ATU Action Weekly Update - 4/23/07

House and Senate Budget Resolutions Would Fully Fund Transit

Despite a proposal by the Bush Administration to cut SAFETEA-LU authorized transit funding for Fiscal Year 2008 (FY) by $300 million, both the U.S. House and Senate have passed FY 2008 budget resolutions that would fully fund transit, highway and safety programs at the levels authorized in the SAFETEA-LU bill.

The House Resolution (H.Con. Res. 99) passed by a narrow vote of 216-210 on March 29th.  Likewise, the Senate measure (S. Con. Res. 21) passed on a 52-47 vote on March 28th.  Both measures would authorize $9.7 billion for federal transit programs in FY 2008.  The Bush proposal would have only funded the programs at $9.4 billion.

The resolutions are non-binding and merely express the spending priorities of the new Democratic majorities.  Individual appropriations bills may or may not follow these priorities.

 

Iraq War Spending Bill Includes Transit Security Funds

Emergency Appropriations measures passed by both the U.S. House and Senate that would fund the war in Iraq also include transit-security provisions.   

The Senate bill would increase fiscal 2007 funding for the existing transit-security grant program by $625 million to a total of $800 million, while the House bill would increase funding by $225 million for a total of $400 million. 

The House and Senate will begin the process of reconciling the two versions of the bill this week.  Controversy surrounding the troop-withdrawal date included in the measures, however, threatens the ultimate future of the bill.  President Bush has stated that he will veto the bill if the troop-withdrawal provisions remains in the final bill.

 

Action Pending on Transit Security Legislation

As the U.S. House returns from its Spring Recess, transit and rail advocates are anxiously awaiting appointments to the Conference Committee that will work out difference between the House and Senate passed rail, transit, and over-the-road bus security bills. 

The House bill, H.R. 1401, was passed by the House on March 27th by a recorded vote of 299 - 124.  Among other things, this bill would authorize $3.36 billion over four years for transit security grants and $87 million over four years for over-the-road bus security grants.  Funds made available under the bill would be available for operating costs associated with training and all transit and intercity bus providers would be required to train all employees in emergency response and preparedness procedures and techniques.  The bill would also require the Department of Homeland Security to consult with transit labor representatives when identifying and developing security priorities.  Click here to see how your Representative voted on this legislation.   

The Senate bill, S. 4, was passed in the U.S. Senate on March 13th.  In addition to funding rail, transit and bus security grants, this bill seeks to implement the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission.  The bill would allocate $3.37 billion for transit security over three years, including $1 billion specifically for operating costs associated with security training.  All transit security grant recipients would be required to provide security-related training to frontline employees.  In addition, the bill provides $62 million over three years for over-the-road bus security grants.  Like the House bill, this bill would require consultation with transit labor in the development of security priorities in these industries.  Click here to see how your Senators voted on this legislation. 

Keep posted to the ATU Action Weekly Updates for future updates on this issue.

 

Oregon ATU Member Calls for Freedom to Organize

With the Oregon House of Representatives poised to vote on four labor-supported bills to restore the freedom to organize, ATU member Bill Groesz had an opinion piece published in the Bend Bulletin in favor of the bills.  Groesz and his fellow bus operators in Bend, Oregon, voted in January to join ATU Local 757. 

In calling for passge of the worker-friendly measures, Groesz recalled his recent experience with trying to join the ATU. "Most of us like to hear both sides before casting our votes. But like most union elections, this was hardly democratic. The company deluged us with anti-union memos. They communicated with us as much as they wanted to on the job site, but those of us who wanted to discuss union possibilities could do it only on our breaks -- but only one employee is allowed a break at a time. Any notices we left on the job site were promptly removed," said Groesz.

"Worst of all," he continued, "they threatened us with the possible loss of our jobs should we go union. Some pro-union workers saw their hours cut, and supervisors were shouting that 'they’d all be fired and replaced.'"

The four measures being considered before the Oregon House are:

  • HB 2893, the Worker Freedom Act, will allow Oregon workers to choose not to attend mandatory meetings on politics, religion or union organizing campaigns.
  • HB 2892, the State Financial Accountability Act, would ensure that Oregon’s taxpayer dollars are used to pay for programs – like better bus service – instead of paying high-dollar consultants to wage a campaign against workers.
  • HB 2891, Majority Sign-Up, would allow workers to have their union recognized after a majority of them signed cards saying that they were choosing the union.
  • HJM 7, a resolution to support the Employee Free Choice Act in Congress. 

The bills, which are likely to go to the House floor vote in the coming days, will help "balance the playing field" for workers, said Oregon AFL-CIO President Tom Chamberlain.

 

ATU Int'l Employees are Moving for the Cure - You Can Help!

Employees of the ATU International, along with friends and family, have formed the ATU Moving for the Cure team for the National Race for the Cure on June 2nd in Washington, D.C.  The ATU team will participate in a 5K Run/Walk on the National Mall as part of a larger effort to save lives, empower people, ensure quality care for all and energize science to find the cure for breast cancer.  As part of this effort, the ATU Team is raising money for Komen for the Cure - a nonprofit dedicated to fighting breast cancer.

You can help!  Simply go the ATU Moving for the Cure team webpage and click on General Team Donation.  Any amount will help!

When you make a donation, you can honor someone you know who was affected by breast cancer. 

All submissions to the "Honor Roll" will be published in the July/August 2007 edition of In Transit.  To make a contribution, click here or click on the ATU/pink ribbon logo on the ATU website.