ATU Action Weekly Update - 07/31/06

ATU Members Mobilize to Elect Transit and Labor-Friendly Candidates

As we head into the month of August, the ATU and other unions are moving ahead with an aggressive political program designed to deliver the votes necessary to take back our government for the working families of America.  Efforts are underway at the federal, state and local level to educate union members about labor-friendly candidates.

ATU locals across the country have already begun to mobilize their members in support of ATU-endorsed candidates.  Below are just a few examples of what ATU members are doing to ensure success on election day.

  • In Denver, Colorado, members of ATU Local 1001, knocked on doors this past weekend to talk to other union members about Ed Perlmutter, a Democratic candidate for the U.S. House in Colorado's 7th Congressional District.  Next Tuesday, Perlmutter will compete in a tough primary that will decide who will take on the Republican candidate on November 7th. 
  • ATU Local 1321, in Albany, New York, has endorsed U.S. House candidate Kirsten Gillibrand for New York's 20th Congressional District.  Last week, President/Business Agent Steven Green travelled to Washington, D.C. to host a fundraising event for Gillibrand.  The local is recruiting volunteers to help Gillibrand beat an incumbent Republican Congressman on election day.  "If elected, Kirsten will be a tireless advocate for the ATU," said Green.
  • ATU Local 1395, in Pensacola, Florida, has endorsed state house candidate Liz Campbell and is in the process of recruiting volunteers to participate in door-to-door canvasses and phone banks to encourage other union members to support Liz.  The local is also planning to hold a fundraiser on behalf of Liz.  Local President/Business Agent Mike Lowery says he believes Liz will be a great advocate for labor in the State House and that she will help the ATU in their efforts to secure additional funding for paratransit services in the state.
  • In LaCrosse, Wisconsin, ATU Local 519's President/Business Agent, Dale Anderson, has begun a thorough voter registration drive to ensure that each and every member of his local is registered to vote.  At stake on November 7th will be a crucial Gubernatorial election and several state and local races that could determine the future of transit funding in the state. 

Tell us what you are doing to help elect transit and labor-friendly candidates - you might be featured in the next ATU Action Weekly Update.

 

ATU, Transportation Labor Endorse PROGRESS Act

Last week, the ATU along with the Transportation Trades Department of the AFL-CIO (TTD), endorsed legislation introduced by Congressman Steny Hoyer (D-MD) that would greatly expand investment in transit services as part of a larger energy conservation program.  The bill, entitled the Program to Research and Grow Reliable Energy Services and Systems (PROGRESS) Act, would authorize an additional $2.2 billion for expansion of transit services in urban and rural areas and would increase the limit on employer-provided tax free transit benefits to the same level allowed for parking.

"We appluad Congressman Hoyer for his recognition of the role that transit can play in addressing the growing energy crisis in this country," said ATU International President Warren S. George. 

TTD President Ed Wytkind likewise praised the inclusion of transit provisions in this comprehensive energy bill, stating "this is not only good policy, it is a good investment, as estimates have shown that transit-related congestion relief saves the nation nearly $20 billion annually."

 

House Republicans Pass Bogus Minimum Wage Bill

Shortly before recessing for the month of August, the Republican leadership in the U.S. House pushed through a minimum wage bill that would also permanantly repeal the estate tax - a move that would reduce federal revenue by over $268 billion over the next decade to the overwhelming benefit of America's richest families.

Under the bill, the hourly minimum wage would increase from $5.15 to $7.25 over three years.  At the same time, however, the bill provides that estates worth $5 million -- or $10 million for a married couple -- would be exempted from taxation. Inheritances above that threshold and up to $25 million would be taxed at capital gains rates, currently 15 percent. Estates worth more than $25 million would be taxed at 30 percent.

Democrats and labor leaders were incensed that the Republicans would couple a minimum wage hike with a giveaway to the richest Americans.  "This is beyond cynical. This is disgraceful," said Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA).

As previously reported in the ATU Action Weekly Update, the ATU, along with the AFL-CIO and its affiliates, have called on Congress to pass a real minimum wage bill - namely, the Fair Minimum Wage Act, introduced by Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA).

The Fair Minimum Wage Act would increase the minimum wage to $7.25 an hour over two years.  That means an additional $4,370 a year for someone making the minimum wage in a full-time job -- enough to pay for nine months of rent, 18 months of heat and electricity or tuition at a community college.  The bill will directly help 7 million working families as soon as it goes into effect and indirectly help millions more as the rising tide lifts wages.

You can help by going to http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/fairminwage and becoming a citizen co-sponsor of the bill. 

 

Have Non-CMV Violations Affected Your Job?

Last October, states began implementing new regulations that provide for the suspension of an individual's CDL if they commit certain traffic violations in their own personal car or any non-commercial motor vehicle (non-CMV).  In addition, the new law prohibits states from granting hardship licenses or allowing individuals to enter into diversion programs in order to keep their CDL.

The ATU has always maintained that CMV drivers should not lose their job as a result of unrelated conduct that they engage in during non-work hours which does not in anyway affect their ability to safely perform their job.  For that reason, the ATU is supporting federal legislation that would allow CDL holders to enter into state-approved diversion programs or driver safety training programs that are available to other non-CDL holders.

In order to educate Members of Congress about the effects of this unfair law, the ATU is seeking information from its members and local officers about how these new penalties have affected them.  If you or someone you know has lost your CDL and/or your job as a result of the new penalties for non-CMV traffic violations, let us know.  Simply send an email to atuaction@atu.org with the relevant information about the traffic violations, length of suspension, and how the suspension affected your job.

For more information about the new CDL disqualification penalties, go to: http://www.atu.org/docs/safety_security/documents/CDLsummary.pdf