ATU Action Weekly Update - 10/08/07

Michigan ATU Activists Gear Up for 2008

Several ATU Activists from Detroit, Lansing, and Kalamazoo attended a three-day political activist training in Detroit last week.  The training was the second in a series of regional activist trainings being held by the AFL-CIO as a way of fostering a high level of union member activism and energy as we prepare for the 2008 presidential elections. 

In addition to learning about how to educate and mobilize their fellow ATU members for the 2008 election, the activists discussed methods for defeating Right to Work (for less) legislation in Michigan.  Republicans in the Michigan legislature recently introduced two Right to Work (for less) bills that would significantly lower the quality of life for public and private sector workers in the state. 

Activists attending the intensive training were challenged to begin work now to defeat these bills.

 

ATU Fights Back in the Nation's Capital

Jackie Jeter, PR/BA of ATU Local 689 (Washington, D.C.) testified before the D.C. City Council on September 24 in support of the Transit Operator and Enhanced Penalty Act of 2007, which would increase penalties for assaulting transit workers.

In recent years, crimes such as assault and throwing objects at transit buses have increased by more than 50% in the nation's capital.  Crimes range from simple assault to brutal sexual offenses. In one case, a female bus driver was sexually assaulted by a rider who drew her to the back of the bus after she had stopped at the end of a route.  Another driver suffered a broken nose after asking a passenger to pay his fare.  Residents of one neighborhood have complained to the transit agency that they are tired of having objects thrown at buses that have included rocks, bricks, chunks of concrete, snowballs, and even a bowling ball.

Jeter said, "...We can't tolerate the frequent attacks on our members while they're performing their jobs serving the public."

While the USA Patriot Act, federal legislation passed in 2001, provides for up to twenty years in prison for assaulting a transit operator, the problem has been with enforcement of the law. Federal prosecutors have generally been unwilling to press charges in cases of bus driver assault, leaving such matters in the hands of state and local law enforcement officials. More than 20 states have passed legislation providing for increased penalties for assaulting transit and school bus operators.

Jeter also urged the Council to amend the bill to include protections for all transit workers. The bill currently only applies to transit operators.

"Our members perform an essential public service and I believe that increasing penalties for these crimes will help to deter some of these types of incidents in the future and help make it safer for our members and the 99.99% of the public that wants a safe and reliable transit system," she said.

Jeter also spoke in favor of other measures that can be taken to protect the more than 10,000 members of Local 689. One idea being considered is requiring that signs be posted in each bus which warn people that increased penalties apply when transit workers are assaulted. Illinois currently has such notice requirements in state law.

 

Bush Vetoes Children's Health Bill

Shunning the wishes of the majority of the public and snubbing members of his own party who support ensuring that millions of America's children will have access to health care, President Bush vetoed the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) renewal bill last week.

Bush refused to listen to many leading Republican lawmakers who joined with nearly every Democrat in the House and Senate who voted to reauthorize the program.

The president ignored the 4 million additional children who would be eligible for health care coverage under the reauthorization - joining the 6.6 million already enrolled.

He disregarded the 81 percent of Democrats, 69 percent of independents and 61 percent of Republicans who told an ABC-News-Washington Post poll they support the $35 billion increase in the bill so more children get health coverage.

He vetoed the children's health bill two days after he declared Oct. 1 as Child Health Day.

For more information on this issue, go to: www.aflcio.org.