AUGUST NEWSLETTER
Union Membership Meeting Notice

Thursday, July 10, 2003, at 7:30PM in Union Hall,

3049 South 36TH ST (rear of Bldg)

Friday, July 11, 2003, at 10:00AM in the Union Office,

10828 Gravelly Lake DR. SW, #202

Tuesday, July 15, 2003, at 7:30PM

Longshoreman’s Hall, 627 14TH AVE (Longview)

Executive Board

Thursday, July 3, 2003, at 3:00PM (Union Office)

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President’s Report
Summer is racing through. Hope you’re finding time to enjoy it. Sorry about the heat during work. Take care of yourselves. We had our July Picnic, which was enjoyed by close to 300 people. The trees provided cool shade. The Picnic provided a nice time for people to visit, which included Retirees and former employees. Everyone had a great time and stayed much of the day. Activities were going on all day and so there was plenty to do. Again, we thank the volunteers, who worked so hard for others to have such a great time. Medicare vote for people hired before 1986 is done and over. It was a very close vote, 43 No to 38 Yes. That will probably be the first and last vote on this issue, since PT Board of Commissioners must call for the vote, and pay their share, which we thank them for doing. People were informed and made their choice. We are pleased that they could make a choice. Since only 20% of the group needed it, the vote showed a lot of generosity on the part of others. We will be contacting the 20% who need it, clearly giving them the options that remain. Social Security was the next item the Membership wanted looked at. We sent out a survey in the last Newsletter. We received 70 responses (10% of the Membership), with 90% saying they were interested in joining. This means we will continue to investigate. The next step will be a survey in everyone’s boxes at work, to get a better sampling. The implications of joining Social Security are financially HUGE, so we must get an accurate sampling of the Membership before continuing. Had the initial newsletter survey been a strong NO vote, we would have dropped it. Pierce Transit has agreed to allow us to do a survey on the property. They are keeping an arms distance from this whole issue, because of the enormous financial implications. Paratransit Members unanimously approved their contract. They work hard for their money and naturally want and deserve the best. They were also realistic. Paratransit gave what they could, and were very flexible, resulting in many changes to the contract. Medical for all Members is capped at $10/month, a paid vacation day for Part-timers, Longevity pay of 25 cents/hour, combined with a 1% increase, resulting in a 3.4% raise the first year for top step Members, of which over half are. The next two years will be COLAs with a 1% min and 4% max. All steps other than top step, received a 1.5% the first year with raises created every 6 months, which results in a 5% increase per year. There was also 15 minutes travel time on splits over 3 hours, 15 minute rest breaks, and paid DOT physicals. This year we are reviewing all retirement areas. Retirement is so important when you reach it, and so far away when you are decades out. Jobs and the economy will probably get more difficult, so most people will retire here. Shaping your retirement is critical, which is why we are putting such an emphasis on it.

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The SWOOSH
As an Officer of our local, I attended the ATU Northwest conference on June 5 thru 8, 2003 at Minneapolis, Minnesota. This was my first NW conference. During this conference I attended a presentation on the Nike sweatshops in Indonesia, presented by Educating For Justice. This presentation was very educational but disturbing. I would like to share with you what I learned and invite you to the website of www.nikewages.org to learn more. To begin with these factories and many others in Asia are not Union. If any of the workers even attempt to organize they are harassed and sometimes even killed. One factory was able to organize into a Union, however then Nike cancelled all orders thru that factory and the workers lost their jobs. The unemployment rate in Indonesia is at 40%. The worst unemployment rate in the USA was during the depression and was only 20%. All jobs in Indonesia are needed and the workers will put up with just about anything to keep a job. For example, female workers are intitled to two days a month of menstruation leave. However if they are lucky to get past the line supervisor to apply for the leave they are required to prove they are indeed menstruating to the company doctor. To just go thru the process they are harassed and degraded. These factory workers earn $1.95 a day and must choose during that day what is most important to them, either to eat or to purchase feminine products. Most female workers will ignore their time of the month, not apply for leave and not purchase feminine products. They will wear dark clothing on those days. These workers must ask permission to even use the restroom. Because Nike controls 45% of the global sports industry, they shape industry standards. Therefore all sports companies will follow suit. The Nike swoosh logo represents slavery to me. The Nike multi million dollar corporate headquarters is in Bend, Oregon. Nike spends millions on advertisement. Tiger Woods alone has received an estimated $200 million alone just to wear that swoosh logo and Kobe Bryant has an endorsement deal worth $45 million. However, Nike feels the workers that make the product only deserve $1.95 a day. Why am I sharing this with you? I believe this information is important and feel everyone needs to be educated on how incredibly difficult things can be out there. Do you think your Transit agency would be paying our current wages if it were not for your Union? It is my opinion they would not. With no Union there is no contract. Transit agency’s that are not Union traditionally pay much less, with very little benefits if at all. I am asking you to be more supportive of your Union and to educate yourself. I am also asking you to be supportive of all Unions. The more I learn and become more involved, I find myself looking at labels and being more aware of where things are made and more importantly being more supportive of Unions, especially ours. Sonya Ogden, Recording Secretary.

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Domestic Violence is an issue that has been shared with me by one of our members. Therefore, I shared this with our union executive board officers and asked for their approval. In addition to that, I have spoken to Human Resources on this issue to get some clarification and approval. We have one of our own local 758 members who is a strong advocate and is certified/trained on this subject. If you know someone who is in need, please contact one of your union officers, so we can direct you or assist you in the right direction.

Lamarr Bond, Executive Board Officer

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Union Picnic, July 20, 2003

Grievances

Sheryl Culver: Arbitration September 19, 2003. Unavailable for work.
Dave Moe: Step I grievance decision pending. Conduct unbecoming.

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Solidarity Day, August 17, 2003

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