It’s getting to that time of the year, that time of the contract. Negotiation time. To address some of the questions, concerns and to familiarize those who are not familiar with the process, I will try to give a brief description of how it all works.
First, the Union has to notify Pierce Transit Management not more than 90 days or less than 60 days before expiration of the contract, that it is the intent of the Union to begin contract negotiations. The Union and Management meet at some point and time prior to the expiration date to set dates for the negotiation sessions. The Union also at this time will analyze data from our contract negotiation surveys to formulate a proposal on behalf of the membership.
The Union will also assemble a negotiation team as will Management. The Unions team is comprised of the President B.A., Vice-President A.B.A., Financial Secretary Treasurer, and a International Vice President assigned by the International in Washington D.C. Management’s team usually consists of the V.P. H.R. and Labor Relations, V.P. Operations, V.P. Finance and Admin., V.P. Maintenance and the CEO. The Union team also in the past has had representatives from various work groups present presentations. In Longview at our CUBS property we usually enlist the services of E-Board Officer Mike Cochran and our Longview/Kelso area Paratransit Services of Ken Vodrup Shop Steward.
Second, July 1, 2005 comes and no new contract. The Union then sends a communiqué to Pierce Transit Management of our intent to work under the present contract until such time as a “new” contract is ratified. This will happen every “thirty” days until new contract ratification. Certain parts of the contract if not settled by the expiration date as an example a wage increase would be retroactive back to July 1st and would cover the time period up until the ratification date. –No one works without a contract-
It is the intent of your Executive Board to start distribution of contract negotiation surveys the week of March 7th, 2005. Your input is of vital importance as it will direct the actions of your negotiation team. We presently have Executive Board Officers representative of all our job classifications and work groups, they are there for your input and to elicit and or convey your issues. This is what they were elected to do, please communicate your issues to those Officers.
“Advocate Harm – Not on My Watch”
Here’s the situation. Discussion at our A.M. meeting February 11, 2005. When a law enforcement Officer observes an Operator violating a law, perhaps following too closely or exceeding the speed limit an opinion was expressed that Operator should be ticketed on the spot. Get rid of Pierce Transit’s agreement to accept possible violations per a phone call or whatever, not resulting in a citation but a safety reminder.
The same opinion was expressed that the State Patrol and/or other Law enforcement agencies should be made aware that Operators may or may not be using shoulder harnesses and they should be ticketed and it is this individual’s intent to inform Law enforcement and to encourage them to issue citation to Operators.
Shoulder Harnesses – we have a choice. I won’t wear mine because in 20 + years of coach Operation I’ve never known of any Operators to be thrown from a coach, whether involved in a head –on, running off the road, or striking a median. My “choice” is I will pay the fine. Why? Functioning properly or not (seems to be the individual’s issue) the harness will “lock-up” with a sudden movement and I refuse to get pummeled while I sit in a seat unable to get out of the way…. That’s the issue/ concern I have as well as other individuals/members. Sorry I can’t jump on that bandwagon. A couple of moving violations in a certain time period could very well result in the suspension of the operators CDL.
NO CDL – NO JOB
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Lane Chase
Vice President/A.B.A.
V.president@atu758.org
"DO YOU KNOW YOUR ENEMY?"
“Your enemy”, at your job doesn’t talk to you, but has a tremendous influence over all you do all day long. This enemy will influence you to take chances that you should not. It will make you feel as if you’re not doing things the way they should be. You will find yourself cutting corners, skipping using the restroom, not drinking fluids. Probably, worst of all, this enemy will jeopardize your health and not care one bit. The one thing that will come out of this for sure is, if you compromise your health you could seriously impair your ability to work. For instance, if you skip using the restroom you can cause bladder infections, if not something worse. Not drinking fluids so you won’t have to use the restroom as often, well this can contribute to a good case of kidney stones, and the extreme pain that goes with them is an added side benefit. Sitting for long periods of time can cause blood clots and some other exciting ailments too. Your health is your responsibility and yours alone, no one else can do it for you. Let’s face it our job is sedentary, stressful and can cause any number of ailments. The stress of trying to make schedules on time and go without using a restroom, eating, or drinking can also affect your blood pressure, which by the way has new lower numbers you have to achieve. It is up to you to take the time for the restroom, drink something, and to stretch. Getting out of the seat will also help you prevent probably the worst ailment of them all, “Bus Butt”. Just in case you have not figured it out the enemy is that little piece of laminated paper called a paddle! Make sure, “you run” the paddle, and not let it, “run you” or influence your decisions. Sitting and working without taking a few moments for your health and peace of mind is up to you, and so is your health.
Now that we have received the new MCI coaches taking time to use the rest room is even more important. These coaches only have one door, it is automatically going to take longer loading and unloading passengers, and the paddle makes no allowances for the ones with challenges. With the configuration of these coaches a passenger with challenges will pretty much wipe out any recovery time you may have had. This will automatically transfer a decision to you, “Do I use the restroom or keep going?” I would strongly urge you to use the restroom, you’re already going to be running behind, one or two more minutes will not make any significant difference, but it could in your health, especially over a lifetime career of driving. Finally it is your, “legal right” to use the restroom no one can punish you for using the restroom, so don’t punish yourself.
There is also another concern with the MCI coaches you need to be especially alert to. When you have a problem passenger on one of those coaches, because there is only one door that problem has to pass right by you, and not only that, because of the way the coach is configured this passenger is even closer to you when exiting than in other coaches. Be aware you no longer have the luxury of a, “Back Door Knot Head Exit.” As one of our members said, “With all of the technology that we have today the MCI is a step backwards rather than forwards.” With the type of service operation that we work the MCI coach, probably is not the best choice, for the challenged person it is most likely not the best choice either. All we heard for the longest time was how much better and faster the low floor coaches were going to be, no stairs to climb, wider entry, ramp for chairs and walkers, elimination of jammed lifts, kneels for both doors, easier and faster chair tie down system. We are stuck with them now, so let’s not add our health, to the list of draw backs of the MCI.
"CONFUSION PERS VS., DEFERRED COMPENSATION"
“PERS” is the retirement plan you enrolled in when you started at Pierce Transit. It is mandatory and at present you can select whether you want Plan 2 or Plan 3. Its payout is based on how much money you make and how many years you work. How much money you put in is determined by the retirement board in Olympia, and does not change the payout. If you go to atu758.org, web site there is a link to the Pers web page and you can calculate what you are going to receive for retirement pay. These plans are tax deferred and you will most likely pay tax on the withdrawals.
“Deferred Compensation” is the voluntary plans which can participate in to provide additional money for your retirement. Whether you participate or not is up to you. If you do you choose how much you put in and how the money will be taken out. It is tax deferred as are the Pers plans so most likely you will be taxed on the withdrawals, it also has a 2% fund match. The 2% match is based on your gross wages and can be more than a thousand dollars a year. No where can you get a 100% return on your money the same year you put it in savings, “THINK ABOUT IT”.
"UPCOMING NEGOTIATIONS"
“Negotiations”, soon you will be receiving a survey asking for your input. Please respond this is your opportunity to shape the future of your benefits package. Keep in mind medical and wages are almost without exception the “Big Topics”. Without a doubt, medical is important to all of us. Some have suggested that medical is more important than wages. Keep in mind if you sacrifice a raise to preserve medical you will reduce your earnings from that point on, and you will reduce your retirement also. If for some reason the cost of medical dropped then you have sacrificed your raise and retirement, for nothing.
"COMMENTS"
“Newsletter”, there were many comments about the newsletter last month and they are much appreciated. We are trying to improve it constantly and give you more information than ever before. It is President Tate’s and my desire that the E-Board officers will continue putting articles in about the issues that are brought to their attention.
Lane Chase, Vice President A.B.A.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Recording Secretary
Sonya Ogden
recsec@atu758.org
Per the Pierce Transit Operator’s manual section F page F12, it is agency policy that Operators are not to have their cell phone on at anytime that they are in an agency vehicle. Cell phones may only be used at the end of the line and only as time permits. Translation: an Operator can only use their cell phone if time permits and will have to step off and away from agency vehicles at the end of the line. It is the agency’s intent due to safety risk, liabilities and customer service that they limit the use of our cell phones. At the February Joint Labor Management meeting the Union inquired on exceptions (example: 10th and Commerce Tunnel or layover ramp at Federal Way Park and Ride) and Senior Transportation Manager Larry Cline stated that there are no exceptions. Continued use of cell phones on agency vehicles will result in discipline. My personal opinion is that it really is none of my business what you do. However it will become my business if the opportunity to carry my cell phone and to use per company policy is taken away from me. I, for one like the idea of being able to keep in contact with family and/or if I have Union business to be able to use my cell phone. Please adhere to policy and do not use your cell phone on or in any agency vehicle at any time. Thank you.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Thanks to all that voted me into the Office of Operations Administration Safety Committee, and to all that came out to vote, Thanks. I have taken some safety concerns from members to present to the safety committee. If you have any safety concerns, safety issues or problems please write them out on the safety forms in the Driver’s lobby. The forms are located near the Assistant Managers office on the wall.
President Isaac Tate has appointed me Chair person to the Safety Oversight Committee (SOC). I have formed my committee and we are looking forward to having our first meeting.
I would like to Thank Kevin Greinke for taking lead in buying pool sticks and a cover for the lobby pool table. When finished playing pool, please take the time to put pool table cover on. Also I hope everyone had a safe and happy holiday. (Valentine’s & President’s Day)
In Solidarity!
Tyrone Ross, E-Board Officer Operations Position II
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
With our contract coming up this year, I have already had a few members share some inputs with me of what they would like to try and add. If you have an idea that you would like to share, talk to me or catch me in the lobby. *Remember, to be realistic about this subject.
Lamarr Bond, E-Board Officer/Shop Steward Operations Position I
*It is the intent to distribute a contract negotiation survey the week of March 7, 2005.
President Isaac Tate
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I'll bet everybody thought things were always quiet with the maintenance end of the yard, not so. February was one of those months that will not be easily forgotten. I would like to thank both Isaac and Lane for their help. It's nice to know your Officers are there when you need them. I joined a new club, it's called "TGIT", or "Thank God It's Today". If you wake up every day of the week with an attitude of, "I'm glad today is today. I'm going to make this day as positive and wonderful as I possibly can," you may be surprised at how much less stressed you’ll be. This simple shift of attitude goes a long, long way toward a more positive experience of life and work.
Joe DiGiulio, Facilities Maintenance E-Board Officer/Shop Steward
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Newsletter Article Retraction
I would like to state that my February newsletter statement regarding Social Security, as follows:
“The next step we must take is to include this most vital of issues, in our contract negotiations”
was my opinion alone. I was not expressing the opinions, or the goals of local 758 or its’ leadership, and I apologize for confusion and misunderstanding of the facts, on my part.
Joan O’Brien, Scheduler and Service Supervisor E-Board Officer
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I am truly a student these days and for many months to come. Our CSR members are providing me with their workplace issues, and we continue to work on the CSR vacation/time-off survey. Meetings have taken place and more are scheduled. Your E-Board is working toward distribution of the contract negotiation survey the week of March 7, 2005. Isaac and Lane have given me lots of homework. Materials to study are: By-Laws, Shop Steward Manuals and the Pierce Transit Personnel Manual. All of the “Safety Oversight Committee” materials were transferred to Tyrone Ross. This is a committee organized in 2000 to address safety issues primarily in Pierce Transits Operations Division. Marguarita Marion, Robert Finger, Tim Villemaire, Lane Chase and I were the members. Ron Thornton, as our ATU President, was a resource if we needed additional assistance. Thank you all for your many, many volunteer hours of service. My service hours as an E-Board member: January 2005= 14 hours, February 2005= 22 hours and Cost to ATU= 0 $
Georgia Twaites, E-Board Officer Shuttle CSR
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I have a few things to share with all of you this month. At the last E-Board meeting I was appointed the chair of the Recreation Committee. I am starting to gather information and contacting the appropriate people to begin planning events. If you have any reasonable suggestions for the picnic or holiday party, I would love to hear from you. Thanks!!!!! You can contact me by emailing me at getoffmybus@aol.com, dropping ideas in the Union Box in the operator's lobby, or calling me at (253)226-1794. Make sure you address notes in the drop box to Trina Skirko and Email subject headings as UNION IDEAS so I don't delete them. In addition to the appointment to the Recreation Committee, I also was voted in by the E-Board as the delegate to the Women's Caucus. For three years I will go to the yearly caucus and represent ATU 758. I hope to learn a lot from this experience and bring it back to the members. I am unsure where or when the Caucus is this year, but as soon as I find out I will let pass that info on. Please feel free to ask me questions about the Recreation Committee, Women's Caucus, or anything else that you are concerned about. I may not be able to answer you right away, but I can probably find out some answers for your concerns. I am still learning about procedure and policy, and have begun reading some Union books to help me learn. It has definitely been an eye opening experience being and E-Board member. I am excited to see what else is to come.
Trina Skirko, E-Board Officer Operations Position III
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Grievance Update
*Holiday Pay Issue- We received a decision from our Vice President of Human Resources and Labor Relations regarding the Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve pay Issue. While Operators who worked Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve did receive holiday pay for those days – management determined the Saturday “true” holidays to be Sunday schedules. An Operator who normally worked Saturday but was off due to Pierce Transits scheduling was “not” paid for their Saturday Run. We will be forwarding this one on to our Attorney.
Rex Longen Demotion – Step I meeting held March 2, 2005 pending decision.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Printer-friendly version
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Current Newsletter
If you would like to receive your Newsletter by email please click
here: and sign up.
Return to Home Page
