Canadian Version - Amalgamated Transit Union

OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE AMALGAMATED TRANSIT UNION | AFL-CIO/CLC
MARCH / APRIL 2014
We all know what Tommy Douglas did to make
health care available to all Canadians
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Let’s honor his memory…by honoring that commitment.
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But many of us are not aware Tommy felt just as strongly that
all Canadians –should have accessible public transit to travel to
schools, doctors, work.
INTERNATIONAL OFFICERS
LAWRENCE J. HANLEY
International President
JAVIER M. PEREZ, JR.
International Executive Vice President
OSCAR OWENS
International Secretary-Treasurer
INTERNATIONAL VICE PRESIDENTS
LARRY R. KINNEAR
Ashburn, ON – [email protected]
RICHARD M. MURPHY
Newburyport, MA – [email protected]
BOB M. HYKAWAY
Calgary, AB – [email protected]
NEWSBRIEFS
Chow unveils transit plan
In her first keynote speech of the campaign, April 29, Olivia Chow,
the New Democratic candidate for mayor of Toronto, outlined
specific long-term solutions for transit. Like two other candidates,
Chow would borrow up to a $1 billion. But unlike the others, Olivia’s
billion would deliver above-ground rail to Scarborough as well as
help leverage critical investment in other needs like state of good
repair and a relief line.
Saskatoon local authorizes strike
WILLIAM G. McLEAN
Reno, NV – [email protected]
JANIS M. BORCHARDT
Madison, WI – [email protected]
PAUL BOWEN
Canton, MI – [email protected]
KENNETH R. KIRK
Lancaster, TX – [email protected]
GARY RAUEN
Clayton, NC – [email protected]
MARCELLUS BARNES
Flossmore, IL – [email protected]
RAY RIVERA
Lilburn, GA – [email protected]
YVETTE SALAZAR
Thornton, CO – [email protected]
GARY JOHNSON, SR.
Cleveland, OH – [email protected]
ROBIN WEST
Halifax, NS – [email protected]
JOHN COSTA
Kenilworth, NJ – [email protected]
CHUCK WATSON
Syracuse, NY – [email protected]
CLAUDIA HUDSON
Oakland, CA – [email protected]
BRUCE HAMILTON
New York, NY – [email protected]
MICHELLE SOMMERS
Brooklyn Park, MN – [email protected]
ON THE COVER: Our cover features the late political leader, Tommy Douglas. Often called “the
greatest Canadian,” he established the first single-payer health care system in North America and
expanded public transit in Saskatchewan. His example will be a source of inspiration as we begin
our Transit Action Campaign.
INTERNATIONAL REPRESENTATIVES
INTERNATIONAL OFFICERS EMERITUS
ANTHONY WITHINGTON
Sebastopol, CA – [email protected]
DENNIS ANTONELLIS
Spokane, WA – [email protected]
STEPHAN MACDOUGALL
Boston, MA – [email protected]
ANTHONY GARLAND
Washington, DC – [email protected]
CANADIAN DIRECTOR
MICHAEL MAHAR
Rexdale, ON - [email protected]
They’re the lowest paid transit operators in Western Canada, and
they’ve been working without a contract since the end of 2012. And,
after hearing that their proposal to calculate operators’ salaries on a
Western Canadian averaging formula was rejected by the city, they
voted to authorize a strike.
Jim Yakubowski, president of Local 615, said the vote exemplifies
the unified call by members for higher wages, as top operators in
Saskatoon make about $5 less per hour than operators in other Western Canadian cities.
“Our members are tired of being the lowest paid in Western Canada,” says Jim Yakubowski whose
operators make about $5.00 per hour less than operators in other Western Canadian cities. Whether
the local strikes will depend on how the next round of negotiations go.
Lansing transit workers’ food drive helps those
less fortunate
Local 1039-Lansing, MI, hosted their sixth annual food drive at area
grocery stores. More than 1,000 pounds of food and more that $1,000
in cash were donated in each of the past few years.
When the event started in 2009, unemployment was high and the
need for food assistance was growing. The drivers, maintenance
workers and mechanics were looking for a way to help their
community through tough times. “People want to give,” says one Local 1039 member. “We’re just
right now providing an easy way for them to do it.”
International President Jim La Sala, ret.
International President Warren George, ret.
International Executive Vice President Ellis Franklin, ret.
International Executive Vice President Mike Siano, ret.
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Washington, DC 20016-4139. Tel: 1-202-537-1645. Please send all requests for address changes to the ATU Registry Dept.
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LARRY HANLEY, INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT
Reach out to passengers,
legislators during May
Transit Action Month
They came to Chicago from all across Canada and the
United States for ATU training. They left energized by
their common spirit and resolve to make the first May
Transit Action Month a great success in our two countries.
It was not only the largest training ever run by ATU, but,
afterward, participants attended the Labor Notes Conference.
There they met unionists from all over the world – men and
women who share the aspiration that working people should
get a fair share of the profits of our growing world economy.
Is that really too much to demand?
It might only involve a couple of hours with fellow
members engaging the riders you see everyday. But most
members enjoy the experience and want to do more.
A common moment of life
We share a common moment of life with our passengers.
Our workplace is their way to get to theirs. When fares go
up and service is cut, both riders and workers bleed. When
buses are unsafe both riders and workers are put at risk.
But as we have learned, demands made at the bargaining
table can quickly erode in the public square. Anti-worker
messages rule the airwaves. Regular people are convinced contrary to the facts – that billionaires stockpiling money is
preferable to workers having pensions.
Politicians need to better understand transit. Important
legislation has been introduced in both Canada and the
U.S. to make transit safer and better funded. And that’s
what we want too – transit to be safer and better funded.
That’s it… no politics.
Wealth is lavished on billionaires and on arms around
the world, while services are cut, and wages and benefits
put at risk.
Our local unions will line up elected officials of good will
to join us in publicly calling for transit investment.
Taxes are cut for the wealthy, while food stamps are
denied to poor children.
Our bridges, roads, and transit systems crumble, while we
build highways in foreign countries.
We came away from Chicago committed to telling our
story at bus stops and train stations everywhere. This effort
will take place throughout the month of May.
May will be a fun month that builds solidarity across our
border and throughout our cities. Let’s reach out now to
our riders. Reach out to your officers and find out how
you can help.
Let’s raise our voices as One ATU! v
Please visit www.atu.org for more information and the
latest ATU news.
Reach out
So, as the weather warms, and people get friendlier, we will
reach our hands out to our passengers and let them know
we are on their side – and that they are on ours.
IN TRANSIT
| March/April 2014
3
CONTENT
M A R /A P R
2014
Vol. 123, No. 2
19 Will Governments Sleep While Ridership Surges,
Cities Grind to a Halt?
NDP Says Rich Should Pay for Ontario Transit Plan
20 ATU, Transit Systems Search for Solutions for
Driver Assault
MAY IS TRANSIT ACTION MONTH
9
2 International Officers & General Executive Board
NEWS Briefs
3 International President’s Message:
Reach out to Passengers, Legislators During
May Transit Action Month
4 Index Page
5 International Executive Vice President’s
Message: Are We Too Comfortable?
6 International Secretary-Treasurer’s Message:
Are We Entering an Era of ‘Disposable’ Workers?
7 Canadian Agenda: Local Brings Driver Fatigue
Campaign to Parliament
8 Toronto Mayoral Candidates Begin
Long-distance Run for Office
Is Spitting in a Driver’s Face an ‘Assault’?
Well Duh...
21 Maya Angelou Honored as San Francisco’s First
African-American, Female Streetcar Conductor
ATU Mourns Loss of Retired International
Vice President Luke Hall
22 Chicago Airline Gas Tax Rip-off Scamming
Transit Riders
ATU Calls for Ban on Fed Contracts with
Companies Using Offshore Tax Shelters
23 Accused NJ Bus Crash Driver Scapegoat for
‘Sweatshop on Wheels’
Louisville Local Looking to Increase Bus Safety
Mom Thanks Fellow ATU Brother for Saving
Daughter’s Life
24 New Presidents, Fin Secs Trained for
New Challenges
Seniors Want Transit Too
13 Hundreds Energized for May Transit Action Month
at Largest, Ever ATU Training
25 GO Transit Encourages Safety Officers
‘to think like a terrorist’
14 Michigan Members Mobilized by Training,
Sign Up, Today
May 20th National Transit Call Parliament Day
26 More Canadians Paying More for ‘a ticket to ride’
15 Hanley Renews Call for Criminal Investigation into
Deaths of 2 BART Track Worker Replacements
Kelowna Members Test New Medium Duty Bus
16 Public Transportation Top Criterion for
Millennials Deciding Where to Live
CUTA Applauds Harper’s New Building
Canada Plan
17 New Bill Would Toughen Sentences for
Driver Assault
27 Translations (Spanish)
31 Sign Up for ATU Texts, Alerts
Chicago Study Exposes ‘Transit Racism”
18 Koch Brothers Attack Public Transit
US DOT Secretary: ‘Invest in America, Commit
to the Future’
4
March/April 2014 | IN TRANSIT
30 In Memoriam
32 ATU: A Union that Makes Things Happen
JAVIER PEREZ, JR., INTERNATIONAL EXEC. VICE PRESIDENT
Are we too comfortable?
Recently I spent time in our boardroom at international
headquarters here in DC. The room’s walls hold pictures
of those elected to work at the International over many
years, and those of our current international vice presidents
working in the field. It is our past, present and future.
Other walls of the room are lined with shelves crowded
with books that record countless moments in the history of
ATU. It’s a history of good times and bad times for transit
workers. But, overall, it chronicles how a standard-ofliving providing dignity on the job, the ability to nurture
our young, and care for our seniors was built.
Planting trees
I am reminded of a Greek proverb, which says, “Society
grows when old men plant trees whose shade they know
they will never sit in.” Ours is not a perfect history but it
is one that makes us proud to be ATU.
Every day as we traverse our cities we see plenty of signs,
signs that say “Don’t walk; don’t run; stop – railroad crossing;
flashing red, yellow and green lights. School zone ahead;
right turn on red, and no turn on red. Don’t feed the bears.
No diving; no lifeguard on duty. The list could go on and
on. Collectively all are classified as safety rules.
Playing it safe?
Have we become too comfortable in the shade of trees
planted by our predecessors? It seems to me that over
time we in the labor movement have become very safe in
our approach.
Our predecessors were not constrained by safety rules
such as “Don’t offend anybody by talking about anything
controversial. Don’t change anything. Don’t talk about
things that are different. Don’t rock the boat.”
When our predecessors traveled to the fields, valleys and
plains of our great countries, organizing our great Union,
the world was not safe for those advocating formation of
unions – and yet they did so.
Now we must too.
Don’t wait until it’s too late
We can only preserve and renew the best from our past,
and honor our values and traditions through action.
And, so, this month we will take that step. This month
we will recapture the identity that calls us to get out and
speak about social and economic justice; about unequal
playing fields.
We ought not wait until we feel the wound, or are on our
deathbed. The signs of those who seek and plot our demise
are everywhere. We ignore them, not only at our own
peril, but that of our children and grandchildren.
The task is not easy, but with courage and conviction,
with stepping out of our personal safety zones, we will
accomplish much. We must dare to be different. We
must dare to be bold, Then, “The mountains and hills will
break out with shouts of joy before you.” The trees
planted by our predecessors will wave their limbs clapping
for joy. And we will have added to their number with
trees that will provide more shade and inspiration for
generations to come. v
Please visit www.atu.org for more information and the
latest ATU news.
IN TRANSIT
| March/April 2014
5
OSCAR OWENS, INTERNATIONAL SECRETARY-TREASURER
Are we entering an era of
‘disposable’ workers?
It will probably come as no surprise to you that transit
managements are doing everything they can to cut expenses
these days – and that this often results in real wage and
benefit reductions, and unsafe working conditions.
These actions are often accompanied by a total disregard
for collective bargaining contracts, if the transit workers
have one, and employees who are kept off-balance by
capricious enforcement of slippery work rules.
Downward pressure
That exerts a downward pressure on the entire workforce’s
compensation – which makes it a lot easier to pay people
less, and less, and less. And by blocking attempts to
increase or improve public transit, the rich further reduce
the pressure on them to pay more taxes.
Fines cheaper than following labor law
Unions that fight these trends become the targets of
legislation promoted by the rich and powerful who realize
that organized labor is the only thing keeping them from
establishing a fully “disposable” workforce.
These employers often ignore labor law because it’s simply
cheaper for them to pay an occasional fine than to follow
the rules. They make it clear that their employees are
“disposable,” and that they can be easily replaced by people
who are even more desperate for a job than they are.
And so it is crucial that you participate in ATU’s Transit
Action campaign any way that you can. By supporting
public transit you’ll be doing your bit to fight back against
the forces of corporatism looking to maximize their profits
anyway they can – at the expense of us all. v
A recent paper published by the Brookings Institution
revealed that while 23 percent of people who have been
unemployed for over six months found work within the
first few months of their study, more than a third of that
group was unemployed again shortly thereafter. And only
11 percent had steady, full-time jobs.
The data supports the contention that a large, desperate
underclass has become a permanent feature of the
American economy.
The significance of this for the rest of the workforce is
huge. Chronically unemployed people will eventually
accept almost any work, no matter how low the pay, or
how few the benefits, just to get through the next week, or
even the next day.
6
March/April 2014 | IN TRANSIT
Please visit www.atu.org for more information and the
latest ATU news.
Canadian Agenda
Local brings driver fatigue
campaign to Parliament
Intercity bus drivers drive precious
cargo – human lives – every day,
and, unfortunately, regularly witness
horrific accidents and fatalities
on Canadian roads. That’s why
Local 1624-Peterborough, ON,
representing drivers for Coach
Canada, is calling on the Conservative
government to make legislative
changes to address driver fatigue in
the over-the-road (OTR) industry.
The changes the local is advocating
include a 10-hour maximum drive
time per day, a 14 hour-maximum
on duty per day, a 10 hour-minimum
of core rest between shifts, and
equipping all motor coach vehicles
with electronic logging technology.
Conservative interest
The local has received tremendous
support from Members of Parliament
(MPs), ATU members, and the
public. To further its efforts, ATU
recently sent all MPs an informational
letter and video featuring local officers
speaking about driver fatigue.
Local President Allan Medd says that
the information they sent sparked
interest among politicians, including
Conservative MP Jay Aspin, who met
with ATU in March.
public who put their safety in their
hands every day.
Local 1624 is urging Aspin to
introduce
their
recommended
changes as a government bill, and
asking anyone who cares about
road safety to sign their petition at
atu1624.ca. Tell the government
that you demand change in order
to save countless lives on Canadian
roadways.
Many operators are leaving their
employment, and potential workers
are declining to enter it at all, because
of legitimate fears for their safety.
Canadian Council
working to protect
members from assault
The ATU Canadian Council
expressed its sympathy and support
for a TransLink bus driver who was
viciously assaulted in Surrey, BC,
March 27. The driver was taken to
Surrey Memorial Hospital with a
broken nose after being punched by
a male passenger in an unprovoked
attack.
ATU is working closely with transit
employers, represented by the
Canadian Urban Transit Association
(CUTA), to make the case that
strengthening protections for transit
workers under the Criminal Code
is essential. Stronger Criminal
Code provisions would provide law
enforcement with the tools it needs
to better protect transit workers, and
serve as a powerful deterrent. v
Read more about anti-driver assault
legislation to be tabled in Parliament
on page 17.
There are five to six assaults on
transit operators and staff everyday
– approximately 2,000 per year.
These assaults not only affect transit
operators, but also their families, their
co-workers, and the members of the
IN TRANSIT
| March/April 2014
7
Toronto mayoral candidates
begin long-distance
run for office
The election will not take place until
October 27, but Toronto’s mayoral
candidates are debating each other
so early and often you’d think they
were running for president of the
United States.
It’s easy to dismiss arguments this far
out as irrelevant. But the stakes for
transit workers and riders are too high
to be ignored. Public transit is the
highest profile issue in this election,
and the result could well determine
the future of transportation and ATU
employment in the Greater Toronto
Area (GTA).
Everyone agrees that something must
be done about the GTA’s crowded
transit system, but what, and who’s
going to pay are, as always, the big
questions.
The first debate, March 26, between
the top five mayoral hopefuls was a
raucous affair with candidates often
trying to make their mark by talking
over others. Current Mayor Rob Ford
remained unfazed, as his opponents
made the most of his admitted
crack use and drunken escapades.
And despite all of his very public
embarrassments, most commentators
say he won the debate.
Transit policy
When the candidates actually addressed
policy – it was usually about transit.
8
Ford, a Conservative, reiterated his
support for a subway extension of
the Scarborough line, which was
originally planned as light rail. Fellow
Conservative candidates John Tory
and former TTC Chair Karen Stintz
support subway construction as well.
But Conservative challenger David
Soknacki, and New Democratic Party
candidate Olivia Chow still want to
build a less expensive light rail line.
Chow would also boost bus service by
increasing rush-hour bus capacity by
10 percent, and Stintz would create a
single agency with a “transportation
czar” with responsibility for all GTA
transportation.
Absent from the March 26 debate was
long-shot candidate Sarah Thompson,
a transit advocate, who says, “I don’t
think there’s anybody out there that’s
going to push as hard or care as much
for the transit expansion as I do.’
Green bonds?
Every candidate is vowing not to
increase taxes on the middle class, but
no one knows just how any alternative
funding would work in the real world.
Among those plans is a proposal to issue
“green bonds” that promote a cleaner
environment to fund the estimated
$2 billion a year that’s needed to fund
the province’s ambitious public transit
March/April 2014 | IN TRANSIT
plan. Thompson supports subsidizing
subway extensions with tolls on two
local highways that will apply only to
drivers who don’t live in the city.
All of Toronto is waiting to see
how Liberal Ontario Premier and
determined transit advocate Kathleen
Wynne plans to pay for the plan in
her provincial budget on May 1. Tory
says that he won’t release his own
comprehensive plan for Toronto until
he hears what Wynne proposes.
Virtual transit
referendums
If the Liberals’ NDP partners don’t
like what they see in the budget (see
page 19), they could bolt the coalition
government, forcing a new election
for the Ontario legislature and the
Premier’s office. Both the provincial
and municipal elections would
become virtual transit referendums.
It could be a unique opportunity for
ATU members in the province to flex
their political muscle on a topic very
close to their heart. v
GO Transit encourages safety officers
‘to think like a terrorist’
Surprise is a tool that terrorists have
used to great advantage in fatal attacks
that have rocked cities around the
world since 911. And surprise was the
reaction of many to the foiled attempt
by homegrown terrorists who, with the
alleged help of al-Qaeda, planned to
derail a VIA passenger train en route
between Toronto and New York.
The plot got the attention of Ontario’s
GO Transit, which carries up to
300,000 passengers everyday. As
a result GO, now, runs a regular
training program to instill a sense
of “heightened awareness” in its
transit safety officers. In the training,
RCMP terror investigator Sgt. Derek
Macdonald teaches security workers
how to spot suspicious behavior and
root out terrorist weak spots.
His curriculum is quite simple:
“I’m actually asking them to
think like a cop – and think like a
terrorist,” Macdonald says. “The day
you take a second off could be the day
an attack is taking place.”
Consequently, Macdonald has his
students plan a terrorist attack that
includes everything from recruiting
fellow conspirators, to acquiring
explosives, and avoiding detection.
The training encourages students to see
an attack through the eyes of a terrorist
in order to recognize the subtle signs of
their work. v
Helping ATU Locals Harness the
Power of the Internet for FREE
ATU has launched a new service, TransitWeb, to set up a free state-of-the-art
website for local unions. This new innovative program includes:
EASE OF USE User-friendly rich features, varied design
template options, and ease of use for updates and changes.
FRESH CONTENT Easily update your website with fresh content,
photos and even videos.
SUPPORT Free training to learn how to easily update and maintain your website.
NO COST TransitWeb is a FREE program for all local unions, the full cost is covered
by ATU International.
FLEXIBILITY TransitWeb has been developed for ATU local unions. We’ll help you make your website
fit your needs.
To get your website up and running today contact: [email protected].
IN TRANSIT
| March/April 2014
25
More Canadians paying more for
‘a ticket to ride’
CUTA applauds
Harper’s new
Building Canada Plan
As the Beatles song goes, “She’s
got a ticket to ride” – but she’s
paying more than ever.
More Canadians are riding
public transit, and it’s costing
them a lot more to do so.
Canadian cities have some
of the highest transit fares in
North America.
Urban transit ridership data
(see graph, right) published
recently by Statistics Canada shows this trend.
Transit fares are rising at a much higher rate than ridership, leaving some to
wonder when continually escalating fares will begin to discourage Canadians
from taking the bus, train, or trolley. v
Kelowna members test new
medium duty bus
With transit ridership booming,
members of Local 1722 are
participating in a BC Transit test of
a new medium-duty, 35 foot New
Flyer MiDi bus on three lines in
Kelowna, BC.
The demonstration bus has two doors
and the capacity to seat 32 passengers
with three more standees. The current
76-bus Kelowna Transit fleet includes 55 conventional size buses, seven doubledeckers and 14 smaller buses.
“Transit use in Kelowna continues to grow as people recognize the benefit of
taking the bus to school, work and other travel destinations,” says Kelowna-Lake
Country MLA, Norm Letnick.
The company says the demonstration project will provide both New Flyer and BC
Transit with information on the operating performance of the vehicle. v
26
March/April 2014 | IN TRANSIT
The Canadian Urban Transit
Association (CUTA) is applauding
the
Conservative
government’s
Building Canada Plan. The 10-year
project is expected to provide $53.5
billion in infrastructure funding
including public transit to promote
productivity and economic growth
across the nation.
Under the program, transit projects
will be an eligible category across all
components of the plan. Traditionally
procured public transit projects are
currently eligible for just up to 50
percent of the total eligible project
costs.
“Public transit generates $12 billion
in economic benefits annually and
supports nearly 80,000 jobs across the
country” said CUTA President and
CEO Michael Roschlau. “In addition
to reducing traffic congestion in major
urban centres, the transit industry
creates thousands of high-quality jobs
in smaller communities through its
manufacturing and supply chain.”
The ATU Canadian Council is a
member of CUTA. v
Militez auprès des passagers
et des législateurs en mai,
mois de l’Action pour les
transports en commun.
Militez auprès des passagers et des législateurs en mai, mois
de l’Action pour les transports en commun.
Ils sont venus de partout au Canada et aux États-Unis pour
participer à la formation du SUT à Chicago. Galvanisés par
un esprit commun, les participants sont repartis résolus à
faire de ce mois de mai, mois de l’Action pour les transports
en commun, un véritable succès pour nos deux nations.
Non seulement s’agissait-il de la plus grande séance de
formation jamais orchestrée par le SUT, mais les participants
ont également assisté par la suite à la conférence « Labor
Notes ». Il y avait là des syndicalistes des quatre coins du
monde, des hommes et des femmes partageant l’espoir de
voir les travailleurs recevoir une part raisonnable des profits
engendrés par l’économie mondiale. Est-ce vraiment trop
demander?
Malheureusement, comme nous l’avons déjà constaté,
les demandes faites à la table des négociations peuvent
rapidement faire l’objet d’attaques dans la sphère publique.
Les travailleurs sont vilipendés sur les ondes. Les gens
ordinaires sont convaincus, contrairement à la réalité, que
l’accumulation de sommes faramineuses par un milliardaire
est préférable à la pension d’un travailleur.
Nous donnons généreusement aux milliardaires et
finançons les armements partout dans le monde, alors que
sont comprimés les services, les salaires et les avantages
sociaux.
Les riches reçoivent des baisses d’impôt, alors que des
enfants se voient refuser des bons alimentaires et que des
milliards sont dépensés pour armer la planète.
Nos ponts, nos routes et nos transports en commun
dépérissent alors que nous construisons des autoroutes à
l’étranger.
L’heure est au rapprochement
Alors que le temps se réchauffe et que tous retrouvent leur
bonhomie, nous allons tendre la main aux passagers et leur
faire savoir que nous sommes de leur côté, et qu’ils sont du
nôtre.
Il s’agit de partager quelques heures avec les confrères à
aborder les passagers rencontrés quotidiennement. La
plupart des membres apprécient l’expérience et expriment
le désir de la renouveler.
Un moment de vie partagé
Nous partageons une tranche de vie avec nos passagers. Ils
se rendent à leur lieu de travail grâce au nôtre. Lorsque les
tarifs augmentent et que les services sont réduits, ce sont
à la fois les passagers et les travailleurs qui en souffrent.
Lorsque les autobus ne sont pas sécuritaires, ce sont à la fois
les passagers et les travailleurs qui sont en danger.
Les politiciens se doivent de mieux comprendre le transport
en commun. Aux États-Unis comme au Canada, des lois
importantes ont été adoptées afin d’améliorer la sécurité
et le financement du transport en commun. Et c’est aussi
ce que nous voulons accomplir : rendre le transport en
commun plus sécuritaire et mieux financé. C’est là le seul
but… Rien à voir avec la politique
Contactés par nos sections locales, des élus ouverts à nos
idées se joindront à nous pour exiger publiquement des
investissements dans le transport en commun.
Que mai soit un mois de plaisir et de solidarité partout
dans nos villes et au-delà de nos frontières.
Rapprochons-nous de nos passagers. Communiquez avec
les membres de votre bureau pour savoir comment vous
pouvez aider.
Que la voix d’un SUT uni soit entendue! v
Visitez le site www.atu.org pour de plus amples
renseignements et les dernières nouvelles concernant le
SUT.
Nous avons quitté Chicago prêts à raconter notre histoire
partout sur notre passage, aux arrêts d’autobus comme aux
gares de trains. Cette action conjointe débute en mai.
IN TRANSIT
| March/April 2014
27
Sommes-nous trop
confortables?
de sécurité comme « N’offensez personne en mentionnant
un sujet controversé. Ne changez rien. Ne parlez pas de
choses différentes. Ne faites pas de vagues. »
J’étais récemment dans la salle du conseil de notre
secrétariat général, ici même, à Washington D.C. Les
murs y sont ornés de photographies des personnes
élues pour travailler à l’Internationale au fil des ans,
en plus d’autres photos des vice-présidents actuels
travaillant sur le terrain. C’est là notre passé, notre présent
et notre avenir.
C’est maintenant à notre tour.
D’autres murs de cette pièce sont garnis d’étagères
remplies de livres qui témoignent d’innombrables
moments de l’histoire du SUT, bons comme mauvais
pour les travailleurs du transport en commun. Mais,
dans l’ensemble, ces livres témoignent de la création d’un
certain niveau de vie grâce à un travail dont nous pouvons
être fiers et à la capacité de soutenir notre jeunesse et de
prendre soin de nos aînés.
Planter des arbres
Je me rappelle un proverbe grec qui affirme qu’une société
grandit lorsque les aînés plantent des arbres qui ne leur
procureront jamais d’ombre. L’histoire du SUT n’est pas
parfaite, mais nous pouvons en être fiers.
Chaque jour, alors que nous traversons nos villes, de
multiples messages croisent nos routes : ne pas traverser,
ne pas courir, passage à niveau, feu rouge, jaune ou vert,
zone scolaire, virage à droite permis au feu rouge, virage
à droite interdit, ne pas nourrir les ours, ne pas plonger,
aucun sauveteur sur les lieux.
La liste pourrait s’allonger. Du point de vue de la
collectivité, il s’agit là de règles de sécurité.
Vous jouez de prudence?
Sommes-nous trop confortables, à l’ombre des arbres
plantés par nos prédécesseurs? Il me semble que nous
ayons, parmi le mouvement syndical, adopté au fil du
temps une approche très prudente.
Nos prédécesseurs n’étaient pas contraints par des règles
28
March/April 2014 | IN TRANSIT
Lorsque nos prédécesseurs parcouraient les champs, les
vallées et les plaines de nos grands pays, mettant sur pied
notre grand syndicat, il était dangereux de militer pour la
création de syndicats, mais ils le faisaient quand même.
N’attendez pas qu’il soit trop tard.
Pour préserver et renouveler ce que le passé avait de
mieux, honorer nos valeurs et nos traditions, il faut agir.
Ce mois-ci représente donc le premier pas dans cette
direction. Nous allons reconquérir cette identité qui
nous appelle à sortir pour parler de justice sociale et
économique, des inégalités qui minent les règles du jeu.
Il ne faut pas attendre de ressentir la blessure ou d’être
sur notre lit de mort pour agir. Des personnes travaillent
à notre perte et nous en voyons partout les signes avantcoureurs. Nous faisons la sourde oreille, non seulement à
nos risques et périls, mais à ceux de nos enfants et de nos
petits-enfants.
La tâche ne sera pas facile, mais armés de courage et
de conviction, en osant quitter notre zone de confort
personnel, nous pourrons accomplir tellement plus. Nous
devons oser être différents et audacieux.
Ensuite, « Les montagnes et les collines éclateront
d’allégresse devant vous, Et tous les arbres de la campagne
battront des mains » Nous aurons ainsi contribué au
nombre d’arbres qui fourniront davantage d’ombre et
d’inspiration aux générations à venir. v
Visitez le site www.atu.org pour de plus amples
renseignements et les dernières nouvelles concernant le
SUT.
Est-ce le début de l›ère du
travailleur « jetable »?
Nul ne sera étonné d›apprendre que, de nos jours, les
gestionnaires du transport en commun font tout ce qu›ils
peuvent pour réduire les dépenses. Il en résulte trop
souvent des réductions du salaire réel et des avantages
sociaux, en plus de conditions de travail non sécuritaires.
Ces décisions sont souvent prises dans un mépris total
des conventions collectives et des employés, forcés à la
précarité par l›application de règles de travail bancales.
Des amendes plus abordables que le
respect du droit du travail
Puisqu›il est plus abordable de payer occasionnellement
une amende que de respecter le droit du travail, bien des
employeurs décident d’ignorer les règles. Ils font bien
comprendre aux employés qu›ils sont « jetables », et qu›ils
peuvent donc être remplacés très facilement par d›autres
personnes encore plus désespérées de se trouver un emploi.
Selon une étude récente de la Brookings Institution, bien
que 23 % des personnes à la recherche d›un emploi depuis
plus de 6 mois aient été embauchés au cours des premiers
mois de l›étude, plus d›un tiers d›entre eux ont perdu cet
emploi peu de temps après. De plus, seulement 11 %
avaient un emploi stable à temps plein.
Ces données tendent à confirmer qu›une sous-classe
considérable et désespérée fait maintenant partie intégrante
de l›économie américaine.
Pour le reste de la population active, les répercussions de
ce phénomène sont énormes.
Pour survivre jusqu›à la semaine suivante ou même
jusqu›au lendemain, des chômeurs chroniques accepteront
presque n›importe quel travail, peu importe le salaire ou le
manque d›avantages sociaux.
Nivellement par le bas
Il en résulte donc un nivellement par le bas de la
rémunération de tous les travailleurs. Il devient alors facile
de réduire leurs salaires encore davantage.
De plus, en empêchant l›amélioration ou l›expansion du
transport en commun, les nantis réduisent la pression
qui exige d›eux qu›ils paient plus d›impôt. Les syndicats
qui combattent cette tendance deviennent la cible de lois
appuyées par les riches et puissants, lesquels se rendent
bien compte que seul le mouvement syndical les empêche
de rendre la main-d›œuvre entièrement « jetable ».
Ainsi, il est primordial que vous participiez de quelque
façon que ce soit à la campagne « Action pour les transports
en commun » du SUT. En appuyant le transport en
commun, chacun contribue à combattre les forces du
corporatisme qui cherchent à maximiser les profits peu
importe la manière, et ce, au détriment de nous tous. v
Visitez le site www.atu.org pour de plus amples
renseignements et les dernières nouvelles concernant le
SUT.
There’s a big wide world out there, and it’s tough to keep up with
all the events which can affect your profession and your livelihood.
One of the easiest ways to stay informed is by visiting: www.atu.org.
Don’t stay in the dark!
Find out what’s going on.
Visit www.atu.org.
IN TRANSIT
| March/April 2014
29
In Memoriam
Death Benefits Awarded January 1, 2014 - February 29, 2014
1- MEMBERS AT LARGE
RAYMOND BOONE
JOHN P COLLINS
CLARENCE E GRAY
JAMES ELWOOD JONES
LUCILLE NIELL
26- DETROIT, MI
JOHN R BARBEE
JAMES CURTIS HEARNE
HAROLD WALKER
85- PITTSBURGH, PA
DONALD D BANKSTON
STANLEY R CARROLL
JOSEPH A CHMIEL
RALPH LOUIS JONES
JOHN R LAVRINC
EUGENE H LAWRENCE
ROBERT A MURANO
ROBERT N PHILLIPS
DONALD GORDON TIDBALL
JOHN F TKACH JR
CHARLES L WOOD
SHIRLEY ZEILER
113- TORONTO, ON
LAWRENCE BABINEAU
ROLAND GUILBAULT
ANGUS MAC FARLANE
JOSEPH MIKLOSI
ALAUDIN T PIRANI
WERNER SCHAIBLE
MYKOLA SKYBA
ALBERT E TILL
192- OAKLAND, CA
WILLIE B COOK
BARRY L GEHRET
MICHAEL D HENDERSON
DAVID MARTINEZ
CALVIN U OLIVER
WAYNE C WILLIAMS
241- CHICAGO, IL
JUANITA ANDERSON
ROBERT ANDINO
ALONZO BINNS
BENNIE L CALVERT
ALEX CARTER JR
EVERETT L COAKLEY
WILLIE C COOPER
JOHN E EVANS
ANTHONY KEMP
JAMES KIMBROUGH
CESAR J LOVERA
JOHN L MC CLAIN
WALTER MC KINNEY
CLARENCE REESE
LEEVON SKINNER
DARRYL G SLOAN
FRANKLIN A SPRING
TOMMIE C STUCKEY
SAMUEL WALKER
VICKIE WILLIAMS
LORETTA WILSON
265- SAN JOSE, CA
ROBERT B DODDS
ANITA JACOBSON
FERNANDO A PANSOY
WAYNE M PUTMAN
DENNIS L TREADAWAY
279- OTTAWA, ON
WILLIAM G FINNIE
DAVID M WOODARD
308- CHICAGO, IL
KENNERD COOPER
BEVERLY D HAMPTON
DARBY J PRESSWOOD
EARL P SINGLETON
BILLY R SMITH
381- BUTTE, MT
DIANE BOLTON
LEONARD HIHNALA
425- HARTFORD, CT
LYNVAL SIMMS
568- ERIE, PA
ALBIN J MC CONNELL
ADOLF UNGER
569- EDMONTON, AB
DUANE G DOBBERTHIEN
JOHN KNIGHT
GEORGE ONUFRICHUK
ERIC EVAN PATERSON
GILBERT L TODD
618- PROVIDENCE, RI
JAMES E BARBARY
CYNTHIA B BENNETT
HENRY J CRAM
THOMAS J DEIGHAN
JOHN M RUZZANO SR
627- CINCINNATI, OH
RICHARD A JONES
CHARLES J LEIBEL
628- COVINGTON, KY
PAUL DEATON
689- WASHINGTON, DC
JAMES MASON ARCHER
GEORGE BRIGHT JR
VAN CHEVITANON
ARTHER DAVIS
GARLAND LEE DILLON
NOEL E ESCOFFERY
JOHN ROBERT GEORGE
ROBERT A HARDY
ELLIS M LOWE
WALTER W MC FADDEN
AMOS P MERCER
DONALD L MIZELL
ALETHA B MOORE
FRANCIS EARLE PALMER
GEORGE T PARKS SR
JOHN W ROBINSON
JAMES ROLAND SMITH
FULLER E SOMERVILLE
HUAN C TRAN
JAMES E WILLIAMS JR
694- SAN ANTONIO, TX
JERRY W LYND
713- MEMPHIS, TN
A J JACKSON
583- CALGARY, AB
ARTHUR S CLARKE
HARTVIG R HANSEN
ARTHUR J SMITH
PERCY G WEBB
726- STATEN ISLAND, NY
FRANK PAOLUCCIO
587- SEATTLE, WA
DAVID A EARLE
JOHN C MUNRO
757- PORTLAND, OR
EDWARD M DE SANTIS
ANDREW J LUKCIK JR
RICHARD J MICK
KEVIN MORGAN
588- REGINA, SK
HARVEY CONRAD
589- BOSTON, MA
THOMAS F BARRY
WILLIAM E MORIN
615- SASKATOON, SK
GREG NORDSTROM
30 March/April 2014 | IN TRANSIT
732- ATLANTA, GA
HATTIE A COPELAND
770- MOBILE, AL
JOAN G INGE
788- ST. LOUIS, MO
ELDER E BLANKS
EDDY R BURRIDGE
FRANK A GALATI
DON RAYMOND HALL
ABB D RHODES
HOEY A SWAIN
819- NEWARK, NJ
RICHARD DEVORE
ANGELO HIGGS
WALTER YADUSKY
824- NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ
JOSEPH A NELUMS
880- CAMDEN, NJ
ARMANDO A DI TONNO
RUSSELL A DINGER
ROY W NEWMAN
ROBERT PAYNE
FRANK PERRONE
WILLIAM A SPARKS
956- ALLENTOWN, PA
JOHN P PRAMIK
987- LETHBRIDGE, AB
JOSEPH H BAKOS
CONCETTA FERRIER
MICHAEL P GOLINO
SARAH MICALIZZI
PATRICIA A RODVANSKY
RAFAEL A ROLDAN
MADELINE SCALTRO
1249- SPRINGFIELD, IL
DON EDSTROM
HERBERT L FERGUSON
1277- LOS ANGELES, CA
TONY DELAROSA
SAMUEL GARCIA
PHILIP T GODWIN
GENE M TROMBLEY
J T WILLIAMS
1300- BALTIMORE, MD
DENNIS WIPPRECHT
1309- SAN DIEGO, CA
LESLIE G DIETMYER
RONALD JAMES HENDEE
PAUL WILLIS
998- MILWAUKEE, WI
EUGENE BERGNER
PHILLIP BUSALACCHI
JAMES F KELLER
LESLIE J WIEDENHOEFT
1321- ALBANY & TROY, NY
PAUL E MC CLURE
1005- MINNEAPOLIS &
ST. PAUL, MN
STEPHANIE M BENNETT
CORNELIOUS J SYKES
1342- BUFFALO, NY
WILBERT BRANT JR
HERBERT C HODGE
1039- LANSING, MI
KATHERINE C DONLEY
1070- INDIANAPOLIS, IN
DAVID WASHINGTON
1091- AUSTIN, TX
GEORGE CARNICLE
1168- WAUSAU, WI
EUGENE S MADDEN
1179- NEW YORK, NY
JOHN G MC CORD
JEREMIAH O’CONNELL
1181- NEW YORK, NY
FRANK ALBANESE
LUZ ALVARADO
JOHN R BISBANO
FRANK A CARPENITO
MARGARET DELIO
AUGUST DIMINO
CARLOS ESTEVEZ
1338- DALLAS, TX
ARMOUS B SIMS
1374- CALGARY, AB
FRANK KOZIOL
1447- LOUISVILLE, KY
JOYCELYN COLEMAN
1505- WINNIPEG, MB
AIME D BOITEAU
MICHEL J LAMBERT
DONALD C POTTER
HAROLD PAYNE WHITNEY
1555- OAKLAND, CA
RUBEN R VALENTIN
1700- CHICAGO, IL
CAESAR ASMIS
WILLIE J REID
1733- VERNON HILLS, IL
HERBERT BANDKE
ELKE S BERNARDY
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IN TRANSIT
| March/April 2014
31
Amalgamated Transit Union
AFL-CIO/CLC
5025 Wisconsin Ave., NW
Washington, D.C.20016
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