The 1005 LineThe news and information
publication of
ATU Local 1005 Prepared and
distributed by the Education
Committee
For The People Who Know Where They Are Going
May /June 2011
" We as a nation must undergo a radical revolution of values...when machines and computers, pro� t motives and property rights, are considered more important than people, the giant triplets of racism, materialism, and militarism are incapable of being conquered."
- Martin Luther King, Jr. April 4, 1967
What’s Inside...
Officer’s Corner
page 2
Union Meeting Highlights
page 3
Stay Healthy on the Job
General Cleaning of Buses
page 9
Hanley Elected to the Executive
Council of the AFL-CIO
Diabetes Part Two
page 10
Transit Safety and Security
page 11
Some Union History
page 13
Local 1005 – 78 Years Strong
page 14
Central Corridor Project Facts
page 19
ATU Supports CTU
page 22
Contract O� er
Passes
Continued on page 8
Metro Transit’s “Best and Final Offer” was read to the ATU Local
1005 membership on May 1st at the Roy Wilkins Auditorium in St. Paul.
Members were allowed to vote after an explanation of the proposed
contract changes and an opportunity to ask questions about specific
language and changes. Members not in attendance at the meeting were
allowed to vote at the union office on Monday until 5:00 p.m. The
membership passed the contract 78% for and 22% against.
The term of the contract runs two years from August 1, 2010 through
July 31, 2012. The new contract has a lot of ‘clean-up’ language in
regard to dates and work rules.
When asked about the most difficult part of the negotiations, President
Michelle Sommers said that it was the healthcare aspects of the contract.
Another challenging area was the maintenance seniority system. They
spent considerable time negotiating on that issue, only to reach no
agreement.
There are many changes that the company would not agree to, and the
union will continue to work on these issues in the future.
One example of this is the Bus Maintenance and Rail Maintenance
seniority system. Another is the company's request to eliminate the nine-
hour run.
The following are a few of the changes:
Top wage rates for all wage classes will be frozen for the life of this
contract.
A trial system for grievances will streamline the procedure from a
OFFICER’S
CORNER
Page 2
Dorothy Maki Vice-President
LOCAL 1005
OFFICERS
President/Business Agent
Michelle Sommers
Vice-President
Dorothy Maki
Recording Secretary/
Ass’t. Business Agent
Dan Abramowicz
Financial Secretary/
Treasurer
Tommy Bellfield
ATU Local 1005
Union Office
8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
(Closed 12:00 - 1:00)
312 Central Ave.
Suite 438
Mpls., MN 55414
612-379-2914
email:
website:
www.atu1005.com
Calendar
Education Committee
Meetings- 11:30 a.m.
June 21st
July 19th
Membership Meetings
June 28th - Mpls.
July 26th - St. Paul
10:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Wake up…Wake up…
Wake up…Wake up
Wake up! The provocative social activist Michael Moore was in Madison on
Saturday, March 5th when ATU 1005 was there. When I shared this
news with several members, they said “Who’s Michael Moore?” . . .
My first thought was “WHAT!? You don’t know who Michael
Moore is?” I decided to help you out AND give you some homework
for this next month.
Michael Moore is a filmmaker, author and activist. In 1989 he
did his first documentary film called Roger and Me, based on Roger
Smith, CEO of General Motors. It took him two years and a lot of
SACRIFICE to do his first film. He had bingo tournaments, garage
sales and eventually sold his house to raise money in order to finish
it. The film was on how Corporate America was moving a devastating
number of jobs out of America. In 2002 he did a film on the National
Rifle Association called Bowling for Columbine. In 2004 he did
Fahrenheit 9/11. In 2007 he did a film on healthcare called Sicko that
was nominated by the Academy for best documentary. His most
recent film was Capitalism: A Love Story. As a writer, his first book
was Downsize This! Random Threats from an Unarmed American
(1996). This book is about the inexcusable corporate greed and
mistreatment of workers.
Michael Moore’s speech in Madison was awesome! It was about
the lie being fed to us that America is broke. America is NOT broke
- we just suffered the biggest heist in history. Approximately 400
people have the wealth of 155 million of us. I am going to post his
full speech on our union website: www.atu1005.com.
Continued on page 20
Page 3
Education
Committee
Advisor
Dorothy Maki
Chair
Melanie Benson
South
Liz Goldberg
Stacey Taylor
Heywood Office
Ilona LaDouceur
Rec. Secretary
Nicollet
Alec Johnson
Ryan Timlin
Twaya McIntosh
Debbi Sievers
Blayne Williams
Ruter
Anastasia Bloodsaw
Jackie Williams
East Metro
Philip Jarosz
Doug Barton
Heywood Garage
Faye Brown
Vice Chair
Walter T. Curry, Jr.
LRT
Stephen Babcock
Layout
Carl Rice
Lisa Callahan
725 Bldg.
Scott Lindquist
Editorial Board
Ken Dolney
Mark Lawson
Gary Bier
Union Meeting Highlights
March
Speaker
Dave Van Hattum from Transit for Liveable Communities came
and spoke before the membership. TLC’s vision for the future is to grow
and double the transit system by 2020. The House has proposed to cut
130 million in two years, Senate wants to cut 30 million in two years,
Governor Dayton wants to cut 0 in two years. We hope that Governor
Dayton will veto these bills. TLC has some of our same interests and
does a great job for us at the capitol.
Arbitration requests
A Heywood operator requested arbitration after being written up for a
customer complaint about refusing to board passengers. A vote was taken
and this will not be going to arbitration.
A South operator was scheduled to pick her work. As required, she
left five choices. None of her full choices were available. She was not
given as close to her current pick as possible. A vote was taken and this
will be going to arbitration.
Financial Secretary’s Report
Members stood for a moment of silence for the following member
who passed away:
Catherine Katocs, formerly of TIC
President’s Report
The Minnesota Legislature
“When I left to go to Washington (for the Annual ATU Legislative
Conference), there were five anti-union bills in the legislature. When I
came back, there were fifty.” There are meetings on MSRS, paycuts,
workforce reduction and cutting transit funding. The House wants to cut
$69 million from our budget this year and end union dues payroll
deductions. One of the bills would increase the employee’s contribution
to MSRS from 5% to 8% and reduce the state’s portion from 5% to 2%.
There is another bill for salary freeze and reduction. The Tea Party
members are throwing overlapping bills at the wall, trying to see what
sticks.
We need some serious help. We need people to get out and testify at
the committee meetings and support our positions. There are anti-union
acts all over the country, everywhere. If you volunteer, make sure you
wear your union apparel proudly or contact us if you are in need.
We need volunteers! All these bills will affect all of us in some way.
If you are not already involved, it is time to step up to the plate.
Continued on page 4
Page 4
Light Rail
Facility
Stephen Babcock #3128
Carl Rice #6223
Lisa Callahan #6716
Light Rail Train Derails
A light rail train derailed
shortly before midnight
Wednesday, March 2, 2011, the
first derailment in seven years.
The derailment occurred between
Nicollet and Hennepin Avenues
about 11:30 p.m. No one was
injured. The service was resumed
at 4:00 a.m. The train was
crossing from one track to another
at a switch when the lead car came
off its track. The second car did
not derail. The customers got off
the train and on to a bus bridge
from Nicollet Mall station to the
Twins Target Field Station. As a
standard procedure, the train
operator was removed and tested
for drugs and alcohol. The test
came back all clear and the
operator went back to work. The
track, its systems and the car were
inspected and tested before being
put back into operation. All the
operators, supervisors, and staff
worked very well to get the system
back up and running.
Some content came from
StarTribune.com
The federal government has
agreed to fund half of the largest
public works project ever
undertaken in the state of
Minnesota – the LRT Central
Corridor - for approximately
$450 million. Twelve percent of
the line construction is already
completed.
Arbitrations
We have won another cell phone violation in part - removal of the
forever final record of warning. We lost the Northstar arbitration.
Managers are allowed to drive trains in the rail yard.
Marches, rallies and campaigns
On the anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination (April
4th), there are marches and rallies planned.
There is a link to the ATU’s “We Are One” campaign on our website.
Contract
We are doing everything we can to bring an offer to vote on, in the
month of April. The Board will do whatever it takes to get it.
Met Council
Steve Jaeger and I met with Patrick Born, the new regional manager.
We talked about requesting changes in non-cost items in the contract.
Committee on Political Education (COPE)
The International ATU has come out with a new COPE campaign. It is
needed now more than ever. Please contribute what you can even though
it may be a dollar or two a paycheck. Please see the box in this issue.
Vice President’s Report
It’s time for sacrifice. SACRIFICE (sak-ruh-fis): noun - The
surrender or destruction of something prized or desirable for the sake of
something considered as having a higher or more pressing claim; verb
- To surrender or give up, or permit injury or disadvantage to, for the
sake of something else. This means sacrifice of our time right now. We
need you all at rallies, marches, phone banks, GOTV, and after hours
meetings…yes, that includes some cabin weekends. It’s time for the busy
middle class to hit the streets so that we keep our middle-class wages and
benefits. It’s time for sacrifice so we win this war being waged against
the middle class.
We need help and volunteers like we have never needed before. If you
can contribute to COPE, please do so. Every little bit adds up. We are
seeing the importance of funding legislators who see transit as we see
transit. We need federal and state funding, not cuts.
New Business
Public education has been under attack in many places, including here
in Minneapolis, with the attempts to close down North High School. The
Public Education Alliance of Minnesota (PEJAM) has invited a speaker
from the Chicago Teacher’s Union to Minneapolis on April 9 to address
these threats to public education.
A motion was made and passed to pay the rental cost of a room in the
United Labor Center for this event at a cost not to exceed $120.
East Metro
Philip Jarosz, Dr. #65015
Drivers, be aware of the
construction on University during
this pick (it will add to the fun).
Who will notice the 16 from the
50? How about those turnaround
times? (Lol) Customer service
through this time of transition can
be our gem shining in these
changing times. Patience will
prevail as we provide community
compassion for the greater good
down the road.
Has anyone noticed the new faces
on the ‘No Trespass’ board?
Something to consider as the
weather heats up peoples’ attitudes.
Another good year of driving at
East Metro was acknowledged with
good food and fellowship. The
simulator opened some eyes as to
driving conditions uncommon for
many.
The Tour for the Cure is coming
up soon and signups are still
accepted. Complete info from Team
Captain Mike Dalbec 651/245-
9134 [email protected]
Look forward to the new changes
in the kitchen this spring.
Anyone from East Metro may
submit an article for print to Driver
65015. All topics pertaining to
union/workers’ interests welcome.
Happy trails until we read again.
Page 5
April
Bill Neuendorf from Transit for Livable Communities addressed the
membership on the progress of their campaign. So far they have 10,000
signatures to support transit funding. The governor is supportive of
transit. It is a need and a necessity. They already had one meeting with
Governor Dayton, which was picked up on by the media. They are
hoping to get 20,000 postcards signed. (Postcards are available at the
union office. Time is running out.)
Arbitration Requests
A Nicollet cleaner asked for arbitration after being discharged for
theft. A vote was taken. This will not be going to arbitration.
A Heywood operator asked for arbitration after being discharged for a
responsible pedestrian accident. A vote was taken and this will be going
to arbitration.
A South operator asked for arbitration after being discharged for a third
violation of the Operator Policy triggered by a customer service
complaint. The operator was unfamiliar with the route and failed to drop
off the customer at the requested stop. A vote was taken and this will not
be going to arbitration.
A Nicollet operator requested arbitration after being discharged for an
accident and overall record. A vote was taken and this will be going to
arbitration.
An MJR mechanic requested arbitration after being put on a Final
Record of Warning and a three-day suspension. The mechanic technician
pulled in a bus and was instructed to park the bus in a certain area. A
vote was taken and this will be going to arbitration.
The union requested arbitration for a commuter rail employee after she
was passed up for a job that she was qualified for. The job was awarded
to a person with less seniority. A vote was taken and this will be going to
arbitration.
An East Metro operator requested arbitration after being discharged
for violation of the Operator Policy on attendance. A vote was taken and
this will be going to arbitration.
An East Metro operator requested arbitration after being charged with
an accident. A vote was taken and this will be going to arbitration.
An East Metro operator requested arbitration after being discharged
for violation of a Last Chance Agreement. A vote was taken and this will
be going to arbitration.
Commuter Rail Big
Lake
Metro Transit and BNSF have
agreed to serve all Twins games
this season. This is a big
improvement from last year as it
will reduce confusion that fans
had as to whether or not a game
was being served by Northstar.
Last year, we carried almost
170,000 people to/from the Twins
games. Based on last year’s
average passenger counts, serving
all games should bring in an
additional 45,000 passenger trips
this year. Games will be served
with a six-car consist to eliminate
the need for double stops.
Although we operated with eight-
car consists last year, based on our
average ridership, a six-car consist
should only be operating at 75%
- 80% of maximum capacity. Our
first game was Friday, April 8th.
New Rider Alert boards have
been installed at all Northstar
Stations. WiFi Installations –
Complete. Remaining 3 & 4 car
spot signs awaiting installation in
the yard. Several FMIs will be
happening soon, material is on the
way for all 6 units: Controller
reverser handle block to replace
on all 6 units. The TM air duct
baffle repair on all 6 units –which
means cutting duct open in ar10
room. Moving the HEP
transformer from top to bottom of
hep gen cabinet.
Sand Fill caps and tubes for fleet;
including two new covers for the
502 with improved seal. Also the
material and skid to the HEP
engine modification for 12
Selected staff members took
forklift training on April 6th and
April 7th.
Page 6
Financial Secretary’s Report
Members stood for a moment of silence for the following members
who passed away since our last meeting:
Martin J. Ruter, retired 66-year member
Kenneth Brooks, retired 50-year member
President’s Report
Cell Phone Policy
Had a meeting with management. After several arbitrations they have
agreed that the lifetime warning on the Cell Phone Policy will be reduced
to three years, and that suspensions will change from an automatic 20
days to a policy of ‘up to’ 20 days (degrees of severity). This policy
applies to student drivers also.
Contract Vote
The contract vote is scheduled for May 1st and 2nd. This offer is
better than the last offer. The board recommended it 19 to 1. Singles will
pay thirty dollars for health care, family coverage is down from what it
went up to in the beginning of the year. There will be a whole new
enrollment period (May 24-27). People will get a refund for any
overpayment.
Legislature
House bills, Senate bills and the governor’s bills will all come to a
head by May 23rd when the session officially ends. We are trying to give
the governor a reason to make sure he vetoes those transit-cutting bills.
We need to put the pressure on. Call your legislator, call your
representative. If he doesn’t use that veto pen, it is your job! The
governor had a transit round table which got very good news coverage.
We need members to show up for “Meet your Legislator” meetings set up
by Bill McCarthy, president of the Minneapolis Labor Federation and
Bobby Casper, president of the St. Paul Labor Federation.
Big "G"
At the union membership meeting
on March 22, Recording Secretary/
Ass’t. Business Agent Dan Abramo-
wicz fulfilled a lost wager. Being an
avid Vikings fan, he was forced to
wear a Packers hat for two days. He
had wagered against Dale Anderson,
Local 519 of La Crosse, Wisconsin,
that the Vikings would come out on
top of the Packers during the regular
season. The Vikings lost both games.
To make matters worse, during a
review of an arbitration video (with
the lights turned low) Dan's hat glowed like a beacon in the night from
the projector.
Page 7
Heywood
Ilona La Douceur #66048
Faye Brown # 6331
Walter T. Curry, Jr. #3815
April 13, 2011 was Driver
Recognition Day. Certificates and
pins were given out to drivers who
had an outstanding year, along
with pastries, fruit and drinks.
We also celebrated drivers who
were recognized with lunch and
different awards. From Heywood:
25 years Elite - Richard Krafty
761; 25-year Safe Driving Award -
Howard Foxx 1664 and Duane
Lundgren; 15 years Superior
Richard Bledsoe 1609 ; 10 years
Prestige Jay Jensen 9157 and
Thomas Mohler 7662; 5 years
Master - Ron Lawson 2466 and
Daher Jacobs 3830. We congratu-
late you.
SAFETY
April is Safety Fair Month,
which means always be aware of
your surroundings and watch for
the unexpected. Use your Smith
Keys. Nicollet Mall has always
been a no-passing zone (buses or
bicycles). So remember: All you
can do is WAIT, unless you’re
behind a broken-down bus, an
emergency or farmer's market
vehicles. Otherwise you could
get a violation, because street
supervisors are writing them. If
you’re passing, you are creating a
blind spot and lessen the ability to
see the pedestrian who might be
crossing in front of the vehicle you
are passing.
Local 1005
Hosts ATU NW
Conference
June 8-11
The Northwest Conference of the Amalgamated Transit Union
encompasses 28 union locals in the western half of the United States
(excluding California) and includes Minnesota to the east. The Northwest
Conference also encompasses western Canada in the provinces of Alberta
and Saskatchewan and Greyhound operators throughout the western half
of Canada.
Represented members of the local unions include bus (local, intercity,
and over the road), rail, light rail and paratransit operators, as well as
dispatchers, mechanics, facilities maintenance, security, customer service
representatives and administrative positions.
The NWC has evolved from a legislative into an educational
conference. In the late 60’s it began as the Northwest Joint Conference
Board, a forum for local presidents and business agents to gather and
discuss legislative issues. The name of the organization was changed
from the Northwest Joint Conference Board to the Northwest Conference
approximately six or seven years ago. Over time, with the encouragement
of International Vice-President Mel Schoppert of Local 757, Portland,
Oregon (now deceased), the level of participation increased. ATU Local
memberships continued to grow, spurring an increase in attendance at
both the January Executive Board meeting and the June Conference. The
legislative agenda was phased out in the 70’s with the creation of the
Amalgamated Transit Union Legislative Council.
Some of the items discussed are negotiated contractual agreements;
trends or changes in working conditions common to the represented
properties; changes that have taken place at provincial, state and federal
levels pertinent to the transportation industry in the U.S. and Canada;
proposed by-law changes; training classes; seminars and presentations for
the June conference. Meeting locations vary. This year’s meeting will
take place at the Ramada Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota.
(http://www.atunwc.org/history.htm)
There will be political speakers, representatives from the AFL-CIO,
ATU International VP's, and conference business with reports of locals,
etc. There will be additional forums on dealing with the media and
framing issues; communicating to the membership with technology and
web presence; and negotiating health care trends and wellness programs.
If you are interested in participating, please contact
your Garage Coordinator or the Union office. We need
van drivers, hosts for the hospitality room, errand
runners to stores, etc.
Nicollet
Melanie Benson #854
Twaya McIntosh #9002
Debbi Sievers #64222
Alec Johnson #66034
Ryan Timlin #66279
Blayne Williams #77
Please bring gently-used items
in for the Nicollet Garage Sale,
now set for July 30. This is a fun-
draiser for Cable TV in the drivers’
room and other activities, so
please donate generously.
Apparently we need a reminder
to park within the lines in the
parking lot, now that the snow is
gone and the lines can be seen
again. Anyone who has ever tried
to find a parking space when the
time to plug in is close knows how
frustrating it is to find one vehicle
straddling two spaces. Also, do not
park in no-parking zones, or your
vehicle could be ticketed and
towed.
The Nicollet Club now has an
old-fashioned popcorn machine in
the trainers’ room. Popcorn is 50
cents a bag. Sale of the popcorn is
another fundraiser for the Nicollet
Club.
Jim Swartout #69041 brought
Mardi Gras into Nicollet Garage
by distributing colorful bead neck-
laces, wearing a festive hat and
bringing in traditional “baby
cakes.”
Page 8 Final Contract Offer continued
three-step to a two-step system.
The Payroll Department is finally back in the ATU.
Weekend- holiday part timers (not all part time) will be paid time and
a half for hours worked on the holiday. This is not holiday pay. (#20).
Maintenance: 4 day/10 hour shifts allowed (#23). The same thing is
allowed in LRT (#60).
The clock whistles in the Maintenance Department are gone (#26).
Union providers of optional benefits such as short term disability will
be allowed. These benefits are not mandatory but they will be able to be
paid through payroll deductions (#54).
LRT certification for Maintenance members similar to the bus side
(#63).
A Run Time Committee will be created for problem routes. The ATU
will select operators for every committee established. The committee will
start with the September 2011 pick (#85). If interested, contact the union
office with routes you know about.
Michelle Sommers, president of ATU Local 1005, said the approved
contract reflects a trade off: Members agreed to a two-year wage freeze
in exchange for seeing no changes to their health insurance plans.
“It’s not a great offer, but we needed to keep health care the same,”
Sommers said. “That’s a big issue to us.”
HealthPartners contract expires in December of 2012. This is the
reason that the company would only offer us a two year contract.
Dave Rogers, LRT Operators Board member, Tom Mevissen, North-
star Commuter Rail Board member, and Maria Hennes-Staples, MJR
Operators Board member, watch the ballot box at the Roy Wilkins
Auditorium.
Page 9
MJR
Jackie Williams #66180
Anastasia Bloodsaw #2297
Retirements
Congratulations to the follow-
ing retirees:
Roxanne McClurg, Driver # 31,
who started on May 5, 1977 and
retired May 2, 2011.
Garold Campbell, Driver #1266,
who started May 7, 1984 and
retired May 13, 2011.
In other news:
There are now seven Maple
Grove coaches, and the new Maple
Grove terminal on Maple Grove
Parkway has been open for at
least two months. No more park-
ing in the Walmart parking lot!
Congratuations to Dereje Tafesse
on his OJE at East Metro. (From
MJR as a assitant manager trainee)
Congratulations to Marsha Smith
who won her arbitration. She is
now back to work at the Heywood
facility.
A warm welcome to new tran-
fers into Ruter.
Nebiyu Fula # 68229, Maintenance
fueler.
German Gonzales #68117,
Maintenance Cleaner
Radar McManus #64171,
Maintenance Cleaner
General Cleaning of Buses
While there may not be any OSHA regulations related specifi cally to
bus cleanliness, there are ways that we, as union members, can keep the
interiors of buses cleaner and more sanitary.
Drivers, in addition to lining their trash bags, may, if they choose, pick
up large litter (such as newspapers and bottles, etc.) left by passengers
on the seats or fl oors, in the interests of making the interior of the bus a
more welcoming environment. Drivers who pick up litter on the buses
may use the Purell wipes provided to clean their hands afterwards. Some
drivers worry that, by picking up large litter, they will be taking other
union members’ jobs away, but cleaners will always be needed. The need
exceeds employee capacity.
Sweepers clean bus interiors at the end of the day, about 75 buses per
shift. When a bus has been swept, the sweeper leaves the trash bag upside
down on the dash to signal its completion.
General cleaners, on the other hand, have a 22-item list of things that
need to be cleaned on a bus on a more infrequent basis. One cleaner can
clean two to three buses a day with vacuums, water and cleaning solutions.
Stay Healthy on the Jobby Melanie Benson, Driver #854
What’s about a foot long, six inches
wide and a foot deep, made out of blue
upholstery fabric sewn onto a metal frame,
that sits about two feet from a driver’s face and less than two inches from the mouth-
piece of the radio handset? Right – the trash bag.
The bad news is that these bags are, at the very least, extremely unat-
tractive. Because of their construction, they’re very hard to clean, and
their use and age show. Whether or not they could actually be unhealthy
for the drivers is a matter for discussion. Drivers have been known to rest
their thermoses in these trash bags. This is not a good idea.
The good news is that there are plastic liners for them. It’s just a mat-
ter of making them available at all garages and encouraging drivers to
use them. In the January/February issue of this newsletter, Pat Whelan,
a cleaner of 18 years (who recently retired) cautioned that “plastic liners
should always be used in these bags.”
The black plastic bags are available from the stockroom and should
be placed in a convenient location so the drivers remember to carry them
when they go out to the bus. With a little bit of practice, these liners can
be placed in the bags without ever having to touch the bag itself.
Even if there are some drivers who are not squeamish and don’t mind
looking at the bags, aesthetics should be a consideration for our passen-
gers, who can see into the bags when they pay their fares and sometimes
ask permission to deposit their own items in the bag. Clean black plastic
makes a much more tolerable sight than the stained receptacles we use
now.
Continued on page 18
Page 10
725 Bldg
Scott Lindquist #6401
New and News at the
Instruction Center
Transit Ambassador classes
will again be offered soon. There
have not been Ambassador
classes for quite a while now.
Operators who are interested
should contact their Garage
Coordinators to see if you get on
the list. Also, if you are interest-
ed in Safety Keys, the same
applies: contact your Garage
Coordinator.
Just for fun—
Rules and Regulations of the
Twin City Lines:
TRAINMEN AND BUS
DRIVERS’ GUIDE, (revised
July 1, 1950)
Operating Rules For the
Government of Trainmen and
Bus Operators;
Minneapolis Street Railway
company
The Saint Paul City Railway
Company
The Minneapolis and St. Paul
Suburban Railroad Company
Twin City Motor Bus Company
#7. Trainmen and bus operators
shall provide themselves with
not less than $5.00 in change
before reporting for duty and
may be required to show this
change to an authorized person
before taking a vehicle from the
station or Garage. The Company
issue of a supply of tokens to
employees remains the property
of the Company. At the start of
each day’s work this supply shall
be carried as “tokens” and not as
“cash."
Hanley Elected to
the Executive Coun-
cil of the AFL-CIO
WASHINGTON, DC (April 13,
2011) – Larry Hanley, international
president of the Amalgamated
Transit Union (ATU), was elected
to the executive council of the AFL-CIO today. Hanley, a Staten Island na-
tive and thirty-year veteran of ATU, has served as the union’s International
President since last September.
“We are excited to have Larry Hanley join the Executive Council of the
AFL-CIO,” said Richard Trumka, president of the AFL-CIO. “Larry is a
passionate organizer and a committed advocate for working families. Over
the decades, he has never shied away from confrontation or ducked a crisis
but used creative tactics, like carrying coffi ns into public hearings to protest
privatizing bus work and hiring a stagecoach to fi ght for more funding for
mass transit. Larry is a passionate communicator and organizer as well as a
committed advocate, and we are happy to welcome him to the Council.”
“I’m honored to join the AFL-CIO’s leadership team at such a crucial
moment for organized labor,” said President Hanley. “I look forward to
working alongside these fi ne men and women to not only defend and protect
the rights of American workers, but also to give a voice to the millions of
mass transit users being affected daily by devastating service cuts.”
Over his thirty-year career in the ATU, President Hanley has been a lead-
ing advocate for mass transit, vocally opposing service cuts and fi ghting for
increased regulation and better wages in the intercity bus industry. Hanley
testifi ed last week before the House Transportation Committee, discussing
legislative reform for the country’s surface transportation programs.
Diabetes Part TwoFrom the "Bad Girl" - Faye Brown #6331
Have you had your sugar level checked lately? You will be surprised
how easy it is to correct a problem. RECAP of previous article: If you
fi nd yourself with the misfortune of being diagnosed with diabetes, it's
not the end of the world, if you do something about it. Eat right, exercise,
and, if you have to take insulin, get the required waiver to drive.
Okay, let's move on: The symptoms can vary, so don't panic if you
have these:
TYPE 1: a) Frequent urination, b) Unusual thirst, c) Extreme hunger, d)
Unusual weight loss, e) Extreme fatigue and irritability
TYPE 2: a) Any of Type 1 symptoms, b) Frequent infections, c) Blurred
vision, d) Cuts/bruises that are slow to heal, e) Tingling/numbness in the
hands/feet, f) Recurring skin, gum or bladder infections
Often, people with Type 2 have no symptoms. See your doctor to be
better safe than sorry. You don't want to wake up dead if you can help it.
“Not me!” That's what the last unchecked diabetes patient said before the
blindness and loss of limbs, and before they buried him/her.
TRANSIT SAFETY/SECURITY
COMMITTEE (TSSC)
MEETING MINUTES
Disclaimer:
Due to format changes, these columns are not exact
replicas of TSSC minutes. We cannot assure the accura-
cy of all data. The exact minutes are posted after each
meeting at the operating garages.
Page 11
March 3, 2011
Members of the Committee Present:
Christina House - Committee Chair
Danielle Julkowski - Management Advisor
Dereje Tafesse - MJR
Lisa Benson - South
Darrell Hanson - Nicollet
Jerry Langer - MJR
Leatha Falls - FTH
Others in attendance:
Chuck Wurzinger - Maintenance
Brenda Himrich - Safety
Eric Isakson - TCC
Debra Downing - Street Operations
Jim Franklin - MTPD
CALL TO ORDER
Christina House called meeting to order at 10:00 a.m. in FTH Chambers.
REVIEW OF MINUTES
No February minutes.
VISITORS
Brad Carlson - Operator, Nicollet Garage
POLICE REPORT
Jim Franklin in attendance:
• Onboard goals (250 hours) were met for January, February
• Mid-April “Safe Zone” will start - 1500 hours
• 2010 - 17 felony assaults on Operators -15 arrests. Industry standards
are very high.
• Plain clothes still in force.
• Metro Transit PD –Value to the organization
TCC REPORT
Eric Isakson in attendance:
• February Call Volume
RTT: 10,015
South
Liz Goldberg #1630
Stacey Taylor #70055
South’s Shining Star
ANNA PENLAND
Just recently crowned Relief
Instructor, Anna is no stranger to
transit. With over 16 years as an
operator for Metro Transit, seven
years with the Metropolitan Atlanta
Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA)
and three more years back at Metro
Transit as a driver and Peer Support
Rep, she totals over 27 years in
transportation. Gregarious,
energetic, and personable, Anna
charms everyone with her passion
and drive. Congratulations on your
promotion, Anna! We love you!
PAUL KRECH - OJE
Participant
Paul has completed his recent
12-week On the Job Experience
internship at South. Previously he
was a part-time South operator
from 2001 to 2004 and then went to
Service Development as a
Scheduling Analyst.
Good humor, people and
numbers are what Paul enjoys most
- and his internship satisfied that
criteria nicely. Paul - Thank you!
You’re charming, funny, down to
earth and we’ll miss you!
Good Luck, RANDY FINCH
This relief instructor, operator
and ROADEO Star will be
competing in the upcoming
National Transportation Roadeo,
with all of our best wishes! We are
so proud of you!
Continued on page 12
Page 12
PRTT: 2,894
Overt: 159
Covert: 325
Covert Events: 100 (78 Regional)
Dispatched as Covert: 5
• New Hire - Maria Rios was a TCC OJE
SAFETY REPORT
Brenda Himrich in attendance:
• Metro Transit, Bus National Transit Database (NTD)
Reported Collisions - Safety Total by Year
2008 / 2009 / 2010
Total NTD: 74 / 70 / 59
Fatalities: 0 / 2 / 1
Miles 30,268,310 / 29,786,217 / 29,778,884
RISK
No Report
LRT
No Report
STREET OPERATIONS
Deb Downing in attendance:
• Marq 2 Corridor - Metro Mobility allowed to pick up
persons in wheelchair during rush hour.
• 5th St Garage - The end platforms will be fixed for
wheelchair accessibility this spring.
• 5th St Garage - Vandalism in the men’s bathroom
located in the Driver’s Room - The sink has been
pulled off the wall two times. Please notify TCC,
Street Ops or a Manager with information.
• CCLRT detours have started.
Concerns:
• WB 7th St/Rankin, Rte 54 bus stop not plowed –Two
passengers with walkers.
• Request for Marq 2 to be moved up in priority for
plowing.
MAINTENANCE REPORT
Chuck Wurzinger in attendance:
• Convex mirrors for MCI coach buses have been
ordered. Installation will be a quick process.
• 25 Low-floor artics on order - 10 to South, 15 to
MJR
• 105 Low floors on order
Respectfully submitted,
Danielle Julkowski, TSSC Mgmt. Advisor
There was no April meeting.
TLC News Conference
Transit for Livable Communities, a transit-advocacy organization, called a news conference March 31 at the
State Capitol to respond to the legislature’s proposed drastic cuts in transit funding.
Speakers included elected and appointed officials, members of TLC, transit riders and President Michelle
Sommers of ATU Local 1005. Several local television stations sent crews, as did smaller news organizations.
This proved to be a good opportunity for transit supporters to meet one another and defend public
transportation.
Michelle Sommers discusses a point
with others attending the Transit for
Livable Communities news conference.
Left: TLC staffers Hilary Reeves, Barb Thoman, and Michelle Dibblee
“walk their talk” by returning to their office on Selby Avenue from the
State Capitol by both walking and taking the bus. Here, they pose with
a passenger.
Page 13
Some Union Historyby Deborah Sievers #64222
A trade union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common
goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on
behalf of union members (rank and file members) and negotiates labor contracts (collective bargaining) with
employers. This may include the negotiation of wages, work rules, complaint procedures, rules governing hiring,
firing and promotion of workers, benefits, workplace safety and policies. The agreements negotiated by the
union leaders are binding on the rank and file members and the employer.
INTERESTING FACTS ON WOMEN IN UNIONS
• In 1863, a committee in New York City, organized by the editor of the New York Sun, began to help women
collect wages due them that had not been paid. This organization continued for fifty years.
• Also in 1863, women in Troy, New York, organized the Collar Laundry Union. These women worked in laun-
dries making and laundering the detachable collars stylish on men’s shirts. They went on strike, and as a result
won an increase in wages. In 1866, their strike fund was used to aid the Iron Molders Union, building a lasting
relationship with that men’s union. The leader of the laundry workers’ union, Kate Mullaney, went on to
become assistant secretary of the National Labor Union. The Collar Laundry Union dissolved July 31, 1869, in
the middle of another strike, faced with the threat of paper collars and the likely loss of their jobs.
• The National Labor Union was organized in 1866. While not exclusively focusing on women’s issues, it did
take a stand for the rights of working women.
• The first two national unions to admit women were the Cigarmakers (1867) and the Printers (1869).
• Susan B. Anthony used her paper, The Revolution, to help working women organize in their own interests.
One such organization formed in 1868, and became known as the Working Women’s Association. Active in this
organization was Augusta Lewis, a typographer who kept the organization focused on representing the women
on pay and working conditions, and kept the organization out of political issues such as woman suffrage.
• Miss Lewis became the president of the Women’s Typographical Union No. 1 which grew out of the Working
Women’s Association. In 1869, this local union applied for membership in the national Typographer’s Union,
and Miss Lewis was made corresponding secretary of the union. She married Alexander Troup, the union’s sec-
retary-treasurer, in 1874, and retired from the union, though not from other reform work. Women’s Local 1 did
not long survive the loss of its organizing leader, and dissolved in 1878. After that time, the Typographers admit-
ted women on an equal basis to men, instead of organizing separate women’s locals.
• In 1869, a group of women shoestitchers in Lynn, Massachusetts, organized the Daughters of St. Crispin, a
national women’s labor organization modeled on and supported by the Knights of St. Crispin, the national shoe
workers union, which also went on record supporting equal pay for equal work. The Daughters of St. Crispin is
recognized as the first national union of women.
The first president of the Daughters of St. Crispin was Carrie Wilson. When the Daughters of St. Crispin
went on strike in Baltimore in 1871, the Knights of St. Crispin successfully demanded that the women strikers be
rehired. The depression in the 1870s led to the demise of the Daughters of St. Crispin in 1876.
• The Knights of Labor, organized in 1869, began admitting women in 1881. In 1885, the Knights of Labor
established the Women’s Work Department. Leonora Barry was hired as a full time organizer and investigator.
The Women’s Work Department was dissolved in 1890.
• Alzina Parsons Stevens, a typographer and, at one time, Hull House resident, organized the Working Woman’s
Union No. 1 in 1877. In 1890, she was elected district master workman, District Assembly 72, Knights of Labor,
in Toledo, Ohio.
• Mary Kimball Kehew joined the Women’s Educational and Industrial Union in 1886, becoming a director in
Page 14
1890 and president in 1892. With Mary Kenney O’Sullivan, she organized the Union for Industrial Progress,
whose purpose was to help women organize craft unions. This was a forerunner of the Women’s Trade Union
League, founded in the early 20th century. Mary Kenney O’Sullivan was the first woman hired by the American
Federation of Labor (AFL) as an organizer. She had earlier organized women bookbinders in Chicago into the
AFL and had been elected a delegate to the Chicago Trades and Labor Assembly.
• In 1890, Josephine Shaw Lowell organized the Consumers’ League of New York. In 1899, the New York
organization helped found the National Consumers’ League to protect both workers and consumers. Florence
Kelley led this organization, which worked mainly through educational effort.
Source: Women in History on the AFSCME website
FIRSTS IN BLACK LABOR HISTORY
1850 The American League of Colored Laborers, the fi rst organization of black workers, was established in
New York City.
1869 The National Labor Union is the fi rst organization of white workers to advocate the creation of black
labor unions and to allow blacks to attend its annual meeting.
1869 The fi rst national black labor organization, the Colored National Labor Union, was formed.
1918 The Department of Labor's Division of Negro Economics, the fi rst federal bureau to attempt to ease labor-
related racial tensions caused by blacks leaving the South, was established.
1941 The Fair Employment Practice Commission, the fi rst federal agency to promote fair employment prac-
tices, was established.
1945 The Ives-Quinn Act, the fi rst state legislation prohibiting discrimination in employment on the basis of
race, creed, or color, was passed.
1957 A. Philip Randolph, president of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, was elected as the AFL-CIO's
fi rst black vice president.
1964 The Civil Rights Act of 1964, the fi rst federal fair employment legislation, was passed.
Source: iea black history month timeline
LOCAL 1005 – 78 YEARS STRONG
The 2011 ATU Northwest Conference will be hosted on June 8th through the 11th, by Local 1005. This coin-
cides with the 78th anniversary year of our local. Below are excerpts from various sources that help illustrate our
union’s growth in the past 78 years.
In 1933 the streetcar company employed about 3,000 workers.
September 12, 1933 – More than 150 St. Paul Street Railway Co. employees met in the Labor Temple, voting to
form a branch of the Amalgamated Association of Street & Electric Railway Employees of America.
October 4, 1933 – The fi rst meeting of Local 1005 was held; Mr. Fay O. Rice elected president.
October 9, 1933 – Governor Olson gave his “wholehearted support” in a speech to more than 1,500 employees of
the St. Paul & Minneapolis Street Railway Companies.
November 19, 1933 – Contract proposals made at a board meeting included the following:
• Extra men to be allowed a $100 minimum wage per month.
• Hours to be reduced to 7 hours per day at 43 cents per hour.
• All runs to be completed in 11 hours.
Page 15
• Overtime paid for all work in excess of 7½ hours.
• One hour allowed for each accident report.
• Mechanical wages: Apprentice – 40¢/hr., Laborer – 50¢/hr., Helper – 60¢/hr., Mechanic – 75¢/hr.
1934 – Twin City Rapid Transit Company laid-off employees without regard to seniority in some cases. The Re-
gional Board of Arbitration ruled in favor of the Street Railway Union in its fi rst arbitration; all affected employ-
ees reinstated.
October 6, 1934 – Motorman / Conductor Ole Johnson was shot and critically wounded while resisting a hold-up.
He died two days later. Two 17-year old boys confessed to the slaying, one youth was sentenced to fi ve to thirty
years.
February 14, 1938 – Valentine’s Day Strike lasts all of 36 hours.
1941 - Streetcar tokens were 7½¢ and cash fare was 10¢.
January 1953 - a strike vote was taken with the outcome: 1,850 YES, 38 NO. The strike was avoided when a
contract ratifi cation vote passed 1,103 YES and 65 NO.
August 11, 1953 – Monthly membership meeting attendance: 57
1959 - Strike of unknown length
1964 – Milwaukee and the Twin Cities are the last two areas in the country which have privately-owned transit
systems.
April 1965 – Editorial headline in Minneapolis Star reads, “Let’s Plan Now for Rail Transit”.
1969 - Strike of unknown length
1970 – Twin Cities Rapid Transit was purchased by the Metropolitan Transit Commission (MTC), established by
the Met Council to operate the bus system.
March 15, 1975 – Legislators’ report opposes rail for transit.
October 1995 – Local 1005 strikes against MCTO for 19 days. Tentative agreement reached at Governor’s man-
sion with ‘independent’ consultant to be hired to examine work rules and practices.
Operator Wage Rates
Year Rate Year Rate
1933 43¢ 1980 $8.27
1941 77¢ 1985 $13.57
1946 $1.02 1990 $15.09
1949 $1.52 1995 $17.28
1960 $2.55 2000 $20.04
1968 $3.44 2003 $21.80
1975 $6.19 2009 $24.19
Contract Notes:
1940 - Regular trainmen shall not be required to work more than 6 days per week. Regular runs shall be a mini-
mum of 46 hours for the week.
Page 16
1949 - 7 days per year sick leave. Maximum bank = 35 days. Three weeks max vacation earned.
1949 – Sample pay rates:
Information Clerks - $197.68 per month.
Bookkeeper - $312.84 per month
Stock Keeper - $242.70 per month
Garage Clerk - $268.38 per month.
Electric Maintenance men - $1.53 per hour.
Motor Builders $1.77 per hour.
1978 - Wage rates began at $7.85/hr. Part-time operators hired.
1994 – Health insurance offered to part-time employees on a pro-rated basis.
1995 - Strike lasting three weeks
1999 - Part-time operators became eligible for 30-hour pay guarantee by letter of agreement; guarantee became
contract language August 2001, along with paid sick leave benefi t.
2003 – Local hosts North West Conference.
2004 - March - strike lasting six weeks after contract offer rejected. The opening of fi rst light rail line in June.
2008 - The passage of a quarter-cent sales tax increase by the fi ve counties to expand transit. August 5th - voted
to approve a two-year contract with Metro Transit.
2011 - May 1st: Voted on and accepted a two-year contract from July 31, 2010.
Other Notes: The Metropolitan Council was created by the state legislature in 1967 to plan for “the orderly and
economic development ... of the metropolitan area.” MTC, the Metropolitan Transit Commission, was created the
same year to “plan for a complete, integrated mass transit system for the metropolitan transit area.”
Since then, the evolution of transit decision-making in the metro area has included the TAB (Transportation
Advisory Board), the RTB (Regional Transit Board), the Light Rail Transit Joint powers
Board, and CTIB (the Counties Transitway Improvement Board). Confused yet? Check
out TLC’s 2010 report, Planning to Succeed? for more details. A brief history of transit
and land use governance is on pages 27-28 of their report. (www.tlc.com)
Historically, ATU-COPE (Committee on Political Education) has helped elect
local, state, and federal politicians who understand the importance of investing in qual-
ity public transportation. Those of us who are still fortunate enough to have a job know
that the tough economy is putting a tight squeeze on collective bargaining. Without
immediate action, unions and the middle class will be gone.
Any donation is appreciated. When combined with others, the funding can grow
into a powerful tool. Please donate a few dollars. It is set up with a payroll deduction.
Look for this form or see your union board member.
ATU COPE puts all our pennies together so that we can fight the billionaires. Greed
seems to have no satiability; and rules, morals and ethics go out the door. That's why
big business wants to do away with unions. We've got a lot of RULES, and we fight to
make sure discipline is fair and just. This summer, during our COPE drive, please give
what pennies you can.
Page 17
Rally to
Support
Wisconsin
Workers
ATU 1005 members rode
the bus to Madison, Wis-
consin on March 20, 2011, a
rainy, cold day.
Following a stop at a Mc-
Donald's for a late breakfast,
we were ready to march. After
circling the capitol a few times,
we went inside and chanted. We
were back home by 7:30.
Labor Constituent Meeting
with Steve SmithSponsored by the
AFL-CIO
Minneapolis Regional
Federation of Labor
Representative Steve Smith met with labor constituents on April 20th. For the last decade, Minnesota’s state
budget has been balanced on the backs of middle-class families. We need you to tell your lawmakers that it’s time
for a fair budget, time for the richest Minnesotans to sacrifi ce too. Steve Smith has the message and has been
endorsed by the AFL-CIO. Thanks to Bill McCarthy, president of the Minneapolis Federation of Labor, for setting
up these meetings.
Stephen Babcock meets his
Representative Steve Smith (R) out
at the Mound Depot Center and
yes, that is a Teamster union jacket
on Steve Smith.
Page 18
Tax Day - Make Them Pay Tax day is the day we do our civic duty and pay taxes. But while we
middle-class Minnesotans all pay our fair share, some billion-dollar corpora-
tions and the richest people do not.
Case in point: Exxon Mobil, with earnings of more than $45 billion, is the
world’s most profi table corporation. Be-
tween 1998 and 2008, it spent $5.7 million in
campaign contributions and $138 million in
lobbying expenditures, as reported by Think
Progress. Yet in 2009, it was not liable for
any taxes.
Even worse: Exxon Mobil, in 2009, re-
ceived a $156 million tax rebate.
Here in Minnesota, middle-class families actually pay a larger share of our
income in state and local taxes than than the richest do.
With little time remaining in the legislative session, it’s even more important to
make sure your legislators know you want them to protect middle-class families.
Most service garages have at least three cleaners. Depending on the number of buses at the facility, each bus is
thoroughly cleaned every 35-40 days or so.
Interrupting this schedule may be the need to clean buses referred to as “sick buses,” those which have been
contaminated by bodily fl uids and taken out of service. Special precautions (such as the wearing of masks, gowns
and gloves) must be taken when cleaning these buses due to the possibility of infection.
Cleaners and drivers would be grateful if other drivers would not make a mess in the driver compartment area,
especially with food items. No one likes to come to work and start with a dirty driver compartment for a shift up
to 10 1/2 hours long!
Take action to be considerate of your fellow employees. They will appreciate you.
Many thanks to Ralph Mason, Nicollet Cleaner, for his help with this article.
General Cleaning from p. 9
Page 19
CENTRAL CORRIDOR PROJECT/FACTSby Ilona LaDouceur
The Central Corridor Light Rail project is underway. Here are some facts about the project:
Ø The 11-mile line will run on University and Washington Avenues between downtown St. Paul and Minneapolis, linking there with the Hiawatha LRT line and the new Northstar commuter rail line. The Central Corridor will share tracks with the Hiawatha Line when it meets downtown at the Metrodome Station.
Ø There will be 31 new light rail transit vehicles, each with 66 seats and comfortable standing room for about 70 people.
Ø Trains will operate every 7.5 minutes during peak hours, with travel time of 36 minutes between the two downtowns.
Ø There will be 18 new stations plus five stations shared with the Hiawatha line in downtown Minneapolis.
Ø Total cost $957 million
Ø The projected weekday ridership is 40,000 by 2030.
Ø The line is being built between 2010 – 2013 and is to open in 2014.
Ø The project is poised to create at least 3,400 jobs. These would be for engineering, construction, management and operating personnel.
Ø The corridor will continue to have Route 16 buses on University Avenue, running at 20 minute intervals, for riders traveling to and from locations not immediately served by rails stations, as well as express buses on I94 between downtown Minneapolis and downtown St. Paul. The LRT line will be served by an expanded network of connecting bus routes to provide access to commuters traveling outside the corridor
Project Partners: Met Council (Lead local sponsor, Metro Transit, Minnesota Department of Transportation,
Ramsey County, Hennepin County, Counties Transit Improvement Board, City of St. Paul, City of Minneapolis
and University of Minnesota.
I will discuss some of the construction facts, timelines and other issues in upcoming issues. For more
information and updates on the project, check out the Met Council’s website: www.centralcorridor.org.
Dave Williams Retires
On March 14, 2011, Dave Williams, Stockkeeper at MJR (second shift) retired from
Metro Transit with over 16 years of service. Dave started as a bus operator on
November 21, 1994 and transferred to the Material Management Department on March
20, 1996.
Dave had planned to have a retirement
party, but an accident a few days before his
party prevented that. He is now recovering
successfully.
Dave plans to spend time at his lake home
and also take trips in the RV he purchased
last year. Beatrice, Dave's dog, has con-
vinced him it is time to go to the lake.
Page 20
Knowing that ignorance of issues leaves us vulnerable to voices proclaiming half truths and outright
lies, we must do our homework NOW. We have to help our wonderful governor follow through with
getting the corporations and rich to pay their fair share of taxes. And no, we ARE NOT in that category.
The Oscar for best documentary this year went to Inside Job. I believe it was Director/Writer/Producer
Charles Ferguson who accepted the award. While accepting the award, he said none of the big players in
these corporate schemes have gone to jail. COME ON, PEOPLE! We have to do better than that. WE
have to keep the pressure on our government to plug the loopholes, add language to NAFTA that protects
us better/add incentives, and pursue white collar criminals. But we can’t do the right thing if we have no
knowledge of it, or if we are too busy enjoying the fruits of our forefathers, only to leave OUR CHILDREN
with barren trees.
I watched Inside Job, and here’s a quote from the ending:
“For decades the American financial system was stable and safe. But then
something changed. The financial industry turned its back on society and corrupted
our political system and plunged the world economy into crisis. At enormous cost,
we’ve avoided disaster and are recovering, but the men and institutions that caused this
crisis are still in power and that needs to change. They will tell us that we need them,
and that what they do is too complicated for us to understand. They will tell us it
won’t happen again. They will spend billions fighting reform. It won’t be easy, but
some things are worth fighting for.”
Inside Job is an awesome film!! Do some homework, watch a few documentary films and get
yourself educated. That does not mean sitting down and watching only entertainment channels. Yes, I
said entertainment channels!
Here are the documentaries that were up for Oscars this year:
Gasland
Exit Through the Gift Shop
Wasteland
Inside Job
Restrepo
It’s a year for middle class Americans to SACRIFICE OUR TIME in the fight to keep what our
forefathers have fought for and given us.
Sitting back and letting a handful of our ATU 1005 members pull the weight of 2,600 of us is
unacceptable. YOU! Yes, I am talking to you. Make calls to or email your representatives. Go to the
Local 1005 website (www.atu1005.com) and see if there is a meeting at the capitol you can make… a
rally you can attend… SOMETHING. If we all pitch in, we can be a force. It’s a time for sacrifice for
ALL of us middle-class people.
WAKE UP! Preventing the elimination of the middle class is worth fighting for.
Offi cer's Corner continued
Run Time Committee If you want to volunteer, contact the union offi ce to be put on the list. Please designate which problem routes
you have knowledge of. This committee starts in the September pick. (Please see contract article page 8 for
details.)
Mike’s family has three cabins and he imagines that he will
be spending plenty of time there fi shing and taking care of the
cabins and their lawns. He may do volunteer work and/or be a
ranger at the Hiawatha Golf Course. He loves golfi ng.
Bus 7200 has been dedicated to Mike Krakowski as a retiring
30-year employee, and a plaque with his name and picture will
be displayed at the Heywood Offi ce Building.
On Friday, March 25, the
Minneapolis Fire Department
paid a visit to LRT. Someone
had been using the grinder in
the Welding Shop and set off
the alarms. It has happened
a few times in the past six
months, and remedies are
being
considered.
RAINWATER CAFE CLOSES!‘Kracky’ Retires After 30 Years
The main cook for the Rainwater Cafe, Michael
Krakowski, closed the café’s doors on April fi rst (an
appropriate date).
‘Kracky,’ #5520 of the Material Management
Department, started at the MTC on March 30th, 1981
as a bus mechanic. He was laid off three years later
and given an opportunity to work in the Stores
Department (now Material Management). He survived
30 years of service.
Early Employment Shot
The Rainwater Cafe started when Kracky was in the main Overhaul
Base, and then moved to the Brake Shop when he became their
stockkeeper. One Friday, during a building fire inspection, the fire
marshal wrote Kracky up for having extension cords running all over the
place. Management thought they had finally gotten rid of the food
establishment. But by Monday, Kracky had the electrician over and had
the place rewired. The Cafe was still in business.
Page 21
ATU Supports CTU
Transit Supports Teachers
Public Transportation Supports Public Education
by Melanie Benson #854
Karen Lewis, President of the Chicago Teachers Union, spoke in
Minneapolis at the United Labor Center on April 9th. In a show of solidarity,
ATU Local 1005 paid for the meeting room and endorsed the event.
According to Ms. Lewis, the ATU in Chicago has also been supportive “every
single step of the way” of the teachers’ struggle in Chicago itself, where
corporate interests are trying to dismantle public education.
The meeting, which attracted about 100 people, was chaired by Rob
Panning-Miller, a teacher from South High. He first introduced Pamela from
City View, a popular inner city school that was closed because, according to
the Minneapolis School Board, it had “no future” and was to be replaced by a
charter school;
Mel Reeves from the North High
Community Coalition (also in danger of
closure) who spoke against the
privatization of education and for
community control of the schools;
Brandon Madsen from the University of
Minnesota and a member of Socialist
Action, who outlined the threats to higher
education from cuts in funding that would
cause much higher tuition for the students and layoffs, furloughs and cuts in wages and benefits for the
workers. He recommended taxing the banks and corporations that are sitting on trillions and not paying
taxes.
Ty Moore of the Public Education Justice Alliance of Minnesota (PEJAM), who had spent three
weeks in Madison, Wisconsin during the mobilizations, gave a timeline on how the fightback developed
and involved so many people. In the face of devastating proposals to weaken unions and cut funding for
essential programs, the students and teachers in the public schools staged walkouts until 30 school
districts were shut down. Those who went to testify at the State Capitol became an occupying force, and
created human blockades of the House and Senate chambers.
Currently, the proposed legislation is held up in the courts and the movement has died down due to
the focus on a recall/electoral strategy, Ty reported, but he credits the movement in Madison as being
inspiring: “The whole country won’t be the same. We may lose the
battle, but the war is on! Ordinary people stood up, defied laws,
built coalitions and showed solidarity. They built networks and
drew lessons.”
Karen Lewis, member of the Caucus of Rank and file Educators
(CORE) and President of the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU)
Karen Lewis began her remarks by holding up the flier
advertising the event saying, “Do you think you could have found a
better picture of me than this?” After the laughter died down, she
proved to be down-to-earth, extremely knowledgeable and very
inspiring.
Page 22
Chicago’s business community is going through a
Chicago Renaissance 2010, and well-funded public schools
are not part of its business plan. The attack on the public
schools is multi-faceted: Unfair standardized tests are
setting impossible goals, and then students and teachers are
punished for not making them. Then the argument is used
that the public schools aren’t working, schools are closed,
and charter schools (for profit) come in to take their place.
School closings lead to gentrification, where inner city areas
are developed for the wealthy. School closings also lead to
spikes in violence as students’ environments are changed and schools are scrambling for resources. The students
are the ones who get blamed. Some of these changes were spearheaded by Arne Duncan, former CEO of
Chicago Public Schools, now Secretary of Education in the Obama cabinet.
In response to these attacks, teachers, students and community folks found their voice and flooded the
hearings on school closings. The media were not responsive because they’re corporate-controlled, but Ms.
Lewis and others found it important to “speak truth to power, to be heard.” In conducting this struggle, some
teachers saw their (former) union president for the first time. Caucuses within the union helped elect Ms. Lewis.
Karen Lewis is an advocate of direct actions in the fight to protect public education, such as school
occupations, sit-ins, arrest if necessary, “changing the script.” She sees the necessity of working in coalitions,
and advises, “People have to agree to a platform and give it time and space to work. It’s all about relationships
based on trust and honesty. Have a mission statement. Values keep us together. Ask if people can testify, do
grievances and arbitrations, participate in direct actions. It’s all about direct action. Work with people who have
experience with it. Reach out and make coalitions happen. The rank-and-file is where it needs to be. The
voices of the people who do the work every single day are not being heard.”
Ms. Lewis cited the crucial elements of planning:
1) Does it unite us?
2) Does it make us stronger?
3) Does it build our power?
She continued: “Democracy is worth fighting for. Ask the people in Cairo. Public education is the last
bastion of real democracy. We can take our country back from the people who have stolen it. If you try to do it
by yourselves, they’ll roll right over you. Tax the rich. Instead of giving charity, make them pay.”
Karen Lewis made it clear that she prefers teaching in the classroom, but this is a fight that needs to be
fought. In response to a question about what the future holds, she left us with, “As long as there’s life, there’s
always hope.”
Page 23
What is the Education Committee?from the ATU Local 1005 Education Committee By-Law 98
98. There shall be an Education Committee which shall consist of members interested in working in the
following areas:
1. Encouraging attendance at local union meetings by distributing information about the meetings and
soliciting suggestions about possible speakers and/or programs that would be of interest to the membership.
2. Developing good public relations with community groups and organizations.
Page 24
TIC Humor
Actual True Stories
Well, today a lady said, “ I am going to Brooklyn Center Transit Center, and I need to get there at 10 a.m. I asked, “Where are you standing now?”
With all seriousness, she said, “I am standing in my bedroom.”
I had a senior lady who told me she was 83 and needed to catch a bus. It came up that she would
board at 6:28 p.m. She laughed and said, “Well, if I walk slow enough, when I walk on the bus I can scan my pass at 6:31.” She was a hoot.
I completed a three-bus trip. When it came time to end the call, I asked the caller, “Is there anything else I can do for you? She responded, “Not on the phone, hon.”
Another -
What time is the 19 on Penn?
Where are you going?
Downtown
Where on Penn are you?
38th.
Are you at Dowling and Penn?
Yes.
Standing on Penn at Dowling, the 19 Downtown will
be traveling south on Penn at 2:15 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.
What?
At 2:15 and 2:30
Huh?
At 2:15 and 2:30
So it comes between 2:15 and 2:30?
No, at 2:15…
(She hung up.)
Okay, here is a call I just recently received -
(Synopsis: I’m giving route information to a customer for the 444 leaving MOA)
Customer: “Hold on just a moment, let me grab a pen…(pause)…Ok, go ahead.”
Me: (I start telling him the times the 444 is leaving the MOA)
Customer: “Wait! Hold on, this is a lighter. I need to get a pen.”
LOL…I got a chuckle out of it.
Okay, one more -
Customer: “Can you please tell me what time this
21A bus will get downtown St. Paul?”
Me: “Ok, where are you right now?”
Customer: “I’m on the 21.”
Me: “Ok, but where are you?”
Customer: “I’m sitting towards the back of the bus.”Me: “I realize you’re on the bus, but where is that bus right now so I can see what your arrival time in St. Paul is?”
Customer: “Oh! Well we’re just coming up to St. Paul.”
Me: (…just puzzled???)
Recently, my boyfriend’s 63- year- old mother’s car broke down. Unbeknownst to us, she had been walking a half mile daily to the Brooklyn Center
Transit Center, to catch a bus to work.
I came home in the evening and went to check on the ol’ lady and ask how her day went. “My day went just fine,” she said. “As a matter of fact, today I
received a little blessing from the heavens.”
“Really?” I replied, “What happened?” “Well you see, I was walking to the station and my legs were just tired - and do you know that out of nowhere, a bus pulled up just behind me and the lady driver motioned for me to hop on! It was like a blessing from the
lord."
I laughed so hard I began coughing. “Ms. Bev, I
don’t think that was a divine intervention, I think that
was the 724 on its regular route to the transit center!”
Caller: I need to know where to catch the 766 in downtown Minneapolis.
Me: Ok, well, where are you in downtown? I’ll find your closest stop.
Caller: I’m on 5th Street Avenue.
Me: Hmmm. . . are you on 5th Street or 5th Avenue?Caller: 5th Avenue
Me: Ok, well, walk about 3 blocks west over to 2nd Ave and the 766 will be traveling north on 2nd
Avenue. What is your cross street?
Caller: Nicollet
Me: Oh ok, well you must be on 5th Street then, just walk 2 blocks north to 3rd Street and stand on 3rd at Nicollet for your bus.
Caller: Ok, is that Hennepin?
Me: NO, that’s Nicollet.
In Memoriam
Martin J. Ruter, 88, from Hanover, passed away on March 23rd. He had been a
bus driver for the MTC for 48 1/2 years and an ATU member for 66 years. The MJR
Garage on Shinglecreek Drive was named after him. Martin continued farming
throughout his years. He would bring in huge gunny sacks of fresh corn for all to share.
He is survived by wife, Gladys; children, Kathy Septen-Johnson (Rick), Mark (Kandy),
Lynn Tiemann (Mark) and Paul (Dee).
Kenneth R. Brooks, retired 50 year member, age 87, of Apple Valley passed away March 20, 2011. He was pre-
ceded in death by his brother, Robert. Survived by his loving wife of 59 years, Kathryn; children: Linda (Roger)
Bristol, Scott Brooks, Russell (Debra) Brooks, Jane (Ron) Kompelien, Julie (John Albright, and Jackie Brooks;
grandchildren: Brandon, Katie, Kimberly, Amy, Ashley, and Jake; great grandchild: Josey; also by other loving
relatives and friends.
Page 25
Do Not Support the Koch Brothers Industries!!
Brothers Charles and David Koch, with a combined worth around $35 billion dollars, are waging a war against
unions!
The Koch brothers are the majority owners in Koch Industries, America's second-largest private company with
revenues of $100 billion in 2009, and 80,000 employees in 60 countries. Koch Industries main source of revenue
is from the manufacturing, refi ning, and distribution of petroleum. They are major fi nancers of the Tea Party.
They also are providing money to run anti-democratic ads.
Do not allow your money to be used to sponsor the Tea Party. Don't buy these products!
Koch Industry/Georgia-Pacifi c Products:
1. Angel Soft toilet paper
2. Brawny paper towels
3. Dixie plates, bowls, napkins
and cups
4. Mardi Gras napkins and towels
5. Quilted Northern toilet paper
6. Soft 'n Gentle toilet paper
7. Sparkle napkins
8. Vanity Fair napkins
9. Zee napkins
CRYPTOEach letter stands for another. If you think A=F, for example, it would
equal F throughout the puzzle. Clue: B=E (Answer on page 31 )
Submitted by Pat Kelehan, Facilities Tech. #5470
A Z B B X B Y B C A Z W D V F B D Z V T
A V C A D G S T. G T T Z B Z V Y G C W
L G C G M D S M S B C A T?
"We Are One" Rally Spirits were high and chants resounded in the streets of St. Paul on April 4th, as 4000 people marched to the
State Capitol on behalf of workers’ rights.
This event, one of 1000 across the nation, was called by the AFL-CIO to respond to increasing threats to work-
ing families. April 4th was also the 43rd anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in Mem-
phis, where he was standing up on behalf of striking sanitation workers. King’s message of unity was echoed in
the theme of the actions: We Are One!
In St. Paul, thousands of teachers, government workers, transit workers and Teamsters, electricians and many
others were joined by the unemployed, peace activists, students and children in a powerful display of solidarity.
The chants were powerful: What does democracy look like? This is what democracy looks like! What
does democracy feel like? This is what democracy feels like! Negotiate, don’t legislate! What’s disgust-
ing? Union busting! No justice – no peace! Who does the work? WE DO!! WE ARE ONE!!!!
Veterans for Peace carried a banner asking, “How is the War Economy Working for You?” Children carried
signs saying, “I am not a test score.” Union banners and fl ags abounded. Union buttons were worn on union
jackets. A festive yet fi ghting spirit was felt throughout the crowd. Hooray for the AFL-CIO and everyone who
turned out and made it a memorable day!
Page 26
Retired Members’ Clubs
Northside Breakfast ClubMeets 8:30 AM the 2nd Tuesday of each month
at Barnacle Bill’s, Shingle Creek Parkway and
Freeway Blvd, Brooklyn Center.
Southside Breakfast Club Meets 8:00 AM the 1st Wednesday and the 4th
Thursday of each month at the VFW Post, 67th
Street & Lyndale Ave in Richfi eld.
St. Paul Retiree Lunch ClubMeets 12:00 PM the 2nd Wednesday of the month. Mattie’s (formerly Wells Lanes ) So. Concord St., South St. Paul 55075
Metro Transit Mechanic TeammateMeets at 12:00 PM the 3rd Tuesday of the month
at Old County Buffet (by Petco), 2000 South Rob-
ert St., West St. Paul
RetirementsCongratulations to February Retirees
02/05/11 Glenn Goetz, EM Op. 2698
02/04/11 Steven Gilman, Nic. Op. 6462
02/06/11 Luther Manning, Nic. Mech. Tech. 5422
02/05/11 Howard Melco, OHB Body/Paint Mech.
Tech. 5137
02/05/11 Keary Olson, OHB Body/Paint Mech.
Tech. 1462
02/04/11 Kathleen Lindberg, MJR Op. 9848
02/01/11 Paul Manning, So. Op. 4486
02/18/11 Gerald Vernon, So. Op. 2476
02/28/11 Donald Lynch, Transit Store Cashier
Mpls. 3070
Congratulations to March Retirees
03/01/11 James Mathison, Nic. Op. 9347
03/05/11 Jerome Vietor, Hey. Op. 7028
03/09/11 Barry Palmquist, Nic. Op. 9056
03/18/11 Donna Standifer, Hey. Op. 5827
03/26/11 Diane Kelleher, Nic. Op. 844
Solidarity Meeting Members met April
6th to discuss legisla-
tive actions and strate-
gies to counter the "Tea
Party" and cuts to transit
funding by the Repub-
lican-led legislature. A
postcard campaign with
Transit for Liveable
Communities developed.
The 1005 Line
Remember, you can always access past and present issues
online at www.atu1005.com on the education page.
You can also see the results of arbitration votes and other
meeting results.
Page 27
Patrick Whelan #3476, cleaner II at E.M. retired on
4/24/11. Photos and details will be in next issue...,
Retirement Clubs
Merle Seils #3061 (on left) drove for six
years on the streetcars and 34 years on the buses.
“There were coal boxes placed around to heat the
streetcars. A supervisor was hiding in the coal
box across from the State Fair grounds. He would
snoop by cracking the door a bit. A conductor
came along and got his coal and locked it like he
was supposed to. Snoop got locked in the coal
box!”
‘Gorgeous’ George Hruza #2879 (on right) is a
retiree who attends the St. Paul monthly luncheons
at Mattie’s on Concord Ave. He started driving at
the Snelling Garage, where he drove for four years
as a tour guide for Grey Line (until the line was
taken away) He spent three years dispatching and
fi nally was in management for another 14 years. “I
took pride in handling my garage problems at my
garage.”
Lawrence Beyer #3304 (on left) was the last
person to be hired for streetcar. He retired in 1985
with 34 years.
Jerry Johnson #2600 (on right) retired in 1992
with 35 years. (In case you are wondering - the
luncheon was on Ash Wednesday!) He retired in
1992. His dad was a conductor/motorman back in
the days where if you operated a one-man car you
got 10 cents, and a two-man car 5 cents.
Page 28
Submissions for Letters to the Editor are subject to approval of the
Editorial Board and space considerations. Letters to the Editor are
solely the opinion of the author and do not represent endorsement by
ATU Local 1005 or the Education Committee. If you have an editori-
al to submit, please contact a committee member or our
advisor Dorothy Maki at: [email protected].
Letters
To The
Editor
Omission: Ryan Timlin, Nicollet Driver #66279, wrote the cover article last issue, "Egypt to Wisconsin."
Book ReportChoosing Civility: The 25 Rules of Considerate Conduct
K.H. Rice #5975 East Metro
Dr. P.M. Forni, the author, teaches Italian literature and civility at Johns Hopkins University. His work has
been featured in the New York Times, the Washington Post, National Public Radio, and the London Times. A
native of Italy, he lives with his wife in Baltimore, Maryland.
This short book, 194 pages, is easy to read and understand. I found myself thinking: That’s right, I haven’t
thought about that in a while, and that’s a good point. Short books are often easy to sum up in two or three
paragraphs, but not this one. The subtitle is The 25 Rules of Considerate Conduct. So you can see that this one
RESPONSE TO LETTER TO THE EDITOR MARCH/APRIL ISSUE
What Have You Done to My Run?
Submitted by Kellie Miller
I would like to respond to a letter to the editor from the March/April ATU 1005 Line. I am an ATU Schedule
Maker in the Service Development Department. I have 33 years of service as an ATU member and served as a
Union Representative for 21 of those years.
My fi rst response after reading “What Have You done to My Run” was this letter should be sent to the Legis-
lature. Then I decided that I should explain things from my seat.
Yes we do work with numbers and statistics, but to say that we don’t go out and ride the buses and meet the
passengers is inaccurate. Some of the people in Service Development are required to go out and ride the buses
as part of their job. There are other parts of our jobs that require us to go out and work with the passengers at the
bus stops and/or street corners. We may not be out there every day and we may not see the same people every
Bus CleanlinessJackie Williams, Driver #66180, MJR Garage
Operators at Metro Transit are required by law to secure passengers riding buses in no less than three wheel-
chair securements. In order to maintain passenger safety, and be in accordance with the ADA, we comply. Who
is responsible for keeping these nasty straps clean?
As we touch people, surfaces, and objects throughout the day, we accumulate germs on our hands, and may
infect ourselves with germs by touching our mouths, noses, and eyes. Although it is impossible to keep our
hands germ-free, frequent hand washing can help limit the transfer of bacteria, viruses, and other microbes.
According to the Mayo Clinic, frequent hand washing is the best way to avoid getting sick and spreading ill-
nesses. Hands are to be washed in hot water and soap for as long as it takes to sing the “Happy Birthday” song
twice. Many of us don’t have enough time for that on our layovers. Some layovers don't even have facilities.
Winter seems to be over, but coughing, sneezing and colds never end. At one time I had to caution a passenger
not to let mucus drip from his nostrils onto my farebox. He boarded my bus talking on his cell phone with one
hand, fumbling to pay fare with the other hand, not realizing he did not have a third hand to wipe his nose. He
apologized and responded, "I didn't feel that coming." I hope sometime in the near future, we could wear surgi-
cal masks.
Many operators feel safe wearing driving gloves, but the problem is that the fingers are exposed. As an
operator, I feel this is definitely a health issue. Could a suggestion be made to management that every bus be
equipped with Purell cleaner that does not require water? This would be an investment, in that less time would
be taken off due to illness.
is meant to provoke thought and action. I liked it, but I am sure some will think it’s old school and out of date.
Dr. Forni believes it’s a timeless tool.
The good doctor sums it up this way: “Just about the most important thing we do in life is interacting with
other human beings. Shouldn’t improving the quality of this interaction be at the top of our agendas? Being
civil in our everyday lives is a time-tested way to bring about such improvement: A better quality of human
interaction makes for a better life. It is that simple. It really is that simple. All we have to do is stop, think
about it, and then act. The sooner, the better.”
P.S. Dandy Dan, our Recording Secretary, encourages us to try to be a good person and do the right thing. We
can do that by choosing civility. That, I know, is easier said than done. Still, it seems to be possible and
desirable.
Page 29
Page 30
The Unions Need to Fight the Budget Cuts!
However the budget battle in St. Paul ends, one thing is already agreed by both parties: Working people
should bear the heaviest burden for the economic crisis while corporations continue to enjoy profits.
The Republican plan for transit is to cut $130 million over two years. According to Transit for Livable
Communities: “The Metropolitan Council reports that House cuts would lead to either a $4.00 increase in fares
or (taking a system-wide approach) cutting 45% of regular bus route service and laying off approximately 550
drivers and related staff, plus other measures…”.
But it is not just Republicans cutting. Governor Dayton earlier this year proposed cutting transit by $10.8
million in cuts in the metro area and $2.6 million in greater Minnesota. His overall proposal for the state budget
will cut $2 billion, cutting almost a billion from Health and Human Services including MinnesotaCARE, $55
million from Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, $36 million from the University of Minnesota, and $27
million from Minneapolis Public Schools. This is just the DFL’s starting point in the negotiations.
While we welcome the DFL’s proposal to raise $1.8 billion with a 3% income tax rise on the richest 5% of
Minnesotans it is totally inadequate, and would still leave tax rates on the rich and big business at historically
low levels. But still, in the end, the budget battle comes down to a competition between two corporate-controlled
parties over votes and the spoils of power. Our best hope to stop – or at least mitigate – the cuts is for the unions
and all social movements to remain fully independent of both parties, and instead unite around a mass action
strategy in opposition to all cuts.
There are some Unions standing up and we need to do the same! The International Association of Firefighters
announced it was suspending all contributions to Democrats in federal races. The San Francisco Labor Council
calls on “…the AFL-CIO and Change to Win to organize massive demonstrations in major cities across the
country to demand that the federal government bail out the cash-strapped states through one or more of the
following: a national mass public works program to put 27 million people back to work now; taxing Wall Street
and raising taxes on the rich and on corporations; a major and systematic reduction in the Pentagon budget, with
funds redirected to create jobs and meet human needs; and/or the repossession of improperly used federal bailout
funds that are sitting idly in the Wall Street coffers.”
day but not all the work is done in the offi ce with computers. Some of us even ride the bus to work every day so
we are the passengers.
I think most people know that our funding levels are set by the legislature. The service that is provided is from
a limited budget.
It is unfortunate that the routes change each pick. The changes that take place are to maintain the Service as
best we can by being as cost effective as possible while abiding by the Collective Bargaining Agreement. When
changes have to be made due to budget constraints we try to impact the least amount of people possible. This is
important to our passengers as well as all employees at Metro Transit. If we are not cost effective then that means
less service and less employees. We would need less Operators, less Maintenance Employees, less Offi ce people
etc. To imply that we do not care about the passengers is simply false. If we don’t have passengers we don’t have
jobs.
The Collective Bargaining Agreement dictates the percentage of straight runs and how many runs can be
“chopped up”. The contract trumps all and we see to it that it is adhered to.
If you have been paying attention to what is going on at the Capitol it sounds like it is going to get worse be-
fore it gets better.
So please try and understand that we are not intentionally trying to hurt the passengers or violate seniority or
take away your work. We do the best we can with what we have to work with.
The following was published on the Kare 9 website Tuesday, 22 Feb 2011 at 12:28 PM CST
ST. PAUL, Minn. - The Metropolitan Council looking for ideas about what to name its developing system of
bus and rail transitways across the region. This system includes light rail, such as the existing Hiawatha Line
and the new Central Corridor line currently under construction. It also includes bus rapid transit service with
stations along Interstate 35W, Cedar Avenue and other high-demand corridors.
"We’re anxious to see what creative ideas the public has for this exciting new
element of our transit system,” said Arlene McCarthy, director of metropolitan
transportation services for the Met Council. “We’ll be looking for name ideas
that identify this service as a distinct part of our system, while incorporating
aspects of the character of the Twin Cities region.”
I can understand wanting a new marketing aspect and involving the public,
but if this requires new logos, paint schemes, etc., then that equates into money.
At a time when we are facing budgetary layoffs, I am against it. Our budgetary
resources can be better directed by serving the public with some more of our
outstanding service.
Stephen Babcock, 3128 Material Management, LRT
We need to build broad anti-cuts coalitions that involve the unions, all individuals and organizations ready to
join the struggle on a simple “no cuts” program. The unions need to take a lead role due to their power and the
numbers they can mobilize. Out of these anti-cuts coalitions, independent anti-cuts candidates should run in 2011
and 2012 challenging both corporate parties. We need to build a powerful political alternative to big business that
can defend our living standards and public services in the coming years.
• Organize mass protests, occupations, direct actions, and coordinated strike action to end business
as usual.
• Tax big corporations and the super-rich! Workers and youth shouldn’t have to pay for an
economic crisis that the banks created.
• End the Iraq and Afghanistan wars! Money for jobs and education, not war!
• Organize broad anti-cuts coalitions and run independent anti-cuts candidates to challenge the two
corporate parties.
by Ryan Timlin 66279, Nicollet Garage
Sources:
http://tlcminnesota.typepad.com/blog/2011/03/legislative-uphttp://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/25/business/
economy/25tax.html)
date-5.html).
http://www.truthout.org/urgent-new-reality-us-labor-unions/1305207931
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/27/us/politics/27firefighters.html
Page 31
Answer
THE ELEVENTH GRADER HAS TANTRUMS. IS SHE HAVING JUNIOR
MOMENTS?
DRUG TESTING RIGHTSIf you do not use the specific wording when you request results from a positive drug test, the agency has no obligation to
comply. All they are required to do is give you a paper stating the results are positive. Every employee has the legal right
to request, in writing to the Medical Review Officers (MRO), copies of: the Litigation Package* of the initial test. (this will
tell you how your test turned up positive); the Confirmation (breaks results down into specific levels); the Threshold levels
(baseline of all tests)
The Litigation Package can be nearly 100 pages of technical data, which cannot be analzed or understood by a layperson,
including union officers. Professional interpetation is available at member’s expense, starting at about $50 minimum.
WEINGARTEN RIGHTS STATEMENTIf disciplinary action is suspected, read this statement to your foreman: I request to have a union representative present on
my behalf during 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 may lead to
discipline.
A Night at the Bureau of Mediation Services
On April 15th the Executive Offi cers of ATU Local 1005 sat down to negotiate a contract with management
at 9:00 a.m. At 5:00 p.m. management wanted to adjourn for the day. The of-
fi cers pressed to keep going. They called out to some members to come and
show support. Members fi lled the building and were also outside. The night
went on, with an announcement of a tentative agreement about 11:30. It was
1:30 a.m. before it was recommended by the Executive Board. The member-
ship vote was postponed until May 1st because of the Good Friday and Easter
holidays the following week.