ATU Action Weekly Update - 5/21/07

Obama Addresses New Jersey Union Members

Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) told a raucous crowd of more than 700 working men and women that as president, he would fight for the freedom to form unions, creation of universal health care, and an end to the Iraq war.

Senator Obama's address was part of an ongoing series of town hall style events with the presidential candidates hosted by the AFL-CIO.  The event took place in Trenton, New Jersey on May 14th.

In his opening statement, Obama spoke about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's 1968 trip to Memphis, Tenn., to help sanitation workers organize.  "They stood up for themselves," he said.  "In this country, we should value the labor of every single American worker."

He said every worker deserves the freedom to form unions without intimidation, bargain in good faith and work in a safe environment.  "Those rights are in jeopardy today," Obama warned.  When workers join unions, "not only do workers prosper, America prospers."

Obama promised to "make the Employee Free Choice Act the law of the land" and to make universal health coverage a reality.

 

U.S. House Approves Limits on Mexican Trucks and Buses 

Last Tuesday, the U.S. House resoundingly passed a bill that would set certain conditions before the Bush Administration could proceed with a plan to allow long-haul Mexican trucks and buses access to U.S. highways.

Mexican trucks and buses are currently restricted from driving more than 25 miles into U.S. territory.  Ealier this year, the Bush Administration announced a program to grant greater access to Mexican trucking and bus companies that met U.S. safety standards.  Critics Bush's plan, including the ATU and other bus and truck unions and safety advocates, have long argued that Mexico has lower safety standards for motor carriers and their drivers, including less-stringent restrictions on drivers' hours and less-thorough drug and alcohol testing.

The bill (H.R. 1773), passed 411-3, would limit the length of the program and would block its implementation until U.S. truck and bus companies have comparable access in Mexico.  The bill would also require Mexican drivers to meet English-proficiency standards and would establish an independent panel that would review the program once it begins and could abort the program if it finds problems.  

Congressman James Oberstar (D-MN), who chairs the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, argued that the administration is "intent on opening the border with minimum public notice and at a threat to safety."

"We need this legislation so we can be assured that we are protecting the safety of the American public," said Congressman Peter DeFazio (D-OR), chairman on the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.

 

ATU Local 448 Members Call for Employee Free Choice

School bus drivers and mechanics employed by Atlantic Express walked and rallied in conjunction with supporters on May 9th, to show their support for an ongoing Union recognition drive.  In addition to supporting the ATU organizing drive, the workers called on Congress to pass the Employee Free Choice Act. 

Speakers at the rally included ATU Local 448 President/Business Agent Ross Kiely, Worcester Central Labor Council President Joe Carlson, and Robert Bower from the Massachusetts AFL-CIO.

According to Kiely, workers at Atlantic Express have been harassed, subjected to anti-union literature included with their paychecks and onboard their buses, and in two instances, terminated.  The NLRB has scheduled a recognition election for June 6th.  More than 140 Atlantic Express workers are involved in the organizing drive.

 

ATU Employees and Members Get Active for a Cause

Through the most recent installment of the Focus on Wellness campaign, the ATU is encouraging ATU members to get fit for a cause - by participating in charity run/walk or other charitable fitness event.  

ATU headquarter's employees and Members of ATU Local 846 and 1733 are doing just that - and you can help by making a contribution to their cause!

On May 13th, members of ATU Local 1733 in Illinois participated in the Mother's Day Why Me Breast Cancer Walk.  ATU Members Nancy and Kimberly McCrudy, Rhobyne Youngman, Pam Rhodes and Sylvia Long raised over $1000 for the charity event!

The Members of ATU Local 846 in St. Catherines, Ontario are raising money for the Lung Association by participating in the Pull for Kids on May 26th.  Team Transit will be competing against other teams to see who can pull a firetruck the farthest.  The money will go to benefit programs such as Asthma Action which helps children and their caregivers manage Asthma.  You can support the ATU team by making a contribution through P/BA Alan Burrows' webpage.

Similarly, the employees at 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.  You can support the ATU team by making a contribution through the ATU Moving for the Cure team webpage.