ATU Action Weekly Update - 6/18/07

Employee Free Choice Act Vote This Week

The U.S. Senate will debate and vote on the Employee Free Choice Act this week - as early as Wednesday, June 20th. 

On June 19th, as the vote approaches, thousands of working men and women will rally in more than 70 cities throughout America—they will be showing their support for the Employee Free Choice Act.

Contact your local union or local AFL-CIO to find out how you can participate in events in your area.  Or, join the virtual rally for the Employee Free Choice Act online, by clicking here.  

Your senators will know you’re taking part. Help make the final push we need to get this important law passed.

 

ATU Supports Proposal for Automated Stop Announcements

Last week, the ATU filed comments in response to a proposal by the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board to require transit systems to equip transit buses and vans with automated stop announcement systems to better serve hearing and vision-impaired individuals.

Current Department of Transportation (DOT) ADA regulations require that stops be announced at transfer points, major intersections, destination points, other intervals along a route, and upon request of any individual with a disability. These regulations are confusing and burdensome for vehicle operators who are already tasked with the safe operation of their vehicle.

Well-meaning bus operators can easily be distracted by passengers or traffic and forget to call out stops, or a driver’s voice may simply be drowned out by other passengers or surrounding vehicles. Compounding the problem even further, opinions differ as to what is considered a "major intersection" or "destination point" and what is considered an appropriate interval along a route. Guidance from transit agencies is often lacking and drivers are left to make their own judgment calls regarding which stops to announce.

For those reasons, the ATU urged the board to adopt the proposed revisions.  "Without question, passengers would be best served by taking the burden away from the driver and equipping vehicles with pre-programmed, audible and visible stop announcements," read the ATU's letter to the board.  "These systems would enable drivers to focus on the road while at the same time allow passengers to find their chosen stop without relying on the judgement of the driver or the volume of the driver’s voice."

In the letter, ATU International President Warren S. George also voiced his concern about this new requirement being an unfunded mandate for transit agencies.  "For that reason, we encourage Congress and the Department of Transportation to make available the necessary funds to allow transit agencies to implement the proposed new requirement."

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

 

Join the Discussion on Iraq

According to polls conducted by the AFL-CIO, one of the issues that most concerns working families is the ongoing war in Iraq. 

The United States has lost more than 3,000 lives, with thousands more injured, and the conflict has cost nearly $430 billion. 

How would you advise the presidential candidates to change the course in Iraq?  Submit your ideas and comments on the AFL-CIO's Working Families Vote 2008 Forum - just click here.

Through the Working Families Vote 2008 Forum, the AFL-CIO is encouraging union members and others to post comments, experiences and opinions related to the 2008 presidential race.  Other issues currently available for comment through the forum include the Employee Free Choice Act and health care. 

 

Got Talent?  Sign-Up for the ATU Idol Show

The surprise hit of the ATU International Convention in 2004 was the ATU Idol talent competition.  ATU Idol will be returning to the convention again this year, and it promises to be even better. 

Convention delegates bring their best vocal renditions of rock and pop hits, as well as selections from a wide range of American standards. Accompaniment is chosen by contestants from a HUGE list of Karaoke backup CDs provided by the competition.

A panel of non-ATU entertainment professionals will judge the performances – just like the hit TV show.  There may be a “Simon” in the group, but that’s all a part of the fun. And like the TV show the winners are determined by a vote – of the brothers and sisters watching your performance.

Prizes will be awarded to the top performers, but the real winner will be the ATU MS Research Fund – the recipient of all show proceeds. 

If you have a good voice and love to perform you’ll have a great time and support the search for a cure for MS as well.

Don’t delay.  Performance slots are limited.

You can download an application and the song list from the ATU website at http://www.atu.org.  Just click on the ATU Idol link.