Sacramento Area Transit Workers, Environmental and Community Leaders to rally July 1

Press Release
“Save our Ride” Rally to Call for Federal Public Transit Funding and Against Further Service Cuts and Fare Increases

Sacramento – National labor and civil rights leaders and elected officials will join local transit workers and environmental and community leaders at a “Save our Ride” rally in downtown Sacramento this coming Thursday, July 1 at noon at the Robert Matsui federal courthouse at 501 I St. in downtown Sacramento.

Transit advocates are calling for a shift in federal funding from purchasing equipment to pay for operating costs for financially troubled transit systems such Sacramento Regional Transit, which recently announced the deepest service cuts in the agency's history, reducing or eliminating service on 39 of 91 routes.

What: Rally for federal public transit funding
Who: Amalgamated Transit Union International President Ronald J. Heintzman
Transport Workers Union International Executive Vice President Harry Lombardo, ATU
Local 256 President Vic Guerra; transit managers, environmental civil rights and
community leaders.
When: Thursday, July 1, 12 noon
Where: Robert Matsui Federal Courthouse, 501 I St, downtown Sacramento

Background: Following public events in Atlanta, Birmingham (AL), Detroit, Cleveland Portland and San Francisco, the Save Our Ride campaign is coming to Sacramento, where service cuts have sharply reduced transit routes.

Seven out of ten transit agencies in the nation are facing deep deficits. As a result, cutbacks in transit service, fare hikes, and layoffs of transit workers are happening across the country.

According to a recent survey by the American Public Transit Association, 84 percent of public transit agencies across the country have increased fares, reduced services, or are considering one or both actions.

The Save Our Ride campaign is advocating federal legislation to address the nationwide transit crisis:

· The Public Transportation Preservation Act of 2010, (S.3412 and HR 5418) would provide $2 billion in emergency aid for transit systems throughout the U.S., to help reverse fare increases and service cuts. Senate Banking Chair Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Rep. Michael McMahon (D-NY) are sponsors of this legislation.

· HR 2746 and S 3189, allowing local control of federal transit funds. Current federal aid for municipal public transit comes with significant strings attached; local officials in large cities can only use these funds for capital projects and are prevented from using resources to meet local needs and priorities.

HR 2746 and S3189, sponsored by Rep. Russ Carnahan (D-MO) and Rep. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), do not allocate any additional federal funds. The legislation will allow local control of federal transit funds. This will give Sacramento Regional Transit and other municipal transit systems the ability to keep buses and trains rolling when and where they are most needed.

The Save Our Ride campaign was convened by the Amalgamated Transit Union, the Transport Workers Union of America, and the Rainbow/Push Coalition. With support from elected officials, transit advocates, transit managers, environmental and communithy groups, Save Our Ride has sponsored transit rallies in cities across the country, purchased paid media, and initiated a national text message campaign in support of quality, affordable mass transit.

Contact: Jamie Horwitz, 202.549.4921, jhdcpr@starpower.net

TWU Says AA Fleet Tentative Contract Agreement Is No Longer Valid, Union Asks NMB to Release 11,000

Unresolved Issues That Led to Suspension of Ratification Process Earlier This Month has Now Created an Impasse

DALLAS --The Transport Workers Union of America (TWU), today has asked the federal National Mediation Board (NMB) to release the union from further mediation with American Airlines for fleet and ground service workers. Unresolved issues that led to a suspension of the contract ratification process on a tentative agreement earlier this month have now led to a complete breakdown in contract talks.

“We are now at an impasse with AMR,” said TWU International Administrative Vice President John Conley. “We no longer have a tentative agreement and no ballots will be presented to members for a ratification vote. We urge the NMB to promptly grant us release so that we can begin the self-help process.”

Conley, along with TWU International President James C. Little and TWU International Rep. Timothy J. Gilllespie, met with AMR officials and representatives of the NMB, including board member Harry Hoglander, at the labor board’s Washington offices earlier today to request release and to report on the total breakdown in reaching agreement with AMR for American’s fleet and ground service workers.

Fleet and ground service workers handle baggage, clean aircraft, deice and fuel planes and move freight. While the bargaining process is at impasse for fleet service workers, voting on tentative agreements is moving forward for TWU-represented mechanics, technicians and workers who handle parts at American. Those pending agreements have different terms and do not have the same issues related to contracting –out work that has caused the breakdown in the fleet/ground service tentative agreement.

For further information contact:
Jamie Horwitz 202/549-4921
jhdcpr@starpower.net

U.S. Court Upholds NMB Rule Change Bringing Greater Democracy to Union Elections

On June 25, the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, rejected the Air Transport Association's (ATA) attempt to overturn new National Mediation Board (NMB) rules governing union elections.

"The court has made a just ruling that brings America's working families one step closer to fairer union elections," said TWU International President James C. Little.

On May 10, the NMB announced changes in union voting requirements under the Railway Labor Act that would bring greater democracy to workers in the air and rail industries. Just one week later, the ATA, composed of major U.S. air carriers, filed a legal challenge to the change, causing a delay in the effective date of the new rule.

"The deck has been stacked against workers for too long with many union elections being invalidated by unfair rules that required super majority participation – a standard found nowhere else in our democracy," said Edward Wytkind, President of the AFL-CIO Transportation Trades Department. "The new rules put an end to the practice of counting all non-voting employees as ‘no’ votes."

The Transport Workers Union, which represents tens of thousands of people who work in the railroad and airline industries, applauds the NMB's decision to reject the ATA's proposal to overturn the new rules. The TWU have lost elections in the past due to the rigged elections in which non-voters counted as "no" votes.

"We are currently working to help employees of Jet Blue and Virgin America airlines organize to win the same rights that our members at Southwest, American and other air carriers experience today," said TWU Organizing Director Frank McCann. "We look forward to holding union elections at these airlines, where employees do not currently benefit from collective bargaining, under the new rules that will finally and rightfully look like every other election in our society where a simple majority prevails."

"This change decision was long overdue. But rather than mourn the injustices of the past, we're going celebrate justice for workers today and we're going to organize," said President Little.

TWU Safety Director Ed Watt Named Member of Federal TRACS Panel

Earlier today, TWU Health and Safety Director Ed Watt was named one of twenty members of the federal government's new Transit Rail Advisory Committee for Safety (TRACS) panel. TRACS is a newly formed advisory committee that will assist the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) with developing national safety standards for rail transit.

Watt's position with TRACS presents an extraordinary opportunity for the TWU to be a part of federal safety policy decisions that shape our members lives.

"The TWU celebrates this welcomed news which marks a success of our union's increased emphasis on playing a more active role on regulatory and policy making bodies and committees which affect our members," said TWU International President James C. Little.

Watt was chosen from among 79 well-qualified applicants from around the United States who represent transit agencies, safety oversight organizations, transit employee unions, industry associations and other stakeholders.

“We have brought together some of the best and brightest minds in the transit industry to focus on new and better ways to keep millions of daily rail transit riders safe,” LaHood said.

"I am truly honored to be a part of a cadre of people that will be responsible for making transit rail systems safer for workers and the riding public," said TWU Health and Safety Director Watt.


Read the full Department of Transportation press release below:

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood Announces New Transit Rail Advisory Committee for Safety Panel Charged with Laying the Groundwork for Drafting National Safety Measures for Rail Transit

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood today announced members of the Transit Rail Advisory Committee for Safety (TRACS), a newly formed advisory committee that will assist the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) with developing national safety standards for rail transit.

In December 2009, the Obama Administration sent Congress the President’s Public Transportation Safety Program Act of 2009, which would authorize the Department of Transportation to establish federal safety standards for rail transit systems, reversing a prohibition that has been in effect since 1965. The Transit Advisory Committee for Safety will guide the FTA’s safety rulemaking agenda if the final legislation is passed by Congress and signed by the President.

“We have brought together some of the best and brightest minds in the transit industry to focus on new and better ways to keep millions of daily rail transit riders safe,” LaHood said. “Safety is the Department of Transportation’s number one priority. These professionals will help guide our safety agenda for rail transit systems across the nation.”

The legislation is the first time any Administration has sent a bill to Congress specifically about transit. It is appropriately focused on improving safety oversight. Currently, FTA is prohibited from implementing national safety standards or performing oversight of the State Safety Organizations (SSO). The recommendations of TRACS will help FTA develop new policies and practices and, should FTA be given authority to promulgate new transit safety requirements, new regulations for enhancing rail transit safety.

“While public transit is one of the safest ways to get around, we still experience preventable accidents—including fatal accidents—far too frequently. We must take measures to ensure that safety margins are maintained as our systems grow older and experienced workers retire in increasing numbers,” FTA Administrator Peter Rogoff said. “This advisory committee of industry experts will lay the foundation for the implementation of national safety standards once Congress passes President Obama’s safety legislation.”

The 20 individuals who will initially serve on TRACS were chosen from among 79 applicants from all geographic regions in the U.S., representing state and local transit agencies, state safety oversight organizations, transit employee unions, industry associations, and other stakeholders.

Qualifications sought for TRACS members included expertise in the field of safety or rail transit operations or maintenance, and representation of stakeholder interests that would be affected by rail transit safety requirements. Applicants were also evaluated based on policy experience, leadership, and organization skills, region of the country, and diversity characteristics. TRACS members are:

• William Bates, Amtrak Conductor, United Transportation Union (Local 1933)
Legislative Representative and Vice Local Chair, Richmond, Virginia

• Bernadette Bridges, Executive Director of the Office of Safety and Risk Management, Maryland Transit Administration (MTA), Baltimore, Maryland

• Eric Cheng, Programs Manager, Federal Railroad Crossing Safety Improvement, Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT), Salt Lake City, Utah

• Diane Davidson, Director of The Center for Transportation Analysis, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Knoxville, Tennessee

• Joe Diaz, Manager of Safety, Security and Training, Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority (HART), Tampa, Florida

• James Dougherty, Chief Safety Officer, Washington Metropolitan Area Transportation Authority (WMATA), Washington, DC

• David Genova, Assistant General Manager for Safety, Security Facilities, Denver Regional Transportation District (RTD), Denver, Colorado

• Georgetta Gregory, Rail Safety Group, California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), Sacramento, California

• William Grizard, Staff Auditor, American Public Transportation Association (APTA), Washington, DC

• Leonard Hardy, Manager of Operations-Safety Division, Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) , San Francisco, California

• Henry Hartberg, Senior Manger-Safety (Bus and Rail), Dallas Area Rapid Transit Authority (DART), Dallas, Texas

• Rick Inclima, Director of Safety, Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees Division (BMWED), Washington, DC

• Jackie Jeter, President/Business Agent/Safety Officer, Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU), Washington, DC

• Linda Kleinbaum, Deputy Executive Director of Administration, Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), New York, New York

• Amy Kovalan, Chief Safety and Security Officer/Senior Vice President-Safety, Security and Rick Compliance, Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), Chicago, Illinois.

• Richard Krisak, Assistant General Manager Rail Operations, Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA), Atlanta, Georgia

• Tamara Lesh, Deputy General Counsel, Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District (TRIMET), Portland, Oregon

• Pamela McCombe, Director of Safety, Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (Greater Cleveland RTA), Cleveland, Ohio

• Alvin Pearson, Assistant General Manager, Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA), Memphis, Tennessee

• Ed Watt, Director of Health and Safety, Transport Workers Union of American (TWU), New York, New York

Save Our Ride in Miami

Transit service cuts, fare hikes and layoffs affect millions of Americans every day. You can help save transit and counteract the nation-wide transit crisis by rallying with the Save Our Ride alliance.

Save Our Ride was formed by the Transport Workers Union, Amalgamated Transit Union and Reverend Jesse Jackson to raise awareness of the transit crisis and to rally for the passage of transit bills that will allow flexibility of federal aid for transit. The alliance is an advocate for more affordable and efficient transit systems, better air quality and a greener future for America.

Come show your support:

July 9, Miami: 2 pm, Government Center Building

Speakers to include: James C. Little, President International TWU; Harry Lombardo, TWU Executive Vice President; Warren George, President of International ATU; Reverend Jesse Jackson, Rainbow PUSH Coalition. Other speakers will include TWU and ATU local leadership, legislators, community and civil rights groups, riders who are suffering from service cuts and increased fares. (speakers subject to change)

Stay tuned to twu.org and ourride.org for speaker announcements and more information as the rallies approach.

The reason your fares have increased and your service has been cut is because the federal government has neglected transit for decades and the country's on-going economic struggle that has slashed transit revenues has pushed transportation systems into their own crises.

"We can not allow our transit systems to crumble from financial neglect," said President James C. Little. "We must work together to tell the federal government the neglect must stop."

Federal subsidies to our country's largest transportation systems do not allow enough flexibility for operating costs. So transit systems can use federal funds to buy news trains and buses (capital expenses), but not to pay the operators. If your bus doesn't have an operator, you are not going to get to work on time.

Rep. Russ Carnahan (D-MO), and Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH), have proposed bills, H.R.2746and S3189, that would allow transit agencies to flex funding to suit local needs. Also, eight senators from the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee introduced a bill, S. 3412, to authorize emergency funding for transit agencies to help reverse fare increases and service cuts.

This legislation will help to save our transit systems, provide thousands of green transit jobs, and keep transportation affordable. If you take the bus, train, subway or streetcar to work and use public transportation to send your children to school and if you want to work towards a cleaner environment, less congested streets and green jobs, then come share your story and your voice and Save Our Ride!

Young Unionists Provide Strong Opinions at AFL-CIO’s First Young Workers Summit

They sat united, as hundreds of brothers and sisters, each person as energetic and motivated as the next.

"It's a privilege to speak with you today, to feel the energy in this room, hear the passion in your voices and see in your faces the strength of your convictions," said Richard Trumka, President of the AFL-CIO. "Actually, it's humbling. It's hard not to be awed by you."

The more than 400 activists and young workers who attended the AFL-CIO's first ever Young Workers Summit on June 10-12 had passionate and opinionated voices on Labor's need to address and work with those in their age group, under the age of 35.

On the second day of the Summit participants attended a panel discussion, "Can You Hear Me Now? A Conversation with Federation Leadership." Trumka was a member of the panel, along with AFL-CIO's Secretary-Treasurer Elizabeth H. Shuler and AFL-CIO Executive Vice President Arlene Holt Baker. They focused on getting young people involved in and passionate about the progressive labor movement. Young activists and union members who were unable to attend participated in the pane"You are the next generation," said Holt Baker. "We are anxious to learn."

Survey results from a survey administered before the start of the discussion appeared on a screen for the audience to view. The results showed: 37.6 percent of the audience believed labor education was crucial in the labor/progressive movement; 22.1 percent believed in re-branding; 19.7 percent believed in more mentoring; 9.4 percent believed in organizing traditionally and non-traditionally; and 7 percent believed in improving communication with new technology.

However, 78 percent of the audience believed social media, such as Facebook and Twitter, in addition to one-on-one interaction should be used to communicate with young people about Labor. As the numbers appeared, audience members took to the microphones, passionate and ready to voice their concerns and suggestions. One activist suggested challenging ignorance because many union members don't know their power. "Nothing is more detrimental than someone not knowing what he/she can do," the activist told the crowd.

The audience cheered and clapped as a young woman said, "Run your mouths off aboAnother participant called for more education about unions and labor to be added to school curriculums. Others explained the need for older, more experienced union members to provide mentorship for the younger, newer members in order to create stronger solidarity across generations. Several attendees also touched on the importance of Facebook for flight attendants and how it brings them together.

One online question asked was, “How can we convince youths’ that unions offer better wages and benefits?”

"It's historically proven," responded Holt Baker. "Union members have better wages, pensions and working conditions. Just think how tough it would be for manufacturing jobs now if they didn't have unions."

Other topics addressed were the importance of using social media in conjunction with one-on-one contact, and the need to combat the conservative voice more powerfully. Overall, most attendees supported a different tactic that combines traditional and novel methods of organizing, educating and promoting union ideas in order to progress the Labor Movement.

Sen. Schumer Fighting to Preserve Public Transportation

Saying that it is time for the Federal Government “to step up to the plate” for public transportation, Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY) presented a powerful endorsement of new legislation that would provide an emergency infusion of cash to struggling transit agencies across America.

Sen. Schumer was the keynote speaker at a press conference on Friday June 11, 2010 outside of New York City's Pennsylvania Station. The Senator joined TWU International Executive Vice President Harry Lombardo, TWU Local 100 President John Samuelsen, other labor leaders and a host of other supporters at the event to insist on passage of the Public Transportation Preservation Act of 2010.

Sen. Schumer said that the bill would provide a needed infusion of $2 billion in operating assistance to hard hit agencies from coast to coast. He said that under current formulas, New York would get $345 million, enough, he said “to hold off all job and service cuts for the next few years.”

Schumer had high praise for Local 100 President Samuelsen for “rallying New Yorkers and transit workers behind the effort to prevent transit cuts here and across the country.”
Schumer called public transportation “the lifeblood of our city.”

“Our beautiful City could not exist without our transportation,” Schumer added. “Without good mass transit, New York dies.”

Schumer blamed the recession for the problems confronting the nation’s transit systems, saying that when America goes into down economic times “mass transit gets pneumonia.” He labeled his bill, that currently has seven additional co-sponsors, “a win, win, win for everyone,” and he pledged at the event that he intends “a major push to get this bill done.”

Local 100 President Samuelsen added his words of support, saying that the Schumer bill “is not just about transit workers, it’s about transit riders, the people who depend so heavily on public transportation every day.”

Samuelsen also denounced the recent layoff of Local 100 Station Agents. “Our subways are a far more dangerous place for passengers today because our Station Agents aren’t on the job.”
ATU’s Larry Hanley outlined how financial woes had “devastated” many transit properties across America where ATU members live and work.

TWU International Exec. VP Lombardo labeled the current battle “a fight for the quality of life in our cities and suburbs.”

Gene Russianoff of the Straphangers Campaign said that the proposed cuts are “staggering” and “the worst I’ve seen in 30 years.”

New York City Council Transportation Committee Chair James Vacca said that Sen. Schumer’s bill “represents the most viable hope” for financial assistance stave off the service and job cuts.

Union Members Can Save 15% on new iPhone® 4 service plans

Union Plus Press Release

It’s time to switch to the nation’s only unionized wireless provider.

The Union Plus AT&T wireless service discount for union members has increased to 15% (from 10%) in time for the release of the new iPhone 4.

Union members who purchase a new iPhone 4 can save $198 over their two-year contract on a basic monthly service and data plan (450 minutes and 200MB of data) with the Union Plus AT&T discount. Members who buy higher rate plans can save even more.

Even if you choose one of AT&T’s many other phones, you’ll still save 15% off the regular monthly rate on individual and family plans with the nation’s only unionized wireless provider.

The new iPhone 4, which goes on sale June 24 (pre-orders can be made starting June 15 via the link at UnionPlus.org/ATT), includes a new thinner design, an improved display, a 5-megapixel camera with HD video recording and a new operating system that features multitasking, folders, enhanced mail and iBooks.

The suggested retail prices for iPhone 4 are $199 (16GB) and $299 (32GB). A new 8GB iPhone 3GS will be available for $99.

So now is a great time to switch your wireless service to AT&T to get 15% savings and support the 40,000 union workers at the nation’s only completely unionized wireless provider. To start saving go to a local AT&T store (not mall kiosks or authorized dealers) and use discount FAN number 3508840 or shop online at UnionPlus.org/ATT.


Press Contact: Jennifer Wright Dorr, 202-293-5330, editors@unionplus.org

AFL-CIO Young Workers Summit Live

More than 400 young workers and activists will be in Washington, D.C., for the first-ever national AFL-CIO Young Workers Summit from June 10-13. Several TWU representatives will be at the Summit to take part in the conference, designed to give union workers and activists under 35-years-old the chance to share their concerns, skills and visions about young people's role in the union movement and the movement's future with AFL-CIO leaders.

The AFL-CIO's theme, "Next Up," emphasizes the importance of hearing young workers and activists' views now, as they are "next up" to take charge of the Labor movement.

Organizing and political and community activism and communications, mapping out a blueprint for the union movement’s future, are top items on the agenda. The conference is booked solid, but you still have several ways to take part and keep up with the summit.

TWU.org will be streaming the conference live on our site. Just look for it in the video player on the right-hand side of the main page on twu.org. You can also follow our twitter and facebook updates.

Here's more from the AFL-CIO's blog entry on the event:
"We will have a live interactive tool during the Friday morning opening sessions, where young workers will engage in a question and answer with AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka, AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Liz Shuler and AFL-CIO Executive Vice President Arlene Holt Baker. The webcast and the interactive discussion are at: www.aflcio.org/aboutus/youthsummit/webcast.cfm.

There’s some fun in store, too, with Lee Camp, a contributor to The Onion who describes himself as “Satarista,” and comedian Jeremy Redleaf, a member of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA). Several members of the NFL Players Association are on the schedule, and there will be plenty of time for networking, a cold beverage or two and having fun.

The Next Up Young Workers Summit wraps up Sunday morning as the young workers and union leaders discuss and adopt the essential elements the summit developed for “A Blueprint for Our Future.”
For more information, click here. Don’t forget to go to the Next Up Facebook page to connect with other young union members and activists and join the conversation."

Save Our Ride: Cleveland

Watch TWU, ATU and the Reverend Jesse Jackson in Cleveland, Ohio on May 22 fighting to Save Our Ride.

Transit agencies around the country are suffering, forced to cut service, hike fares and layoff hundreds of workers. This transit crisis is costing the riding public more for less service and making it more difficult for people to travel within their own communities. Save Our Ride is a coalition formed by the Transport Workers Union, Amalgamated Transit Union and the Reverend Jesse Jackson that is fighting for flexibility in federal funds allocated to transit systems in major American cities.

The federal aid offered to systems in cash-strapped cities with populations larger than 200,000 are restricted; the funds are allocated only for capital expenses. Save Our Ride is fighting for the passage of Rep. Russ Carnahan's bill, H.R.2746, and its Senate version, Sen. Brown's bill, S3189. The bills allow local transit agencies the flexibility to use the funds for operating costs based on local and community needs. The coalition is also calling for the passage of the passage of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee bill, S. 3412, to authorize emergency funding for transit agencies to help reverse fare increases and service cuts.

"The fight for quality transit isn't just about transit workers. It's about all of us. It's about our cities and our communities," said TWU Executive Vice President Harry Lombardo at the Atlanta rally in May.

Proper preservation and restoration of mass transit systems is essential for our country's efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, to create good green jobs, and to reduce dependence on foreign oil. Local transit workers know how best to allocated need stimulus funds in their systems, and "buying new buses with no money to pay operators makes no sense," said ATU President Warren George at a Save Our Ride rally.

"We cannot and will not allow our transit systems to crumble from financial neglect," said TWU International President James C. Little.

Save Our Ride rallies have been held in Atlanta, Ga., Birmingham, Al., Detroit, Mi., and Cleveland, Oh. and are planned for this summer in San Francisco, Ca., Sacramento, Ca., Houston, Tx., Miami, Fl., and New York, NY.

Congratulations to the 2010 Quill Scholarship Winners!

The TWU International awarded 15 four-year college scholarships to the sons and daughters of TWU members from across the country. The random drawing for this year's winners took place at the International's headquarters at 1700 Broadway in New York City on June 2.

The 15 winners and 10 alternates were drawn from hundreds of applicants by TWU Education and Research Coordinator Helen Mahoney.

The scholarships are worth $4,800 each, paid over a four-year period, for us at any accredited four-year college. In addition to the 15 Quill Scholarships, five other grants amounting to a one-time $2,400 payment each were awarded by Union Benefit Planners, an employee benefits consulting firm.

Also, ATD Local 514 funds five additional $4,800 scholarships for children of its members and Transit Division Local 252 funds five one-year scholarships for its members.

The Quill Scholarship Program is supervised by International Executive Vice President Harry Lombardo with the able assistance of Administrative Secretaries Bernadette Uckele and Carlean Williams.


2010 WINNERS OF MICHAEL J. QUILL SCHOLARSHIP

White, Bobby M. (291)
Kane, Allison M. (510)
Swanson, Mark T. (563)
Antignolo, Gabriella K. (501)
Wright, Jeffrey K. (291)
Qualls, Whitney D. (545)
Imbruglia, Melissa (2054)
D’Aquino, Daniella (100)
Rudolph, Kendrick L. (541)
Martinez, Lexys A. (100)
Kreiser, Brittnie I. (223)
Silva, Breanna E. (507)
Campbell, Quentin J. (100)
Taylor, Gawayne D. (100)
Paluszek, Jacqueline S. (100)

ALTERNATES
Terrell, Matthew T. (530)
John, Joyce (100)
Payne, Amber T. (100)
Simone, Austin F. (2054)
Cyriac, Jissy ( 512)
Geraghty, Declan (512)
Tse, Jenny (100)
Reilly, Brittany E. (106)
Nomeland, Luke J. (563)
Jacob, Joby G. (252)



Union Benefit Planners Winners
($2,400 each for one year)
Truman, Mic Kae T. (Local 100)
Ockay, Ethan J. (Local 1400)
Okda, Wyell A. (Local 567)
Humphrey, Ryan (Local 514)
Hafbauer, Haley E. (Local 2011)


Local 514 Scholarships
Winners:
Hatzell, John T.
Hendrix, Mathew D.
Wingate, Kyle D.
Haberman, Amanda J.
Masingal, Brianna M.

Alternates:
Cotton, Branon K.
Bernales, Lauren N.
Holloway, Curtis G.
Tucker, Stacy A.
Smith, Corey M.


Local 252 Scholarships
Winners:
Jones, Jarrett S.
Bonsignore, Amanda T.
Jacob, Joby G.
Gavan, Samantha C.
Meade, Janine R.

Alternates:
Binford, Kyana M.
Goode, John J.
Janke, Allison

NY Court Puts Booth Closings on Hold

On Firday, June 4 New York Supreme Court Justice Saliann Scarpulla ordered the MTA to hold a new round of public hearings prior to implementing its plans to close token booths and Station Customer Assistance (SCA) booths. However, the court decision was not an order to rehire those who have been laid off or prohibit future layoffs.

Local 100 President John Samuelsen declared the ruling a victory for safety and security in New York City subways. Samuelsen states:
"Events in recent months, including the aborted bombing of the subways by admitted al Qaeda terrorist Najibullah Zazi, and the near tragedy in Times Square in early May, underscore TWU’s position that holding new hearings on the booth closings is in the best interest of the millions of people who use the subways every day. It is also an important reprieve for the Station Agents who have had the layoff axe hanging over their heads for the past five months."

Samuelson adds that in the mean time Local 100 will redouble its efforts to gain passage of the Public Transportation Preservation Act of 2010 (the bill introduced by Senators Dodd (D-CT), Schumer (D-NY) and Gillibrand (D-NY), S.3412, that would provide $2 billion in new mass transit operating assistance to cash-starved transit agencies) to keep the booths open permanently and ward off all future job and service cuts."

TWU International President James C. Little states: "Judge Scarpulla's ruling is important for TWU Local 100 and for all New Yorkers who depend on our TWU members to keep them safe and secure when they take the subway."

Emergency Transit Funding Protects Riders and Workers

by Mike Hall, AFL-CIO

Unless the U.S. Senate passes emergency funding introduced in legislation (S. 3412) this week, working families who count on public transportation systems in communities across the country will face even more severe fare increases and service cuts and transit workers are looking at further layoffs.

State and local governments have been hit hard by the downturn in the economy and public transportation systems nationwide are experiencing major budget cuts as a result. Amalgamated Transit Union President (ATU) Warren George says that since January 2009, six out of 10 transit systems have cut services, raised fares, or both.

Thousands of transit workers have been laid off and millions of commuters have less access to public transportation. Without emergency action, the problems will only get worse—seven out of 10 transit systems are facing deficits in the coming year.

Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.), who introduced the $2 billion emergency funding bill, says that while families continue to struggle to make ends meet, the last thing we should do is make it harder and more expensive for people to get to work. This bill will prevent disruptive service cuts and help put money back in the pockets of families when they need it most.

Transit service cuts often disproportionately affect those with low-incomes, people of color and seniors. In many cases, people are cut off from accessing their jobs or health care. And fare increases can have a devastating effect on working families and those on fixed incomes.

Transport Workers (TWU) President James C. Little says, “If we want to get the economy moving again,”
the last thing we need is more layoffs and more service cuts, which will make it harder for working people to get to work, and harder for businesses to have a steady flow of customers and employees.

ATU and TWU have joined together to form Save Our Ride, a nationwide coalition in support of public transit, with backing from civil rights, community and environmental organizations, as well as transit management in many cities.

Edward Wytkind, president of the AFL-CIO Transportation Trades Department (TTD), says that “Millions of Americans rely on transit as a safe and affordable way to get to work.”

Without this legislation, the deep service cuts announced or threatened nationwide will undermine working people and businesses still reeling from the effects of the deep recession.

Getting on Track

With the future of American high-speed intercity rail in mind, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray Lahood boarded some of the fastest trains in the world-Japan and China's bullet trains-in early May. Lahood is working to bring the super-fast rail networks of Asia and Europe to the United States. Because the American rail system has been essentially neglected since the development of interstate roadways, Lahood estimates that the implementation of high-speed rail networks will take "a decade or so" to accomplish in our country, but emphasizes that the work must start now.

As the future of high speed rail develops, the U.S. government has also committed to improving passenger rail systems. This brings unprecedented opportunity and exciting possibilities to the country and to the TWU.

Consistent with Obama's "Vision for High-Speed Rail in America," the federal government has allocated $8 billion in stimulus funds for high-speed rail projects throughout the country, with an additional $1 billion to be budgeted annually over the next five years. The government has also identified 10 corridors, each from 100 to 600 miles long, with the greatest promise for high-speed rail development, many of which are TWU areas.

Sec. Lahood dedicated much of his keynote speech at the 2010 TWU COPE Legislative Conference this April to the prospect of high-speed rail.

"We are right at the place where the country was at when we started interstate system," said Lahood. "A decade or two from now America will be connected by good passenger rail service-and the infrastructure for that, and the train sets for that, will be built by American workers in America." Lahood noted that the DOT has never before had funds allocated for high-speed, intercity rail projects.

As reported in past issues of the TWU Express, jobs have already been created at the Amtrak Beech Grove, Indiana facility, where stimulus funds have provided more than 100 new jobs and helped to revive the facility.

High-speed rail and modernized passenger trains will bring the United States a rail network that is competitive on an international level, and will create jobs nationwide. These developing networks will also provide a cleaner alternative to the expensive, fuel-based and environmentally harmful transportation options that are currently available.

"The opportunities provided by the Obama administration's commitment to rail in this country are invigorating," said TWU International President James C. Little. Little commends Sec. Lahood for his clear dedication to keeping all high-speed rail work in America and to employing American workers.

Railroad Director Gary Maslanka explained the positive effects he anticipates. "New service, new systems and rail car manufacturing and maintenance are going to present a lot of opportunities for the TWU and our rail locals," said Maslanka. "The Rail Division staff are preparing to make the most of the opportunity to be an integral part of improving America's rail systems."

Members in the TWU Rail Division know how to get this work done. Many are second and third generation rail workers who are going to be a great asset to the administration's implementation of exciting plans for American rail systems.

Sec. Lahood recognizes the TWU's value in helping to achieve the Transportation Department's goals. "Our growing rail industry is going to need skilled domestic workers and your union to get the job done. And I'm very confident this will be done," said Sec. Lahood.

Investing in the Future

There's an old saying about "doing well while doing good." That means making a profit while also doing the right thing.

America is in that position now with respect to its transportation needs. A timely investment in our transit, rail and air transportation systems will pay big dividends in job creation, energy savings and long term prosperity.

Our country has traditionally treated public transportation as a stepchild. That's why our rail and transit systems continue to lag behind Europe, Japan and other industrialized countries.

Since the 1950s, our spending on mass transit has stayed at about 20% versus 80% for highways-despite the fact that 80% of the population lives in metropolitan areas. No, we're not going to give up our automobiles. But if you've ever sat in a traffic jam, I'm sure you've thought: "There has to be a better way!"

The lingering recession, which dealt us a body blow in 2008, provides an opportunity to address our transportation needs. It's clear that further stimulus to the economy is needed, and what better way to create jobs and boost the economy than to rebuild our aging transportation systems? In addition, the growth of fuel-efficient mass transit is one of the keys to greater energy independence in the future.

Although members of Congress from both sides of the aisle acknowledge the need for steps to ease the climate crisis, both the Senate and House versions of the Surface Transportation bill still favor highways. Old habits die hard, so we have our work cut out for us.

With a sympathetic administration in Washington, there is a window of opportunity to reset funding priorities as Congress addresses a variety of bills on job creation, economic stimulus and transit, rail and aviation appropriations.

More funding is necessary, but it is not the only ingredient. We must spend wisely. Transit is a good case in point. The introduction of new technology makes worker training a priority.

I think of this as an investment in human capital. What is the point of investing in new transit systems if workers aren't given the skills to operate them? Workers, through their unions, must also play a role in the process.

Similarly, increased federal spending will be insufficient if cash-strapped state and local governments cut back on service. Congress must create incentives for localities to increase their own investment in transit.

If we do the right thing by our public transportation systems it will pay big rewards down the line. There is no question about the need to create jobs when unemployment and underemployment are running at close to a combined rate of 17%. Any jobs bill must include a sizeable investment in transportation. Giving the green light to some $15 billion in ready-to-go transportation projects would create 450,000 jobs.

Transportation spending puts people to work at jobs that need to be done and will benefit our environment. We'll be less dependent on foreign oil, which in turn will improve our economic competiveness and national security. A bonus will be new jobs created in the "green" technology industries.

Of course, none of this will happen automatically. Too often, decisions are based less on what makes sense or what is "fair" than on the politics of influence and power. The fact that we are pushing for sound policies that make sense for our country does not exempt us from that reality.

That's why we're dedicated to making TWU a powerful force in Washington, which is key to legislation, policy, regulations and funding for our transportation jobs. We plan to move our International headquarters to DC in the fall, while maintaining a strong presence in New York City through Local 100, our largest and founding local. Congress is set to address Surface Transit Reauthorization, a jobs bill, FTA, FAA and FRA reauthorization bills, a new stimulus bill, and climate change and energy legislation. Hopefully, with our heightened presence in the nation's capital-and with a lot of hard work-we'll get Congress to do the right thing.

Learning to Harness the Power of Politics

DLPA Grassroots Training.

A visit to your state senator or congressperson at their federal offices in Washington, DC requires proper preparation and a certain amount of confidence. Once you locate the correct building, you pass through a metal detector and then enter a structure that feels more like a museum than a place for government business.

The century old architecture of block-long federal legislative buildings-16-foot high ceilings, grand rotundas, floor-to-ceiling French windows, etc.-can be intimidating; it is not the usual atmosphere where union brothers and sisters talk politics.

That's where TWU's Department of Legislative and Political Affairs (DLPA) Grassroots Training program steps in. Once you pass through your representative's door you enter a busy government office, with phones ringing, faxes beeping and staffers crafting bills. The Grassroots Training teaches TWU activists how to prepare their talking points, understand TWU legislative issues and know what to expect while lobbying so that the grandiose architecture and, more importantly, rushed staffers don't throw you off your game or prevent you from having your voice heard by your elected representatives. Legislators are public servants who work for the people-that's you, and your union brothers and sisters.

"There is no way I would have been able to walk into any of those offices without the training I had the last couple of days," said Constance Bradley, a Local 101 member and Grassroots trainee. "Plus, I had a great time here. I made new TWU friends from different states and it was a great experience going to meet the senators and realizing they will welcome us in their offices. I was very impressed by that."

DLPA Director Portia Reddick White explained: "The goal of our program is to educate our TWU activists on how to be involved with politics in a positive way and to teach them how to involve their communities and locals in the process." White emphasized the DLPA's efforts to help TWU members speak in unison on the Hill and in state and local governments. She also reviewed important state and local elections approaching this fall and implored participants to go back to their communities and encourage friends, neighbors and members to vote for candidates who support working families.

"It was about coming together, sharing ideas and listening and learning from each other," said Audrey Van Hook, a Local 512 member and Grassroots trainee, speaking about her positive experience with the program.

The Grassroots Training program was held from March 15-19 at the National Labor College in Silver Springs, Maryland. The twenty participants heard from and were trained by DLPA Director Reddick-White, AFL-CIO legislative and political department representatives; Gwen Dunivent, COPE Field Assistant; Walter Pearson, Dean of New College at St. Edward's University and a Labor Educator; and House and Senate staff.

TWU Tackling the American Transit Crisis

America's transit systems, from New York to San Francisco, Chicago to Atlanta and Boston to Miami, are in severe financial trouble. The economic crisis has given way to a widespread transit crisis: service cuts and layoffs that will affect hundreds of thousands of union members, millions of public riders and, effectively, the environment.

TWU President James C. Little and his leadership have taken charge of the effort to curtail this crisis by forming an alliance called Save Our Ride with the ATU and Rev. Jesse Jackson's Rainbow PUSH Coalition.

"Mass transit has been under-funded for decades," said President Little. "This is about the millions of people who need and depend on these services."

Save Our Ride is holding rallies around the country to call for flexibility in federal transit funds that currently do not allow large cities to use that money for operating costs. Rallies are planned to be held this summer in San Francisco, Oakland, Sacramento, Houston, Miami, and New York City; and the alliance has already rallied in Washington, DC, Atlanta, Birmingham, New York, Detroit and Cleveland. With significant news coverage, the rallies have already successfully raised public awareness of the issue.

"The fight for quality public transit isn't just about transit workers," said TWU Executive Vice President Harry Lombardo at the Atlanta rally. "It's about our cities and our communities-what kind of country and future we're going to have. The public needs transit, and transit is essential to America's environmental goals of reducing greenhouse gases and provides thousands of good green jobs."

Current federal aid for municipal public transit comes with significant strings attached; local officials in large cities can only use these funds for capital projects and are prevented from using resources to meet local needs and priorities. The alliance is lobbying for the passage of Rep. Russ Carnahan's transit bill, H.R. 2746, and its Senate version, Senator Brown's S3189 bill, which would allow transit agencies to flex funding to suit local needs.

"It makes no sense to have a brand new bus sit in the garage, if you have nobody to drive it," said ATU President Warren George at the Atlanta rally.

On opening day of the TWU COPE Legislative Conference, delegates to the conference joined more than 3,000 TWU Local 100 and ATU members at Upper Senate Park in the shadow of the Capitol for an alliance rally. TWU Local 100 President John Samuelson told the crowd, "This national problem, 30 years in the making, is not going to be solved on the backs of workers."

Other speakers addressed the importance of saving American jobs during a time when 10% of the population is unemployed. Reverend Jesse Jackson concluded the rally, stressing the need to use transit to stimulate the American economy:

"We can make the steel, we can lay the rail," he told the crowd, and had them repeat after him. "We can make trains, make buses…go green…go transportation. Put America back to work!"

International Sister Solidarity

In February, President James C. Little had the opportunity to unite his strong dedication to women's rights with his dedication to global solidarity -strengthening the labor movement worldwide -by sending TWU Human Rights Director Sandra Burleson and several TWU women leaders to London for the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) Women's Conference. More than 200 union women from 62 countries attended the Conference where participants discussed a wide variety of issues important to working women in today's world.

TWU delegates to the Conference heard from other union women leaders from around the world on issues like sexual harassment of women workers in Belgium, maternity leave issues in the Asian Pacific Region, and violence against women while traveling to work in Australia, to name a few.

The TWU has been working with the ITF for the last several years by sending representatives to meetings overseas and hosting visiting unionists here in the United States. One of the most important aspects of TWU's involvement with the ITF has always been that the participants' common dedication to Labor to allows them to relate to each other, despite the vast differences in background, culture and jobs.

"We shared stories with union women leaders from other countries and learned quickly that women from around the world face similar troubles like violence, sexual harassment and inequality," said Angela Tucker, Chair of the ATD Working Women's Committee.

Participants learned that while situations are clearly worse in some countries than in others, no matter the circumstances, sharing stories and ideas on equal rights and organizing with people from such different backgrounds introduces plenty of fresh and intelligent ideas.

Tucker attended the Conference with Civil and Human Rights Director Sandra Burleson; Managing Director of Organizational Development Tonya Gordon; TWU Organizer Linda Dill; Chair of Transit Division Working Women's Committee Delissa Brown; Local 100 Women's Committee member Oneshia "Gracie" Portlette; Local 100 E-board member Christine Williams and Local 100 Recording Secretary Benita Johnson, shown in bottom right photo. TWU Celebrates Women's History Month March is Women's History Month, and March 8 is International Women's Day. This year, the TWU took advantage of the time reserved to celebrate the economic, political and social achievements of women of the past and present. Many TWU women have dedicated themselves to the union and to fighting for fair working conditions and equality for all, regardless or race, creed, religion and gender, which the TWU has been committed to since its founding.

Sandra Burleson, Director of Human Rights and a Coalition of Union Women (CLUW) Vice President, attended a three-day CLUW working women's celebration in honor of Women's History Month. At the Conference, Burleson participated in workshops and heard form speakers and panels that focused on women's issues, among them: Health Families Act, Pay-check fairness Act and health reform. "The national recognition of women's history provides a good avenue to recognize and celebrate women's historic achievements and achievements of today's women as well," said Burleson.

"The TWU is a proud supporter of equal rights, and of course, women's rights," said TWU International President James C. Little. "We are honored to celebrate the accomplishments of women during the month of March, and are proud to celebrate our TWU women's accomplishments year-round."

According to the ILO report on 2009 Global Employment Trends for Women, women are "often in a disadvantaged position in comparison to men in labor markets around the world [and] in most regions, the gender impact of the economic crisis in terms of unemployment rates is expected to be more detrimental for females than for males."

Some of today's issues that still affect women in many countries are wages inequalities, lack of sick leave policies and workplace violence.

President Little has always been committed to women's rights and has helped to foster the growth of TWU Women's Committees during his time as ATD Division Director and today, as President of the International union. TWU Transit and Air Divisions, and some locals, have established Working Women's Committees (WWC). More than 100 women and some men are involved in WWCs today, and the numbers continue to grow.

Health Care Reform

Thousands of TWU members worked hard to win historic health care reform that would favor working Americans. TWU lobbied, rallied, wrote emails, made phone calls and signed petitions; and we succeeded. The health care reform passed in March expands coverage to 32 million of the 47 million Americans who were previously uninsured.

Based on surveys and discussions with members, TWU leadership made the decisions to fight for a public option and to oppose the excise tax on insurance benefits. Along with most of the Labor Movement, TWU was disappointed when the public option was dropped.

However, as many know, unlike the AFL-CIO and many affiliates, the TWU continued to oppose the excise tax-a tax to be placed on the shoulders of American workers-even when others accepted its inclusion in the bill. Although it was not eliminated completely, the threshold for the excise tax was raised days before the bill passed and 85 percent of the proposed tax is gone thanks to our work. TWU is still optimistic that there is opportunity for change to the tax before it is enacted in 2018. The TWU will not allow dissatisfaction over one provision of the bill to overshadow the gains that were won; and the gains are more meaningful than just statistics and details of coverage. As the first piece of major social legislation in decades, the passage of health care reform means a large step towards closing the wealth inequality gap in this country. For the last three decades, the gap between rich and poor Americans has continuously grown as the pre-tax incomes of the wealthy have increased and their tax rates have fallen more than those for the middle class and poor.

In a New York Times Editorial, economist David Leonhardt writes, "[The bill] aims to smooth out one of the roughest edges in American society-the inability of many people to afford medical care after they lose a job or get sick. And it would do so in large measure by taxing the rich."

Leonhardt explains that this means that those who need health care the most, households making less than four times the poverty level-$88,200 for a family of four-will benefit the greatest from the law.

TWU Making Connections

In March, Chief of Staff Jeff Brooks gave a presentation at the Transportation Learning Center's Making Connections forum, where transportation leaders discussed the industry's challenges and exchanged ideas to help formulate joint solutions that best serve the needs of transportation administrators, employees and most importantly, riders. Brooks presentation, given on behalf of Int'l President James C. Little, provided a strategy to help unions and the transportation industry cope with the current climate and transit crisis and take advantage of opportunities presented by the Surface Transportation Reauthorization and related legislative initiatives.

"We have the opportunity now to adopt sound public transportation and training partnership policies that will help our economy recover, create hundreds of thousands of good jobs, and ease the climate crisis," Brooks explained in his presentation.

The detailed strategy covered methods to build on and strengthen programs for training partnerships, work towards sufficient federal funding, promote the AFL-CIO's aggressive jobs agenda, and take advantage of legislation scheduled for Congress to address this year, including: Surface Transit Reauthorization bill, jobs bill, stimulus bill, climate change and energy legislation and FTA, FAA and FRA reauthorization bills.

TWU Takes Charge of Political Change

Nearly 200 TWU Local activists from around the country attended the 2010 COPE Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C. in late April.

They addressed pressing legislative and political issues important to the Transport Workers Union and to working families across the nation.

Key legislators, TWU activists and the AFL-CIO team that helps to shape Labor's agenda in the nation's Capitol discussed the challenges and opportunities faced by transportation and by Labor today. The Conference theme, "Take Charge of Political Change: Stay Connected," reflects the importance of staying involved with politics in order to take advantage of the opportunities and to overcome challenges as a unified front.

"We are at the beginning of a cycle of new economic activity that will occur around the greening of the economy and the requisite re-engineering of the economy, under a generally labor-friendly and science-friendly administration," said TWU President James C. Little in his opening presentation. Little explained that despite some disappointments with the current administration, the Obama White House and Democratic control of Congress present an opening to advance members' issues and interests that we haven't had in years.

Little stressed the need for Labor to have a strong presence in Washington, DC in order to best take advantage of these opportunities and to overcome our challenges: the economic crisis, unemployment rate and severe cuts to state and municipal budgets across the country that are plaguing transit systems.

"Because transportation is central to the economy, to economic recovery to job creation and to cleaning up the environment, we will have a role influencing politics, and by being in DC we have even more of a chance," Little said, elaborating on the International headquarters' forthcoming move from New York City to Washington, DC.

"This is an exciting time to be in Washington," said TWU's Department of Legislative and Political Affairs Director Portia Reddick White during the opening session. "Major legislation is passing, brand new transportation policies are being developed, and politics are heating up as election season is right around the bend." White covered the major state elections approaching this fall and prepared delegates with thorough information on TWU legislative issues to lobby with on the Hill. Many speakers urged delegates to have conversations with friends and families about supporting politicians who are on the side of the middle class and of Labor, and to take an active role in the upcoming elections.

Chairman Barney Frank (D-MA) opened the Conference at the breakfast session on April 27 explaining the importance of services like transit. The country cannot afford to wait until those services disappear to find out how much people want and need them, he said. Representative Mary Jo Kilroy (D-OH) emphasized his point well during the afternoon session explaining that she wants to make sure that "cities continue to be strong in the center and I know we need a strong transportation system to get that done."

Department of Transportation Secretary Ray Lahood delivered the keynote speech at the Conference. He thanked the TWU and delegates for their role in helping to make our share of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act a success. "Fourteen-thousand transportation projects have been approved-from fuel efficient buses to paving airport runways to modernizing passenger rail service," he announced. He added that we need to continue to support efforts by Congress to pass good legislation that creates jobs for our workers and we need to strengthen transportation as an economic engine in the United States.

Protecting and strengthening the aviation industry, through legislation like the Federal Aviation Administration and other reauthorization bills, was another heavily discussed topic. Rep. James L. Oberstar (D-MN), Chairman of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, spoke about the safety of airline workers and the need for the FAA reauthorization bill to hold foreign workers to the same standards as those here at home. He also addressed the need for Occupational Health and Safety Administration standards to be applied to flight attendants.

Addressing the survival of the airline industry, President of the Transportation Trades Department Ed Wytkind said, "We need resilience. That is what it is going to take to win our crucial battles that lie ahead."

Wytkind also addressed the opportunities that Obama's "Vision for High Speed Rail in America" presents for the TWU and for the country's development and economic recovery, "if done the right way." He, and others, emphasized the necessity to buy American and employ American labor to do the job.

In addition to hearing from speakers, delegates to the Conference participated in workshops, discussions and question and answer sessions, and used much of their time in DC meeting with their legislators and staff members on Capitol Hill. They were well prepared with information provided by DLPA Director Portia Reddick White.

TWU members who were new to the Conference, as well as seasoned attendees, felt the event was a success. "What keeps me coming back is the education, the members, the support of the International itself," said Michael Williams, a Local 291 member.

COPE Speakers

1 Ray Lahood, Secretary of the Department of Transportation As the country's 16th Secretary of Transportation, Ray Lahood has implemented several policies that stand to be extremely beneficial to TWU members. He has turned Obama's "Vision for High Speed Rail" into a reality, with billions of dollars invested in rail across the country. Lahood told delegates that the DOT's goal is to give American workers the chance to make American products from start to finish.

Lahood reported that the DOT has already put more than $37 billion into the U.S. economy and has approved more than 14,000 transportation projects across the country. He laid down the Transportation department's priorities: to implement a system for rail transit oversight and to invest in transportation projects that make our communities more accessible, clean and livable, "increasing the transportation choices for everyone."

When it comes to reauthorization and budget planning, the bottom line, according to Lahood, is, "Americans want and need safe, efficient, environmentally friendly transportation systems that provide good access to jobs, schools, and health care and contribute to the better quality of life in our communities." 2 Warren George, President of the Amalgamated Transit Union President George has spent his life working in the labor movement and fighting for the same workers' rights as the TWU. As President of the ATU, George has been acting on the national stage to promote policies that will benefit transit agencies, transit workers and labor unions.

George joined TWU President Little and the Reverend Jesse Jackson at a massive rally on Capitol Hill during the first day of the Conference. George asked for stimulus funding flexibility so that money may be used to cover operating costs. "We are not asking for anything that isn't deserving," George told the crowd. "There is no sense to service cuts when it means there are kids that need to get to school who can't, or a young person who needs to get to a job, or a mother who needs to take one bus to childcare and another to work." 3 Rep. James Oberstar (D-MN) Chairman, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Oberstar is the longest serving member of Congress in Minnesota history and has always been a tireless advocate for workers. Oberstar touts fair, forward thinking, and pragmatic transportation policies. His role as the Chairman of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure along with his long tenure in Congress has led many to consider him to be Congress's foremost expert on transportation policy.

Chmn. Oberstar was instrumental in the passage of the FAA Reauthorization last summer. He has also penned a transformational surface transportation authorization that, if passed, would cut though the red tape to allow transit agencies to spend efficiently and with workers in mind. The authorization would increase focus on mass transit as America seeks to control carbon emissions and reduce dependence on foreign oil.

Read Chmn. Oberstar's remarks to the Conference on page 13. 4Rep. John D. Dingell (D-MI) Dingell, the longest serving Congress member in the history of the U.S. House of Representatives, has dedicated his life to standing up for middle class Americans. He tirelessly works to improve health care access and to ensure that no American is denied the right to health care. Dingell introduced the bill that became the Affordable Health Care for America Act, which was the first comprehensive health care reform bill to pass the House of Representatives.

"We have had much to contend with: the president came into office with two wars, a depression and a $3 trillion deficit…we have dealt with the depression and I believe things are turning up for American workers. We've saved hundreds of thousands of jobs and reformed our health care system, which will improve the lives of all Americans. You in labor can take pride in what has been accomplished." 5Rep. Laura Richardson (D-CA) Through her service on the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Richardson helps in crafting aviation and transit legislation that improves safety, increases services, or provides vital funding on which TWU members depend.

Richardson encouraged delegates to hold their elected legislators accountable. "We need to get back to the basics, which is working people." 6 Ed Wytkind, President of Transportation Trades Department Wytkind has spent his entire career working on behalf of labor, especially transportation labor. He has been the leading voice on behalf of positive labor policies and an advocate for millions of transportation workers across America.

The Transportation Trades Department is the transportation policy and legislative arm of the National AFL-CIO, representing over 10 million workers in the United States. Wytkind oversees daily legislative, public policy and regulatory programs and initiatives, serving as transportation labor's chief spokesman. Read some of Wytkind's remarks on page 13. 7Rep. Bob Filner (D-CA) Filner is a member of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and has helped TWU Air Division members by working with other Congressional representatives to craft the FAA reauthorization that passed the House last year. The FAA bill represents countless changes that the TWU fought for while the Bush administration was in power.

Filner commended TWU delegates for traveling to Washington to lobby and encouraged grassroots organization to fight for political change. He explained that it is important to stick to the Conference's theme, "Take Charge of Political Change: Stay Connected," because "the forces in Washington are very strong, if we step back and don't stay connected, they take over." 8Tony Harrison, Outreach Coordinator for Majority Whip Rep. James Clyburn Harrison explained the value of registration drives and the urgent need for members to get their brothers and sisters registered to vote. "We need full court engagement; this is contact sport. This is wrestling out in the yard. This is raising money so that you can buy a ticket to get inside the fence where the fight takes place. It's about trying to get the membership to truly appreciate the value of this engagement."

TWU Fights Against Executive Greed, Reaches Contract Agreements with AMR

Outraged over the millions of dollars in bonuses that American Airlines and American Eagle executives received this year, TWU launched an aggressive advertisement and text campaign this April. On tax day, April 15, readers of Dallas area newspapers found a message from the TWU in their daily papers. "EXCESS BAGGAGE," it read, "passengers pay steep fees to check bags and ground workers get nothing-again."

American employees rescued the company from bankruptcy in 2003 when they gave up $620 million a year in pay and benefits, and made other concessions. At that time, management promoted the message, "Share the pain, share the gain." But for years there has been no gain for TWU members, only for the top executives who have received millions in bonuses every year since workers made those concessions. The public is sharing the pain too; American has raised $346 million from checked bag fees alone.

AMR and TWU representatives first opened contract talks to modify labor agreements covering 11 separate bargaining units in 2006. At the time when executive bonuses were doled out this April, all contract talks had been stalled because the company had stonewalled at the bargaining table, despite the years of effort by TWU members to boost workplace productivity and bring new revenue to the company. But the TWU has continued to speak out against corporate greed and to fight for a contract, and even asked for release from the National Mediation Board (NMB) on March 11.

The hard work and united voices of the TWU members have started to pay off. In early May, TWU won tentative agreements for three work groups: the Maintenance and Related, Material Logistics and Technical Specialists. Earlier this year two American Eagle groups ratified contracts. Progress is being made with other work groups as well. The tentative agreements call for signing bonuses and structural salary increases, preserve TWU defined-benefit pension plans for all current members, and continue retiree health care benefits. There are also increases in holidays, sick time pay and accrual, profit sharing and vacation days.

"Our goal, as always, is a fair settlement, because that's the best result for our members, the flying public, and for the company," said TWU Air Transport Division Director John Conley. "The tentative agreements mark a pivotal shift in the process from what was a virtual standstill only a few weeks ago and we were waiting for the NMB to release the TWU from mediation. We are hoping to have other announcements in the near future."

In conjunction with the TWU International's campaign against AMR executive greed, TWU Local 513 organized a rally at the Dallas Fort-Worth International Airport. Several hundred TWU members, along with members from the Association of Professional Flight Attendants and the Allied Pilots Association, marched in front of Terminal D on April 15, demanding "Our Turn," and an end to corporate greed.

"Management should have a clear message today, they have a lot of angry, upset employees," said Local 513 President Darrin Pierce. "The energy and enthusiasm shown here today against corporate greed shows it has to stop!"

Labor’s Crucial “At-Bat”

A baseball player who can get three hits out of ten is considered to have a great batting average. That would be a .300 batting average even if he hits three singles out of ten and no home runs.

Well, if labor was playing baseball we would have a great batting average: President Obama's appointment of Sonia Sotomayor has given us another labor-friendly Supreme Court Justice. We've also received a commitment to bring our troops home on a responsible timetable from Iraq and Afghanistan. After much battling, we've finally passed health care reform.

But with respect to our "home run"-the Employee Free Choice Act-we haven't hit it out of the park yet. And I'm afraid that if we fail to pass EFCA, our most important piece of legislation, our batting average on all types of legislation will go down, not up, in future years.

EFCA is needed to restore workers' right to join and form unions. Without it, labor's strength will continue to decline.

Have you seen the commercial that says, "It's my money and I want it now"? That's what we should be saying about the Employee Free Choice Act; it's our legislation and we want it now.

This may be our best chance to pass labor law reform. Right now, we may very well have the votes in Congress to pass our EFCA bill. The mid-term elections are coming up in the fall. Historically, the President's party (the Democrats) loses seats. If we were to lose even one seat of a labor-friendly Democrat or Republican this fall, we would be hard-pressed to get EFCA passed.

Unfortunately, in a typical election year, landmark legislation does not get passed, because the congressmen and women are more concerned about holding seats than they are about putting their reputations on the line over controversial legislation. And EFCA is going to be controversial.

We need to make sure we can count on our friends to help us. So now is the time for us to help them. And that is what our COPE dollars can do-help our friends that are concerned about holding their seats. We can volunteer to work on a campaign in our districts, make sure all of our friends and families are registered to vote, and we can give just a little more to the TWU COPE fund.

If everyone would increase their contribution by a dollar or more we could put more political activists in the field to help our friends on their re-election campaigns so they can vote their conscience and pass our legislation.

We need EFCA and we need it now! But we need your help. This battle can be won, but it is going to take all of us to get it done. So, volunteer to work on a campaign, canvass to register your co-workers, family and friends to vote. And most important: Join COPE, and if you already belong, give that extra donation.

This is Hubert Snead's final column, written before he retired in April. Snead has been devoted to the TWU for almost four decades and has served in various positions at the International. President Little commends Snead's dedicated years of service and his accomplishments in his most recent positions as an Int'l Administrative Vice President and COPE Director. The TWU wishes him all the best in his retirement. Alex Garcia, former Legislative and Political Representative, is now serving as Director of COPE and Political Field. Read more about Snead and Garcia in the next issue of the TWU Express.

Local 525 Fighting for NASA Jobs

Local 525 President Kevin Smith attended a White House press conference where President Obama announced his plans for NASA and the U.S. space industry on April 15. The TWU International continues to support Smith and his Local's efforts to fight for space coast jobs and for a plan that protects the communities dependent on space exploration.

Railroad Division Wins Premier Contracts with Amtrak

Rail Division members won a remarkable five-year agreement with Amtrak on April 20, which was ratified by Railroad Division Joint Council of Carmen, Coach Cleaners, and Helpers (JCC) members on May 26. The contract covers wages, health care benefits and rules: members will receive their first wage increase, 1.5%, on July 1, and will receive 15% in wage increases over the 5-year term. The contract also puts caps on future health care contributions and freezes co-pays and deductibles.

Railroad Division Director Gary Maslanka commented on the successful negotiations, noting the stark contrast to the last JCC contract, which took eight years to negotiate. "Unlike in past agreements, our members are not going to have to wait for years for their wage increases-They will receive solid wage increases now," stated Maslanka.

On May 13, the Division also reached a tentative agreement with Amtrak for it's Amtrak Service Workers Council (ASWC) members. The agreement provides for significant health insurance cost controls, including a 5-year freeze on health insurance co-pays and deductibles, dollar caps on employee insurance contributions, and holds the line on the 15% insurance contribution formula.

"This agreement provides a window of opportunity to secure solid wage increases and extremely important benefit protections now," said Maslanka. "Given the many factors that relate to Amtrak there is no guarantee that this agreement will be available in the future."

ASWC members should have received their ballots in the mail in early June and must return them by June 18.

Look for more on the contracts in the next issue of the TWU Express and on twu.org.

Local 234 Supports the Susan G Komen “Race for the Cure”

In May, nearly 100 Local 234 members walked through the streets of Philadelphia for the Race for the Cure walk. The local also raised $1,390 to go towards the cause.

Local 225-Branch 4 Ratifies Contract

On May 4, 2010 the Brick School District Members overwhelmingly ratified a new two-year Agreement. The negotiation process was long and difficult, but the Section Reps stood together in solidarity for their members and forged one of the best agreements possible given the negative economic climate surrounding New Jersey's public employees. The local won a raise in both years and kept their benefits intact. "The Brick School Section Reps and International Reps worked very hard to hammer out this agreement and I commend all those who helped to get it ratified," said Local 225 -Branch 4 President Chris Mikkelson.

Local 100 Swears in New Officers

TWU Int'l President James C. Little (right) swore in new Local 100 officers President John Samuelson (middle right) and Secretary-Treasurer Israel Rivera (middle left). On left: Admin. Vice President Susan Resch, Int'l Sec.-Tr. Joe Gordon

TWU Takes Active Role in OSHA Affairs

New leadership at the federal Department of Labor and at Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) brings the promise of improved standards, stricter rule enforcement and better communication between workers and employers. These improvements should extend to state health and safety policies, which are required to match OSHA regulations.

OSHA has been holding public meetings to give their policy stakeholders a chance to provide input on key health and safety issues. Mike Massoni, Local 556 1st Vice President and Health and Safety Task Force member, and the TWU Department of Legislative and Political Affairs, provided testimony to a recent OSHA hearing that focused on the lack of OSHA coverage for flight attendants.

OSHA hopes to improve injury and illness reporting by placing the musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) column back on the OSHA 300 Log, which is a log of workplace injuries and illness that employers are required by law to maintain. Work injuries are most commonly considered sudden instances, such as a trip, slip or fall. But workers also get hurt slowly, over time, as the body wears out due to repetitive motion and strain at work. Often, slowly developed injuries and illnesses that result from such circumstances do not get reported.

The TWU Health and Safety Department provided comments to the legislative docket that support the addition of MSD to the 300 Log. Revised legislation will help unions and employers reduce some of the many workplace hazards that cause muscle, nerve and joint damage.

In April, a delegation from the Health and Safety Department attended OSHA's National Action Summit for Latino Worker Health and Safety in Houston. Rates of workplace injuries and fatalities for Latino workers are disproportionately high. More than 1,000 people attended the event, which focused on increasing Latino workers' knowledge of and ability to exercise workplace rights. The summit emphasized the need for workers to report unacceptable conditions in order to help the DOL identify, penalize and stop employers who are breaking the law. OSHA and the DOL are expanding campaigns to educate workers about their rights.

The TWU is focused on helping our locals increase education on safety and health. The union is also developing in-house expertise to provide accredited training to locals' safety representatives.

Health and Safety Director Ed Watt and Health and Safety Task Force member Mark Johnson attended a week-long "Train-the-Trainer" course at the National Labor College in April, and they are planning training sessions for interested locals on a variety of health and safety issues, including: identifying hazards in the workplace, creating a health and safety committee and record keeping.

For more information contact Health and Safety Director Ed Watt at ewatt@twu.org. Contributed by Health and Safety Director Ed Watt

DLPA Director Portia Reddick-White Honored by Boy Scouts

The Boy Scouts of America honored the TWU Director of the Legislative and Political Affairs (DLPA), Portia Reddick-White, at their annual "Women of Achievement" Award Breakfast in April. TWU Secretary-Treasurer Joe Gordon and TWU Chief of Staff Jeff Brooks were present to honor White.

"Portia has always been an asset to the TWU," said Brooks, who presented White with her award. "As a tireless worker, dedicated to pushing Labor's legislative agenda forward in Washington, she is well-deserving of the award presented to her today."

White joined TWU Local 556 in 1989 when she started working as a flight attendant at Southwest airlines. Since graduating from Law School in 2002, White joined the TWU DLPA to lobby on behalf of TWU members. She then became an International Representative and, in January 2009 Int'l President James C. Little appointed her as Director of the DLPA. White was also awarded with the Labor Leader of the year award by the National Black Caucus of State Legislators in late 2009.

TWU Wounded Warriors Project A Success

In late March, the TWU Air Transport Division Veterans Committee (ATDVC) coordinated an event that truly lived up to their motto, "Veterans helping veterans."

Fifteen members of the ATDVC traveled to Washington, DC to complete "The Wounded Warriors Project" at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, where they joined four American Airlines Veteran Military Employee Resource Group (AAVMERG) members and the United Service Organizations (USO) to distribute TWU donated items to patients.

Many of the patients were young men who were amputees, or had been seriously injured in the line of duty. The volunteers, all veterans themselves, struggled with the emotional situation.

During the weeks prior to the Walter Reed visit, TWU members and locals sent the wounded soldiers more than $9,000 along with dozens of much-needed items, including: storage containers, break-away pants, beef jerky, toothbrushes, cds, common personal items and a $25 gift-card for each patient to purchase what they pleased. The donations and volunteered time helped more than 100 wounded warriors and their families.

"They were grateful not only for our presence, but for the generosity of our TWU locals and members," said TWU International Representative Don Videtich.

"There were a lot of 'thank yous' back and forth," added Vice-chair of the ATDVC Paul Mazzara. "They were thanking us profusely and we were thanking them for their sacrifice and service. What they gave for our country was worth much more than our humble donations."

The Walter Reed Center is the United States Army's flagship medical center. It serves more than 150,000 active and retired personnel from all branches of the military and provides many of the military members' families with living quarters and accommodations.

In an exclusive interview with the TWU, Colonel Gordon Roberts, the only active Congressional Medal of Honor recipient, explained, "This is a place where organizations like TWU can come and fulfill the Commander-in-Chief's biggest promise, which is taking care of those who have sacrificed."

The TWU ATDVC has always played an active role in maintaining and growing a network of veterans that helps to ensure other vets have access to pertinent information about benefits available to them and about relevant legislation.

"The ATDVC is a great group and I am really happy that they were able to coordinate an event like the Wounded Warriors Project," said ATD Director John Conley. "It allowed ATDVC members to reach out in a new way to make a difference in the lives of veterans who have given so much for this country."

TWU volunteers who visited Walter Reed Medical Center included: Shirley Kolling, Thom Lee, Antonio Quezada, Kevin Starling, Hank Trujillo, John Giovenco, Gary C. Hanna, Peter Meyer, Ernest Toigo, Bobby Velasquez, Don Videtich Paul Mazzara, Arizo Gajewski, Pete Hogan and Craig Gillett.

Spotlight: Texas and Florida

Tallahassee, FLORIDA, March 25th in conjunction with the 2010 Florida AFL-CIO Legislative Conference TWU Local leaders from Florida met with 16 state representatives and senators Matching yellow for SOLIDARITY"We all came together to make sure that our legislators know where we stand on these issues." - COPE Director Alex GarciaIssues: Space coast jobs and jeopardized state economy: an estimated 65,000 Florida jobs and $4 billion in wages could be cut with the Obama administration's plans for the space industry Opposition to Rep. Tom Grady (R-FL) House Bill 1319 that proposes to force state workers to work longer in order to receive less in his/her retirementHouston, TEXAS, April 20 22 TWU Texas-based locals, 26 members Guest - Democratic Candidate for Governor of Texas, Bill WhiteIssues: Airport security badges Commercial drivers license requirements Workers compensation review: - Thousands of Texas workers often get forced back to work before they have healed properly, and many are under the threat of losing their jobs completely if they don't return to work when the company demands. "I've always had an open door to labor." - Bill White "We have a great state, we need a middle class…world competition is tough on our workers." - Bill White "By attending the conferences I have opportunities to interview potential candidates, like White, and ask him about our issues like security badges, educational issues and a Workers Compensation law that needs to be fixed." - Local 555 President Charles Cerf, an active State Conference participant

Taking on Wall Street

Wall Street just can't get out of the news. Although they'd much prefer to earn their billions in private, the Wall Street bankers constantly find themselves on the front page of the newspaper and leading off the nightly newscast.

First, it was the meltdown in the global financial crisis. Then, with recovery (for them) it was the return of obscene bonuses while the rest of the country remained mired in recession. Lately, it's been efforts in Congress to prevent future financial abuses.

In late April, the AFL-CIO led the charge against Wall Street with a massive rally in lower Manhattan. Joined by other organizations, the labor movement voiced support for the Obama administration's efforts to rein in dangerous financial practices, but also called for forcing Wall Street to help pay for Main Street to recover.

"People in New York and across the country, who did nothing wrong and want to work, have paid for the misdeeds of the big banks with their jobs, homes and retirement savings," AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka told the crowd. "Now it's time for our government to hold Wall Street accountable and make them pay to create the good jobs they destroyed."

Trumka said that the financial crisis and subsequent recession had cost working people some 11 million jobs.

Jack Ahern, President of the New York City Central Labor Council, said, "Big time economic help came to Wall Street, now big time economic recovery must come to Main Street. Working people are losing their jobs, homes, life savings, retirement and dignity. Americans are counting pennies, while bankers are counting their billions."

I agree with the AFL-CIO position, but can't help feeling that Wall Street excess is a symptom of a larger economic problem: We celebrate financial success, while ignoring workers and their needs.

For decades, big corporations have been rewarded with rising stock values for shipping jobs overseas to low-wage factories. We don't blink an eye at million dollar bonuses for executives, but demonize workers if they ask for a few extra dollars in their pay checks.

I think it all starts with the growing inequality between the very rich and the rest of us, a gap that has been widening for three decades. Not only is it bad for our economic health, but a new study by British scientists indicates that it's bad for our actual health as measured by various yardsticks of illness, stress, social problems and emotional well-being.

(Economist David Leonhardt writing in The New York Times recently suggested that President Obama fought so hard for a less-than-perfect health care bill because it is one of the few pieces of legislation that will actually start reducing income inequality. See page 8.)

I mention all this because the issue of wealth inequality will be at the heart of the next big debate on reducing the budget deficit-painful cuts in spending versus tax increases for the wealthiest Americans and mega-corporations.

How we decide that question is likely to shape the health of our economy for years to come.

Brothers and Sisters, now is the time for all of us to become more politically active and to contact our Senators and Congress and let them know loud and clear that we have had enough. The time has come for them to stop giving huge tax breaks to those that can afford it the most. It is time for our political leaders to rebuild the middle class to what it used to be when every American had an equal opportunity to share in the American Dream. We can no longer just sit on the sidelines and watch the constant attacks on workers and the middle class in America. We must get in the game if we want real change. The time for us to act is now.... for tomorrow might just be too late!