I would like to express my heartfelt thanks and appreciation to everyone
for the flowers, cards and condolences regarding the passing of my father. Your thoughts and prayers
are, and were greatly appreciated during this time and are a comfort to my family and to me. Thank you
again.
Relief Operator Availability – Things have been on hold due to both the
Union and Management attending meetings and conferences during the month of September and also the
Puyallup fair. Since the passing of my father I have not been in the office on a full-time basis.
I will return on Monday October 22nd, and will schedule meetings shortly thereafter to resume
discussions on the implementation of Availability Scheduling.
4-10’s – The Union and Management had agreed in principal to
implementation of 4/10 work assignments in January of this year and had indeed agreed upon parameters
such as straights, number of straights, maximum number of hours in a workday and the shake-up, for a
trial period. Then the Meal & Rest period mandate came up. It would not have been prudent on the part
of the Union or Management to have not settled this issue prior to implementation of the 4/10 work
week.
In February of this year the Union approached management with several
proposals two (2) of which were paid meal periods. One would be to cut runs approximately 7 hours and
15 minutes with 30 minutes built in to bring the run up to 8 hours, or if the run had overtime over 8
hours – 30 minutes of paid lunch additionally at the straight time rate. Our rationale – if management
has an issue with busses not being in service for 30 minute intervals, or they have to hire 50 relief
operators to include training, travel time, relief vehicles etc. to make reliefs for unpaid meal
periods, which was the most cost effective method to address the situation. It would only affect
straight runs so it would only (per the contract) been a maximum of 60% of the total number of daily
runs.
After numerous months of haggling, in early September in a meeting with
Transportation Services, Mr. Kelly Hayden – Director of Planning once again gave us another scenario
regarding unpaid meal periods and the issues related to making reliefs. Oh yes, incidentally
scheduling and planning due to the reorganization, is under the auspices of Policy, Planning and Public
Affairs – as far away from Operations as you can get.
I was a little (actually more than a little) put off by the seeming
unwillingness to address the Unions ideas and I asked Mr. Hayden if it was management intent not to
pay for meal periods, he stated yes and he went on to further state I could cost out the Union’s
proposal myself.
This must be the collaborative efforts that this new administration under
CEO Griffith is implementing. Imagine three (3) going on four (4) years of non-compliance with state
law/regulations and the arrogance of their response.
This issue is being addressed at other Locals and Agencies statewide.
Pierce Transit doesn’t want to be the “first” to implement the practice of a paid meal period, but you
know what, they already do it in Maintenance. After one or two more meetings then we will have to move
on with whatever remedy is most prudent on behalf of this local and its membership.
Written Reminders – I have written several letters to
Transit Services management regarding the usage of the written reminder the third (3) level of
positive performance counseling on an alleged first violation. As an example an Operator at a transit
center was counseled by a Service Supervisor regarding failure to properly use a wheel block. This was
the first step of “positive” performance counseling. Management not having much to do then peruse the
ODDS files and notes the counseling. They then spring into action and make a determination that this
individual’s transgression are so severe that they must summon this individual and issue the same
Operator for the same incident a written reminder, the third step of “positive” performance counseling.
Why I ask was the written reminder issued?
Is management convinced counseling doesn’t work? Do they have proof to
that affect? A “verbal reminder” is the same as a written reminder only it does not become a part of
your permanent employment record or hamper your chances for advancement in the agency. Both steps
counseling and verbal reminder are to (one would assume) advance management or what should be
management’s interest, which is behavioral modification. Until management can show me that these
first two steps are ineffective I will continue to fight this battle. Perhaps the answer is to change
the contractual language to make the “written reminder” which adversely affects the member’s ability
for advancement, or recognition a grieveable issue subject to the grievance process.
Accident Safety Review Board (ASRB) I have informed Fred Nelson Safety &
Training Manager, that the Union is no longer willing to participate in the review of On-Job-Injuries
(OJI(s)) or Extra-ordinary reviews.
The reason being, neither our members nor management members of the ASRB
are medically trained to evaluate injuries to workers. The only criteria regarding this issue that
should be ruled on are whether or not it happened on or off the job. Medical information is
confidential, and no one should have to go before a group of individuals that they do not know, and
explain a medical issue. Why are medical records kept in HR and not accessible to anyone? They are
not everyone’s business. Extra-ordinary reviews which are requested by Management in a number of cases
could or would adversely affect a fellow member’s employment. While our members may not be aware of
it, there is usually a voting member on the management team that is fully aware of the ramifications
of the decision by the board.
In past instances when said individual was not pleased with the ruling of
the board (non-preventable, tie or the decision did not lead to discipline or member was not terminated)
they have taken it upon themselves to make comments to the Union participants questioning their
integrity. Our members need not be subjected to this. Consequently when our members are put into the
position of making a decision that adversely affects another member; it violates one of the basic
tenants of Unionism-advocating discipline of a fellow Union member. Per the Union’s suggestion to
management, perhaps a better venue in these instances would be the National Safety Council. Management
could then do its own dirty deeds.
Family Medical Leave: Management tried recently to require a member to
bring in a sick leave absence slip each time they utilized pre-approved, certified family medical leave
absences. This amounted to a monetary–fine (fifteen to twenty dollar co-pay per office visit) and
basic harassment of this member, but it could have adversely affected any member when utilizing their
Family Medical Leave rights. In addition this could also be construed as a discriminatory practice
toward anyone utilizing their FML rights.
I contacted HR regarding this disturbing issue and the action of
management was rescinded. If you feel you are being subjected to questionable directives regarding FML
please contact this office immediately.
Cameras on Buses: There appeared to be a little excitement regarding a
Gillig that was on the lot that reportedly was “chock full of cameras”, and camera(s) that where
pointed towards the Operator work area. I want to reiterate that the Union has addressed this
issue/concern in the past and last addressed this concern in an August memo to Sam Desue VP
Transportation Services and cc’d to Alberto Lara VP Human Relations. The Union’s position has always
been; if pointed away from the Operator it is for security purposes. If it is pointed towards the
Operator it becomes a performance issue. In summary the memo states: It is the Union’s intent to
negotiate parameters of the installation of cameras on all agency vehicles as a change in working
conditions if they are pointed toward a vehicle or Transit Operator (performance) or used in
disciplinary or investigatory situations.
Sick Leave: I have been contacted by Operators (but this
applies to everyone affected by a sick leave policy) regarding being placed on the sick board when
notifying Dispatch that they are fatigued. That is fine. However when placed on the sick board or
report, make sure you do not return until such time as you are fully recovered and ready. If you go
out and not allow yourself time to properly recover, and have to go out again after returning to work,
you could very well place yourself in the position of accumulating two (2) occurrences in a short
period of time. If you are involved in a vehicle or industrial incident/accident because you are not
well rested or recovered from an illness, Management will tell you, “you should have pulled yourself
out of service or not reported to work”, and in addition failure to use your sick leave is not an
excuse. Be Safe.
Welcome Aboard
Sound Transit Link Light Rail Operators (LROs): On Friday October 12, 2007 we were informed by the
Public Employees Relations Commission (PERC) that we had successfully organized the Link Light Rail
Operators who work in downtown Tacoma and have been designated the representative bargaining unit. Our
next step is to meet with the Operators to address their concerns, meet with Sound Transit to identify
theirs, and begin the process of formulating a contract. This was and is a good win for those who
understand the value of being Union and have the foresight of looking to the future. If this type of
service is expanded in the future these would be our most senior Light Rail Operators, but it would
give our present Transit Operators a foot in the door. I have met with the Operators and they’re a good
group of folks. If you see them around give them a smile and a wave, they may have made a positive
impact on your future.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Lane Chase, Vice President/A.B.A.
V.president@atu758.org
EVER Wonder what the Union is working on? Ever say to yourself, “I wonder what they spend their time
on? Well, you are the Union and should know. I have gone through the notes of the past three years
for the local. Some pretty amazing things came to light. An ordinary day for one of the Officers of
the local includes many tasks. You check your mail, your phone messages, and the Union’s three mail
boxes. You could be involved in several different committees, sit on several representations. In the
mean time you go to meetings, lots and lots of meetings. These meetings could be Labor/Management or
they could be CAD/AVL, for the new radio system. In between the meetings and you are taking care of the
other things on your plate. You try to see as many members as you can and answer as many questions as
possible from members. In your spare time you write letters, newsletter articles and help the newer
Officers on the E-Board. During the past couple of years the Officers of this local have dealt with
many issues on our member’s behalf. Some of you won’t even recognize some of the issues I will mention.
The local dealt with the Shoulder Harness Issue and our members getting
injured when the harness locked up. We negotiated a new policy enabling the Operator not to wear it
without receiving discipline. The Union kept after and succeeded in getting cup holders in the buses,
after they were removed. This local has fought for years to get ergonomically correct seats in the
buses that would support our member correctly and reduce injury. When the MCI’s came in they were
equipped with flat mirrors. The Union went to bat again and succeeded in getting them changed. We
succeeded in getting the “Union Cell Phones”, added to the paging system that Management has. Now we
receive emergency messages concerning our members the same time as Management, (most of the time).
The Officer’s of the local successfully negotiated language for the CSR/SHUTTLE group covering vacation
and holidays. Your E-Board renewed and extended the Hybrid Bus Agreement. We were successful in finally
getting Short Term Disability Insurance for our members. This took several years, in spite of the fact
that the member pays the cost of the insurance. The Officers of this local during this term have put
the local in the best financial shape it has ever been in. We have purchased our own building, stop
by and take a look it’s your office too! We were able to convince Management to let Isaac sit on the
selection committee for several of Transit’s upper level positions. Your officers successfully
negotiated a contract for Kelso-Longview, our other property. The list goes on and on. The Union
addressed the water spotting problem for years and was finally successful in getting the problem
addressed. I guess the point is we are approaching 950 members. We have one fulltime Officer.
Whenever you wonder what is getting done this is just a minor sampling. This does not take into
account the hundreds of other details that arise on a daily basis, (grievances, advice to members,
questions on pay, OJI’s, etc. etc. etc). The one thing that helps your officers or stewards who
represent you, EXPERIENCE!!!!!!!
That experience gives you history and history gives you a base to know how and why things came
about. That history gives you experience which can not be diminished or discounted. That experience
makes the difference in so-so representation and really good representation.
Nominations are over and you will soon start to think about elections. I urge you to
take a good look at the candidates and make an informed choice.
Valuables Recently several of our members have had occasion to find something of value on
or near a bus stop. Make sure you call dispatch. Make sure you turn it in. This is the best way to
remain out of the spotlight.
OJI Short Payment I know, “What does that mean right”? Well, it means when you are on
OJI it is your responsibility to pay your cost share of your medical for example. Reason, the money is
paid directly to you from the insurer. Transit does not get it first. It is your responsibility to
take care of those items. If you do not, when you return to work Transit will have their hand out
wanting the money to cover those items which they paid on your behalf.
Transfer Cutter This next article is about frustration. When the transfer cutter was
moved for the ORCA Test we were told this was only temporary. Well the test has been over for some
time and the transfer cutters are still in the same place.
This brings several questions to mind:
- Did management ever really intend to put them back?
- Is the test still being conducted and we were never told?
- Were we being told this just to placate us hoping we would go away?
I do not know about you but I for one am wondering what happened. I am also tired of bending at the
lower back and having to hyperextension my arm to reach the cutter several hundred times a day.
I talked to my doctor and his statement was; “this is a very bad movement and position to make with
your back, especially for women or people with shorter arms.” This is an issue that is unnecessary
and yet it is happening. The passengers are constantly bumping the transfers; your hand is in the way
when they are trying to put change in the fare box. This doesn’t even cover the issue of some peoples
hands that you may want to avoid contact with. When you see safety and training ask them why the
cutters have not been moved back, and would an injury resulting from this be non-preventable?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sonya Ogden
Recording Secretary, Election Committee Chair
November 2007 Candidates
The 2007 candidates for the November 2007 are as following (candidate names are in alphabetical order):
President Business Agent: Mike Delano, Joe Digiulio and Isaac O. Tate.
Vice President Assistant Business Agent: Lane Chase.
Financial Secretary/Treasurer: Don McKnight.
Recording Secretary: Deborah Brown.
Transit Operator Position I: Lamarr Bond and Kevin Greinke.
Transit Operator Position II: Tyrone Ross and Jose Villahermosa.
Transit Operator Position III: Barry Aiton and Juanita Hoheusle.
Mechanic Position I: Russ Lowe.
Mechanic Position II: John Hoheusle.
Facilities Maintenance Mechanic: Vacant.
Administrative Services Representative: Virginia Stevens.
Service Supervisor Position: Trina Skirko.
Customer Service Rep (Shuttle): Devorah Zeller.
Longview Representative: Vacant.
There are four positions with is more than one candidate. All offices
and names will be printed on the ballot. Candidates running unopposed have won their positions, but
their names will still be printed on the ballot. If any of the above candidates want to withdraw their
names from the election, please notify me before Wednesday, November 7, 2007. The deadline to file a
challenge on the election is November 24, 2007.
Here are some helpful suggestions when voting. Please do not place a
mark on the ballot other then a check or an X for one candidate in each position. Any other marks on
the ballots will void that ballot. There are no write-in candidates. Any ballots with a write-in will
be voided and not counted. Please have ID ready and available if asked by a voting official (Pierce
Transit members please have your work ID).
Transit Retiree Holiday Party: The annual Transit Retiree Holiday
party will be Saturday, December 8, 2007 at the Elks Club, 12 noon. Tom Knust would like to thank the
local for their annual contribution of money to assist with the cost of the party, this year the Union
donated $900.00. Tom would like to extend an invitation to anyone that would like to attend. Please
contact him at 253-566-9105. The cost for non retirees is $12.00.
ATU 758 Women’s Caucus first anniversary meeting/celebration was
Monday, October 1, 2007 at Sizzler. On behalf of the Officer’s of the caucus I thank the members who
joined us for the meeting/celebration. The next meeting will be Monday, December 3, 2007 6:00 PM at
the Union office. Everyone is welcome. Please show your support by attending.
I agree with VP Lane Chase on the transfer cutter issue on the series of
buses that have the transfer cutter mounted on the fare box. I to expressed my concern with Fred
Nelson and was told they would be off the fare box and mounted back the way they should be after the
test. Only an Operator can imagine the difficulty of having that transfer cutter on the fare box.
Besides the body logistics, it is too close to the cash paying customers. It is in the way of the
coins being dropped. I frequently come in contact with the passenger due to being so close. It is
also very convenient for the passenger to go ahead and tear off a transfer for themselves.
For the last six years I have been your Recording Secretary. I am very
proud of this. I learned many things, had good times and have had stressed times. Sometimes the Union
life consumes an Officer and it seems I have let that happen. As you may have noticed I have chose not
to run again. Maybe a break is in order and I might run for an office in three years. But for now
please understand my decision. I have been teased and harassed by members and I know it is in good
fun. But what bothers me is the members who constantly complain that the Union does nothing for them
but yet NEVER attends a Union meeting. When they have messed up they leave it up to a Union Officer or
Shop Steward to bail them out and when it does not go in their favor, or the way they want, they blame
the Union.
When In closing, I know that I will miss parts of the job and other parts
I will not. I encourage more members to please come to the meetings. Please realize those members who
show up to the meetings run the Union.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Executive Board Reports
Washington State Labor Council – This year’s conference was August
16-18, at Sea-Tac’s Red Lion Hotel; it was also the 50th Anniversary convention. Some of the guest
speakers were U.S. Senator Patty Murray, Apollo Alliance President Jerome Ringo, talk show personality
Jackie Guerra, King County Executive Ron Simms and many other distinguished labor and political
leaders. There were 11 workshops to choose from. I was on the Rules and Order committee.
The main focus of this convention was deliberation, discussion and action
on resolutions. Affiliates submit dozens of proposals to establish Washington State Labor Council
policy, programs and action. Executive board Officer, Tyrone Ross attended this conference with me.
All-star Fitness – In last month’s news letter I spoke about
All-Star Fitness and “not waiving the initiation fee to join”, there has been a change. I spoke to
Wally Rubio, Membership Representative, for All-Star Fitness, about ATU 758 membership. He told me
that the fitness center will allow ATU 758 member’s initiation fee to be waived as long as his company
receives 7 members to sign up. What this means is the fitness center will set up an account with a 30
day window for ATU 758. Once the fitness center receives 7 members to sign up, all future and current
members of ATU 758 will have their initiation fee waived. To my knowledge there has already been one
member that has signed up. If another 6 members sign-up, then the account stays open. If we have less
than 7 members to sign-up then the account closes. If you decide to sign-up, you need to mention ATU
758 account, they might require I.D, or proof that you are an ATU 758 member, so be prepared. For
further information contact Trish Gurley, mail box, 378 @ Pierce Transit and Wally Rubio, Member
Representative @ (253) 475-7000. In any case, you may wish to check it out and perhaps you might
consider becoming a member, ask for a tour of the facility. The union is not advocating membership,
but we encourage you to check it out for yourself. This facility is located at Lincoln Plaza, 31
Montana Avenue, Tacoma 98409.
Mentors – September’s Labor Council meeting had several guest speakers;
one was from “Big Brothers Big Sisters”. Caring adults age 18 or older, if you are interested in
becoming a mentor contact 1-877-700-BIGS (2447). Community-based Mentoring, meets 2 to 3 times a
month. School-based Mentoring, meets one hour a week. Children of Incarcerated Parents, meets 2 to 3
times a month. I also have flyers if you choose to mail them in, this gives a little more information
about the program.
Training – A Saturday in September, there was a training class at
the Central Labor Council from 9-2pm, and the topic was Union Political Activists Training. With
handouts and a slide show we talked about: employee free choice, worker privacy, healthcare,
establishing relationships with elected leaders’ decisions, upcoming challenges to political
involvement, labor neighbor 2008, and precinct caucus training. Executive Board Officer, Tyrone Ross
attended this training with me.
Lamarr Bond Sr, Executive Board Officer, Operator Position I
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ATU 758
Voting Dates and Times
Tuesday, November 13, 2007 2:30 PM to 7:30 PM
Longview/Kelso members
Operators Lunch/Break Room
Wednesday, November 14, 2007 5:00 AM to 7:00 PM
Pierce Transit Members
3701 96TH ST SW Lakewood
Bus Lot on a Pierce Transit BUS, past the walkway to bus lot.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If needed a run off election will be held in December 2007.
(Same locations)
Runoff Election Dates
Tuesday, December 18, 2007 2:30 PM to 7:30 PM
Longview/Kelso members
Wednesday, December 19, 2007 5:00 AM to 7:00 PM
Pierce Transit Members
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Candidate Forum
There will be a candidate forum for members to come, meet and ask questions of the candidates for the
President Business Agent position
Thursday, November 8, 2007 at 6 PM
3049 S. 36TH ST. Union Hall before the PM Charter meeting.
Any questions and/or concerns please call Election Committee Chair Sonya Ogden 253-224-8359
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