ATU Action Weekly Update - 3/19/07

Local Officers Take ATU Message to Capitol Hill

More than 100 ATU local union officers and activists delivered the ATU's message to their representatives on Capitol Hill last week as part of this year's ATU Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C. 

Over the course of three days, conference participants heard from labor leaders, Members of Congress, and ATU officers and staff about advancing the ATU's agenda through federal, state and local legislative initiaitives.  The conference also offered an excellent opportunity for the local officers and leaders to learn from each other and share ideas about political and legislative issues.

At the opening night dinner, ATU International Secretary-Treasurer presented the ATU-COPE Local Union Awards to those local unions and members who showed the most support for the ATU-COPE program in 2006.  Throughout the conference, participants were urged to expand their local's COPE program so that the ATU can continue to support the growing number of transit and labor friendly candidates and elected officials.

Among the many agenda items that participants raised during their meetings with their Members of Congress were passing legislation to address security threats in the transit industry, increasing funding for the federal transit program, and passing the Employee Free Choice Act, which will make it easier for transit workers to form a union and bargain for good wages, benefits and working conditions.

To find out more about the ATU's annual Legislative Confernence, read the next issue of In Transit. 

 

Meet Cong. Bennie Thompson - ATU Legislator of the Year

The ATU presented its third annual ATU Legislator of the Year Award to Congressman Bennie Thompson (D-MS) last week at the ATU Legislative Conference. 

Congressman Thomspon has long been a friend to the ATU and all working men and women.  In his 14 years in Congress, he has established himself as a leader on civil rights, education and health care reform.  His dedication to working family issues has made a real difference in the lives of his constituents and the lives of the ATU members that he represents.

While his 14 years of dedication to transit labor are laudable, it was his work over the past two years, during which he served as the Ranking Democrat on the House Homeland Security Committee, that earned him the title of ATU Legislator of the Year. 

Congressman Thompson has shown that he understands the crucial role that transit workers and over-the-road bus employees play in enhancing the safety and security of our nation's transit systems.

Despite resistence by transit employers and the previous Republican Congress, Congressman Thompson has been steadfast in calling for increased and dedicated funding for transit and over-the-road bus security - and for mandatory training for all frontline workers in these industries. 

In June 2006, Congressman Thompson released a report on the state of rail and mass transit security in the U.S.  The report called on the Administration to take several concrete steps to address the security threats facing mass transit, including mandatory training for frontline workers.  Shortly after releasing the report, he introduced legislation to implement these recommendations.

Unfortunately, due to opposition by the Bush Administration and the Republican leadership in Congress, his bill was not enacted into law.

Now, however, Congressman Thompson is championing this issue from a much more advantageous position - as Chair of the House Committee on Homeland Security.

Two weeks ago, he introduced bold legislation which will significantly improve the security of the systems that ATU members operate and maintain and would ensure that ATU members receive the training they need and deserve.  The legislation would also provide transit workers with whistleblower protections and would ensure that they are consulted in the process of identifying and addressing security priorities.  This legislation was passed by his Committee last week.

Artines Pratt, President/Business Agent of ATU Local 1208 in Jackson, Mississippi, presented the award to Congressman Thompson, along with ATU International President Warren George.

 

Greyhound Local President to Testify on Motorcoach Safety

Tomorrow, March 20th, ATU National Local 1700 President/Business Agent Bruce Hamilton will testifying before the Highways and Transit Subcommittee of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee regarding motorcoach safety. 

Brother Hamilton intends to focus most of his testimony on the need for increased enforcement of existing federal safety regulations against rogue "curbside bus operators" that repeatedly violate federal regulations governing hours of service, drug and alcohol testing, driver qualifications, accessibility standards and other safety, civil rights, and environmental standards.

In addition, he will address operator fatigue, vehicle safety standards, security and emergency preparedness measures, and the need for a national ground transportation policy.

For more about Brother Hamilton's testimony on motorcoach safety, read next week's ATU Action Weekly Update.

 

ATU Testifies Before Federal Transportation Commission

Today, ATU International Executive Vice President Mike Siano testified before the National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission on how to improve the performance of our nation's transportation systems.

Among the issues raised by IEVP Siano were methods for increasing funding for the federal transit program, policies to encourage greater transit ridership, allowing certain transit funds to be used for operating assistance, encouraging states to invest more in transit, enhancing transit and intercity bus security, and expanding workforce development and maintenance training programs.

The National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission was created under the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act - A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU), the recently passed highways and transit authorization bill.  The Commission is tasked with studying and making recommendations to Congress on improving and funding public transportation in the future.