November 2014 BYLAW AMENDMENT – VOTE NO Page 3 AMAZING TRANSIT WORKERS Page 3 YOU GOTTA SEE IT! AND DON’T FORGET THE POPCORN! Page 4 U-UNION-UNITY-UNITED Page 4 REGARDING METRO DRIVER RESTROOM BREAKS Page 5 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Pages 6 & 7 MERAA 2014 HOLIDAY CELEBRATION Page 7 NO SUPER BOWL IN SEATTLE Page 8 AN APOLOGY AND A CALL FOR SOLIDARITY Page 9 Visit online: www.atu587.com VOL. XXXVII, NO. 11 The President’s Report Kudos to the Executive Board T ough times often bring out the best in people. Our Union Executive Board is a perfect example. Knowing that they would be maligned, harassed, and threat- ened, a huge majority demonstrated the courage and integrity to rec- ommend a concessionary contract proposal by a vote of 14 to 2. The two Executive Officers who voted against ratification also demon- strated courage in standing up for their beliefs against the majority. Several who weren’t in attendance at the August Executive Board meet- ing later joined the overwhelming majority in signing a letter to the membership recommending ratifi- cation of the proposed agreement. In fact, other than one retired Ex- ecutive Board Officer with health problems, there is only one member of the Executive Board who didn’t attend the August meeting and didn’t take a position on the contract proposal. Perhaps that Executive Board Officer can explain his lack of attendance at the August Execu- tive Board meeting and subsequent failure to take a public position for or against the contract proposal and meet the responsibilities of the office to which he was elected? Serving on the Executive Board isn’t easy. Your Representatives and Officers are subject to an onslaught of personal insults and attacks, often from a small group of cow- ards who, in the last election, ran for office and lost. Hopefully, our membership will be wise enough to see these cowards for who they are; politically motivated incompetents who, if in the future were elected to serve as Union officers, would at best do nothing and at worst cause irreparable harm. Don’t like the previous offer, neither do we. We simply believe the offer is better than what we will receive from an interest arbitrator. Don’t like the customer complaint policy, neither do we. That’s why we’ve joined with management in a Partnership to Achieve Compre- hensive Equity (PACE) and have worked collaboratively toward a much improved policy. Expecting an interest arbitrator to fix the cus- tomer complaint policy is fantasy at best. You need Officers who can both fight for your rights when needed, and have the common sense to realize the only solution to some problems can be reached by work- ing with management, not fighting against them. Your elected Union Officers and members of the PACE committees have demonstrated that common sense. Please thank them for their efforts when new policies are implemented early next year. You have, for the most part, hardworking, competent, Union Officers representing your interests. Unfortunately, due to the current vocal hostilities, many have ex- pressed a lack of desire to run for reelection. Perhaps Local 587 will join the many ATU locals across the United States that elect new and inexperienced Officers every three years and as a consequence, fall further and further behind their fellow transit workers at like-sized transit properties. It’s up to you. In solidarity, Paul J. Bachtel President Business/Representative by President, Paul J. Bachtel
Transcript
Nov
embe
r 201
4
Bylaw amendment – Vote no
Page 3
amazing transit workers
Page 3
you gotta see it! and don’t Forget the PoPcorn!
Page 4
u-union-unity-united
Page 4
regarding metro driVer restroom Breaks
Page 5
letters to the editor
Pages 6 & 7
meraa 2014 holiday celeBration
Page 7
no suPer Bowl in seattle
Page 8
an aPology and a call For solidarity
Page 9
Visit online: www.atu587.com VOL. XXXVII, NO. 11
The President’s Report
Kudos to the Executive Board
Tough times often bring out the best in people. Our Union Executive Board is a perfect
example. Knowing that they would be maligned, harassed, and threat-ened, a huge majority demonstrated the courage and integrity to rec-ommend a concessionary contract proposal by a vote of 14 to 2. The two Executive Officers who voted against ratification also demon-strated courage in standing up for their beliefs against the majority. Several who weren’t in attendance at the August Executive Board meet-ing later joined the overwhelming majority in signing a letter to the membership recommending ratifi-cation of the proposed agreement. In fact, other than one retired Ex-ecutive Board Officer with health problems, there is only one member of the Executive Board who didn’t attend the August meeting and didn’t take a position on the contract proposal. Perhaps that Executive Board Officer can explain his lack of attendance at the August Execu-tive Board meeting and subsequent failure to take a public position for
or against the contract proposal and meet the responsibilities of the office to which he was elected?
Serving on the Executive Board isn’t easy. Your Representatives and Officers are subject to an onslaught of personal insults and attacks, often from a small group of cow-ards who, in the last election, ran for office and lost. Hopefully, our membership will be wise enough to see these cowards for who they are; politically motivated incompetents who, if in the future were elected to serve as Union officers, would at best do nothing and at worst cause irreparable harm.
Don’t like the previous offer, neither do we. We simply believe the offer is better than what we will receive from an interest arbitrator. Don’t like the customer complaint policy, neither do we. That’s why we’ve joined with management in a Partnership to Achieve Compre-hensive Equity (PACE) and have worked collaboratively toward a much improved policy. Expecting an interest arbitrator to fix the cus-tomer complaint policy is fantasy
at best. You need Officers who can both fight for your rights when needed, and have the common sense to realize the only solution to some problems can be reached by work-ing with management, not fighting against them. Your elected Union Officers and members of the PACE committees have demonstrated that common sense. Please thank them for their efforts when new policies are implemented early next year.
You have, for the most part, hardworking, competent, Union Officers representing your interests. Unfortunately, due to the current vocal hostilities, many have ex-pressed a lack of desire to run for reelection. Perhaps Local 587 will join the many ATU locals across the United States that elect new and inexperienced Officers every three years and as a consequence, fall further and further behind their fellow transit workers at like-sized transit properties. It’s up to you.
In solidarity,Paul J. Bachtel
President Business/Representative
by President,Paul J. Bachtel
November 2014
2
Business of the Membership
The Month at a Glance
Tentative AgendaCHARTER MEETING Thursday, November 6, 20148:00 p.m.The Labor Temple, Hall #12800 1st Ave., Seattle, WA
MORNING MEETING Friday, November 7, 201410:30 a.m.The Labor Temple, Hall #82800 1st Ave., Seattle, WA
SATuRdAy MEETING Saturday, November 8, 201411:00 a.m.The Labor Temple, Hall #82800 1st Ave., Seattle, WA
JEFFERSON TRANSITMonday, November 10, 20147:00 p.m. Port Townsend Community Center, 620 Tyler Street, Port Townsend, WA
CLALLAM TRANSITTuesday, November 18, 20147:00 p.m.Vern Burton Memorial BuildingPort Angeles, WA
WEdNESdAy MEETING Wednesday, November 12, 20143:30 p.m.The Labor Temple, Hall #12800 1st Ave., Seattle, WA
Membership Meetings:
Executive Board Report
October 28, 2014
Published monthly in Seattle.
Official publication of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 587, AFL-CIO, representing employees of Metro/King County, Clallam Transit, Jefferson Transit, Seattle Personal Transit, and First Transit.
2815 Second Avenue, Suite 230Seattle, Washington 98121Telephone: 206-448-8588.
Affiliations: Washington State Labor Council, King County Labor Council, Northwest Joint Con-ference Board, ATU Legislative Council, Olympic
Labor Council.
Articles/Letters to the editor
Letters/contributions must include printed names, signatures, work ID numbers, ad-dresses and phone numbers that can be verified during working hours. Letters that cannot be validated will not be published. All articles/letters are subject to editing and should be limited to 1000 words or less. Not all letters can be published due to space limitations. Cut off is close of business the 15th of each month. Any submission from a member of Local 587 to the News Review deemed unprintable by the Recording Sec-retary shall be forwarded to the Executive Board for final decision to publish.
Send letters and articles as original Word documents to Judy Young at: [email protected]
weingarten rights statementI request to have a union representative present on my behalf dur-
ing this meeting because I believe it may lead to disciplinary action taken against me. If I am denied my right to have a union representative present, I will refuse to answer accusational questions and any I believe
officerS of the AMALgAMAteD trANSit uNioN, LocAL 587:
Web site: http://www.atu587.com
Vehicle Maintenance Position #1 CORY RIgTRUP Vehicle Maintenance Position #2 DAn KEnnY Vehicle Maintenance Position #3 RAnDY STEInMAnFacilities Maintenance ALFOnSO ISLASupervisors KEvin HEndriCKsspecial Classifications ERIC BUTLERKing County Units Outside KCM ninUs HOPKinsTransit Operator Position #1 AnDREW JEROMSKY Transit Operator Position #2 VERITA ALExAnDERTransit Operator Position #3 TAMIEKO COOKTransit Operator Position #4 LISA nAULTTransit Operator Position #5 CHErisE MiLLHOUsETransit Operator Position #6 nATHAnAEL CHAPPELLE Transit Operator Position #7 LInDA AnDERSOnTransit Operator Position #8 RAY MASOnClallam / Jefferson County LUDWIg BECKERRail Representative CHUCK MiLLEr
Among Topics to be discussed: grievance and Arbitration Update
Unfinished Business: none
All Officers were present with the exception of Ludwig Becker who was attending negotiations at CTS, Kevin Banks, Cherise Millhouse and Randy Steinman.
Motion: By Michael Moore to au-thorized the merging of ATU Local 1384 with Local 587. (Motion to be voted on as a referendum vote thru the cycle of membership meetings)
Motion: By Cory Rigtrup that up to $500 be allocated to the “Still no Contract” campaign in the form of armbands to be distributed as soon as possible.
Motion: By Alfonso Isla to pay our annual $3,000.00 per capita pay-ment to sound Alliance as stated in the budget.
Motion: By Verita Alexander to send up to two members to the northwest Conference January 14-18,
2015 in Phoenix, AZ paying travel, hotel, registration and per diem at an estimated cost of $3,000.00.
Motion: By Ray Mason that up to $500 to be allocated to the “Still no Contract” campaign in the form of buttons.
Motion: By Alfonso Isla to donate $500 to Puget Sound Sage as stated in the budget.
Motion: By nate Chappelle to send up to six members of the CISM (Critical Incident Stress Manage-ment) Team to a CISM Training from December 2-5, 2014 in Bellingham paying travel, registration and per diem at a cost not to exceed $4,500.00.
Motion: By Charles Miller to ap-prove $3,078.43 for printing flyers and buttons for the Safety Sake campaign.
Motion: By Charles Miller that
At the October cycle of member-ship meetings the following busi-ness was addressed:
Motion: By Linda Averill that ATU 587 endorse the Halloween action of no bus cuts, no fare hikes, no labor concessions on Oct 31st by Shop Floor 587 Caucus and ask the King County Labor Council to also endorse the action — and for ATU 587 as part of its support to make courtesy details available.
Motion carried.
Motion: By george McCain that this is a request by the member-ship of Local 587, requesting that the President of Local 587, cease and desist from entering into fur-ther agreements, including but not limited to Memorandums of agree-ments, letters of agreements, Letters of Understanding, or any forms of agreements between King County Metro and ATU 587 which would in any way perpetuate an increase use of Part-time Transit Operators outside of the collective bargaining agreement.
We, the membership, further re-quest that any additional perceived needs for extra help to cover special work on weekends, due to perception that there is a shortage of Full-time drivers available to do the work, be filled by promoting Part-time drivers from the approved list of Part-time drivers waiting to go full-time, by means of promotion to full-time status, using where needed, an ac-celerated promotional process.
We the membership authorize, and request the President of ATU 587 to negotiate an agreement which would facilitate an accelerated pro-motional process where needed to accommodate this need.
Motion carried.
Motion: By Harold Batson that the President convene the election committee ASAP so that the nomina-tion dates, the primary election and general election dates can be set and posted in the News Review and at all of the worksites at least three weeks prior to the first day of January 2015.
Motion carried.
The Membership approves the proposal to change Bylaw Article VIII, Sections 1 and 6 regarding Dues and Assessments of the Local Bylaws.
The Membership did not approve the proposal to change Bylaw xII, Sections 1, 15 and 16 regarding gen-eral Election — Election of Officers of the Local Bylaws.
The Membership approved the arbitration request of Tim Brickell.
The following members were October pot draw winners:
James Reese, charter meeting, Ken newton, Saturday meeting, Terence Richardson, afternoon meeting, Pam Thompson, JTA meeting and Jeremiah Reeves at the CTS meeting. The Clallam County Rolling Pot was won by Karen Martin.
As long as we live, they too will live; for they are now a part of us; as we remember them.
~ Jewish Prayer
Please notify the union office of any member’s passing so that this information may be shared with the rest of our union family.
In Loving Memory…
Lester Osborne, a retired First Line Supervisor, who last worked for Ser-vice Quality, passed away on October 13, 2014. Brother Osborne joined the Local 587 in June of 1981. He retired in February of 2012. He was 57 years old.
Robert Tuttle, a retired Transit Opera-tor, who last worked at Ryerson Base, passed away on September 27, 2014. Brother Tuttle joined the Local 587 in August of 1990 but has been a member of ATU since 1969. He retired in sep-tember of 2010. He was 69 years old.
continued on page 3
November 2014
3
A r b i t r a t i o n U p d a t e1. Symantha Cola: grieved improper
3. Jerrod McKenna: grieved nu-merous contract violations in the subcontracting of work histori-cally and traditionally performed by King County Metro Vehicle Maintenance Mechanics; schedule pending.
4. deanna Levengood: grieved ter-mination for alleged theft of Metro funds; decision pending.
5. Gary Archer: grieved improper assignment of overtime; schedule pending.
6. Andrew Galbraith: grieved work being performed out of classifica-tion; schedule pending.
7. Steven Trott: grieved improper assignment of overtime; schedule pending.
8. Patricia Westover: grieved Local 587 work being performed by a Lo-cal 17 employee; schedule pending.
9. Tim Little: grieved termination for alleged violation of attendance probation; decision pending.
10. Max Givenchy: grieved termina-tion for alleged violation of the workplace violence policy; deci-sion pending.
11. Randy Richards: grieved skim-ming of Local 587 work and failure to upgrade a Local 587 member; schedule pending.
12. dennis Echols: grieved termina-tion for alleged gross misconduct; scheduled January 27 & 28, 2015.
13. Sina Siliga: grieved termination for alleged gross misconduct; schedule pending.
14. Kelly Venable: grieved termi-nation for alleged violation of attendance probation; schedule pending.
15. Carol Leak: grieved termination for alleged violation of attendance probation; schedule pending.
17. Tim Brickell: grieved vacation pick conducted in violation of con-tract language; schedule pending.
18. George Williams: grieved ter-mination for alleged gross mis-conduct; arbitrator sustained the termination, grievance denied.
Am a z i n g g r a c e , h o w sweet the sound, That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found, Was blind, but now I see,” waned the bagpipes and drums through the megaphone as background, funeral style, to the announcement/”burial” of each of the twenty-eight Metro bus routes eliminated. This public protest and speak-out, “no Bus Cuts, no Fare Hikes, no Labor Conces-sions”, on Wednesday afternoon, September 24th , was conducted by both riders and ATU 587 transit workers, standing united on the door steps of the King County Executive.
Standing united with the public, ATU 587 members informed the Executive, County Council and public of the issues surrounding the recent bus cuts and our fight for a fair contract. ATU 587 members are beginning to develop the public relations necessary to counter what appears to be an attempt to blame ATU 587 members for 80,000 hours of service cuts, “If Local 587 had ac-cepted the wage freezes, 80,000 more service hours could be preserved.”, [Metro’s general Manager] said (ref. Seattle Times “Belt-tightening in Metro budget to save 150,000 hours of bus service” by Mike Lindblom, 9/18/2014)
On the steps of the Executive’s office, were ATU 587 Executive Board officers, broad representa-tion from Metro classifications of Vehicle Maintenance – Mechanics and Equipment Service Workers, Bus Operations, and the commu-nities of veterans, homeless, and mentally challenged represented by The Maslow Project Director, and the Ethiopian community represented by the President of the Ethiopian Transit Operators Asso-ciation (ETOA). All were rallying in opposition to the first wave of
unnecessary route cuts, planned fare hikes and the threat of future bus cuts. And demand elected of-ficials to fund the basic human right to mobility.
After leaving the steps of the Ex-ecutive’s office the procession rallied at the corner of Third Avenue and Pine Street. There amongst in the dense rush-hour ridership, more speeches and sign waving was greeted warmly by fellow operators honking their support.
These bus riders and transit work-ers were united in their awareness of the hundreds of millions of dol-lars available to fund mass public transit, by taxing King County’s wealth. Instead of gouging work-ing and poor people with regressive taxes, fees, and fare hikes – while giving Boeing $8.7 billion in tax breaks – elected officials at every level need to fix Washington state’s tax structure – the most regressive in the nation!
demand public officials develop progressive stable funding for Metro and the prioritization of existing, lower-cost bus service over pricey street car and light rail expansions that benefit wealthy developers and drain public transit coffers. Require funding bus service FIRST - rail will nOT get most to their neighborhood. And call on King County to cut the management fat, not the working muscle of Metro public transit. The call starts with the King County Executive at 206-296-4040.
Further actions are planned to continue to broaden and deepen par-ticipation of both ATU 587 members and the communities we serve to get our message to the public, “no Bus Cuts, no Fare Hikes, no Labor Concessions.”
Through increasing public aware-ness, the ultimate arbitrator, we can win a fair contract.
Amazing Transit
WorkersBy Atlantic Base Shop Steward Chuck Lare
“
Vote nO on the bylaw amend-ment at this month’s meet-ings. The proposal shows a
lack of understanding of the history of the 2nd Vice President position.
About 5 years ago, members in maintenance classifications acted on their feeling that they were not adequately represented in our local. They amended the bylaws to create a 2nd Vice President who would be elected from maintenance and would come into office understanding the issues and how things work at Ve-hicle Maintenance and Facilities, and knowing the players. Don MacAdam was the first to be elected to the of-fice, and he proved that it was good to have an officer who came from maintenance.
The proposal, if passed, would likely result in the 2nd Vice President being elected from Operators, simply because the number of Operators far exceeds that of any other classifica-tion. Three of the current Officers elected at-large are Operators, and the fourth is a Supervisor. not much maintenance savvy there. Having an Operator or Supervisor as 2nd Vice President defeats the purpose of the office, which is to represent maintenance workers.
We don’t need TWO Vice Presi-dents who are Operators. We need OnE Vice President who comes from maintenance, to give maintenance a voice.
Vote nO on this proposal.
Bylaw Amendment – Vote NO
By Chuck Miller Executive Board Officer, Rail & Streetcar
COPE Committee Amalgamated Transit Union, Local 587
Local 587 supports the Rick Sepolen Memorial Toys for Tots drive for 2014.
Motion: By Michael Moore that the Local donate $1,000.00 to M.L. King Celebration as stated in the budget.
Motion: By Clint DeVoss to recommend that the membership pursues the grievance of Mark Kelly to arbitration.
Motion: By Dan Kenny to recommend that the membership
pursues the grievance of Ricco Tong to arbitration.
Motion: By Judy Young to recommend that the membership approves the proposal to change Article III, Section 1 of the Local Bylaws. (The Executive Board voted not to recommend the proposed bylaw change Article III, Section 1)
Motion: By Dan Kenny to recommend that the membership pursues the grievance of John Marx to arbitration.
E-Board Report, continued from p. 2
November 2014
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I was planning on making sure that I made it to the nov 6th Charter Meeting to support
VM and Facilities in keeping their ability to have peer representation from their own classifications in the position of the 2nd VP. Prior to the 2nd VP position being created, when was the last time (and how often) has any other classification other the transit operator held a full-time position, in the history of this century old union? Hopefully you all are eager to learn the answer and will attend the next meeting.
But if that’s not enough to get you to the meeting maybe this will help. Yours truly has been brought up on some very interesting charges through our union. The folks in-volved don’t want you to miss an opportunity to crucify me! Keep in mind that just because I am a union officer does nOT mean that i am here for you to abuse, tell you what you want to hear or agree with you. It’s a tale of conspiracy, bullying, racism,
silencing, haters, threats, crabs-in-a-barrel, ageism, paparazzi, set-ups, harassment, retaliation, vendettas, political tampering, sexism, public ridicule, and downright “catty”ness that has been more than 5 years in the making.
For those of you who need more than just a teaser, the incidences are truly about workplace bullying that has been occurring at Atlantic and East Bases for years. Members from Atlantic and East base came to Ryerson base to harass me, video record it and then post it on Facebook in order to embarrass me. After this and other bullying over the last 5 years I reported it to management (for the second time). Once man-agement started the interviews/investigation sometime after Sep-tember 10th, the Atlantic base bullies decided to charge me through the union because i finally gave push back after 5 years of turning the other cheek. By having people sign a petition regarding a few of the
bullying incidences they would pub-licly embarrass me and this would be splashed on the union boards. There is no such thing as member vs. member issues just employee vs. employee, I see that now. My belief in union sister/brotherhood was only real in my head, so call me young and hopeful.
Of the 34 people who signed the petition (a lot) less than 5 actually witnessed the events in their en-tirety or at the entire main event being at Ryerson Base). Only one person from Ryerson Base signed on, which is strange considering the events that took place there. Most of the petition signers were from At-lantic and East Campus (the two VM people who signed were not even at the work sites the events happened at either). Many signed because they are friends with the individuals bul-lying and threatening me (2 of the people who signed the petition had family members sign as well). With my math if you subtract out the bul-
lies and intimidators, their friends/family, people who ran against me at any point, that still leaves less than 10 people, who also don’t know my side of the story, but would like to see charges go forward so that they may hear my side (I can’t help but be a positive person).
There is so much more to this story but maybe you should come see how the members of your union and coworkers like to do business and waste your union dues! Come one, come all to see how union charges are always a clever form of coworker versus coworker issues/harassment. As you can recall from the Wak-enight vs. Campbell dispute and the other playground courtroom antics that have preceded this. FYI, I like my popcorn with extra butter please.
In solidarity (if there is such a thing in ATU 587),
Verita Alexander
You Gotta See It! And Don’t Forget the Popcorn!
By Verita Alexander
For almost a year now we have been talk-ing about the Contract/TA that our Union and King County has brought before us
expecting us to cave into their needs and accept the rhetoric they have fed us. We have rejected both TAs that were presented and we did it as a Unified Union.
This needs to continue as the norm. We have been divided against Performance Positions (clas-sifications) too long. This is what KC wants, if we are fighting among ourselves we are not paying attention to what they are trying to accomplish.
The Officers that are in Office at this time are smirking at the arguments and confronta-tions that occur at the Charter Meetings (I have witnessed this myself). Again, if we are arguing among ourselves we are not concentrating on the task at hand.
Getting a fair Contract that will benefit all members of the ATU.
This is OUR UnIOn, we should control what happens, and that is our mission in the future. Protect what you have and move forward to better the members as a whole. We need to project what could happen in the future if we allow things to continue as they are. We will fall apart. We should be standing shoulder to shoulder against those that would take advantage of us, not deciding who should get the short end of the stick.
I ask the members nOW to stand with each other for the good of the Local and ALL members of ATU 587.
U-Union-Unity-UnitedSubmitted by Hal Poor HOUSE
1ST LD Position 1 - Derek Stanford $950 1st LD Position 2 - Luis Moscoso $950 2nd Ld Position 1 - Greg Hartman $950 5th Ld Position 1 - Essie Hicks $950 26th LD Position 1 - nathan Schlicher $950 26th LD Position 2 - Larry Seaquist $950 27th LD Position 2 - Jake Fey $950 28th LD Position 1 - Mary Moss $190028th LD Position 2 - Dawn Morrell $95029th LD Position 1 - David Sawyer $95030th LD Position 1 - greg Baruso $95030th LD Position 2 - Roger Freeman $95033rd LD Position 2 - Mia gregerson $95034th LD Position 2 - Joe Fitzgibbon41st LD Position 1 - Tana Senn $95043rd LD Position 1 - Brady Walkinshaw44th Ld Position 1 - Hans dunshee $95045th LD Position 1 - Roger goodman $95046th LD Position 2 - Jessyn Farrell47th LD Position 1 - Chris Barringer $95048th LD Position 2 - Joan McBride $950
SENATE, CONTINUED30th LD Senate - Shari Song $95032nd LD Senate - Maralyn Chase $95037th LD Senate - Primila Jayapal $95042nd LD Senate - Seth Fleetwood $95044th Ld senate - steve Hobbs $95045th LD Senate - Matt Isenhower $95046th LD Senate - David Frockt $95048th Ld senate - Cyrus Habib $950
CONGRESSIONAL1st Congressional District - Suzan Delbene $25008th Congressional District - Jason Ritchie $18009th Congressional District - Adam Smith $2500
JUDICIAL Seattle Municipal Court Position 7 - Damon Shadid $1900King County District Court nE Division Position 2 - Ketu Shah $1900
OTHERThurston County Auditor - Mary Hall $950
ATU 587 COPE Campaign Contributions for the 2014 Election Cycle
Submitted bySara Franklin, COPE Chair
THE COPE COMMiTTEE WOULd LiKE TO THAnK ALL OF OUr MEMBErs WHO COnTriBUTE And sUPPOrT THE COPE PrOGrAM. COPE is THE vOiCE OF TrAnsiT WOrKErs AT ALL LEVELS OF gOVERnMEnT. UnIOn DUES ARE nOT USED TO FUnD POLITICAL CAMPAIgnS. vOLUnTArY COnTriBUTiOns TO COPE ArE UsEd TO HELP ELECT PrO-TrAnsiT And PrO-LABOr CAndidATEs FOr LOCAL, sTATE And FEdErAL OFFiCE. WiTH YOUr HELP WE CAn Win THE FiGHT FOr WOrKinG FAMiLiEs.
November 2014
5
OsHA 29 CFr 1910.141 states that employers are required to provide means of access
to safe, sanitary toilet facilities. ATU.org implies that regarding the OsHA statute, drivers need to take personal initiative in restroom use when specific facilities have not been provided by management (http://www.atu.org/atu-pdfs/STRAT_BathroomBreakHandout.pdf). The Book 9/2014 edition sections 8.12 and 8.15 don’t specifically prohibit unauthorized stops for restroom use. I do not see any policy in the current Metro Policy & Procedures listing posted on the Transit Opera-tions site that restricts what OsHA has outlined in the above statute.
My interpretation of this is:• At my terminals, if using a re-
stroom takes longer than my scheduled break or my “union five,” i can take the time needed without penalty.
• If no restroom facilities are avail-able at my terminal, I can stop my coach at whatever location
on my route a usable restroom can be found, securing the coach per the Book.
• If facilities are inadequate on my route (because I drive at night when businesses are closed and my route doesn’t go by any Metro facilities, either at all or when needed), I can contact the coordinator for off-route options.
• If restroom facilities have been suggested for my route but they are clearly unsanitary or unsafe, I have the right to locate alternate facilities on my route.Hydration and excretion are
basic but critical bodily functions that flush out waste and bacteria. Kidney stones can be caused by
chronic dehydration, and urinary tract infections can be brought about by not urinating often enough. De-hydration and urination stress are even more inadvisable for people using medications with body fluid side effects, or for those with under-lying medical conditions. Symptoms of inadequate hydration include attentional distraction, fatigue and light-headedness—all inappropri-ate states behind the wheel.
While our customers and su-pervisors are looking to us drivers to maintain often unrealistic bus schedules, we need to protect both our personal health and safety records by maintaining adequate hydration and using restrooms
when needed. If a driver contracts an illness due to dehydration, or gets in an accident due to full-bladder or dehydration-related distracted driv-ing, the only person “left holding the bag” will be the driver—neither Metro management nor Metro cus-tomers will be stepping in to help.
Why do we not “work to the rule” every day? Each driver needs to take the initiative to protect their own health, regardless of tight schedules or inadequately sup-plied restroom facilities. Any Metro driver reprimanded or harassed by management for needed restroom use should keep a personal written record of the incident, including supervisor name, nature of the reprimand, the route, run and trip, the restroom facility in question, times involved, and any other perti-nent details. Having fully recorded details of reprimands or harass-ment by management that appear to contradict OsHA statutes will be invaluable for filing any OsHA complaints, or Union action.
Regarding Metro driver restroom breaks
Submitted by Ann Ziegler
Among the several Metro contractors that operate AC-CESS para-transit vans, only
one is a union shop. In partnership with ATU members, Solid ground Transportation (SgT) operates a fleet of ACCEss buses as well as the free Downtown Circulator, bringing accessible transportation to people living on low incomes, the elderly and people living with disabilities. This partnership is consistent with Solid ground’s anti-poverty and pro-human dignity mission. AC-CESS vans driven by these ATU brothers and sisters are distinctive in that they lack a recruitment mes-sage on the rear of the vehicle.
In 2013, SgT provided over nearly 400,000 rides that make our com-munity more livable for our most frail neighbors. Solid ground was a pioneer in providing door-to-door para-transit in our community in the mid 1980’s, well before Metro was required to serve people who are unable to use standard transit.
My wife Kathy and I have been driving for Solid ground (and its predecessor the Fremont Public As-sociation) for 25 years. We are the company’s longest tenured operators.
For all these years our motives have been to be professional, to be caring and to be safe. Also, I think
the most important thing is to be a warm spirit. We realize by doing this type of work you are not going to have a Rolls Royce. You are not going to live in a mansion. You are not going to have people waiting on you hand and foot. This job is done from the heart and out of love. We’re blessed to be in an environment where we can shine by going that extra step. My years doing this job has shown me that any one of us can become frail — whether from age or accident — and so each rider is a case of will do the best I can.
While transportation is the big-gest component, Solid ground is better known for its housing, home-lessness prevention, hunger and nutrition programs, and advocacy programs. For example, each year more than 55,000 King County resi-dents come to Solid ground to meet their urgent transportation, housing and food needs, and to get skills
and resources they need to thrive.Last year Solid ground helped
991 formerly homeless families make progress toward thriving in long-term housing. They helped prevent homelessness for over 3,000 people through counseling and financial support.
Solid ground’s school, communi-ty and farm based nutrition classes helped over 4,000 people cook more nutritious meals and make better health and fitness choices.
These are the services offered by Solid ground that are potentially available to ATU members as part of the community:
Mortgage counseling (http://www.solid-ground.org/Programs/Housing/Mortgages/Pages/default.aspx) that can provide information, advice and advocacy to people threatened with or involved in foreclosure.
Tenant services (http://www.
solid-ground.org/Tenant/Pages/de-fault.aspx) including a hotline and comprehensive online resources to help with landlord tenant issues.
Financial Fitness Boot Camp, work shop s a nd one - on- one support to get your f inancial house in order (http://www.sol-id - g round . o rg /Prog rams/Hous -ing/Financial/Pages/default.aspx).
Family Assistance, which pro-vides information and referral, advice and direct legal representa-tion to individuals who have had their state public assistance benefits (e.g., Basic Food/food stamps, Med-icaid, ADATSA, TAnF, Disability Lifeline) reduced, terminated or denied. (http://www.solid-ground.org/Programs/Legal/Family/Pages/default.aspx).
King County’s use of Solid ground as an ACCESS contractor is a uniquely beneficial use of taxpayer funds. By doing so, not only does Metro provide critical para-transit to those who would often have no other means to travel outside of their homes, but the funds remain entirely in the community. Other “outsourced” service contracts are held by foreign based multi-national corporations.
Driving on Solid Ground/We are Family
By Ninus Hopkins, Executive Board Officer
Each driver needs to take the initiative to protect their own health, regardless of tight schedules or inadequately supplied
restroom facilities.
King County’s use of Solid Ground as an ACCESS contractor is a uniquely
beneficial use of taxpayer funds.
November 2014
6
that you have not seen them for a while. Here is the story and update:
We came into an existing family of 2 - Ms. Metra and Mr. Buster (who had to be put down last year due to an advanced injury), they had already been altered and who we just found out happen to be siblings. In comes Mr. Coal — again trapped and altered. Last April a new feral mom came to the Toyota Dealership (a feeding area) and brought with her 3 babies. The mom was trapped and spayed. The mom then brought her babies to BTC 3 different times, and on the last time she left them for us. Metra stepped in as a fabulous stepmom and raised them (you’d never know they were not hers). Coal left as fast as possible (no comment)! Metra did a great job.
They were soon trapped, altered, and examined, and they were very healthy. We now have Mr. Pumkin, Ms. Sweet Pea, and Ms. Tigra. We set up shelter and food for them, and they learned the safety of living in/around the busy transit center. They eventually began to come to us; they are so sweet and loving.
Marlene and I knew we were relative “short-timers” and had to find “forever” homes. in comes Darrell and Shannon Shay and of-fered a home for the babies. Far away on a farm! After “the kids” were gone Metra became lonely and depressed. Once again I asked the Shay’s to also take her, and they agreed. I hear they are doing very well, and the Shay’s are probably
Metro’s budget woes
Dear Editor:
Metro’s budget woes are not the result of transit workers who re-jected a contract offer that contained $100 million in takeaways. Rather, blame rests at the feet of County Executive Dow Constantine, who lobbied for $8 billion in tax breaks for Boeing, new stadiums, and other fancy pet projects, while facilitat-ing cuts to basic services including Metro bus service.
The gutting of Metro, an agency that once earned top honors for providing quality public transit, is shameful. The state legislature has refused to fix the funding crisis — but the solution is obvious in reconfiguring our tax system to get revenue from wealthy companies such as Costco, Microsoft, and Vul-can Inc... This, along with eliminat-ing massive subsidies to companies like Boeing, would provide enough revenue for all the state’s budget woes — including county public health clinics that are about to close. Chopping top-heavy management would also help.
The Times Editorial neglected to mention that transit workers sacrificed $60 million in their prior contract. More concessions and worsening work conditions drove the no vote of Amalgamated Transit Union members. Lack of rest breaks, or time to even go to the bathroom is destroying the health of bus drivers. The solution to the bus cuts is not gouging taxpayers or transit workers, rather it is going where the County’s vast wealth is, and that is at the top.
Sincerely,Linda Averill
The Trellis at 4th and Pike
After the death of a well respect-ed union sibling, someone relayed this story to me which resulted in these words.
They had been talking on a layover at 4th and Pike when he suddenly leaned over and kissed her on the cheek.
Shocked at himself, he drew back and stammered an apology.
She smiled disarmingly; told him not to worry about it.
And neither one ever did.
It was one of those moments when co-workers reach a simpatico; a mutual base comprised of trust and solidarity.
A moment made to swerve around second hand gossip and brake into a smooth stop.
Like a clematis vine, they have twined through the decades on a trellis of friendship.
Climbing higher and higher, each has weathered a different reason to face the day.
Each has been rerouted and still chose reasons to bloom.
This moment has traveled far in a pocket of their heart.
She has taken those contents out, and even now, can still detect a faint fragrance of that memory while fast idling for a few seconds.
He will remain a blossom tucked neatly into her heart on the trellis at 4th and Pike.
Annette Bishop#2764
Thanks To Everyone
I would like to take a minute of your time to give a HUGE Thank You to everyone who has had any-thing to do with the Burien TC over the past few years. For the past many years we have been taking care of a few feral kitties. And I know that most of you have expressed concern
Letters/contributions must include print-ed names, signatures, work ID numbers, addresses and phone numbers that can be verified during working hours. Let-ters that cannot be validated will not be published. All articles/letters are subject to editing and should be limited to 1000 words or less. not all letters can be pub-lished due to space limitations. Cut off is close of business the 15th of each month. Any submission from a member of Local 587 to the News Review deemed unprint-able by the Recording Secretary shall be forwarded to the Executive Board for final decision to publish.
Send letters and articles as original Word documents to Judy young at
expressed in News review articles are those of the
authors and not necessarily the official position
of Local 587
Letters to the Editor…
continued on page 7
To: All Members of Local 587From: Recording Secretary Judy Young
Proposal To Change Bylaws ARTICLE III, Section 1
In accordance with the Article XV, pertaining to bylaw proposals, the following proposal will be published in the October News Review, read into the records at the Executive Board Meeting and subsequent cycle of membership meetings and will be voted upon through the November cycle of union meetings.
Current Language: ARTICLE III Officers
Section 1. The regular Officers of the Local
(a) President/Business Repre-sentative
(b) Vice President/Assistant Business Representative
(c) 2nd Vice President/Assistant Business Representative - Maintenance
(d) Financial Secretary/Trea-surer
(e) Recording Secretary/Cor-respondent to In Transit
(f) Candidates for President/Business Representative, Vice President/Assistant Business Representative, Financial Secretary/Treasurer and Recording Secretary/Corre-spondent to In Transit shall be elected by the membership at large.
(g) Candidates for 2nd Vice Presi-dent/Assistant Business Rep-resentative - Maintenance shall be nominated from and elected by all members within Vehicle Maintenance; Facilities Maintenance; Rail Vehicle Maintenance; Way, Power and Signals, and Streetcar Maintainers as
listed in the current labor agreement with King Coun-ty/Metro.
New Proposed Language: ARTICLE III Officers
Section 1. The regular Officers of the Local
(a) President/Business Repre-sentative
(b) Vice President/Assistant Business Representative
(c) 2nd Vice President/Assistant Business Representative - Maintenance
(d) Financial Secretary/Trea-surer
(e) Recording Secretary/Cor-respondent to In Transit
(f) Candidates for President/Business Representative, Vice President/Assistant Business Representative, Financial Secretary/Treasurer and Recording Secretary/Corre-spondent to In Transit shall be elected by the membership at large.
(g) Candidates for 2nd Vice President/Assistant Busi-ness Representative - Main-tenance shall be nominated from and elected by the membership at large in-cluding but not limited to by all members within Ve-hicle Maintenance; Facilities Maintenance; Rail Vehicle Maintenance; Way, Power and Signals, and Streetcar Maintainers as listed in the current labor agreement with King County/Metro.
opeiu8aflcio
Submitted by Andrew Price September 16, 2014
November 2014
7
Letters to the Editor…very tired of me asking. I will try to stop bugging them.
There is the update. now I want to take a bit of time to give thanks to everyone: drivers, supervisors, PD, a Chief, and a very big “Big-Wig,” and all the babysitters who helped when we were gone. Even if you didn’t like them you made sure they were safe, fed and watered. Many of you took your breaks and went over and visited and talked to them. They were part of our working environ-ment. They are very much missed.
I get lots of south base drivers who have been approached by other bases and asking questions about them. I watch as drivers go over there and just look around for them. They were part of our job that many drivers looked for-ward to during their shift. We had something to look forward to for a minute of peace.
Bottom line…they are safe, healthy and happy. Darrell and Shannon thank you so very much for offering your home to them.
Morgan Len Michaels #3717Marlene Horner #2727
Final Rant I have been a driver with METRO
since 1978. At the time I started I had four young kids, all now graduated from college with thriving families and great jobs. Time to retire, I de-cided. This job is killing me. When I started I loved my job, I felt sup-ported and appreciated, passengers were thankful and complimentary. We had a good working team at METRO…those were the days of “driver appreciation day,” and “cul-tural diversity,” when we met with other job groups to hear their issues.
I wondered how I would ever leave METRO and not miss it. Well let me tell you, I cannot wait ’til my day of separation from this place. The horrible work conditions and attitude of the high up managers have destroyed the morale of those of us that really do the work to keep METRO a top notch agency. My sister is a manager at Microsoft. She has to do evaluations of her employees. So I asked her to give me an example of what you would say to someone that is a bad employee. She said she would start by saying, “You do such an excellent job in this and this and this. But maybe for the next year you could work on this and this.” Wow, how different at METRO. I would say that every day a bus operator gets back to the base without some horrific incident is an accomplishment, but do we hear about that??? no, but oh how METRO likes to make sure we hear about every little insey winsey little boo-boo. We may report to work and bam, right there is a note first thing “See Chief”…Complaint (many
times it’s a disgruntled passenger whining because a driver did not break a rule to accommodate them.) Way to start the day!
I think most every bus driver comes into work wanting to give 110 percent to the job of getting safely through the day serving our customers. How deflating to get a whining complaint or PR for being early. Thank you METRO for making my day. now I get to go out and hear from the abusive passengers that have gotten MORE abusive because METRO culture
says, “customer is always right and just take the abuse, and you’re the professional.” Then we get it from the road raging SOV driver who with the horrible traffic conditions these days has gotten more insane. If that is not enough, now these ignorant King County Council members and Managers want to listen to these audit pencil pushers that have no idea how insane the schedules have become.
These schedules are killing the drivers, they cannot drink water because they cannot get to
a bathroom, and they cannot stretch their legs because they are stuck in a traffic jam on the freeway. i read the Facebook 587 drivers forum…it is crazy how bad things are out there. I feel for all of you that have years to work at this job. King County Council needs to wake up and see L&I injuries are going to escalate unless working conditions improve. good luck to you all. And try to “Work to Rule” to save your body.
Ruth Wilson #3927North Base Operator
November 2014
8
Seattle might be good enough to send a team to the Super Bowl. But as far as having the
big game come here, forget about it!Last year the “Hawks” made
us proud in new Jersey. The day after the game, there were as many headlines about the mess in transit, as the game itself. So when I hear certain council members or the press making recommendations that the answer to Metro’s money woes are another audit, or to not invest resources into transit, I start to wonder if they have a clue what the public really wants.
I’m going to tie all this together in a bit, but first a Craigslist story. Last weekend I searched the internet for old goat parts. I came across an ad from a guy in Redmond selling metal from a ’67. I called him up and told him I’d bring cash, because we’re likely to become friends.
It didn’t take long to realize my appetite was fatter than my wal-let. In between all the haggling we managed to do some B.S.’ing. As coincidences go, he is a foreman mechanic for the Port of Seattle.
At one point I told him I couldn’t afford an extra set of doors. He in-quired what I did for a living. I told him i’m a mechanic for Metro. He replied, “Well then you should be able to afford it.” I explained to him my wage and that some people be-lieve we’re overpaid. He stammered with disbelief, “For real? Then you’re working in the wrong place. I make
$52 an hour, 22 holidays a year; you should come work for the Port!”
Wow! A glimpse of another real-ity was flashed right before my eyes. This guy had my car, my occupation, just not my wage. My mother raised me to live life with no regrets. To always strive to better myself and accept defeat as just one step in a staircase. Yep, my mom is awesome!
I believe a good mechanic is in demand in these parts. I believe King County takes pride as being the nation’s leader in utilizing multi-propulsion fleets. i believe Metro’s mechanics duties here have evolved to include traditional electrician du-ties. I believe mechanic wages don’t reflect this evolution because of the hazards entailed. I believe might and will can help establish these beliefs.
Make no mistake I like my job! I take pride in my work! I like serv-ing the public of King County! But I can only take so much. Why must my family suffer because some politicians lack faith in transit? if an arbitrator must take food from my family’s mouth, so be it! And, if I choose to stay my family will adapt to getting less from me, so will Metro!
Are you picking up that I’m un-happy? it’s just not fair to compare our wages to some agency from across the country. How ludicrous is this argument when it comes to retaining or attracting talent? As if I would quit King County, sell my house, accept a job a few states away
for similar pay? reality is there are better paying jobs across the street. An employer can only catch fish from the waters they’re fishing in, and lately fishing hasn’t been good for Metro!
A couple of winters ago Metro came to the Union and asked for our help in attracting talent for future mechanic recruitments. We were told people just don’t want to be mechanics for Metro anymore, and recent recruitments have suffered. After a heated debate within Union leadership to allow non-represented labor in the shops, the Union agreed that an investment into the future was in the public’s best interest; and so began the Mechanic Internship Program.
It’s time the council stands up and invests in the future like the Union has, and shows as much concern about tomorrow as it does for today. Retaining and acquiring a compe-tent and committed workforce is paramount when quality, reliability and safety are the agencies mantra.
These budget woes that “those who lack faith in transit” are le-veraging against us, (the numbers that drive our service levels) are our politicians’ problem. Our wages are our family’s problem! Don’t confuse the two! Maybe some of our elected officials have forgotten the golden rule. “Stand up for the public’s employees; they’ll stand up for you come Election Day!”
So here we are today. Vehicle
Maintenance is upset because we know the truth. Rather than ad-dressing our main grievance of low wages, Metro threatens us with going to arbitration and stripping away the very perks that motivated many of us to accept this job in the first place. Maybe this is all a case of reverse psychology, but if Metro takes away everything that makes us want to work here, quality, reli-ability and safety will improve.
Back to Seattle hosting a Super Bowl and another audit. The only way the nFL will ever allow a game to be hosted here is for King County to prove well ahead of time we can move large numbers of people with ease. So let’s look at how the last audit (2009) got Seattle closer to making the Super Bowl a reality.
The last audit slashed recover time to where running late is now normal. Last audit extended mainte-nance intervals to where the public is becoming familiar with mechan-ics. Last audit reduced brakes and training resulting in an escalating number of job injuries, accidents, L&I complaints and a lawsuit. Are you getting the point that audits focus more on political agendas than actually improving service to the public?
so what’s a Hawks fan to do? Give up on the dream? HELL NO!!! This is our gut check time, and WE go for the win! Do what our President is calling for; motivate our politicians to invest in transit? risE!
No Super Bowl in SeattleSubmitted by VM Board Officer Cory Rigtrup
After reading your article in the February 2014 News Re-view, we responded (March
2014) in an attempt to dispel some of your questions, address some of your opinions and shed some truth to your incorrect statements, and we realized we failed, and for that we apologize. It is with heavy hearts we now read your latest at-tempt to revert to the old way of doing business with regards to your current submitted bylaw and how it will weaken the representation of the minority 587 classifications, the non-operators, Vehicle Mainte-nance, Facilities Maintenance and Rail. You made several accusations in your article, but you didn’t do your research then or now. Instead you seem ill focused on an unknown agenda to hurt us all.
Rather than seek out the original makers of this bylaw and obtain the facts, you fall right into manage-ment’s hands to divide and conquer. Right now our VM and FM brothers and sisters are under attack from
management and we need some-one who knows and understands our daily issues. not someone who needs to call for help because they don’t understand.
We ask you Brother Andy would you want a VM/FM member at the table representing operator issues? We seriously doubt it, no more than we want you to represent VM/FM issues.
You accuse VM/FM of stacking the meeting, I ask you brother Andy were you there? do you truly un-derstand what this current position means to vM/FM?
Do you understand the history of why this position was created? Obviously not.
Once again, if your bylaw passes, the “tyranny of the majority” will fall upon the lesser number mem-bers of this local, please don’t vic-timize us again. The position of the second VP Maintenance and how our classifications under our cur-rent bylaw, only vote on the second VP Maintenance position assures
us our votes count for the member we want. This position has given maintenance ownership in this local, an empowerment we were never able to achieve in the past election history, and it comes with no takeaway to operators!
If you must change, for the sake of changes, write a bylaw so only operators can vote for the first vP, the maintenance members I talked to would support this. Run it by the International, as we did when we received approval for our second VP Maintenance.
We do question the timing of your bylaw, at a time when we are without a contract, and have voted no on two offers brought before us. Your current bylaw proposal only weakens us and if passed will further the animosity within our membership, is that what you really want? in this current state of frus-trations of all us 587 members, we question your timing of this bylaw. Now is the time for solidarity not divisiveness.
While we admire your Don Quix-otism drive, we are saddened by the Stalinist principals you put forth in this bylaw. Please leave the bull pen and your social media sites, and make contact with the other mem-bers in this local, the non-drivers, we are approachable, hell I would like to spend some time with you. So go on and get out there at the bases and ask us non-operators what we think of your bylaw, we’re thinking you’ll get a lot of HELL NO’S!
The reality is we don’t have the numbers to vote this bylaw down, and we “non-operators” have you to remind us of this fact again, “thanks Andy, my union brother.”
Mike Whitehead Transit Parts Specialist,
33 years as a 587 member, 4 terms as VM Board Officer.
Jeff StambaughLead Mechanic,
15 years as a 587 member, 2 terms as VM Board Officer
Andy, NOT our Union Brother!
November 2014
9
Sister Lorri Kurth has asked me to apologize for including her name in my article last month
on our latest Work-To-Rule. I told her I would, but that I would include an explanation of why I included it in the first place. To begin with, i included her name because I didn’t want to be rude by not giving her rec-ognition for her efforts on the WTR. Secondly, I wanted the membership to recognize her as a contact person for the WTR. The article itself was the result of conversations I had with her, in-person and online, before the article submission deadline of the 15th. Sister Kurth wrote to me several times asking such things as: “Let’s start a work to rule… I’ll help make flyers…Can we do this?” and “i’m going to help make pamphlets and then we need to get them out to the bases and get support” and “I also want funding for it and buttons.”
I agreed to help with the WTR and told her I would write an article supporting it. I also said that I would recruit other drivers, work to help secure union funding, and make a motion supporting the WTR. I then went and did all those things. After the article came out, Sister Kurth sent me an angry email telling me that she wanted to dissociate her
name from mine, because in an unrelated incident, I decided to get up and walk away instead of run-ning to tell management when one of her rivals did something stupid.
I want to make it perfectly clear that I still support the WTR, and that my motion for the union to “Support SAFE’s work to rule cam-paign, further actions to follow” still stands. Support the WTR! Support our union!
ON SOLIDARITYAn atmosphere of turning on
each other is becoming pervasive in our union. There have been several instances of members turning their brothers and sisters in to manage-ment for discipline. One member lost their job! (It’s being arbitrated) I will defend my reputation and honor if it’s unjustly slurred, but I’ll do it through the union or through this newsletter, not management. I always encourage my brothers and sisters to speak out as well, but can’t we stop fighting each other and unite our collective frustration and energy in positive ways? One avenue to re-newing our union is through greater individual member participation in its processes. I’m happy to see that gradually increasing. now that the
contract vote is in, we need to do everything we can to improve our chances in arbitration. One of the best things we can do is to help get Prop 1 passed!
PROPOSITION 1 UPDATE
now that further cuts are off the table, the new vision of Prop 1 is to increase service. From the text of Prop 1: “Any remaining revenues may be used to address overcrowd-ing, reliability, and service fre-quency within the City of Seattle.” Passage would generate $45 million per year, earmarked specifically for bus service. There is no oppo-sition statement in the KC voter’s pamphlet, and support is coming from a variety of groups, including our Local, the King County Labor Council, the Transit Riders Union, and unexpectedly, the Seattle Times editorial board.
The downside is that the funds come attached to more audits. Coun-cilmember Dembowski wants an annual audit of Metro, and Mayor Murray wants to create a transit office within the city dOT. do you remember what happened to work-ing conditions after the last audit?
Until 2000, Metro had a progres-sive, stable source of funding via the Motor Vehicle Excise Tax. I-695 changed all that. The bulk of Metro’s operating budget then became reli-ant on increasing percentages of local sales tax. The problem with sales tax revenue is that it is unpre-dictable. Under county code, Metro must use the forecast from the Office of Economic and Financial Analysis. That forecast predicts uninterrupted sales tax increases from 2011–2024, and this is what the agency’s future is currently being banked on. This is very shaky ground, and our Local must continue to do what it can to pressure politicians in Olympia to re-establish secure funding for Met-ro. Lawmakers in Olympia didn’t provide a permanent, stable funding solution during this recession when Metro was imploding. How much harder will it be to motivate them now? We have our work cut out for us on many fronts.
In the meantime, please support Proposition 1 and Work to rule!
(http://www.yesforseattletransit.org/index.html)
In Solidarity,Andy
An Apology and a Call for Solidarity
Submitted by Andrew Jeromsky, Executive Board Officer
This year marks the 16th Anniversary of the tragic event on the Aurora Bridge in which our Union Brother Mark Mclaughlin was killed. This year we will be dedicating a park bench in memory of Brother Mclaughlin at Mark F. Mclaughlin Park located at north Base. The dedica-tion will be Friday, november 28, 2014 at 10:30a.m. Light refreshments will be served.
Prior to the bench dedication, flowers will be placed on Brother McLaughlin’s grave at Holyrood Cemetery, 205th. St. and 1st Ave nE, Shoreline, WA
In Memory of Brother Mark F.
MclaughlinTRANSIT
WORKERS
ENDORSE
LEGISLATORS
WHO VOTE
PRO TRANSIT
November 2014
10
Vice President DeVoss’ ReportBy Clint DeVoss
An Operator or group of Operators have proposed a By-Law change that would
make anyone including Operators eligible to run for the Maintenance VP position AnD all union mem-bers, including Operators, can vote for the person running for the Maintenance Vice President.
The proposed By-Law change is underlined and the part that takes away VP from Maintenance is Underlined and Bold. Do not be fooled by the language after “by the membership at large”, it says including maintenance “but not
limited to”, this means everybody gets to run and vote.
Change to Article 3, Section 1:(g) Candidates for 2nd Vice
President/Assistant Business Rep-resentative – Maintenance shall be nominated from and elected by the membership at large including but not limited to by all members within Vehicle Maintenance; Facilities Maintenance; Rail Vehicle Mainte-nance; Way, Power and Signals, and Streetcar Maintainers as listed in the current labor agreement with King County/Metro.
All the people in Maintenance that do not want an Operator as the Maintenance Vice President must attend one of the meetings in November to vote and VOTE NO!
november meetings are on: november 6 (8:00 pm – Seattle);
november 7 (10:30 am – Seattle); november 8 (11:00 am – Seattle); november 10 (7:00 pm – Port Townsend); november 12 (3:30 pm – Seattle); and november 18 (7:00 pm – Port Angeles). Please attend one meeting!
I cannot tell you why Operators
would want to run for, or vote on the Maintenance VP position. They do not know about RAIL Maintenance, VM or FM. Since they do not know anything about Maintenance, we will be back to the same position we were in before we had a VP representing us. Some of our former Executive Board officers worked very hard for a long time to get a Full-time Officer for Maintenance; do not let the Operators take your representation away!
In solidarity,Clint
Vice President’s Journal for November 2014
Vice President Safrin’s ReportBy Neal Safrin
S.A.F.E. - Safety Always First for Everyone
S.A.F.E. Week took place from October 13 – 17. At this point, it is unclear what impact that it had. However, as many of you have pointed out, following all rules and regulations is the manner in which we should be operating at all times. This is the only way that we can safeguard our health. This is the most effective tool that we have in our tool bag; this will demonstrate to Metro and to our ridership that our schedules are unrealistic, our working conditions are still going
downhill, and the bad schedules create an unsafe environment for our members and for our ridership. Wear your S.A.F.E. buttons and show your solidarity with your brothers and sisters. If your riders ask what they can do, tell them to call the King County Council and tell them to Fix The Schedules!
Safeguard your health and TAKE YOUR BREAKS!
Texting and the DDUOur jobs have changed in many
ways in response to technological changes. One of the changes that many members are concerned with
is the amount of information that is being texted to us via our radio sys-tem or Driver Display Unit (DDU). Many of the texts do not apply to the type of work that we picked. But somehow, in order to maintain the DDU in full working order, we have to acknowledge the text in order to clear the screen. Another driver that I know calls the DDU the “Driver Distraction Unit.” nowadays, while driving a bus, we are bombarded by constant beeps that tell us that there is information on the DDU that needs to be acknowledged. Our eyes often leave the road, to glance at the DDU. Much of the informa-
tion should be voice messages, not text. At our most recent Joint Safety Meeting I brought up our concerns and requested a study by the Safety Department on the part that the DDU plays in driver distraction and what can be done to minimize it. I will be reporting back to you in the coming months on this issue.
Until next month-In Solidarity,
Neal
ATTEND THE MEETINGS, VOTE NO on the By-Law Change to have an Operator
as the Maintenance VP!
November 2014
11
The Financial Secretary’s ReportBy Paul Neil
New Member Applications submitted to the
ATU International in September:In the month of September 2014, we reported
8 new members to the ATU International; 2 at Clallam Transit and 6 at SPT. This brings our total active membership to 3925. This is a de-crease of 176 members compared to this time last year when we had 4101 active members.
Bills:All financial figures are subject to the review
of the Executive Board.
Income:In September total income was $245,996.66.
Expenses:Per Capita payments totaled $65,368.86
other bills for payroll, rent, legal, etc totaled $242,703.01. This amounts to a deficit of $65,753.07 for the month.
Year to date compared to last year:Total income is up $21,420.42 or 0.9%, Per
Capita payments are up $6,357.30 or 1.2% and all other expenses were down $175,005.82 or -8.3%. For the year we have a surplus of $53,171.25 compared to a deficit of $-136,897.69 last year at this time.
BudgetIncome is $11,762.92 or 0.5%below budget
projections. Per Capita payments are $35,009.19 or 5.9% below projection and all other expenses
are $48,831.78 or 2.8% above projections. Overall are net is $25,585.51 below budget.
Please note that the budget includes all expenses and income except those related to assessable items due to their high variability.
My activities for the month:• Our auditor Herman Lindsey has com-
pleted the 2013 audit.• The office server has been replaced.• Buttons and brochures have been prepared
for the “For Safety Sake” campaign. • The Local 587 Audit Committee has
completed the six month audit for the period ending 6/30/14.
Puget Sound Labor Agency
The Puget Sound Labor Agency(PSLA) was founded by the labor Unions of King and Snohomish counties to aid Union members when they are in need such as when they are laid off or on strike. The PSLA runs a food bank, helps with utility bills, builds wheelchair ramps and provides many other services. I know not
everyone can donate but if you can please do. Just designate the Puget Sound Labor Agency, AFL-CIO, code #9306 on your donation form. You can donate each payday, once a month or make a onetime gift. The deadline for the annual campaign is november 21st.
October 2014 Membership Meeting Report
KEEP YOUR ADDRESS
CURRENT!!(A request from our Local 8 Union office staff)
Throughout the year Local 587 mails letters to our membership. With each mailing sent, the union re-ceives a small percentage of letters returned due to improper address.
Local 587 maintains a database that in part includes the names and addresses of our King County Met-ro members. The King County Metro section of the database is updated monthly from data provided by King County Metro.
If you are a King County Metro employee and your name and address is not current with King County Metro, you may not receive union mailings. Please keep your name and address current with King Coun-ty Metro.
Happy Thanksgiving!
November 27th
November 2014
12
Retirees’ Corner The View from
the BusesBy Bob Morgan, Retired First-Line Supervisor
WOW...summer seemed to pass me by this year, just too busy I guess. Took a
couple of short RV trips and had an enjoyable time, except the first week of September when we went to Banff, Alberta and woke to almost a foot of snow. And someone talks about global warming; well they should have been there. Locals said it’s the earliest significant snowfall that most of them had ever seen. Just my luck!
Saw that the membership over-whelmingly turned down the contract offer. At the October north breakfast I was talking to former 587 President Lance norton. We both remembered the 1980 contract and arbitration that occurred then. Went well into 1981 and finally both sides realized that BOTH of them were going to lose more than they would gain and settled. Would be nice for all if that occurred again, but with the current management I don’t think that is likely. Since I’ve been away from transit for over eight years I won’t go any further on this...let’s face it the job has changed more than even I would like.
Well the lawsuit against the State of Washington pertaining to the loss of a yearly COLA for PERS/TRS 1 was lost in the State Supreme Court.
I can’t really say what occurred since I wasn’t there for the arguments, but feel this is still wrong. As luck would have it a couple of days after the ruling my doorbell rang and there was a man and woman. He was Christopher Hurst and repre-sents the 25th legislative district. The woman was Cathy Dahlquist, she was the other representative for the 25th district, but is in a tight race for the 31st Senate against Pam Roach. Cathy is a Republican and Chris a Democrat. Together they have worked across the aisle quite well. I asked them in and we started talking and I mentioned the PERS 1 lawsuit and its outcome. They both had voted against the removal of the COLA and expressed their displeasure with the ruling. I then mentioned a form letter being cir-culated via email by Metro retiree Ron Moore asking the legislators to consider passing a law reinstituting the COLA. They both said it could possibly pass, but both felt that current governor Inslee would veto any ruling favoring the reissue of any COLA. I then looked them both in their eyes and asked them if any form of a lawsuit to repay PERS 1 the monies due by either the State borrowing from PERS 1 coffers at $3.9 billion, or the $4.0 billion owed
by the State not paying into the fund since 1974 would be a way to “force” a vote and signing of a bill to reinstitute the COLA. If all PERS 1 retirees or those still working would get onboard with this, well to put it bluntly, it could bankrupt the State if we won. They both fell silent and did not answer, but I felt I had hit a chord somehow.
Hopefully there will be some kind of resolution on this. Oh and one other thing—if you are on PERS 2 or 3 watch out because you’re next according to them. Also, be watchful on the defined 401(k) replacement for all PERS plans in the legislature. This action is com-ing from both sides of the aisle and is once again gathering steam for a vote so be aware! Realize also that large investment firms are backing this so they can reap the rewards. My opinion is they don’t care at all about the common individual. They just want our pensions in their companies.
Jokes:As some may remember from
past articles written by me, there was a fair amount of pranks played on bosses and others as well dur-ing my time at Metro. As I also mentioned in an earlier article, and some of you may remember, Metro had in the Control Center a separate soundproof room for radio traffic reporters. More than a couple of pranks were played upon them. One I’ll always remember was when the late Jim Walker called into the control center on a regular bus channel and reported that there was “considerable water” over the roadway at 65 Ave E and E Pike. not only did the Metro traffic reporters hear this and report this, the local news stations, both radio and TV reported this as well. 65th Ave E and E Pike is near the center of Lake Washington! no one incurred any punishment for this, even though everyone knew who did it. Oh, and the stations made sure to really listen to the scanners when the info was coming from Metro!
Another one was when we were on the 12th floor of the Exchange building. Dan Brown would go into the radio control room and login with a fake route run and use his old drivers id. He would give the trainee info that the bus wouldn’t go. Of course the trainee would ask the location and Dan would calmly say “I’m at the corner of Walk and Don’t Walk.” Trainee was so involved with the situation it would sometimes take a few minutes to sink in what they had heard and written down, this usu-ally happened when a supervisor was called to go and check on the coach and when the location was given, that is when the “light” went on in the trainee’s head.
Another one if you will. The late Joe Sisseling was working a District
car in southeast King County. not sure how but a significant amount of white bird feathers were float-ing out of the sky. Joe called in to report that it was snowing (bird feathers) on East Hill of Kent. Well again the TV/Radio station scanners picked up on this. And once more they never heard “bird feathers” —only the word snow! Okay, this time a memo went out to make sure everyone under-stands that people listen and to be sure to talk clearly. I thought it was funnier than all get out, but some say I’m a little warped.
Was sorry to hear of the pass-
ing of a good friend of mine and many others, rick sepolen. He was more a friend than a Union officer to me.
Also heard from Lou Torres that Jim Vaughn was dealing with some more health issues. not sure of what, but hope he will fight it.
Saw gary grout, former Fa-cilities Maintenance retiree at the October retiree’s lunch. He mentioned that he had a battle with kidney cancer and he had the left one removed in June. He said he felt fine and the doctors were seeing him every few months just to check to make sure there it’s not spreading to other organs. So far so good for him.
Was able to get together with Dan Sheppard and his wife at least 4 times over the summer, was nice to see them both.
Roger and Stephanie Cady buttoned up their B.C. place and are now back in the Tucson area. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to see one another on their south-bound trip.
Also was able to spend some time with dan Linville. He flew into town and used me as a taxi service while getting his Harley out of storage in Eatonville, was a nice visit. And yes he did ride it back to Arizona.
Some of you may remember Frank Falsini who for many years was the #1 operator then retired and came back as a part time operator at north Base. At the retiree’s breakfast someone asked him a question about the first female operators and when they were hired. He couldn’t remember so then he was asked when he started at Seattle Transit, it was 1943...geez I wasn’t even on this earth then!
And finally heard that good friend and my former chief in Service Quality, Rudy Allen, is going to retire before the end of the year. Congrats and welcome to the club!
i hope the upcoming Holiday season will be wonderful for all....
