LOUIS J FORTE
GEORGE H HARVEY
JAMES F MAC LELLAN
STANLEY V STEARNS
RUBEN TOLEDO
BRANDON K VALENTINE
RICHARD W WHELAN
RICHARD L ZEWIEY
591- HULL, QC
MARCEL CAYER
PAUL-EMILE VILLENEUVE
615- SASKATOON, SK
ROY RADFORD
618- PROVIDENCE, RI
CORA E ARUDA
ANTHONY CONTI
689- WASHINGTON, DC
WILLIE ANTRUM
JOSEPH J BROWN
JAMES R CARTER
ROBERT A CARTER
LIN C CHANG
BURNETT CLARK
RUSSELL CRUM
JOAN C JURADO
ANTHONY MASON
DAVID S MONK
KERMIT L PULLUM
GEORGE W REXRODE
JAMES E ROMICK SR
JAMES UTHEL SMITH
LEE A TOWNS
JOHN A TRAYNHAM
MARVIN H VANN
FRANCIS J WILSON JR
694- SAN ANTONIO, TX
PAUL S FOGEL
DENNIS J NARENDORF
825- ORADELL, NJ
JAMES MC ALISTER
842- WILMINGTON, DE
HARRIET L DEPUTY
PHAEDRA THOMAS
880- CAMDEN, NJ
MARTIN J EGAN JR
MICHAEL PANICO
GERALD SMITH
998- MILWAUKEE, WI
GEORGE V DONALD
ROBERT E DOWDEN
THOMAS A EWERT
VICTOR FISHER
THOMAS MIKORSKI
RAYMOND R STROINSKI
1001- DENVER, CO
WILLIAM L COBB
ROBERT H RALEIGH
THOMAS A SUMMERS
WILLIAM G VALENTINE
KEITH G WEISSE
1005- MINNEAPOLIS
& ST. PAUL, MN
DENNIS M HILL
CHARLES J LAKE JR
RICHARD A MILLER
RODNEY R PEDERSON
DENNIS D ROSE
JOHN L SENIOR
1037- NEW BEDFORD, MA
LAWRENCE G MARSHALL
697- TOLEDO, OH
MILTON S WITTENBERG
1039- LANSING, MI
JASON BARAGAR
713- MEMPHIS, TN
CLORENE J SMITH
1056- FLUSHING, NY
WILLIAM BENJAMIN
ARTHUR P BIAZZO
LEROY S CAMPBELL
ERROL L GARNETT
ROBERT HEINSSEN
MAURICE V HODGSON
KENRICK D LEWIS
SIDNEY R LUKE
FRANK V PHILLIPS
LASCOE R RICHARDSON
EDWIN L STOLLER
WILLIAM SUMAZA
GERALD L WOLLASTON
725- BIRMINGHAM, AL
RALPH M COLLINS
CALVIN LEVERT JR
JOHN R MASHBURN
732- ATLANTA, GA
MICHAEL K CARNES
VELMA OUTLAW
MONTEEN C STEWART
757- PORTLAND, OR
LLOYD FRED COUTURE
WILLIAM F DIST
GLADYS R GIVENS
JAN W SENTEN
788- ST. LOUIS, MO
JAMES BONO
RICHARD A BUECKER
CARL GORDON
819- NEWARK, NJ
ANGELO DI PRENDA
THEODORE J MONETTI
823- ELIZABETH, NJ
WILLIAM R SCHUMACHER
MICHELE STANCIL
1091- AUSTIN, TX
AMOS UNDERWOOD
1177- NORFOLK, VA
MAVIS HINTON
1179- NEW YORK, NY
FRED FLYNN
JOHN F MAJOR
ROBERT F ZIMMERMAN
1181- NEW YORK, NY
SHARYN GELLER
CONNIE GUGLIARO
YVAN KINSSEC
PASQUALE LAURELLI
IN TRANSIT
PAUL A LAWRENCE
LOUISE E MURDAUGH
MARY A QUARTIERI
EDWARD RICE
PATRICIA WHITE
DAVID YOUNG
1235- NASHVILLE, TN
STEVEN C SCHULTHEIS
1300- BALTIMORE, MD
WILLIAM E MOSLEY
MC RAYMOND D NORRINGTON
NELSON A ZOLLICOFFER
1309- SAN DIEGO, CA
OSCAR H CHAVEZ
WENDY TRUJILLO
1317- CLIFTON, NJ
HELDER DA SILVA
1328- RALEIGH, NC
JOSEPH A STRICKLAND
1342- BUFFALO, NY
HENRY T BEAMAN
EUGENE COSTON
LOUIS G FERRO
ROBERT J MOORE
CAROL A WILDE
1374- CALGARY, AB
RALPH T WALSH
1433- PHOENIX, AZ
JOHN TUCKER
1464- TAMPA, FL
APRIL L BOYETT
1505- WINNIPEG, MB
GUSTAVE BOGASKI
LOUIS DUTCHAK
1512- SPRINGFIELD, MA
ARTHUR H ALDRICH
1603- BETHLEHEM, PA
DENNIS W WIBLE
1700- CHICAGO, IL
HAROLD J ASHMORE
DONALD FISH
HERBERT T HICKS
MICHAEL ANDREW KOLEK
1729- PITTSBURGH, PA
PHILIP MC KAY
JOHN SALAK
1760- OTTAWA, ONT
MICHEAL V COADY
1764- WASHINGTON, DC
JOHNNY SMITH
1767- SAULT STE. MARIE, ON
RALPH P FOGGIA
| www.atu.org
31
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