PROPOSED REFERENDUM COULD SAVE KING COUNTY, WA, JOBS - SEE PAGE 17 - JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2014

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1 OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE AMALGAMATED TRANSIT UNION AFL-CIO/CLC JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2014 PROPOSED REFERENDUM COULD SAVE KING COUNTY, WA, JOBS - SEE PAGE 17 -

2 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 RICHARD M. MURPHY Newburyport, MA BOB M. HYKAWAY Calgary, AB WILLIAM G. McLEAN Reno, NV JANIS M. BORCHARDT Madison, WI PAUL BOWEN Canton, MI KENNETH R. KIRK Lancaster, TX GARY RAUEN Clayton, NC MARCELLUS BARNES Flossmore, IL RAY RIVERA Lilburn, GA YVETTE SALAZAR Thornton, CO GARY JOHNSON, SR. Cleveland, OH ROBIN WEST Halifax, NS JOHN COSTA Kenilworth, NJ CHUCK WATSON Syracuse, NY CLAUDIA HUDSON Oakland, CA BRUCE HAMILTON New York, NY MICHELLE SOMMERS Brooklyn Park, MN INTERNATIONAL REPRESENTATIVES ANTHONY WITHINGTON Sebastopol, CA DENNIS ANTONELLIS Spokane, WA STEPHAN MACDOUGALL Boston, MA ANTHONY GARLAND Washington, DC CANADIAN DIRECTOR MICHAEL MAHAR Rexdale, ON - director@atucanada.ca NEWSBRIEFS DebtLife Stadium Peyton Manning and his Broncos lost the Super Bowl in New Jersey, but the real losers are New Jersey taxpayers. Why? The New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority, which operates MetLife Stadium is more than $800 million in debt from unwise spending, projects way over budget and politicians who used it as a giant patronage mill. And it s the citizens of New Jersey who will be paying for decades for this big fat political fumble. First Student memo exposes worker rewards for cutting corners A secret corporate memo which told First Student managers in St. Louis that if they cut corners and reduced costs, they would receive a payout or bonus was exposed by school bus drivers during a news investigation. Concerned about student safety, drivers said the memo was at the root of all the dangerous problems including breakdowns and bad brakes. It s clear profits come before safety at First Student, says ATU International President Larry Hanley. It also raises significant questions about the impact of all the cost cutting that is happening in this safety sensitive industry. What exactly are we saving as we demand discount public services? Route cuts to blame for declining Ottawa ridership Sweeping cuts and changes to OC Transpo from a couple of years ago are finally catching up and resulting in lower ridership levels. In 2011, the route optimization, as OC Transpo called it, saw routes reduced, merged with others and longer walks to bus stops as part of a plan to save upwards of $20 million a year. The result was less ridership with 97.8 million passenger trips in 2013, down from 103 million in Local 279-Ottawa, ON, has said the city should not be surprised ridership went down because of the economic decisions made by the city. INTERNATIONAL OFFICERS EMERITUS 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. Subscription: USA and Canada, $5 a year. Single copy: 50 cents. All others: $10 a year. Published bimonthly by the Amalgamated Transit Union, Editor: Shawn Perry, Designer: Paul A. Fitzgerald.Editorial Office: 5025 Wisconsin Ave., NW, Washington, DC Tel: Please send all requests for address changes to the ATU Registry Dept. ISSN: PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT NO RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO:APC Postal Logistics, LLC, PO Box 503, RPO, West Beaver Creek, Richmond Hill ON L4B 4R6.

3 LARRY HANLEY, INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT 20 million riders cannot be ignored You should start feeling it in bus depots and garages all over the U.S. and Canada we are moving, fighting back, and saying, Hey, we re here, and we have something important to say! We are moving local members to action in every corner of the Union, and the members involved love it. Trainings have started or been planned everywhere from New England to Seattle, and from Ontario to the Bay Area of California. Current campaigns We do this while we also have ten major campaigns at some level of development, which include: We are working with Local 1287 to fight privatization in Kansas City, MO, and we continue to struggle against privatization with Local 732, in Atlanta, as well. We pushed back and won a reprieve from privatization with Local 1145, in Binghamton, NY. Washington, DC, Locals 689 and 1764 get it, and are building a campaign to get big community support for a fair transit system. In New York City, Local 1181 is hammering away every day to get 2,000 members back to work after former Mayor Bloomberg gutted their contracts and job security. Despite success in court, we have not yet gotten corrective action from the new progressive mayor, Bill de Blasio. volunteer in a campaign to pass a transit referendum on the ballot in April. There the issue of raising taxes for transit will determine the job security of 500 members and service security of tens of thousands of riders. False sense of security All over our two countries the attacks keep coming. In some places there is a false sense of security where members think, It can t happen here. Trust me, bad things do happen to good people and good communities. Across the U.S. and Canada transit riders and workers have been the Rodney Dangerfields of public service. We don t get no respect no respect at all. Here s your chance to change that. We have declared May 2014 International Transit Month: We are asking every member to join in events in your town or city during the month of May. We will be reaching out to the riders our natural allies to stand with us for better transit. We will send a message that 20 million riders can t be ignored. Our voices must be raised in all our cities. Are you IN? v Please visit for more information and the latest ATU news. As you read this thousands of ATU members in Local 587 in Seattle are being trained and called upon to IN TRANSIT January/February

4 CONTENT JAN/FEB 2014 Vol. 123, No. 1 ATU KICKS OFF SPRING TRAINING 2 International Officers & General Executive Board NEWS Briefs 3 International President s Message: 20 Million Riders Cannot Be Ignored 4 Index Page 5 International Executive Vice President s Message: Consider, if you will, the following... 6 International Secretary-Treasurer s Message: Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2014 Needed to Preserve the Right to Vote 7 Canadian Agenda: NDP Transport Critic Olivia Chow Backs Driver Fatigue Legislation 8 Ontario Liberal Government Under Fire Proposed Cuts to AB Public Sector Pensions Called Unjustified, Reckless, Unfair 9 Letter to the Editor: Plymouth Pres Reveals Little-Known Fact About US Pro Sports Leagues Little-Publicized NTSB Report Backs ATU Driver Fatigue Warnings 11 Kansas City, MO Transit Workers Fight Outsourcing Transit Workers, Riders Applaud Bill to Modernize Voting Rights Act 12 Rochester, MN Transit Workers Ratify Strong Contract ATU Scores Organizing Wins 13 Report Reveals Bloomberg School Bus Plan Would Cost NYC Millions 14 Poor Mouth Portland Agency Gives Managers Big Raises Portland President disheartened by Tri-Met Audit Report Former US Transportation Secretary Urges 10 Gas Tax Increase ATU, Residents Assail Possible Outsourcing in Binghamton, NY Marketing Strategy for Privatizer National Express: Cut Driver Wages 16 Lack of Milwaukee Public Transit Highlights Nation s Jobs Issues US DOT Secretary: Buses Provide Access to Jobs 17 Proposed Referendum Could Save King County, WA Jobs 18 Driving a Bus Is Hazardous to Your Health Justice, Safety for Women Transport Workers Goal of New Global Campaign 19 Above and Beyond: Less Fortunate have hero in Camden local s Momma G ATU Angel : Unidentified Winnipeg Member Saves Woman from Dangerous Cold Weather 20 New Transit Construction Booming, While Systems Face Budget Woes 21 ATU Hero: Alert Boston Service Agent Helps Save Commuter s Life Bad Streetcars are Bad Transit 22 Greyhound Driver Viciously Attacked Suspect in Brutal Beating of Tri-Met Driver Released Pending Trial 23 Hanley Joins National, Minnesota Leaders to Push for Transit Equity Vancouver Members Fight Back Against Driver Assault People Own As Much As Entire Bottom Half of World Reward Offered in Reopened Murder Case of Retired Norfolk, VA Local President Gainesville, FL Members Declare Impasse 25 Bible saves Dayton bus driver in disturbing gang initiation shooting International Mourns Death of Retired IVP Joe Welch 26 Thunder Bay Transit Workers Ratify Deal, Avert Strike Toronto Transit Sick Note Policy Challenged 27 Translations (Spanish) 30 In Memoriam 31 Edmonton, AB: Transit Priorities Found in the Eye of the Beholder Halifax Drivers Worried About Tires in Winter Weather 32 It s Only Fair... 4 January/February 2014 IN TRANSIT

5 JAVIER PEREZ, JR., INTERNATIONAL EXEC. VICE PRESIDENT Consider, if you will, the following bus operator pulls into the company parking lot. An A infrared beam scans the license plate and compares it to a computerized list of authorized vehicles. The preassigned parking space registers that he has parked in the correct spot. When he reaches the trainmen s room, the operator taps his wallet containing his ID on an automatic reader, which identifies him, opens the elevator door, and grants him access to a designated floor. At the dispatcher s window a computer records the time he arrives, and saves it to his personnel file. Had he not been on time his name would have flashed as an exception on the dispatcher s screen. The operator places his hand on a special rectangular fitness for duty pod on the window. The dispatcher reads the blood pressure, and the levels of cholesterol, glucose, alcohol and other drugs in his system. No exceptions in these levels are noted. The operator proceeds to the bus storage area. control system. From this point on the operator s only responsibility is to drive the bus on route and on time. Next a mechanic an Iraqi war veteran pulls into the parking lot. Her license plate is scanned; she taps her ID, and places her hand on the fitness for duty pod. Now she turns from the window prepared for work. The Snap-On-Tool van pulls into the lot. The mechanic looks inside and sees a strange looking glove with a small whatcha-ma-call-it attached to the palm. The salesperson inserts the blade of a screwdriver in it, closes his hand and the blade whirs into action. The salesperson opens his hand and the blade stops. The salesperson hands her the glove and beckons her to check it out. She is amazed at the amount of dexterity it allows, and that it requires no batteries. Computer performs several tasks The operator taps his ID card on the automatic reader on the fare box in the bus, which sets its computer in motion performing several tasks. Instantly the operator s seat and mirrors self adjust to his preset comfort and safety positions, the radio is set, and the fare box keys itself in. Finding one tire s air pressure a tad low the bus inflates it with air from the bellows. It checks fluid levels but a human may still have to top off the oil if needed. Pulling into the yard, the operator checks three small video screens on the dash displaying blind spots that can now be seen due to rear and side mounted cameras. The bus windows self-adjust to natural light to protect occupants from the UV rays of the sun and aid the vehicle s climate The future is made in the present You LAUGH! You say this will never happen? But, the technology exists today. The future is where we will live the rest of our lives. The future is made in the present. What will we need to know to do our jobs in the future? What are we going to do to insure it s the future we want? v Please visit for more information and the latest ATU news. IN TRANSIT January/February

6 OSCAR OWENS, INTERNATIONAL SECRETARY-TREASURER Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2014 needed to preserve the right to vote There has always been a connection between the U.S. civil rights movement and buses. In 1955, Rosa Parks defiance of laws that required African- Americans to sit in the back of the bus helped set the civil rights movement in motion. In 1961, the Freedom Riders risked their lives by riding in mixed racial seating arrangements on intercity buses throughout segregated states, and entered stations together to move the civil rights agenda forward. In 1963, buses brought thousands of people to the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC, to hear Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., deliver his I Have a Dream speech. Voting rights pass After years of struggle Congress passed the Voting Rights Act of 1965 a law that prohibited discrimination in voting one of the hallmark achievements of that era. Since that time, African-American voters have gone to the polls, and African Americans have been elected to office including the highest office in the land. And by exercising that basic right much progress has been made. But, while most acknowledge that racism still exists, I don t think people really believe that the Jim Crow era could ever return. I suppose that s why there was so little outrage when the Supreme Court struck down part of the Voting Rights Act last year and some state governments started playing games with their polling practices to suppress minority voting. These laws virtually guarantee that citizens without a driver s license people who ride buses will find it difficult, if not impossible to vote. And that s how persons of color, persons with disabilities, and seniors will be disenfranchised in the 21 st Century if nothing is done. Integrity? Oh, they say it has nothing to do with racism just ensuring the integrity of our election process. Sounds reasonable, doesn t it? Well, they had reasonable reasons for segregation in 1955 too but the system was still racist and immoral. No one should be fooled by reasonable sounding words that have the effect of denying anyone their basic rights. Voter ID laws are just as racist and immoral today as literacy tests for voting were during segregation. This is why a new bill, The Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2014, introduced in Congress by Reps. Jim Sensenbrenner, R-WI, and John Conyers, D-MI, is so important. This legislation will reinstate the vital protections that the Supreme Court took away. The ATU was among the first unions to endorse it. (See story, page 11) So, I urge you to tell your senators and representative in Congress that you support The Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2014, and ask them to support it too. Our right to vote is too important to let slip away. v Please visit for more information and the latest ATU news. One popular tactic has been to pass laws that practically require a citizen to have a driver s license to vote. 6 January/February 2014 IN TRANSIT

7 Canadian Agenda NDP Transport Critic Olivia Chow backs driver fatigue legislation MP and Transport Critic Olivia Chow, NDP, has championed passage of a national transit strategy bill in Parliament since 2011, and now she is adding legislation to prevent transit driver fatigue to her goals. In the February 2014 edition of Ottawa Life magazine she challenges Stephen Harper s Conservative government to put the safety of Canadians first, writing that she supports federal legislation to require a 10-hour-maximum drive time per day, a 14-hour-maximum on duty per day, and a 10-hour-minimum guarantee for rest between shifts. Incentives Currently, she says, bus lines have incentives to keep drivers on the road for long periods, regularly over 13 hours behind the wheel with very few breaks. The truth is that they know that they will not be caught, because they are not regularly being inspected. We need to enforce our standards and conduct routine investigations. The NDP MP for Trinity-Spadina who is weighing a run for mayor of Toronto, ON, says, New Democrats can do a better job implementing fatigue management training on our roadways, while modernizing and enforcing safety measures so that Canadians can travel in security as they deserve. v IN TRANSIT January/February

8 Ontario Liberal government under fire workers to $11/hr. has been criticized by conservatives who call it a job-killer, and liberals who say it s not enough. Conservatives have also assailed her resolve to institute a new mandatory provincial pension plan to supplement the inadequate federal pension, again, as another jobkilling payroll tax. And critics are ready to pounce once the details of Wynne s funding proposals for her Toronto transit overhaul emerge. Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne continues to pursue a progressive agenda even as her minority Liberal government is attacked from all sides. Her announcement that she would increase the minimum wage for provincial Tax increase proposals could force the NDP out of the coalition government, which, in itself, would force a new election. But, Wynne is not backing down. Ontario voters will ultimately render judgment on her ambitious program. v Proposed cuts to AB public sector pensions called unjustified, reckless, unfair A new study released by an independent, professional actuary shows that Alberta s largest public-sector pension plans are healthy and well on the way to returning to fully funded status without any changes. The results of the study commissioned by a coalition of unions and associations including ATU, fly in the face of arguments used by the provincial government to justify its plan to roll back pensions covering almost 300,000 publicsector workers and pensioners in Alberta. In the fall, provincial Finance Minister Doug Horner announced that he would bring legislation in 2014 that will allow him to eliminate guaranteed cost-of-living adjustments and all early retirement incentives in the plans. The changes would slash the value of pensions by 25 percent or more on benefits earned after January 1, Horner has said the changes are necessary to ensure the sustainability of Alberta s pensions. However, the report shows that the plans are sustainable and healthy over the long-term without changes. It was submitted to Horner in support of a brief from the coalition opposing the government s plans. v 8 January/February 2014 IN TRANSIT

9 Bible saves Dayton bus driver in disturbing gang initiation shooting In what some are calling divine intervention, Local 1385 Steward Rick Wagoner s life was saved by a pocket New Testament that stopped two bullets allegedly shot by one of three teens seeking to become members of a gang. This unprovoked attack should outrage every member of our community, says Local President Glenn Sayler, who is pursuing measures to protect his members and passengers with RTA and local officials. Wagoner, 49, was inspecting his bus, which had just broken down, when the teens approached from behind. He heard one of them say, If you want to be all the way in the club, you have to kill the polar bear, just before the bible in his pocket prevented the bullets fired by a one of the teens from taking his life. The driver was shot again in the leg, and stabbed in the arm as he wrestled the gun and knife from his assailants. He thinks he might have shot one of the suspects with their own gun as they fled to a waiting car. Wagoner managed to drive his bus to the next hub where he was taken to a local hospital for treatment. RTA workers are understandably disturbed by the apparent initiation rite in which prospective gang members target a uniformed worker for death. They have received strong support from riders, who are equally concerned with the safety and security on RTA buses. v International mourns death of retired International Vice President Joe Welch Retired International Vice President Joe Welch, 83, passed away, February 13. Beloved and respected by all who knew him, Brother Welch served the Union in various capacities for 37 years until his retirement in A veteran of the National Guard and the U.S. Marine Corps, the future IVP began working as a bus operator and became a member of Local 580-Syracuse, NY, in He was elected president of the local in 1973, financial secretary/business agent in 1974, and IVP in Hard working, tireless, and loyal, Welch was known for providing extensive and useful assistance to locals across New York State. He had a pivotal role in the creation of true and fair standards for the federal Commercial Driver s License (CDL), and developed an ATU program to prepare operators to take the test. Not just an officer Welch was an expert on local union matters, but he s remembered most for caring personally about everyone with whom he came into contact. He was not just an officer, but a real friend. Welch is survived by his wife of 50 years, Karin Kremin Welch, his eight children, 16 grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren. One of Welch s daughters says, We shared daddy with thousands of brothers and sisters of the Amalgamated Transit Union. ATU runs through my veins. ATU thanks the Welch family for sharing him with us. v IN TRANSIT January/February

10 Thunder Bay transit workers ratify deal, avert strike After threatening a strike, Thunder Bay, ON transit workers ratified a deal with the city, brokered with the help of a provincial conciliator. The city council quickly approved the contract. Local 966, which represents 170 bus drivers and maintenance staff, had been working without a contract since June Local President Shelia Kivisto, 966-Thunder Bay ON, is pleased an agreement has been ratified with the City. (Photo by CBC News) Local 966 President Shelia Kivisto was pleased an agreement was reached without having to resort to a strike. All along we said we didn t want to disrupt service. I didn t want somebody to not have a ride or students scrambling to get to school, she said. That wasn t our intent. We just wanted to make sure we got something fair and the end of it was going to be fair to us. v Toronto Transit sick note policy challenged Local 113 president Bob Kinnear worries about the incentives for sick streetcar or bus drivers to work while sick. (Photo by Andrew Francis Wallace / Toronto Star File Photo) The Toronto Transit Commission is pleased to report that its rule requiring a doctor s note from employees after one day of sickness one the strictest policies in the province reduced absenteeism at the agency from 8.42 percent to 7.7 percent in And TTC believes the 2013 figure will be even lower. But that improvement might just become a pyrrhic victory if it leads to increased illness. There is definitely a percentage of members that when they are feeling an ailment for a day will suck it up and come into work, says Local 113 President Bob Kinnear. That is probably not good for the employees internally and probably not in the best interest of the public, Kinnear s criticism is backed up by Scott Wooder, president of the Ontario Medical Association, who says, No employer should require a sick note on the first day of an absence. It doesn t make sense. Kinnear adds, It is important that they (the TTC) recognize the safety aspect and recognize that it is important that we ensure that we have completely alert operators out there. You (should) want to make clear to the operators, to the people that are in safety-sensitive positions that if you are under the weather, if you are taking antihistamines, we don t want you driving. v 26 January/February 2014 IN TRANSIT

11 Impossible d ignorer 20 millions d usagers des transports en commun ATU du Local 587 à Seattle sont formés et invités à participer à la campagne pour le référendum sur le transport en commun au scrutin d avril. La question de la levée d impôts pour le transport en commun déterminera la sécurité de l emploi de 500 membres et la sécurité du service pour des dizaines de milliers d usagers. Vous devez commencer à le ressentir dans les gares routières et les garages de tous les États-Unis et du Canada nous sommes actifs, nous militons en disant «Eh oui, nous sommes là et nous avons quelque chose d important à dire!» Nous encourageons les membres locaux à agir dans tous les coins du pays et ils adorent ça. Les formations ont commencé ou ont déjà été prévues partout, de la Nouvelle-Angleterre à Seattle et de l Ontario à la région de San Francisco en Californie. Campagnes actuelles Nous le faisons tout en gérant dix campagnes importantes qui en sont à différents stades, y compris : Nous travaillons avec le Local 1287 pour lutter contre la privatisation à Kansas City, MO, ainsi qu avec le Local 732, à Atlanta. Nous avons combattu et réussi à obtenir un sursis de la privatisation avec le Local 1145, à Binghamton, NY. Les Local de Washington, DC, 689 et 1764 l ont bien compris et travaillent actuellement sur une campagne pour que la communauté soutienne un système de transport équitable. À New York, le Local 1181 continue à insister chaque jour pour faire reprendre le travail à 2000 membres après que Bloomberg ait annulé leurs contrats et la sécurité de leurs emplois. Malgré des succès devant les tribunaux, nous n avons pas encore obtenu de mesures correctives du nouveau maire progressiste, Bill de Blasio. Illusion de sécurité Partout dans nos deux pays, les attaques ne cessent pas. Dans certains endroits, on remarque une illusion de sécurité où les membres pensent, «ça ne peut pas arriver ici». Faites-moi confiance, les malheurs frappent les gens bien et les bonnes communautés. Dans tous les États-Unis et le Canada, les usagers des transports en commun et les travailleurs sont les «Rodney Dangerfield» du service public. Nous ne nous faisons pas respecter pas du tout. Voici l occasion de changer tout ça. Nous avons déclaré mai 2014 le mois international du transport en commun : Nous demandons à chaque membre de se joindre aux événements de sa ville au cours du mois de mai. Nous nous adresserons aux usagers nos alliés naturels pour qu ils nous soutiennent dans notre lutte pour de meilleurs transports en commun. Nous enverrons le message qu il est impossible d ignorer 20 millions d usagers. Nos voix doivent se faire entendre dans toutes nos villes. Êtes-vous des nôtres? v Visitez pour en savoir plus et pour les dernières nouvelles de l ATU. En ce moment même, des milliers de membres IN TRANSIT January/February

12 Considérez, si vous le voulez bien, ce qui suit Un chauffeur d autobus se gare dans l aire de stationnement de la compagnie. Un faisceau infrarouge balaye la plaque d immatriculation et la compare à une liste informatisée de véhicules autorisés. L espace de stationnement préattribué enregistre le fait qu il s est garé au bon endroit. Quand il arrive au bureau, le chauffeur tape le portefeuille contenant sa pièce d identité sur un lecteur automatique, ce qui l identifie, ouvre la porte de l ascenseur et lui permet d accéder à l étage désigné. Au guichet du répartiteur un ordinateur enregistre son heure d arrivée et la transmet à son dossier personnel. S il n avait pas été à l heure, son nom aurait clignoté sur l écran du répartiteur, indiquant une exception. Le chauffeur place la main sur une capsule rectangulaire spéciale du guichet indiquant «l aptitude au travail» Le répartiteur relève la tension artérielle, les taux de cholestérol, de glucose, d alcool et d autres drogues dans son organisme. Rien d anormal n est remarqué dans ces taux. Le chauffeur se rend à l entrepôt des autobus. L ordinateur effectue plusieurs tâches. Le chauffeur tape sa carte d identité sur le lecteur automatique de la boîte de perception dans l autobus, ce qui signale à l ordinateur que plusieurs tâches doivent être effectuées. Instantanément, le siège et les rétroviseurs du chauffeur se règlent automatiquement aux positions prédéterminées pour son confort et sa sécurité, la radio est configurée et la boîte de perception est prête à l emploi. Trouvant que la pression d air est un peu basse, l autobus gonfle un pneu à l aide de l air des soufflets. Il vérifie le niveau des liquides mais un être humain devra ajouter de l huile le cas échéant. En arrivant dans la cour, le chauffeur vérifie trois petits écrans vidéo sur le tableau de bord qui affichent les angles morts, visibles grâce aux caméras montées à l arrière et sur les côtés. Les fenêtres du bus s ajustent automatiquement selon la lumière ambiante afin de protéger les occupants des rayons UV du soleil et de contribuer au système de climatisation du bus. À partir de ce moment, la seule responsabilité du chauffeur est de conduire le bus en respectant l itinéraire et l heure. Ensuite une mécanicienne qui a combattu en Irak arrive dans l aire de stationnement. Sa plaque d immatriculation est balayée par le scanneur; elle tape sa pièce d identité et place la main sur la capsule indiquant l aptitude au travail. Elle est maintenant prête à travailler. La fourgonnette d outils «snap-on» arrive sur l aire de stationnement. La mécanicienne regarde à l intérieur et remarque un gant bizarre doté d un petit objet curieux fixé sur la paume. Le vendeur y insère la lame d un tournevis, referme la main et la lame se met à tourner. Le vendeur ouvre la main et la lame s arrête de tourner. Le vendeur lui tend le gant et l invite à l essayer. Elle est étonnée de la dextérité qu il permet et de l absence de piles. L avenir commence aujourd hui Vous RIEZ! Vous dites qu on ne verra jamais ça? Mais la technologie existe aujourd hui. L avenir est ce que nous vivrons au cours de nos vies. L avenir commence aujourd hui. Qu aurons-nous besoin de savoir pour faire notre travail à l avenir? Qu allons-nous faire pour nous assurer que c est l avenir que nous voulons? v Visitez pour en savoir plus et pour les dernières nouvelles de l ATU. Il faut un amendement en 2014 à la loi électorale pour préserver le droit de vote Il y a toujours eu un rapport entre le mouvement américain des droits civiques et les autobus. 28 January/February 2014 IN TRANSIT

13 En 1955, Rosa Parks refusa d appliquer les lois qui obligeaient les Afro-Américains à s asseoir à l arrière du bus, ce qui déclencha le mouvement des droits civiques. En 1961, les Freedom Riders risquèrent leurs vies en s asseyant sur les sièges prévus pour les blancs dans les bus de la ville dans l ensemble des états prônant la ségrégation, et en pénétrant ensemble dans les stations pour faire avancer les droits civiques. En 1963, les bus transportèrent des milliers de personnes au Lincoln Memorial à Washington, DC, pour entendre Martin Luther King, Jr. prononcer son discours célèbre «J ai fait un rêve». Le droit de vote est officiel Au bout d années de lutte, le congrès adopta la loi de 1965 sur le droit de vote interdisant la discrimination raciale lors d un vote - l un des succès les plus importants de cette époque. Depuis ce moment, les électeurs afro-américains votent, sont élus à des fonctions publiques - notamment à la fonction la plus élevée du pays. En exerçant ce droit élémentaire, de grands progrès ont été réalisés. Mais bien que la plupart des gens admettent que le racisme n est pas mort, je ne crois pas que l on soit persuadé que l époque «Jim Crow» puisse revenir. C est probablement pour cette raison qu il y a eu aussi peu de réactions lorsque la Cour suprême a annulé une partie de la loi sur le droit de vote l an dernier et quand certains gouvernements d états se sont mis à jouer avec leurs pratiques électorales pour supprimer le vote des minorités. L une des tactiques employées est de voter des lois qui exigent pratiquement qu un citoyen ait le permis de conduire pour voter. Ces lois garantissent virtuellement que pour les citoyens sans permis de conduire les gens qui prennent le bus il sera difficile, sinon impossible, de voter. C est ainsi que les personnes de couleur, les handicapés et les personnes âgées seront privés de leurs droits au 21 e siècle si rien n est fait pour l empêcher. Intégrité? Ils disent bien que cela n a rien à voir avec le racisme qu il s agit seulement d assurer l intégrité de notre processus d élection. Cela paraît raisonnable, n est-ce pas? Ils avaient aussi de «bonnes raisons» pour la ségrégation en 1955 mais le système n en était pas moins raciste et immoral. Personne ne doit se fier à des paroles raisonnables ayant pour effet de refuser à quiconque ses droits fondamentaux. Les lois sur l identification des électeurs sont tout aussi racistes et immorales aujourd hui que l étaient les tests d alphabétisation au temps de la ségrégation. C est pourquoi un nouveau projet de loi, l amendement sur le droit de vote de 2014, introduit au Congrès par les représentants Jim Sensenbrenner, R-WI, et John Conyers, D-MI, est si important. Cette législation rétablira les protections essentielles que la Cour suprême avait retirées. Je vous incite donc de dire à vos sénateurs et représentants au Congrès que vous soutenez l amendement sur le droit de vote de 2014, et demandez-leur de le soutenir aussi. Notre droit de vote est trop important pour le laisser filer. Visitez pour en savoir plus IN TRANSIT January/February

14 In Memoriam Death Benefits Awarded November 1, December 31, MEMBERS AT LARGE ALBERT M ANDRASCHKO RAYMOND L BASS NORMAN J DRESSEL REGINALD E GUILDER THOMAS THURSTO STRAND EDDIE A WALTERS 22- WORCESTER, MA RONALD D BAKSTRAN 26- DETROIT, MI CHARLES SIROONIAN 85- PITTSBURGH, PA JACK C BOLLMAN JOHN LLOYD FARKOSH DONALD C GRAHAM ROBERT C KUBIAK JOHN H LASKY JAMES V MESSICK JOSEPH RUBINOSKI DONALD PAUL SHERMAN 268- CLEVELAND, OH WILLIAM VALLI 279- OTTAWA, ON CLIFFORD B GAGNON LEVITE THERIAULT 308- CHICAGO, IL MICHAEL BROWN KENNETH CURTIS PHILLIP EGGLESTON NICK FIERAMOSCA TERRY L HESTER L B JEFFRIES WILLIAM P KIESLING PATRICK D MAHON BOBBY MC CREE DANIEL N MILLER ANTHONY M MOORE CLARA M SIMPSON BERNARD WALKER 425- HARTFORD, CT JAMES M PETERS 107- HAMILTON, ON JAN GALAMA 569- EDMONTON, AB JUDY WILLMAN 113- TORONTO, ON GEORGE G B GASTON NICOLA IANNELLI NAZZARENO LACARIA MATTHEW JOSEPH LAMONT GORDON MC PHIE WALTER PAUL SCHULZ JOHN SEMBRAT JOHN TRESCAK GEORGE W TRIPP WILLIAM JOSEPH ZAHRA 583- CALGARY, AB WILLIAM R PITT 164- WILKES-BARRE, PA JOHN R MACOSKY 241- CHICAGO, IL MAURICE CLAY EVA COOK JOHNNIE B CURRY ARLENE EVERETT ROBERT J GAITHER HOSEAH JOHNSON EDWARD MC DONNELL ROSE M OWENS MARCUS J SCOTT THOMAS R SWOOPE DORIS J THOMPSON EARL WALKER 265- SAN JOSE, CA HENNING JENSEN DAVID D MONDAINE JIMMY R MUNOZ SEATTLE, WA WILLIAM J ETHERIDGE GEORGE L VOLLER 589- BOSTON, MA FERN A ALFORD CHARLES P BRADLEY DAVID J DALEY DANIELLE DE MASE WILLIAM H MURPHY LAWRENCE NAVARRO PATRICK J NEE JAY J WALDRON 618- PROVIDENCE, RI DAVID A BOOTH DONALD CHAMPLIN RANDALL F KELLEY JR 627- CINCINNATI, OH PAUL OLIVER 628- COVINGTON, KY KENNETH D MILES 689- WASHINGTON, DC JAMES DAVID ANDERSON THOMAS YARROW HACKETT DONALD F HARRISON ENRIQUE C IGLESIAS WILLIAM E JAMES HARRY CONWAY LACEY JR ANTHONY A MASON JOSEPH N MORRISEY LARRY D POWERS MELVIN A STREETER RUSSELL B TALKINGTON GERALDINE P TAYLOR 966- THUNDER BAY, ON ROBERT BELL SINCLAIR KANSAS CITY, MO ROBERT W JONES 993- OKLAHOMA CITY, OK ANNIE M SEYE 998- MILWAUKEE, WI CHARLES L BRUSHWOOD FRANK D VETENGL ALBANY & TROY, NY HENRY A MINER JR 690- FITCHBURG, MA ANTHONY A DELMONICO DENVER, CO ELMER ALVERT HICKS 694- SAN ANTONIO, TX JOSE L BARRERA MINNEAPOLIS & ST. PAUL, MN DEAN J GARETSON RICHARD C KERKVLIET DONALD J LAHD DONALD S OSHMAN TIMOTHY M PEREZ STANLEY A THOMAS 713- MEMPHIS, TN JOHN W AUSTIN GEORGE W CLOYS 725- BIRMINGHAM, AL JAMES THOMAS REID MERTICE STOVER 726- STATEN ISLAND, NY BENJAMIN V VALLESE 757- PORTLAND, OR JOHNNY L SHORE 779- SIOUX CITY, IA WILLIAM D MC KENNA 788- ST. LOUIS, MO TERRY L ANDERSON RICHARD G FELDT WILLIE W FERGUSON RICHARD HELLER DONALD P KERN JAMES E ROCKWELL 812- CLARKSBURG, WV JOHN R MARPLE AUSTIN, TX ERIC G TIMMES NEW YORK, NY VICTOR CUTRONA JOSEPH D AMBRA FRANK J DE LILLO RALPH DELIO JAMES M FAUVELL GLORIA FORTUNATO HARRY J GRECO MARY LEACH WILLIAM MC CARTHY NICHOLAS NUZZI MONILALL RAMJAS WILLIAM SLADE VINCENT C SPINELLI MARIE VILNEUS ST. JOHN, NB RICHARD F DAVEY BUFFALO, NY GARY L DAVIES RAYMOND KRISNOSKY FRANK S ORLOWSKI CALGARY, AB RICHARD M CLINE ANGUS DOUGLAS GALEY TORONTO, ON WILLIAM ALEXANDER WILLIAM GOTTSCHALK PHOENIX, AZ ISAIAH R WILLIAMS LOUISVILLE, KY LESTER E MIDKIFF TAMPA, FL THOMAS W MORROW THEODORE R WILLIAMS JOPLIN, MO CHARLES E STORTS WINNIPEG, MB WESLEY G CRUMP MARCEL LAGACE LESLIE PARKIN ROBERT B ROTCHIK IDAHO FALLS, ID EDDIE W ANDERSEN DETROIT, MI JACOB ROSKAM 819- NEWARK, NJ MICHAEL CHIARELLA LEO FITZSIMMONS CHARLES HART JACKSONVILLE, FL THOMAS M KIRBY NORBERT THOMAS 824- NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ JOSEPH DE MONICO SAN FRANCISCO, CA DONALD L ZYSKI PETERBOROUGH, ON STANLEY HAMILTON 825- ORADELL, NJ KENNETH LEHNERT ROBERT W PAPE FT. LAUDERDALE, FL THOMAS J BARLETTA CHICAGO, IL FRANKLIN L COX JOHN A KEYS 836- GRAND RAPIDS, MI KENNETH F SWANSON SR 880- CAMDEN, NJ THOMAS HENNESSEY JAMES TOULSON January/February 2014 IN TRANSIT LOS ANGELES, CA LARRY H KHAN ANTHONY M OWENS JOSE RAMIREZ JOHNSTOWN, PA BERNARD CONWAY JR DOVER, NJ CHRIS STROYNOWSKI WASHINGTON, DC KAREN D DOLES LUIS RIVERA

15 Edmonton, AB: Transit priorities found in the eye of the beholder The Edmonton, AB, city council made transit its highest priority at the end of But what that means has become a matter of debate in Some members of the city council favor simply increasing population density with walkable neighborhoods and increased public transit, while others would do more to assist car travel as well. But with vehicle travel increasing at three times the pace of population growth, the need to increase access to public transit would seem urgent. The council has decided to delay any decision until the city s staff provides them with data-supported suggestions as to which way to go. v Halifax drivers worried about tires in winter weather Winter driving can be difficult under any circumstances especially with the harsh one this year, but it can be downright dangerous with inadequate tires. That s why members of Local 508-Halifax, NS, are concerned that their buses just don t have the right tires for the weather. Metro Transit says that their buses use an aggressive traction, all season tire typically used for public transit. But some drivers say that s not good enough. They need winter tires particularly during this difficult winter in which the city s street salting hasn t kept up with the snow and ice. Local President Ken Wilson also says Local 508 is doing research on tires and will be discussing the issue in the coming months. v IN TRANSIT January/February

16 Amalgamated Transit Union AFL-CIO/CLC 5025 Wisconsin Ave., NW Washington, D.C STAY CONNECTED NON-PROFIT ORG US POSTAGE PAID LANCASTER,PA PERMIT #1052 PRINTED IN U.S.A. It s only fair...