2013 jan/feb
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The 1005 LineThe news and information
publication of
ATU Local 1005 Prepared and
distributed by the Education
Committee
For The People Who Know Where They Are Going
January / February 2013
What’s Inside...
Officer’s Corner
page 2
Union Meeting Highlights
page 3
Siemens Getting Ready
for Revenue Service
page 10
Transit Benefits included in "Fiscal
Cliff"
page 11
Fire and Water
page 12
Promotional Process
page 13
Rules Are Rules
page 14
Union By-Law Proposals
page 16
New Bus Stop Sign Testing
page 18
Declining Unionization
page 19
Transit Safety Security Committee
page 24
Tour De Cure
page 29
Obituaries
page 34
"The fi ght we have is bigger than
our union alone. The people who
share an identical interest with us
are the people who use and ride on
(transit) every day."
- Larry Hanley, ATU Int'l.
President, speaking at the Labor
Notes Conference May 5, 2012
Continued on page 17
Members Ratify Three-Year Contract
On Sunday, January 6, at
the Ramada Inn in Bloom-
ington, Minnesota, after ten
months of sporadic and frus-
trating negotiations, the ATU
Local 1005 Executive Board
presented management’s “Best
and Final Offer” to the mem-
bership. Balloting took place
following discussion at the
meeting and also at the union
offi ce during offi ce hours on
Monday, January 7. 92% of
voting members accepted the offer, with 8% voting no. This contract will
be retroactive to August 1, 2012, when the previous contract expired.
A majority of the package dealt with work classifi cation and pay
equity issues in the maintenance department. Several jobs within the
maintenance department require certifi cations or degrees before hiring
(e.g. two-year diesel vocational school, FCC license, Overall contract
wage increases offered were 2% each year for the next three years.
In previous contract meet-
ings, each proposed change was
read aloud before discussion was
opened. A refreshing change this
time was that a proposal summary
was prepared, enumerating which
proposals were for contract cleanup
only (such as dates and outdated
language), and which were substan-
tive.
After Recording Secretary Mark Lawson read the proposals, the
discussion started. The Executive Board voted 100% for the offer. At a
member’s request, several Execu-
tive Board members explained why
they voted unanimously in favor of
the offer. A previous offer contained
health care language detrimental
to retirees, and did not address the
mechanical senority issue. This offer
had been unanimously rejected by
the Executive Board and was never
OFFICER’S
CORNER
Page 2
Michelle
Sommers President/Business
Agent
LOCAL 1005
OFFICERS
President/Business Agent
Michelle Sommers
Vice-President
Dorothy Maki
Recording Secretary/
Ass’t. Business Agent
Mark Lawson
Financial Secretary/
Treasurer
Tommy Bellfield
ATU Local 1005
Union Office
8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
(Closed 12:00 - 1:00)
312 Central Ave.
Suite 345
Mpls., MN 55414
612-379-2914
email:
office@atu1005.com
website:
www.atu1005.com
Calendar
Education Committee
Meetings - 11:30 a.m.
on the third Tuesday
February 19th
March 19th
Membership Meetings
on the fourth Tuesday
February 26th - Mpls.
March 26th - Mpls.
10:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.
We are continuing to work on the Rochester contract and have petitioned for mediation.
The contract with Metro Transit has been ratifi ed by the membership, and it is time to move forward with other issues. Do not misunderstand me: All of us on the Executive Board know that not everyone is happy with the contract. We also understand that there will never be a contract that makes every member happy. We will continue to address contract issues as we hear about them throughout the term of the contract.
All ATU members need to work together for bills that deal with transit issues, including increased transit funding and tougher laws on operator assaults. We need members that are willing to give a little of their own time to call their representatives, sign a postcard, go to a town hall meeting or maybe send an email. Please contact the union offi ce to fi nd out how you can help.
On Monday, February 11th, one of our members, Ron Fontaine, walked into the LRT facility for the last time, where he took his own life. There is no easy way to talk about the situation. Here is my attempt: (This message is also for any manager who may be reading it.)
I have talked to a lot of people this week, both ATU and non-ATU. I have seen and heard people who are angry, frustrated and sad - and some are unaffected. Most of us will never get the answers we want about why all of this happened. Some of us will guess or assume why Ron made the choice he did, and some of us think we already know. The truth is that none of us will ever know.
These are things that we should keep in mind:
None of us can ever know what another person is truly thinking. All any of us can do is try to take care of ourselves and be a respectful co-worker, family member or friend. We all need to think just a little harder about the way we treat each other. This also includes me. We need to think twice before cutting off another operator or holding back so the other operator can pick up our riders. We need to think twice about taking another mechanic’s tools or yelling at a fellow employee. We need to think about how we would want to be treated if we were the one in trouble or being questioned. We need to learn how to work together better.
Together we must fi nd a way to bring back the respect so many people
Continued on page 32
Page 3
Continued on page 4
Union Meeting Highlights
November 2012
Local 1005 donated $2000 to the Christmas Fund for the locked-out
workers of Crystal Sugar.
Requests for Arbitration
An LRT Operator requested arbitration on a Class A Violation and
Record of Warning (ROW) - Red Signal Overrun. This case will go to
arbitration.
An FTH Operator requested arbitration on a Final ROW and 20 Days
Suspension - Electronic Devices Policy Violation. This case will go to
arbitration.
An FTH Operator requested arbitration on a Final ROW and 20 Days
Suspension- Electronic Devices Policy Violation. This case will go to
arbitration.
A Nicollet Operator requested arbitration on Overall Working
Conditions. This case will not go to arbitration.
Financial Secretary’s Report
The following members passed away since last month’s meeting:
Warren Bergman - 50-Year Retiree
Harry Albrecht - Active
Harry Crook - 50-Year Retiree
Members stood for a moment of silence.
President’s Report
Michelle Sommers reported:
An arbitration concerning logged complaints was won last month.
One filed and two logged complaints were removed from the record.
The Union members on the Transit Safety Security Committee have
worked very hard. We are not interested in (the company) wasting time.
We are interested in Safety and Security. I would like to come up with a
system that works – and where the ATU has more control.
We have given examples about the worst managers to management
over the years, but nothing was ever done. A group of employees finally
had nothing to lose. They organized a meeting with Brian Lamb, Wayne
Schafer, and others. Long story short: This manager no longer supervises
ATU members, and the right-hand man was also transferred. Remember,
when we stand together and go for what’s right, we can do it! Thank you
to the members who stepped up and told the truth.
Elections: It’s now transit-friendly at the capitol! Maybe we can get
more funding. Our transit partners are working on a capital improvements
Education
Committee
Advisors
Dorothy Maki
Mark Lawson
Chair
Melanie Benson
South
Heywood Office
Ilona LaDouceur
Rec. Secretary
Sam Adams
Nicollet
Alec Johnson
Ryan Timlin
Ruter
Jackie Williams
East Metro
Philip Jarosz
Doug Barton
Heywood Garage
Faye Brown
Vice-Chair
Debbi Sievers
LRT
Carl Rice
Lisa Callahan
Joseph Otoo-Essilfie
725 Bldg.
Stephen Babcock
Layout
Editorial Board
Ken Dolney
Gary Bier
Light Rail
Carl Rice #6223
Lisa Callahan #6716
Joseph Otoo-Essilfie # 67312
It’s that time of year again
for Annual Training. This year
its 8 hours - 4 hours learning
the new Siemens and 4 hours
rules and Right to Know. And it
takes the whole 8 hours.
Almost everyone should have
already had your annual ride
along to recertify you to drive.
If not, see instructors or they
will find you.
Welcome to the new
Operators Topee Jackson
#8954, Jacqueline Beamish
#9171, Jeff Larson #6260 and
Greg Scott #9396.
Welcome also to the four
new employees in the Signal
Dep't. Randy Loitz, Ahamadou
Alassani, Timothy Gruhlke, and
David Moore.
Congratulations on your job
transfers to the track dep't. to
Clarence Maloney, and Mark
Gross, who transferred from the
Maintenance Dep't.
Our apologies if we forgot
anyone, and welcome to all the
new hires. I know there are a
lot who have already started
and more coming with Central
Corridor just a year and four
months away from opening.
Last, but not least, Farewell
and Happy Retirement to Gene
Wolf #67314.
Page 4
package for the legislature. Last year we tried to get the (operator)
assault bill passed, but even Governor Dayton didn’t support it. Now we
have a better shot. We have sponsors for the bill lined up, and AFL-CIO
support. We are also working with other groups to generate support.
Contract: We received word in the afternoon that negotiations for
Friday are cancelled due to the mediator being sick. The lead negotiator
for Met Council also said the actuary is re-doing some of the health care
numbers. We’re in a holding pattern, we’re done… The savings from the
healthcare rates going down has not been enough for them. Nobody goes
backward by us keeping the current contract. The Executive Board will
be at the BMS Friday to vote on a contract offer.
There is some confusion out there about self-funded health care. It’s a
new concept for a lot of people. 1) It gives us more financial control. 2)
It automatically removes some taxes, saving 4-7% in premiums. Plan
administration will go out for bid for 2015. 3) Plan design is not limited
to what a provider offers.
Many people are concerned, and there are a lot of myths out there.
Catastrophic claims will be insured. Retiree health care is not very good
with HealthPartners. We can make a better plan for them.
Our opinion is this is not a bad thing. We do have responsibility to be
educated. That’s why Tommy and I did the training last year.
Joseph Otoo-Essilfie was appointed to the Education Committee.
Delegate Reports
Mike Qualy (Political Coordinator) reported that we won 11 of our
targeted races, and lost only two. He also commented that if the
legislature makes a massive swing this session, we could see the
pendulum swing back politically in two years.
Unfinished Business
Chuck Feucht presented the Trial Board Report:
I’m addressing unfinished business from the September union meeting
on charges brought by a member against another member for misconduct
toward another union employee. The membership voted the matter to the
Union Trial Board. The Trial Board had discussions with all the
concerned parties and agreed that an apology was appropriate to settle this
dispute. We also encourage all union employees to talk to their board
member before talking to management about a fellow employee.
The recommendation was approved.
New Business
Tommy Bellfield presented the 2013 budget. The membership
Heywood
Ilona LaDouceur #66048
Faye Brown #6331
Debbi Sievers #64222
Sam Adams #3634
Safety
Safety begins at home (home
garage that is). You are a profes-
sional driver and as such watch the
doors, make sure they are com-
pletely raised before you move,
don't be in such a hurry. And don't
leave out behind another bus until
you make your own stop at the
door. These doors are expensive to
replace. PULL UP, LOOK UP
before you DRIVE UP.
Transportation
And another reminder: Start
your bus and do your pre-trip; and
if you can't move outside, shut the
engine down. DO NOT LEAVE
THE BUS IDLING.
Training
MAKE SURE YOU SIGN UP
FOR RIGHT-TO-KNOW
TRAINING STARTING
FEBRUARY 2.
Those of us in TIC would like
to welcome Jackie Alsaker, Jean
Harwell, Paddy Garin, Lydia
Millard and Chue Yang. By the
time you read this, most or all of
you should have turned in. We
wish you the best of luck in your
transit careers!
Page 5
Union Meeting Highlights
December 2012
In response to a request from the ATU International, Local 1005 is
contributing $2,000 to the ATU Disaster Relief Fund to help members
deal with the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy.
A motion that the ATU withdraw from the Transit Safety Security
Committee failed.
A motion to suspend ATU’s participation in the Transit Safety Security
Committee until agreed-upon changes are made to TSSC, to have
managerial accountability and action on operator security and safety
issues, passed.
Request for Arbitration
An FTH Operator requested arbitration on his discharge in November
for Gross Misconduct. This case will go to arbitration.
Financial Secretary-Treasurer’s Report
The following members passed away since last month’s meeting:
Edward Ebert - Active
Lance Baumann - Active
Walter Mickelson - 50-yr. Retiree, former Recording Secretary of
ATU 1005
Members stood for a moment of silence.
President’s Report
Michelle Sommers reported:
Transit Funding: We are working with community groups, and the
resolution also passed at the AFL-CIO. We are supporting an increase in
transit funding of $300 million per year.
There are ongoing issues with FMLA. One of our members got a good
letter from her doctor to the company on how messed up the second
opinion is. Get your doctor to write a letter to Metro Transit as to what is
wrong with their second opinion.
Contract: Why did we have a Special Executive Board Meeting, and
put up notices of a contract vote, only to tear them down? The offer was
tabled by the company. The officers refused to recommend the offer,
pending receiving full retiree healthcare numbers. Once we saw those
approved the budget.
A motion that ATU Local 1005 withdraw from the Transit Safety
Security Committee was tabled until the next meeting and will be
placed on the agenda.
Commuter Rail
Big Lake
The Northstar staff would like
to congratulate Ryan Stellmach
#68327 on his new job as working
foreperson on third shift.
Good luck to Will Fetterly
#5587 on his transfer from
Northstar to Hiawatha Light Rail
and John McConnell # 8803 on
his transfer from Northstar cleaner
to Heywood helper.
Mike McGinley # 69183 is the
new stockkeeper for Northstar,
replacing Roy Ellsworth #9012
who had left to go to Hiawatha
Light Rail. Good luck to both on
their new positions.
Congratulations are in order to
Anna Carlson #67334 who got
married on January 19th to
Anthony Blake #67305, a driver
out of Heywood Garage. Anna
wants to give a big thank you to
Anthony Johnson #9345, who
performed the ceremony.
Northstar has started the four-
year Inspections on the coach cars
where all control valves have to be
taken off and sent in for
reconditioning and qualification as
required by the Federal Railroad
Administration.
Locomotive # 501 has had the
motor pulled out and shipped out
for rebuild. Interesting facts about
this motor are that it weighs
36,425 lbs. and produces 3600 hp,
2237 kW, at 900 rpm.
Birthdays for January/
February:
Anna Carlson - January 4th
Marc Lund - February 6th
Bob Lex - February 23rd
Ryan Moss - February 27th
Page 6
numbers, the retirees from 2004 and through the future were negatively
affected. The Executive Board voted no.
I called Sandi Blaser, the lead Met Council negotiator. Why would we
accept a concept for retirees that we would not accept for active
(employees)? She said that unions do it all the time. I said we are not
going to sell out retirees.
The offer was tabled. They are re-doing the retiree numbers. We
believe we will have a new offer Friday.
A new maintenance seniority system is in the offer. All mechanical
board members will be at the garages ASAP after the Board vote. They
will talk to every shift. We want everyone’s vote to be educated on this
issue - not to vote without understanding.
Vice-President’s Report
Dorothy Maki gave an update on the Hardship Account of $2824.70.
She reported that it was used for a variety of things, including Cub gift
cards, phone and utility assistance, and rent assistance.
Assistant Business Agent’s Report
Mark Lawson reported on the Rochester First Transit negotiations, that
they are going well, but had hit a wall in the last session. A temporary
contract extension is in place. More negotiations are scheduled in mid-
January. It is refreshing to negotiate directly with the decision makers in
the room.
New Business
Charges against an Executive Board Member were read (copy of
petition attached). A motioned to convene a Trial Board to investigate the
charges failed.
Nominations were taken for an election to fill the unexpired term of
the South Transportation Executive Board Member.
Rochester Meeting
Drivecam is now in all buses. The light turns red when an event has
been recorded. It records 10 seconds before and after the trigger event.
Contract negotiations took place on December 11th. Several Tentative
Agreements were made. More negotiations are scheduled for mid-
January. The current contract is extended. Remaining big issues include
health care and wages.
Page 7
East Metro
Philip Jarosz #65015
Doug Barton #68273
MCI 5352, 5353, 5354 coach-
es are now here at East Metro
Garage. Drivers, if one of these
coaches is assigned to you and you
do not have the proper training,
DO NOT drive these Coaches until
you have been trained. See Jerry
Larsen or George Hernandez so
that a training date can be sched-
uled.
Coming soon at East Metro
Garage: On May 9th 2013, there
will be a Multi-Cultural Event.
There will be guest speakers, food
and some entertainment. More
information will be available on
this event over the coming months.
New bus stop signs are now
located at the East Metro Garage
for drivers to look at. Test signs
will also be posted at selected
stops along West Seventh Street,
as well as along Marquette Avenue
and 2nd Avenue in Minneapolis.
Please forward your input to
George Hernandez for consider-
ation.
Safety Keys classes are avail-
able upon request for all drivers
who have not taken them in recent
years.
Any articles or comments for
this union newsletter can be for-
warded to #65015 or #68273 for
review and print.
Union Meeting Highlights
January 2013
Requests for Arbitration
An East Metro operator requested arbitration after a Discharge-
Fourth responsible accident in three years. This case will not go to
arbitration.
A South operator requested arbitration for a Chargeable Late
Occurrence. This case will not go to arbitration.
A FTH operator requested arbitration on a Final Record of Warning
and 20-Day Suspension: Electronic Devices Policy Violation. This case
will go to arbitration.
A LRT operator requested arbitration on a Class A violation for a
trailed switch. This case will go to arbitration.
A South operator requested arbitration on a Logged Customer
Complaint. This case will not go to arbitration.
Financial Secretary-Treasurer’s Report
The following members passed away since last month’s meeting:
Anthony Franklin- Active
Roger Thomson- Retired
Members stood for a moment of silence.
President’s Report
Michelle Sommers reported:
The Education Committee is reappointed: Stephen Babcock, Melanie
Benson, Ilona LaDouceur, Sam Adams, Alec Johnson, Ryan Timlin,
Jackie Williams, Phillip Jarosz, Doug Barton, Faye Brown, Debbie
Sievers, Carl Rice, Lisa Callahan, Joseph Otoo-Essilfie.
We won the cell phone arbitration involving a Metro Transit director
who accused a bus operator of talking on the phone while driving. The
evidence showed that she was not, and that the director was mistaken.
Dayton’s budget proposal is coming out at the Capitol today. We are
working on transit funding and assault legislation for the 2013 session.
Safety and Security Committee: We are working with management to
restructure the committee. By-laws are being worked on by Kermit
Wallace, the chair of the committee. Training for the committee members
is being looked at. All ATU committee members are fairly recently
elected, and will have a chance to turn things around. We are looking for
the committee to center on security issues, particularly operator security,
Nicollet
Melanie Benson #854
Alec Johnson #66034
Ryan Timlin #66279
Maintenance
Eleven of the new
7100-series buses have been
added to Nicollet’s fleet. All
of the buses through the
700-series have been retired
from Nicollet. Some older
buses have been imported
from other garages to keep
the age of the fleet uniform
with other garages.
Two maintenance staff
members have left Nicollet.
One is Mike Humphrey, who
retired. The other is Craig
Weber, bay service, who
transferred to the Overhaul
Base as part of a two-year
maintenance pick.
Welcome to Ivery
Johnson, who will be
working bay service from
4:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon.
Transportation
Right-to-Know classes
began January 26. The
schedules for all garages
have been posted in case
Nicollet drivers need to take
the training elsewhere.
Fire Inspection
A large group of
firefighters and inspectors
converged on Nicollet
Garage around 10:00 a.m.
the morning of Tuesday,
January 15 for a surprise
inspection.
Page 8
with other safety issues being secondary.
Rochester negotiations: Last week met for two days. There was no
progress. There is an extension agreement signed. Another day and a half
is scheduled in February.
Addressing dissatisfaction from the contract: Some operators and
others are feeling they didn’t get anything because the bus mechanics
received a large wage class increase. We are not a Union of (separate
departments) - we are in this together! The mechanics have been
underpaid for years. They got their increase because of this. Our
proposals to management had a wage class increase for everybody. We
did not write the Final Offer. Management may tell you to your face that
they would give you a raise, or anything else, but if they really wanted to
do it out of the kindness of their hearts, they would do it. We will take
advancement for a group in the contract, and keep working for others in
the future. If you criticize, please do it with facts! If you are only going
to worry about yourself and your own wage class, and not others, you
have a lot of room to grow as a UNION member!
Vice-President’s Report
Winter Carnival Parade this Saturday- anybody can come. Line up at
11:30 a.m. at 411 Main Street in St. Paul.
Transportation Day at the Capitol is February 7th. Meet us at the
Capitol. Call the office for details.
List of members who attended at least ten meetings last year and
earned a sweatshirt was read.
New Business
By-law proposals were read for information only.
Rochester Meeting
Arbitrations were presented by Mark Lawson and voted on.
Contract negotiations update: Extension agreement is signed. Pay
will be retroactive to January fi rst as it’s written. We didn’t get very far in
negotiations last week. Lots of discussion about health care and changing
the plan we currently have. Other sticking points as well.
It Was So Cold…
Late one night when the bitter wind plummeted the temperature
to well below zero, a driver on Nicollt Avenue-line picked up a teen,
who paid two dollars and rode from 33rd Street to 35th Street – a
whole two blocks. Shocked (and sympathetic), the thoughtful driver
offered the young man a free bus pass.
MJR
Jackie Williams #66180
Meet our newest Assistant Manager (ATM) Amina Wolf
Last issue we thanked Manager Doyne Parsons and ATMs Barb
Keener and Ken Ferguson for the wonderful meal they provided to
appreciate MJR’s finest (the drivers).
Then something tragic happened: We failed to include MJR’s newest
manager, Amina Wolf.
This manager is so respected among her peers and the drivers that when she was not mentioned, various
people wanted an explanation - and they deserve
one. Unfortunately, I was recovering from an
injury when she arrived, and I mistook her for
someone in the Leadership Academy course.
This MJR column, therefore, is for the sole
purpose of introducing her to some, and presenting
her to others. She agreed to an interview, and what
follows is a summary of that interview: Ms. Wolf
has been an ATM since August of 2012. She drove
bus for Metro Transit for a year and a half, was a
Train Operator for a few months, and was working
as a Light Rail Supervisor for 4 years before
coming to MJR.
To the question, “What do you feel your
inspirations and aspirations are as a manager that
could be deemed an asset to MJR and the drivers?” she responded: “To sum it all up, I am a firm believer
that my job is to assist the driver to be successful. I have a goal, and that is to change the operators'
perspective, that every Manager or Supervisor is not out to cause them to trip up, fail, or seeking ways to
cause them to be terminated. I want to help and encourage the drivers to succeed and attain every goal to
either excel in the company, or retire successfully.”
When asked, What is your greatest accomplishment?” she answered, “I am very proud of my three
daughters: Jasmine, 19 years old, in the National Guard; Anisah, 9, a third grader; and Layla, 7 years old, a
first grader.
She also won second place in the recent chili cookoff.
We wish Amina Wolf good success in her career at Metro Transit and MJR, and we appreciate the fact that
she is one of the few approachable managers.
Recent MJR Retiree
Lynn Weinkauf #8863, after 24 years of
service
Chili Cookoff Winners
1st place - Ed Dery #70187
2nd place - Amina Wolf ATM
3rd place - Joel Wagner #2101
Page 9
Manager Doyne Parsons presents trophy
Page 10
725 Bldg.
Stephen Babcock #3128
We are sorry to hear of the
passing away of Farebox tech.
Tim Maloy's spouse, Roma Louise
on January 8th, 2013.
General Manager Brian Lamb
is holding three billionth customer
milestone events throughout Metro
Transit. One was held between
11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. on
Monday February 4th at the
Instruction Center – Ramsey
Room.
Scott McDonald, supervisor of
the Electronic Department, has
decided to implement the Five S's
system. It was developed at
Boeing. The Five S's are:
Sort - Get rid of uneccessary clut-
ter. Group decides what is really
needed.
Simplify - Organize, make pro-
cesses easier. Label items, assign
locations for items.
Sweep your area - Monitor area.
Is everything in its place, physical-
ly clean?
Standardize - Have specific pro-
cesses that everyone follows, no
deviation.
Self-Discipline - Do the right
thing.
This is a group effort and
everyone participates. There is a
video of the process on the 'H'
drive.
Siemens Getting Ready
for Revenue Service
Lisa Callahan #6716, LRT
We were just informed that on
February 11, 2013 the new Siemens
vehicle will be running revenue
service on the Blue Line (currently
the Hiawatha Line). All Operators
will have gone through four hours
of training to learn the new features of the train. The train itself has had
to go through days of testing to ensure that all of the systems of the train
perform correctly before passengers are allowed on board.
The Green Line on University Avenue is slated to be open in June of
2014. Metro Transit will run pre- revenue service (running a paddle
board but not picking up customers) for six weeks to ensure that grade
crossings work correctly and that there’s a smooth blending of the Green
and Blue lines in downtown Minneapolis. The two lines will share the
same tracks from 11th Ave South to Target Field Station.
A little about the Siemens light rail vehicle (LRV): It was built here in
the United States in Sacramento, California. It is slightly lighter than our
current rail vehicle and weighs about 100,000 pounds. It has better
insulation so it will be warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer. It
uses LED lighting throughout, including interior overhead lights and
headlights. It appears to have 68 seats and will hold approximately 200
people per LRV. A three-LRV consist will hold approximately 600
people. It has many new safety features. The driver will have cameras
acting as their mirrors (that will take time to get used to).
The projected life of the vehicle is 30 years. We have received four
trains so far with four more coming every month, totaling 59 new trains.
Siemens employees have an office here at the O&M. When the first few
trains arrived, they went through extensive testing. Siemens gathered
information and built software that could then be downloaded into all
other trains. The new trains would be ready for service for the most part;
however, they still will go through their own testing. Any changes or
updates they need can be taken care of by our in-house Siemens
representatives. The new color scheme will be applied to all the light rail
vehicles in the coming months.
This newsletter is a group effort of the Education
Committee members and the Offi cers of the Amalgamated
Transit Union Local 1005. We publish 1,000 copies that are
distributed among the various facilites. Please return this is-
sue to the facility (or leave it at a transit station) after reading
it so the next member may enjoy reading it, too. A color issue
is posted on www.atu1005.com for easy access.
Page 11
Transit Benefi ts Package Unexpectedly
Included in "Fiscal Cliff" Deal
Thanks to the fi scal cliff deal, up to $240 a month is available to commut-
ers for transit costs. While neither Republicans nor Democrats seem thrilled
with the results of the deal resolving the fi scal cliff, transit commuters scored
an unexpected windfall.
Included in the package of tax increases was the restoration of a com-
muter benefi ts program that allows workers to pay for up to $240 of their
monthly transit costs with pre-tax dollars. Transit passengers could exempt
up to $1,500 of their annual commute costs from taxes as a result of the
legislation.
Originally part of the 2009 federal stimulus package, the $240 monthly
program wasn’t renewed last year, which resulted in the perk being reduced
to $115 a month. The reduction came at the same time that the amount mo-
torists can write off for parking costs was increased from $230 to $240.
Restoration of the program was an unexpected boon to local commuters,
said John Ford, executive director of the Peninsula Traffi c Congestion Relief
Alliance, a transit advocacy organization. Ford didn’t even know the pro-
gram was back on the table.
“This is a defi nitely a benefi t to commuters who use public transportation as opposed to traveling alone in their
car,” Ford said. “We should be encouraging an increase in public transit in the region, and this is an important
program to achieve that goal.”
Bay Area transit costs can be expensive — a monthly pass for a Caltrain rider commuting between San Jose
and San Francisco is $338 — and more than 30 percent of regional passengers spend more than $125 a month,
according to WageWorks, a commuter benefi ts group.
Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., and Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass., were the two congressmen who pushed for
the transit benefi ts package to be included in the fi scal cliff deal, Ford said.
Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-San Francisco, who opposed the expiration of the original transit benefi ts package, trum-
peted the restoration of the $240 pre-tax levels.
“Restoring pre-tax transit benefi ts to $240 per month as part of the bipartisan fi scal cliff deal is a victory for
our transit-fi rst city and the thousands of San Franciscans who use BART and Muni each day to travel to their
places of business and to their families at home,” Pelosi said.
And the package is retroactive to Jan. 1, 2012, which means commuters may be able to fi gure the benefi ts
program into their upcoming tax returns. Because the deal was so unexpected, Ford said his organization is still
trying to determine how transit riders can recoup their costs from last year.
With the transit-benefi ts package now matching the perks offered to motorists, public-transportation riders
no longer face a fi nancial bias from the federal tax code, said Michael Melaniphy, head of the American Public
Transportation Association.
Tom Nolan, who sits on the Caltrain and San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency board of directors,
said restoring the benefi ts program will be a big help for the region, which struggles with traffi c congestion.
“Any incentive to get people to take transit is a bonus,” said Nolan. “This was defi nitely a shock to me. Makes
you wonder what else was included in that fi scal cliff deal.”
Read more at the San Francisco Examiner: http://www.sfexaminer.com/local/transportation/2013/01/transit-
benefi ts-package-unexpectedly-included-fi scal-cliff-deal#ixzz2IADWFklh
Source: Transit for Livable Communities
South
The Education Committee cur-
rently has no representative from
South Garage. If you’d like to
join the committee, please contact
the union office. (612-379-2914)
If you’d like to contribute infor-
mation for a column, that would
be appreciated, too. Thanks.
Congratulations to Tom Lohlein,
new Transpotation Board Member
at South.
Page 12
Fire and Water
Two recent events, in which fortunately no one was killed or seriously injured, caused major disruptions in
transit service.
Uptown Fire
On December 28, a condominium fire west of Humboldt
Avenue on West Lake Street began shortly after 8:00 a.m., as a
result of unattended candles. As thick smoke billowed into the
air and flames shot out of the three-story building, numerous fire
trucks blocked off West Lake Street for most of the day, causing
detours of Routes 17 and 12. Routes 6, 23 and University express
buses were affected by traffic congestion as both Lake Street and
Lagoon Avenue were completely blocked and all traffic was
detoured until 5:00 p.m.
Firefighters were able to save nearby business Dunn Bros.
Coffee Shop, but the century-old condominium building burned to
the ground, leaving the twenty residents homeless and without
personal belongings. One older woman was treated for smoke
inhalation, but no one else was injured.
Downtown Water Main Break
Less than a week after the fire, a 36”water main broke
in downtown Minneapolis at 2nd Street and Washington
Avenue in downtown Minneapolis at about 2:30 p.m., hit
by a demolition bucket. Fourteen million gallons of
water flooded nearby streets up to a depth of three feet,
and water service was affected as far south as Abbott-
Northwestern Hospital and Uptown Minneapolis.
The Hennepin Avenue Bridge was closed, and traffic
was rerouted to the Third Avenue bridge. Fifteen bus routes were directly impacted: 4, 6, 7, 11 and 61 were all
rerouted. Although Washington Avenue remained open, congestion detours were put in for the 3, 16, 50 and 94
to get them to the 5th Street Garage. Traffic was heavy on the Third Avenue Bridge and on Washington Avenue
between Hennepin Avenue and 35W.
Many businesses in the area closed early, and some employers excused their employees early on Thursday,
contributing to the traffic congestion during rush hour.
City crews worked around the clock to restore water service to residents and businesses, and bus service was
back to regular.
Many thanks to Brian Funk , Assistant Director – Field Operations, for information on the bus detours during
the fire and the water main break.
Page 13
CRYPTOZ A X B A W W C X D V F T C B K Z L M Z L A G D W V B
F N O Z A K B B W "D G O X" G O F C D V B Z B Z C
C W R W P S W V B C Z S X.
Z=I AND D=B
Each letter stands for another. If you think M=E, for example, it would equal E throughout the puzzle. Clue:
M=E, first two words done. (Answer on page 24 ) Submitted by Pat Kelehan, Facilities Tech. #5470
Promotional Process - Fair or Unfair?Jacqueline Williams #66180, MJR
Alemu Foluke # 63113, MJR
Past practice for promotion in this company has been to apply for a suitable position that matches one’s
qualifications. Every operator was not meant to be an operator for thirty-plus years. Periodically, positions
appear that are so inviting that you may feel the need to escape the operator seat, and apply.
You hope that fairness and equal opportunity would supersede all hiring prejudices, but you find your hopes were
in error.
Please allow me to share a few examples of disappointment by a few anonymous operators. I say
anonymous because these individuals are willing to have faith to give the promotional practice another ‘shot.’
Operators were chosen randomly and asked, “Have you ever applied to promote within this company?” and most
volunteered how many times they had done so.
A male operator answered, “Yes I have—three times for the same position. Each time, I was told, ‘We
found someone more qualified.’ When the decision was made and posted, the person had less college, no degree,
and zero management experience. I feel there is something that is broken and has been for years. I need insight
on the system. I believe it’s always who you know, and not what you can contribute to this company. You want
more?
Another operator responded, “Yes, I applied for a rail operator and was listed #2 on the interview list…they
interviewed #1, # 3, #4 and so forth and skipped #2 for reasons I questioned. After the interviewing process was
interrupted, I was granted an interview, but, as you see, I am yet operating a bus. They knew who they wanted to
promote, but didn’t mind inconveniencing others by the so-called ‘Equal Opportunity Act.’”
Numerous operators from all garages all seemed to agree that the promotional process is biased. There are
those who feel their degrees should merit more than operating a bus. They bring so many assets to the ‘company
table.’ The disgruntled employee is real. The complaints are real.
The space provided here does not afford enough room to list all the issues about the promotional errors. There
are great employees here who come to work to do a professional job. If they qualify to excel, they should be
allowed to do so.
One such employee suggested that the way the process is handled should be posted, as well as how they
arrived at the decision to promote one employee over another. Is it a rule of three? Top candidate, managers’
choice, or favorite son or daughter? Maybe, for fairness, the ATU should acquire a seat on the promotional
process.
Operators who had completed the interview process in the past were told their names were in a ‘pool.’ (Uh,
are you thinking ‘cess----?’) Come on now, not only is there one elephant in the promotional process room, there
are two elephants.
Promotional Process part 2 in next issue
Page 14
Rules Are Rules (Some More than Others)On-Time Pullouts a PriorityMelanie Benson #854, Nicollet
On October 9, I pulled out of the garage seven minutes late because I lost track of time. I was issued a Class
B violation, partly because I had been counseled two other times when late pullouts resulted from problems while
filling my bus with coolant (as I had done every day for over three decades). In the process of grieving the
discipline, I learned a lot. The grievance was settled after I was given copies of several bulletins, documents and
a policy that I didn’t remember ever having seen before. The following article will hopefully illuminate why the
rule about on-time pullouts is enforced more often than others – and, hopefully, will prevent other drivers from
going through the same experience.
History of Pullout Policy
Many things have changed over the years. While pullout times were always a concern, the technology for
tracking them didn’t become a reality until GPS systems were installed, the SmartCom technology was available,
and Control Center supervisors could check pullout times directly from their consoles.
The policy used to be more stringent than it now is: Prior to February of 2006, a driver could receive a
violation for pulling out even one minute late. After some study of the impact of late pullouts on scheduled
passenger service, there was a meet-and-confer with the union that resulted in Bulletin No. 11, dated February
22, 2006. These are excerpts:
“The following locations have been designated as having made pullout:
Nicollet: On 32nd St. at Nicollet Avenue at the stop sign
Heywood: On 6th Avenue N. after clearing the lights at the end of driveway
MJR: On MJR driveway at corner of Shingle Creek Parkway
East Metro: On East Metro driveway at Mississippi St. at the stop sign
South: Two locations:
East Exit – on South Garage driveway at corner of Airport Lane
North Exit – On MTC Road at corner of Longfellow Avenue
If you are delayed due to a defective bus, need for a bus change, or bus assignment concern, you must notify
dispatch immediately so that the concern can be resolved as quickly as possible.
If you are pulling out more than 5 minutes late, you must notify TCC…
Please remember the importance of reporting for duty on time and completing your pre-trip inspection with
sufficient time to make scheduled pullout. Data shows that if your pullout is late it will affect your ability to
leave your first terminal on time.”
Pulling out fewer than five minutes late, then, is not considered a violation. If a driver pulls out seven
minutes late, however, that’s how the discipline will read, not two minutes late, factoring in the five-minute
grace period.
Management Standards of Performance
Of the many rules drivers have to operate by, why is this particular rule considered to be of such importance?
One reason, of course, is that management wants service to be on time. Despite the fact that many of us have
ample time to get to our first terminals (and some of us don’t), the time we leave our first terminal is not the
main factor – probably because it’s much less measurable.
Managers of garages set goals at the beginning of each month, one of which is on late pullouts. It’s one of
Page 15
their top standards of performance. These goals are charted and distributed to upper levels of management. Each
incidence of a late pullout is sent to all managers at the garage, both in transportation and in maintenance. (They
used to be sent to upper management, as well.) Therefore, garage managers must answer to upper management
about these late pullouts and how they affect their goals. This is where numbers sometimes triumph over
practicality and actuality.
Management also has access to the recording of the conversation between the driver and the Control Center,
and will introduce it in a grievance proceeding. A synopsis of our contacts with the Control Center and street
supervisors (DSL Quick View for Operator #___) can be used in a disciplinary situation, and can go back three
years.
PROCEDURE – 4-7D
Ever heard of it? This is sometimes known as the Metropolitan Council’s Operating Policy, established in
August 2005. This is a very interesting document that should be read by all of us, whether we remember ever
receiving it or not. (Did we sign for it? Do we read and keep handy everything we receive?)
This policy is described as a “…Bus Operator tracking tool and is the primary tool for employee assessment.”
Attached to the policy are three appendices: One an ‘Illustration of the Three-Part-Plan’ on Responsibilities;
‘Thresholds for Warnings’ on adherence codes (Class A and Class B), customer service complaints and safety. It
is very important that we all are familiar this policy, whether or not we’ve ever been disciplined for anything.
One never knows.
Please feel free to ask your manager for this document if you never received it or have misplaced it.
Appendix C
This attachment spells out the various Class A and Class B violations through which we may be disciplined or
terminated. Late pullouts are labeled 39B. There are nine Class A violations and 40 Class B violations. The
first column on the chart lists the violation, and the second column lists the proper reference point in the
Operator’s Guide. Or wait – does it? Actually, the references must refer to an old document. Many of the
sections no longer even exist in the new Operator’s Guide. Hmmm. If we’re expected to know all of these rules
and how they’re applied, perhaps management should update its own documents – especially if they intend to
apply these disciplinary rules fairly. If you’ve misplaced your own Driver’s Guide, this might be the time to
request one from your manager.
Back to Late Pullouts
We are no longer allowed to fill our own coolant, no matter how many years we’ve been doing this without
incident. We’re not even supposed to open the cap. One driver was seriously sprayed with the coolant (more
toxic than it used to be) and had to get medical attention. Another driver slipped in a pool of coolant, broke a
bone and sued Metro Transit. Management is very serious about this.
Whether we need bay service to check our coolant or address another problem with the bus, we must be sure
to call dispatch first. The dispatcher jots down the time we called. Flagging down the bay-service person is not
documented and therefore not recommended. We need to protect ourselves at all times.
If you believe you’ve been disciplined unfairly, please contact your union board member to file a
grievance. The grievance procedure is an excellent learning opportunity, and sometimes you get the discipline
removed, or at least reduced. This is your right as a union member.
Thanks to Ellen Jackson, Manager of Nicollet Garage, for taking the time to provide me with all the relevant
bulletins and documentations for the grievance procedure (and this article).
Page 16
Yes, Sometimes Democracy Seems BoringUnion By-Law Proposals
Melanie Benson #854, Nicollet
At the beginning of every year we, as members of ATU Local 1005, have an opportunity to amend the
by-laws that govern the functioning of our local union. The by-laws (available from your union rep or the union
office) spell out everything from how the union meeting is conducted to how much our board members and
officers are paid. A date is set in January when the by-law proposals are due. They must be submitted to the
union office in writing. The proposals are then read, for information only, at the January membership meeting.
By-Law Committee
A By-Law Committee, made up of members of the executive board who have been appointed by the
president, then meets in February to discuss the proposals in order to make a decision on whether or not the
changes should be recommended to the membership. Any local union member who has either made one of the
by-law proposals, or who would like to speak on any of the proposals that have been submitted, is welcome to
attend the By-Law Committee meeting to speak. After all the members who wished to speak on the proposals
have spoken, the By-Law Committee members discuss and vote on their recommendation.
The By-Law Committee met to consider proposals in mid-February.
February Membership Meeting
At the February membership meeting (this year on February 26 in Minneapolis), there’s a point on the agenda
for discussing the by-law proposals. The By-Law Committee makes its recommendations, to accept or not to
accept the by-law proposals. Members at the meeting are able to speak on the recommendations. When the
discussion is closed, members vote on whether or not to accept the proposal(s).
Morning and Evening Sessions of the Union Meeting
ATU Local 1005’s monthly union meeting is held in three sessions, the fourth Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. and 7:00
p.m., to accommodate members on different schedules, and one in Rochester on the fourth Wednesday. Members
attending any session of the meeting may discuss proposals of any kind, but they may only vote once. The
number of members voting for or against any proposal is totaled after the Rochester meeting the following day.
It takes a 2/3 vote to amend, add or change a by-law. If the proposals pass, and if they are approved by the
International Union, they are incorporated into the by-laws of the local and take effect the following year.
Paid parking is available in the mornings on streets around the union building, and free parking is available
on 3rd Avenue between University Avenue and 4th Street in Minneapolis At the evening meeting, parking is free
both on the street and in the lot next to the building. Several bus routes also serve the Labor Centre.
Union Democracy
One of the great things about having a union is that we, the members, have the right to decide how our union
functions. One of the realities that we face is that a very small percentage of our members attend meetings and
vote on issues of importance.
True, attending meetings and speaking in front of committees can seem boring or intimidating if we’re not
used to it; but a little effort often yields a big result.
Please make every effort to attend one of these upcoming meetings. Thanks.
presented to the membership because it was withdrawn by management. The new offer fi xed retiree healthcare.Page 17Contract continued from p. 1
Fun or Harassment?Faye Brown # #6331, FTH
Ladies and Gentlemen, it has been brought to my attention that some of us don't quite understand
boundaries of personal space. Please don't touch your coworkers unless invited to. Don't say things of a
personal nature (pertaining to body parts). Not everyone is comfortable with over-friendly gestures of touch
and words. So to you what might be looked at as fun is, to others, sexual harassment. Don't let someone
else make the decision which one it is for you. This is for your protection – and for the right of everyone to a
respectful workplace.
Members look over and discuss the fi ne details of the contract.
Comments from the fl oor were varied: Some thanked the Executive Board and Offi cers for their hard work
and for negotiating our fi rst raise in several years. Others questioned why there was not more in the offer for
drivers (and why the wage progression for drivers wasn’t considered an “equity” issue); why there hadn’t been
more outreach on the contract vote; and whether the wage increases would be eaten up by increases in the costs of
medical coverage.
Copies of the offer remain available for board members and in the union offi ce for those who didn’t get a
chance to see them.
The Metropolitan Council approved the package in January of 2013. New contracts should be on the
property in the spring.
Page 18
New Bus Stop Sign TestingIlona LaDouceur, #66048, TIC
I had heard through the rumor mill that there are new bus stop signs in
the future for Metro Transit. I went to my source, Transit Service
Supervisor Ben Rajkowski, to find out the facts. He told me that, indeed,
they have been testing new signs and that I could get further information
from him and Public Relations Manager John Siqveland. We set up a
meeting a few days later and this is what I found out.
In late 2010, then Public Relations Manager Bob Gibbons headed up a
committee to examine our current use of bus stops signs and explore how
we could expand and progress our current system to be utilized by both our
riders and our operators. By count, there are around 14,000+ bus stops in the system, including ones at Park &
Rides and transit centers. The idea was to have a sign that would not only denote that this is a bus stop, but it
would include other items of transit information including Metro Transit’s number (612-373-3333) and the
website: (metrotransit.org). Because each bus stop has its own unique five-digit ID number, that was to be on the
sign as well.
Currently, with this bus stop ID number, a person can use it online, on our trip planner, or even use the
number when they call for NexTrip information over the phone. They can even call the Transit Information
Center and give their stop ID number for their location. The goal is to utilize it much more in the future,
especially with Smartphone technology. The unique stop IDs put on the bus stop signs along West 7th Street have
been used at a rate of about 16X that of regular bus stops for Nextrip. (A survey showed that approximately
94% of people waiting at bus stops currently have cell phones - and believe me, they are calling Metro Transit.)
Furthermore, they foresee using these ID numbers to provide other information to the customer such as bus
stop closures, detours, capacity at Park & Rides and service in the area.
In March of 2012, Metro Transit began testing a new sign at about 40 bus stops along St. Paul Routes 54 and
74. These bus stops are located between Highway 5 and the St. Paul Downtown Zone limit. The test ran through
2012. The feedback from operators was that the signs didn’t stand out. They seemed to “blend in” with their
surroundings and didn’t pop out to either to the rider or, even more so, to the operators.
As such, Creative Services, the Transit Information Center and John Siqveland got together, a reviewed the
feedback and made changes and adjustments to this sign; and, with Brian Lamb’s approval, are going to be
placing them in the garages at the end of January for about two weeks to give the operators and others an
opportunity to look it over and give feedback on this sign.
The goal then is to have them again placed at various locations, on W.
7th Street in St Paul, as well as downtown Minneapolis on Marquette and
2nd Avenues. Also included will be 3rd and 4th Avenues and 11th and
12th Streets in downtown. After a three-month period, they will again
review the feedback from both the riders and the operators. The goal would
be from there to change these new signs out with old ones. This would be
done in segments, and they would plan events and openings of new transit
centers or new bus routes to include these signs.
So be sure to look for them in your garage and let the people working on
this project know what you think.
Page 19
Declining Unionization (II)Joseph Otoo-Essilfie #67312, LRT
In my first article (published in the last issue) I gave an overview of the continuing decline of union density
especially in the United States and other industrialized countries. In this issue I discuss the main factors experts
believe are responsible for this decline.
Many factors contribute
Many labor union experts suggest a broad range of reasons for the decline in unionization, particularly in the
United States: increased global competition; the attitude of conservative governments towards unions; domestic
deregulation; differential growth rates in employment between the union and non-union sectors; and changes in
the union organizing rate.
Other labor experts cite: growing employer opposition; a decline in worker “demand” for unions;
technological changes that undermine union control of working situations; and sophisticated human resource
management practices reducing the demand for unions.
It is also important to mention the growing globalization of the United States economy, increasing domestic
competition, and employers’ incentive pay schemes that subvert negotiated wage scales. Labor experts in
developed countries like Britain and Finland, in addition to all the above, give other reasons such as the age
effect; year effect; compositional changes in the nature of the labor force; and failure of unions to organize in
new workplaces.
Economic forces/ Increased global competition
One of the most commonly shared views of the reasons for the decline in unionism is the “globalization” of
the United States’ and other countries’ economies. Many are of the view that, even though the link between
union decline and globalization cannot be fully established, in general terms, the effect cannot be denied on
industries such as automotive, electronics, textile, or garment where many production facilities have been moved
to countries with lower labor costs.
Despite the lack of conclusive statistical evidence, the widely-held view is that “economic forces” such as
plant closures, layoffs and slower growth in the core manufacturing industries - the sites of the greater
concentrations of unionism - are primarily responsible for the decline.
Conservative governments’ attitudes towards unions
For many in society, a strong labor movement is the cornerstone of a fair, just and democratic society.
Conservative governments, on the other hand, perceive unions as obstructionists hindering the efficient functioning
of the capitalist markets.
Unions, especially in the United States, are not unfamiliar with direct or indirect government intervention. The
Reagan administration caused the most significant political and economic damage to labor unions in recent
memory. Only two of the most significant unions, the Teamsters and the Professional Air Traffic Controllers
Organization (PATCO), had supported Reagan in his electioneering campaign in 1980. Yet in response to a strike,
President Reagan took a hard line against PATCO, dismissing almost 12,000 employees.
One can argue that the defeat of the PATCO union by the federal administration commenced a domino effect
on private-sector unions. Some labor experts argue that the Reagan and Bush Sr. administrations’ “tough” attitude
towards federal employees (unions) was seen as encouraging private employees to follow suit and to begin a
systematic dismantling of unions in the United States. Masquerading as good public policy to strengthen the
American economy and to improve efficiency, these two administrations’ policies on labor unions dealt a significant
blow to unions in the United States.
A critical look at the policies actually meant to shift federal employees under private-sector union laws that are
less effective in protecting union rights.
The effect of these policies, according to
many experts, led contractors of
federally-funded projects to oppose
unionization. The Reagan administration
also formed a commission to investigate
union corruption, which led to the brief
takeover of the Teamsters union. Many
people saw this as a dangerous and
unnecessary intrusion of the federal
government into union affairs. The
Reagan and the Bush Sr. administrations
consistently promoted policies that
targeted union contributions to political
campaigns, under the guise of campaign
finance reform.
After September 11, President George
W. Bush made a conscious effort to
revoke the collective bargaining rights of
thousands of federal employees under
the banner of “homeland security”--an effort many saw as an attempt by that government to weaken unions.
In recent developments, the legislative victory by the Wisconsin State Governor Scott Walker, a Republican, in
slashing the bargaining rights of his state employees, was a watershed for public sector unions--and it suggests
another attempt by the conservative powers to further weaken labor unions in the country. In Michigan, the passage
of “Right to Work” legislation in a state dominated by the auto industry and the historically powerful United Auto
Workers was a surprising “smack in the face” to unions.
In waging these anti-labor campaigns, these politicians are ignoring one very simple fact: Unions were and still
are a major force in building and sustaining the great American middle class, and as they have declined, so has the
middle class.
Employer opposition
One of the major contributing factors to the decline of unionization in the United States is employer opposition
to union formation. Many labor union experts agree that employers have consistently used both legal and illegal
means to resist the formation of unions in their workplaces, and nearly universal management resistant to
unionization is undeniable. Virtually all other studies conclude that professional anti-union consultants and difficult
management behavior make it very difficult to organize workers to form unions. Richard B. Freeman, one of the
world’s renowned union experts, is of the opinion that the strongest reason for the decline of unions in the United
States especially can be attributed to employer opposition to unionization, and that approximately 40 percent of the
decline in union success in National Labor Relations Board elections is due to management opposition.
Coupled with, or related to, the employer opposition is the unfavorable legal framework for organized labor .
Changes in the Taft-Hartley Law of 1947 and the NLRB interpretations of this law have been negative for labor
unions since World War II. Labor experts, as well as political economists for the most part, agree that the passage
of the Taft-Hartley Law in 1947 had a great impact on union organizing. The law was an amendment to the Wagner
Act, giving States the power to amend the Wagner Act to outlaw the union shop requiring a new employee to join
a union and to pay dues. This particular law was passed as result of the rampant industrial actions organized by
labor unions in the period between 1935 and 1947 which had a significant impact on the economy. The law, also
known as the “Right-to-Work” law, also prohibits members of a union from requiring a new employee to become
a member.
Page 20
As Union Membership Rates Decrease, Middle Class Share of
Income Shrinks and Top 1% Income Explodes
The NLRB has issued more than
thirty complaints in fourteen different
states against the retail giant Wal-Mart
for illegally preventing employees from
unionizing. According to the NLRB
(2001-2005), Alabama was the most
hostile state to union formation with
11.90 charges of unfair labor practices
for every one certification held. It was
followed by North Carolina, Texas,
Tennessee, Maine, Georgia, Indiana, and
Nevada.
It is an undeniable fact that poor
economic conditions weaken labor’s
market power to call for an increase in
pay and benefits--and at the same time it
increases employer resistance to unions.
The inverse is also true: that a good
economic environment improves labor’s collective action and decreases employer opposition.
Differential growth rate
Many labor scholars argue that one of the most important reasons for the sharp decline in private- sector
unionization is the differential growth rate between union and non-union sectors. The available data suggests that
employment in the union sector grows less rapidly than in the nonunion. In other words, the employment rate in
the nonunion sector has been consistently higher than the union sector and, as a result, successful union organizing
is required to maintain the union membership rate. If the two sectors grow at the same rate, then no new organizing
is needed to maintain union density. One of the most important findings by the experts was that the divergence in
employment growth rates between the union and the non-union sectors was as a result of changes in the structure
of the United States economy. According to their theory, employment has shifted away from jobs that were
fundamentally dominated by unions like communications, manufacturing, and transportation.
Freeman’s argument in 1998 was that,
in general, unions grow in “spurts” and
not through slow and steady additions to
membership, and that “spurts” originate
during periods of social unrest. In other
words, union membership rates increase
during civil strife; and the decline in
private sector unionization (especially
between 1980 and 1998) could be
explained by the absence of any
significant social unrest during the
period.
Changes in union organizing rate
The passage of the National Labor
Relations Board (NLRB) law in 1935
was perhaps one of the most important
legislative gains for labor in the United
States . The Act guarantees the right of
workers to organize and to bargain with
Page 21
Source: NLRB organizing activities 1973-1998
their respective employers on almost all working conditions. When a proportion of workers (at least 30%) show
interest in union representation, they can petition the NLRB to conduct an election, which may be successful or
not. Between 1980 and 1998 there was a sharp decline in union organizing activities.
The chart on the bottom of the previous page represents the number of organizing activities by unions
between 1973 and 1998. As depicted by the figure, the number of elections fell by almost fifty (50) percent
from about 8,000 in 1980 to about 4400 in 1990, indicating a significant drop in new organizing activities
between those years.
Coupled with this problem was the difficulty of newly-organized unions to successfully negotiate their first
contract with their employers - a situation which often led to the demise of unions. Given the high employment
rate in the non-union sector, it presupposes that unions would have to organize a substantial number of new
unions in order to sustain their previous numbers, a situation that did not exist, especially in the 1980s.
One can argue that one of the most important reasons for the decline in unionization in the United States
has been the lack of organizing effort. Some experts are of the view that unions devote only a fraction of their
resources to organizing while the bulk of their resources go to servicing union contracts - a situation they argue
has led to their current predicament. Others also attribute 20 percent of the decline to the inability of unions to
organize new members to increase their membership especially in the United States.
Progressive human resource practices
One of the reasons given by many labor experts for the decline in union density in the United States and
other advanced countries has been the progressive human resource practices adopted by many employers over
the years. Despite hard evidence to support this claim, some experts have been able to prove that employee
satisfaction is negatively related to the desire to join a union.
Other experts support this idea in that “union substitution” occurs when employees feel no need for union
protection as a result of superior or pro-employee measures taken by employers that seek to advance and
protect employees. Some experts also are of the opinion that some union members view their union as a third
party--an external servicing bureaucracy.
There is no doubt that employee benefits over the years have become a very important part of total
compensation, and as result employee support for union representation has dwindled. It is also a known fact
that, prior to World War II, non-wage benefits were negligible; but the period after the War saw the
institutionalization of the improvements sought by organized labor--hence the decline of the density of unions.
Most of the most important workplace benefits labor unions fought for during those periods were promulgated
into federal and state laws, or governmental mandates, and as a result unions were less needed.
In the next issue, I discuss the economic importance of unions.
Page 22
Morton Saves the Day(Westbound bus stop on the 23-line at 38th Street and
Grand Avenue South)
On a recent Monday morning, when tons
of salt were being applied to streets and roads
that resembled skating rinks, multiple west-
bound vehicles (including buses) slid right
through the intersection. A helpful passenger
or friendly passerby observed and tried to
help. By midday, the container was empty.
Page 23
27th Annual ATU International Womens Caucus June 20-June 23 !Deborah Sievers
Local 1005 will be hosting this year’s ATU International Women’s Caucus at the Radisson Hotel in
downtown Minneapolis June 21st thru 23rd. ATU women from all over the United States and Canada will meet
to discuss women’s issues in the workforce and in the union.
So what can you do? You can volunteer to help. We will need a lot of people (both women and men) to
make this a very big success. So if you would like to join in helping, please contact Dorothy Maki at the Union
office or Deborah Sievers at 612-695-0238.
Hernandez Hill retired on November 16 after 13 years. He had proudly served in the military for over 20
years. Hernandez was hired as a part-time operator on September 27, 1999, was promoted to full-time on August
19, 2000 and retired from East Metro on November 11, 2011.
Hernandez Hill #6972 Retires
On Saturday,
January 26th, 2013,
the St. Paul Regional
Labor Federation
hosted a labor spot
in the parade. The
theme was 'Snow
Place Like Home'.
Dino Grotto, Labor Local
#132,was the Scarecrow, and Brian
Beetle, with St. Croix Valley Labor
Assembly was the Tin Man.
The Lollipop Guild members
were Mary, Vicki, Terri, Dorothy
and Lynn.
It was a very cold day outside.
Labor Marches
in St. Paul
Winter Carnival
Parade
Page 24
TRANSIT SAFETY/SECURITY COMMITTEE
(TSSC) MEETING MINUTES
December 6, 2012 Members of the Committee
Present: Kermit Wallace, Committee Chair
Monica Kruger, Acting Management Advisor
Dave Rogers, LRT
Cornelious Sykes, South
Deb Sievers, Heywood
Shenghai Ly, East
Jerry Langer, MJR
Others in attendance:
Don Davis, Maintenance
Mike McNamera, LRT
Eric Isakson, TCC
Christy Bailly, Bus Operations
Brenda Himrich, Safety
Deb Downing, Street Operations
Bridget Loser, Risk
John Cook, FTH Garage
Mike LaVine, Police
Dorothy Maki, ATU
Mark Lawson, ATU
CALL TO ORDER
Kermit Wallace called the meeting to order.
REVIEW OF MINUTES
Minutes were approved.
TSSC Assessment – We decided not to extend this
meeting to discuss the results. Kermit and Monica will
meet with Ellen and Christy to fi gure out the best way
to present the information. Will update.
- 5 items that are key issues.
- A lot of agreement about the committee
- How concerns are identifi ed
- How concerns are solved.
- Capacity of members to be productive
- Capacity of management to be productive
SOUTH OPERATOR REPORT
Cornelius Sykes:
• Drivers are concerned with passengers that are using
LRT downtown-only transfer. - He wasn’t aware that
this transfer existed and would like to see it eliminated.
Action item: Cornelius will check in with garage
coordinator and email Pam Steffen to get information
about the LRT downtown-only transfer.
LRT OPERATOR REPORT
David Rogers:
• Disappointed that LRT management and safety are
not present at the meeting. - Monica: In the TSSC
assessment we are looking at who should attend this
meeting We have asked LRT to attend.
Brenda represents both Rail and Bus Safety.
Monica has discussed these issues with LRT
management and had an understanding that the issues
were cleared up, but she will follow up on the concerns.
John Cook: The original intention of this committee
was so everyone could be involved in helping others
solve their problems.
• Signals – we are working under two signal systems -
One is similar to traffi c signals – red, yellow, green
- When will the signals be on the same system?
Tunnel incident: On Thanksgiving at 2 a.m. is an
example of the situation
Action item: Brenda will research the signal system
situation and send her response to Monica to share with
the group.
- These issues might be addressed at the LRT AWAIR
safety committee meeting.
- The traffi c lights at 46th St. Station were discussed.
The City is upgrading the timing of lights and has
added detector loops on Hiawatha. This project is not
completed and will likely not change the issue of east
bound buses getting caught as they make the safety
stop and the signals going to yellow then red rapidly.
Brenda Himrich advises bus operators to always
make their safety stop, even if the light might change
TRANSIT SAFETY/SECURITY
COMMITTEE (TSSC) MEETING MINUTES
Disclaimer:
Due to format changes, these columns are not exact replicas of TSSC minutes. We
cannot assure the accuracy of all data. The exact minutes are posted after each meet-
ing at the operating garages.
Page 25and leave them blocking traffi c on Hiawatha. Deb
Downing: We have talked to the city about the light
timing. They are aware of the issue.
• Can we increase the speed for trains at 4th and
Chicago? - The current speed for LRVs of 10 mph is
causing traffi c issues because the train stops and blocks
the intersection. Brenda Himrich will ask when it is
anticipated that the speed limit will be returned to 20
mph. This likely will not occur until the construction is
over.
EAST OPERATOR REPORT
Shenghai Ly:
• St. Paul bus stop where a large group of people were
holding up the bus. The operator tried to fl ag down a
cop, but they didn’t help. Other cops showed up and
pepper sprayed the group. Group broke up and operator
called the TCC.
Action item: Provided details to Mike LaVine and Eric
Isakson and they will respond to the concern.
- Dorothy Maki: Operator discussed issue with the
ATU as well. Operator was upset that the Metro Transit
Police didn’t help him right away and that the St. Paul
police came later and helped him. Operator needed to
communicate more clearly with the TCC.
- Mike LaVine will research the call. Steve McLaird
will provide Mike with the tapes and the timeline.
FTH OPERATOR REPORT
Deb Sievers:
• Operators appreciate Maintenance fi xing the seat
issue - They can now move the seats back further.
• Can people recently released from jail or the
workhouse request a courtesy ride? - No
• Routes 19, 5, 22, 14 - Can police put details on all the
problem routes, not just one, because people are just
moving from route to route?
- Mike LaVine: We are doing our best to put details on
more buses.
• Route 19, 11/30/12 - TCC called asking if she had
someone matching the description of a runaway. They
said a squad would meet her, if a squad doesn’t meet
her, then she needs to wait at Penn with the doors
closed. MT Police fi nally showed up 20 minutes later
and found out that it wasn’t the runaway that they were
looking for. The passengers were getting upset and she
is concerned they could have turned on her. TCC didn’t
fi ll her work.
Action item: Eric Isakson will look into it Deb Sievers’
description of runaway incident.
MJR OPERATOR REPORT
Jerry Langer:
• Northtown P&R issues: - Poor lighting
- Passengers are trying to catch buses on the other side.
Cars aren’t stopping for them. Pedestrians aren’t given
the right of way.
- Can we put a stop sign to help the peds?
Action item: Details were provided and Deb Downing
will bring it to Northtown’s attention.
NICOLLET OPERATOR REPORT
Kermit Wallace:
• Customer Service has been telling customers to
come to Nicollet Garage to pick up lost and found
items. During the summer months, people are entering
through the open bay doors. There is a female
dispatcher who is alone at night and there are people
coming to the drivers’ room. Kermit is concerned for
our employee’s safety. - Steve McLaird: Yes, they are
doing that for items that are personal or of high value.
- For the safety of the operators Kermit would like to
see the doors closed.
- Options: Chain doors. Lock the doors to the drivers’
room.
Action item: Steve McLaird will talk to Fritz Coulter
about his plans for security at Nicollet Garage.
• At the Gateway there used to be four mirrors, but
during changes they made, the mirrors were taken
down and he would like them back.
Action item: Monica fi lled out an OCR about it and
will look into the progress on it. Monica will give
information to Deb Downing and Brenda Himrich.
SAFETY REPORT
Brenda Himrich:
• MN DWI Map
- Extra hwy. patrol during holiday season
• LRT Report See handout
• Accidents report See handout
• Starting with the next class we will train operators
using the low fl oor buses instead of the older highfl oor
buses. The low fl oor buses have differences in the
mirrors and front overhang. It is easier to adjust from a
low fl oor bus to high fl oor bus then vice versa.
Page 26
POLICE REPORT
Mike LaVine:
• There is a perception that due to the Northside details
the route 14 is experiencing problems. Mike Lavine has
put offi cers on the 14 now.
• The 64 is getting better, but there are still issues. -
Friday nights are getting better, but still having issues
on Saturdays.
- We will increase police presence.
• Kids are using social media to organize themselves in
different areas.
• Hired fi ve new offi cers and in the process of hiring 50
part-time offi cers.
• Police Service Requests: Please encourage operators
to ask managers to fi ll out a Police Service Request for
issues that reoccur.
• 7th and Nicollet issues were discussed.
• LRT problems with students in the afternoon. - We
have cops at the stations and on the train to help.
• Problems with students from Edison - We closed a
bus stop and put the stop at the school for kids to board
the bus.
- Problems were discussed.
• How would you like operators to handle a fi ght at the
LRT station? - Leave the doors open. Let people get
off.
- Make an announcement.
- Talk to RCC for direction.
LRT REPORT
Mike McNamera:
• Nothing to report.
MAINTENANCE
Don Davis:
• Bus Maintenance will investigate the lights on the
3300 series buses at South Garage
Action item: Fleet support supervisor will investigate
the light issue to see if the windshield glare can be
reduced.
STREET OPERATIONS
Deb Downing:
• Cabs on Nicollet - 2010 removed the cap on cab
licenses: 250-300 in 2007 to over 800 in 2012
- Cabs have been trained on the Nicollet Mall
procedures.
- 81 tickets in the last two years from MT police
- There are only two cab inspectors, so it is hard
for them to monitor all the cabs.
- PM rush is the most problematic
- Here is the link to report cabs. http://www.
minneapolismn.gov/licensing/taxi/business-
licensing_taxi_taxi-complaint
• 76th and 35W issue should be resolved.
• Roosevelt High School staff has been notifi ed that
students have been walking in front of the buses to get
to the high school. - Staff will monitor and educate
students.
- Going to increase the size of the stop to get more
buses in the stop.
• Cornelious Sykes mentioned that the construction
trailer on the side at Hennepin and Washington is into
the street and could be a hazard. - This issue has been
turned over to the city and it is their decision to move it
or not. No indication that there have been incidents at
this location.
TCC
Erik Isakson:
• Supervisors have the cab link. If you see a cab on
Nicollet, call TCC.
• Saturday 8th starts the canned massages trial on
Routes 10, 17, 18 - Operators should call with any
concerns, comments, and suggestions.
ACTION ITEMS
• Action item: Cornelius will check in with your
garage coordinator and email Pam Steffen to get
information about the LRT downtown only transfer.
• Action item: Brenda will research the signal system
situation and send her response to Monica to share with
the group.
Action item: Provided details to Mike LaVine and
Eric Isakson (on St. Paul bus stop incident) and they
will respond to the concern.
• Action item: Eric Isakson will look into it Deb
Sievers’ description of runaway incident.
• Action item: Details were provided and Deb
Downing will bring it to Northtown’s attention.
• Action item: Steve McLaird will talk to Fritz Coulter
about his plans for security at Nicollet Garage.
• Action item: Monica fi lled out an OCR about it and
will look into the progress on it. Monica will give
information to Deb Downing and Brenda Himrich.
• Action item: Fleet support supervisor will investigate
the light issue to see if the windshield glare can be
reduced.
Page 27
Interview with Metro Transit Police Chief John Harringtonor
Hey, is there a Police Officer in the House?Faye Brown #6331
This article is to present to some and introduce to others the new police chief of Metro Transit, John
Harrington. I will be more pleasant since I will be writing what he said and not my opinion on the services we
have received in the past. So read and evaluate for yourself the answers, and then we will keep our eyes open to
see the truth of his words. But let’s not forget we’ve been sold a bill of goods before, with inferior goods. Chief
Harrington said that speaking out will hold him accountable.
Because of my relationship with the police in past articles, people felt obliged to come and give me their
opinion of what a great man Harrington is, including management, a union board member and drivers. I had
thought he was a little forceful with an attitude of superiority, which later showed up as confidence and belief in
what he’s trying to do. I enjoyed our conversation and I guess you’re saying OMG (oh my god) she has sold out,
singing the praises of the police. No I haven’t. If you know me, I’m nothing if not fair, so he gets a shot.
We sat in an interview where we talked about a lot of subjects and then I put them into question and answer
form for you to read. Here we go.
FAYE: What is your background?
CHIEF: I worked on Metro Transit buses as a beat cop, working with drivers to help make the bus a safe ride
and getting to know the drivers. It helps to know who you are working with. I had a part in implementing the
Safety and Security Committee. I also served as police chief of St. Paul’s department and a state representative of
the Minnesota legislature.
FAYE: And now full circle back with transit. Where are the cops? It seems we are very short- staffed in that
department. What are your plans?
CHIEF: Well, I have been working with Brian Lamb, and he has found a way to approve funds to hire 85 more
staff in the form of part and full-time officers to be used as beat and bus patrol cops for a more effective rapid
response unit. Community Service Officers (CSOs) will monitor cameras in the community to help report where
the officers need to be. A lot of those hired will come from a more diverse pool of inner-city knowledgeable
cops.
FAYE: Will they help with the late-night line-up?
CHIEF: That’s the plan.
FAYE: So is this extra hiring of cops also going to help with the hot spot?
CHIEF: What hot spot?
FAYE: Everyone knows the hot spot (7th & Nicollet). It’s not new news and really I believe that the cops are
afraid to tackle that area.
CHIEF: Fear is not what is happening, it’s the lack of enough manpower, and the lack of cameras. If the City
Council and some of the businesses could come together and raise the funds like Target did on their corner, that
could help. In the past, the City Council asked for the dispersal of cops to certain areas. Now we work in
conjunction with city cops in covering these areas to insure a safer corner. There has been 45% drop in crime
because of this partnership. Metro Transit has devised a plan to alleviate the congestion which brings loitering,
crime and violence to that corner by moving some of the high-profile routes to different areas of downtown. This
is a plan that is in the works and could show some signs of being implemented as soon as March. So we have
been analyzing the problem to be more effective in taking action.
FAYE: Well, that will be a very welcome plan. What can we, as drivers, do to help?
CHIEF: We need drivers to not engage in unnecessary confrontation with passengers, and to report.
Page 28
Crypto Answer
I GET GOOSEBUMPS THINKING ABOUT MY RIGHT TO "BARE" ARMS
BUT IT IS SO COLD OUTSIDE.
FAYE: That brings up a question: Why do the cops who are riding the buses seem to ignore what’s happening?
And leave so soon?
CHIEF: Because they are there only for the support of the drivers - not seemingly to be the controlling force
(which leaves the driver less in control), unless they see some very obvious issue that are not just perceived
issue. Everyone perceives a situation differently, so drivers need to make the cop aware of their need for help.
And as to them leaving to soon, we will be devising a kind of logging-in procedure that will hold the officers
accountable for their whereabouts and time.
FAYE: And is there a way to report on officers?
CHIEF: Yes, we will be putting into place an Internal Affairs Department, a formal system in which operators
can call and make complaints. This department will be headed by Sgt. Troy Smith.
Well, that’s the end of the interview. Hope you enjoyed it. I’ll be back.
Catching up with Retirees!
Barry Palmquist #9056 (retired March 8, 2011) and
his wife Kathy #2342 (retired September 30, 2010) are
enjoying themselves in their Robbinsdale home.
They have a son who lives in Texas and look forward
to a road trip soon. Barry enjoys collecting and build-
ing trains. Kathy enjoys visiting at the Barnacle Bill’s
retiree breakfasts. She loves cats and , although she
only has one, she wishes for fi ve more!
Recognition Program
On December 6th, the Electronic
Department held their employee recogni-
tion event. The great food came from
Famous Dave's Restaurant. Julie Johan-
son, Deputy Chief of Operations, stopped
by to convey the company's gratitude for
the fi ne job they are doing while facing
daunting tasks (shortage of manpower and
overwhelming duties).
Chad LeVasseur, Manager of Com-
munication Systems and Scott McDonald,
Supervisor of Electronic Maintenance,
added their gratitude.
Page 29
2013 Tour De CureDeborah Sievers #64222
The Metro Transit Cycling Team is once again defending its title as
Top Corporate Team riding in the Twin Cities Tour de Cure! This will
be our third year, and we expect huge things from our team for 2013.
Last year, with the help of ATU Local 1005, we raised more than
$37,000.00 dollars! Team Captain Mike Dalbec has set the goal at
$50,000.00 and feels a team of this size should have no problem meeting
and exceeding this goal! So join us this year and raise money for a
great cause. Go to the website and sign up today!!!!
http://main.diabetes.org/goto/metrotransit
Register today to Take the Ride of Your Life! The Tour de Cure features routes of different lengths for riders
of all skill levels: 7, 18, 27, up to 100 miles. All Tour de Cure routes are well-marked, safe and fully supported
with route marshals, SAG vehicles, mechanical support, and rest stops stocked with hydration and a variety of
snacks to keep you fueled. At the finish, you will be welcomed with cheering volunteers, great food and more.
Tour de Cure is marking its 21st Anniversary this year, so help us make an even bigger impact. In twenty-one
years the Tour de Cure has raised millions of dollars to fund research, provide services, and give voice to those
denied their rights because of diabetes. They have accomplished much, but as the number of Americans
diagnosed with diabetes continues to rise, thier mission becomes even more critical. Every dollar you raise and
every mile you ride helps the American Diabetes Association in the effort to Stop Diabetes.
One Team Metro Transit member is Timmy Webber, Sr., 43, who has been with Metro Transit for more than
11 years. Timmy is a delegate for ATU Local 1005 at the Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation. He is
married to wife Lisa and has five kids (ranging from 20 years old to five years old) and a daughter-in-law.
Timmy has Cerebral Palsy and was diagnosed with Type 2
diabetes, which he controls with pills and exercise. (Type 1
diabetes is controlled by insulin.) Raising five kids, he has an
active life and is also very athletic. He does not look at his CP
and diabetes as handicaps, but as part of his way of life.
Timmy rode last year’s Tour de Cure as a Red Rider (someone
in the Tour de Cure riding with diabetes) with daughter Elisia,
who was 12 years old. They rode the 27-mile part of the Tour de
Cure, crossing the finish line together, all smiles and pride for
being able to do something so meaningful as father and daughter.
If you are interested in a last year’s team jersey like Elisia is
wearing, Team Captain Mike Dalbec says he has select sizes left
over and is selling them for $25 per jersey.
Date:
Start: Saturday, June 1, 2013 at
6:00 a.m.
Address:
Minnehaha Falls
4801 South Minnehaha Park Dr.
Minneapolis, MN
Fees:
$15 Plus
Page 30
Material Management Recognition
As we did last year, we had a contest about
our success and accomplishments in the Material
Management Department. There were three
teams, each led by a coordinator. Like the show
Jeopardy, a team would select a category and a
point value of a question (from 10 to 50, 50 being
the most diffi cult).
Prizes were awarded for the largest total of
points. On the last question of the game, you had
to decide how many points to wager before the
question was read. You had to wager enough to
beat your opponent (win or lose all).
The teams (in order of place) were:
Frank Launderville’s Ferocious Fiddlers:
Steve Babcock, Bob Buck, Jack Cota, Kellee
Hunkapi, Stephanie Armstead, Rick Rolfson,
Rich Kasprzak, Kent Hardy, Doug Rose, Dave
Butts, David Hopwood, Michelle Bellfi eld
Chris Kuefl er’s Carnivorous Capitalists: Anthony Mills,
Bruce Biddick, Andy Tappin, Paul Cruz, Mike Anderson, DJ,
Brent Van Lith, Dave Steen, Mike McGinley, Virak Hing
Trinity Jensen’s Tyrannosaurus Tempests: Dennis Bolter,
Lynn Chebanyuk, Bill Neuenfeldt, Mark Jessee, Fred Eshleman,
Steve Tangen, Tom Durand, Don Madison, Chi Kang, Roy
Ellsworth, Melonie Bunner.
Some Material Management Department Statistics
Currently our department has 41 employees
1 - Manager
2 - Supervisor/Planner
1 – Inventory Analyst
3 – Coordinators
8 - Head Stockkeepers
9 - Lead Stockkeepers
14 – Stockkeepers
1 - Clerk
Bob Buck, MJR Head Stockkeeper, makes it
to the "Rule of 90."
Material Management will be adding a lead
and regular stockkeeper in 2013 and another
regular stockkeeper in 2014.
Retirements
Congratulations to November Retirees11/10/12 Margarita Scott, EM Gar. Op. 9307
11/24/12 John Soutor, EM Gar. Op. 9620
11/20/12 Henry Baltes, So. Gar. Op. 9421
Congratulations to December Retiree12/08/12 Joe Oakley, So.Gar. Op. 2265
If you have pictures or announcements of
retirements, please contact your Education
Committee member or the union office.
Retired Members’ Clubs
Northside Breakfast Club
Meets 8:30 a.m. the 2nd Tuesday of each month
at Barnacle Bill’s, Shingle Creek Parkway and
Freeway Blvd, Brooklyn Center.
Southside Breakfast Club
Meets 8:00 a.m. the 1st Wednesday and the 4th
Thursday of each month at the VFW Post, 67th
Street and Lyndale Ave. in Richfi eld.
Metro Transit Mechanic Teammate
Meets at 12:00 p.m. the 3rd Tuesday of the month
at Old Country Buffet (by Petco), 2000 South
Robert St., West St. Paul
St. Paul Retiree Lunch ClubMeets 12:00 p.m. the 2nd Wednesday of the month. Mattie’s (formerly Wells Lanes ) So. Con-
cord St., South St. Paul 55075
If you want to join the St. Paul Retiree Club, con-
tact one of the following:
President Howard Osterkamp (651) 731-2428
Vice-President Jay Kerkvliet (651) 489-8281
Treasurer Paul Huber (651) 698-6551
Secretary Mary Huber (651) 698-5771
Union Dues After
Retirement
When you retire, make sure you maintain your membership dues. Those who retire today pay
$49.80/yr. The “Death Benefi t” is $1,000 from the International, and $100 from the local ($1,100
total). You will also be able to vote on election of offi cers and stay connected by attending monthly
membership meetings. If you have been a member for 50 years, you no longer have to pay dues, and
are a Lifetime Member.
Page 31
The 1005 Line
Remember, you can always access past and present
issues online at www.atu1005.com on the Education
page. You can also see the results of arbitration votes
and other meeting results.
About the ATU
The Amalgamated Transit Union is the largest labor
organization representing transit workers in the United
States and Canada. Founded in 1892, the ATU today
is comprised of over 190,000 members in 264 local
unions spread across 44 states and nine provinces, in-
cluding 3,000 workers at Greyhound Lines, Inc. Com-
posed of bus drivers, light rail operators, maintenance
and clerical personnel and other transit and municipal
employees, the ATU works to promote transit issues
and fi ghts for the interests of its hard-working mem-
bers.
A new member, Abdirahman Mohamoud, Operator
#71014 from Heywood Garage, starts out his em-
ployment by attending the December membership
meeting. Welcome! We are glad to have your input
and participation.
Page 32
Annual Aerosol Training
Scheduled in April
The Instruction Center will host annual aerosol training and certification courses in April.
Any operator who wants to carry aerosol for self-defense purposes must attend one of the courses. The
course will cover conflict management skills and de-escalation techniques. Those who attend may choose not to
get certified to carry aerosol.
Attendance is voluntary and must be done on an employee’s own time. The courses are held only in April of
each year.
Following is the schedule:• Tuesday April 2, 2013 at 10:30am to 1:00pm
• Saturday April 13, 2013 at 09:00am to 11:30am
• Wednesday April 17, 2013 at 11:00am to 1:30pm
• Thursday April 25, 2013 at 7:00pm to 9:30pm
• Tuesday April 30, 2013 at 12:30pm to 3:00pm
Bus operators should contact their garage coordinators to register. Rail operators should contact their rail
instructors.
2-year Re-certification: Those certified in 2011 to carry aerosol are due for recertification. Starting in April,
see your manager to apply for a new certificate. If you are not recertified by April 30, 2013 you cannot carry or
use aerosol while on duty.
Posters will be hung at all garage facilities, in the Instruction Center, and Light Rail with more information.
feel is gone.
We must make sure we all understand that our actions can and do affect others. Although we cannot control another person’s response, we can control ourselves. If you fi nd yourself in a position where you may have lost control or been disrespectful with a co-worker, please apologize and learn from it.
We must all realize that a message has been sent. We can disagree on what that message is, but it’s clear that a message was sent. Let’s not let that message get lost.
Offi cer's Corner continued from p . 2
Geneva Sykes Retires
Geneva Sykes #3582 was hired January
22, 1996 as a cleaner and worked at Nicol-
let, Heywood and East Metro. She retired
with a combination of 32 years of service
on February 1, 2013.
Geneva and her longtime signifi cant
companion Steve plan on enjoying a vari-
ety of road trips in their retirement.
Many employees from around the com-
pany came to say farewell to Geneva. A
fabulous potluck of food and gifts sent her
off with much love.
Page 33
Michael Humphreys #5154 Retires
On January 4, 2013 at Nicollet Garage, Employee #5154,
Michael Humphreys, retired from Metro Transit with 33
years of service. Mike was hired August 30, 1979.
Coworkers and managers helped Michael celebrate in the
Nicollet maintenance lunchroom at 9:00 a.m.
Michael Humphreys #5154 is assisted in displaying his
cake by Sy Sharp, Nicollet Maintenance Department Man-
ager.
Peter Moscatelli #9098 Retirement
Peter was hired as a part-time
driver on May 5, 1990 and be-
came a full-time driver on April
22, 1992.
Peter retired from East Metro
on January 25, 2013. Many
family members attended his
retirement party, where he was
praised by management and co-
workers alike for his work ethic
and friendly, helpful attitude.
Dispatch Dispensary
Drivers overheard talking to the dispatcher early one morning
at Nicollet Garage:
Driver #1: Howard, can I have a couple of aspirin? (Aspirin
delivered.)
Driver #2: (surprised, but sporting a scratch): Howard, do you
have a Band-Aid? (He did.)
Driver #3: Can I have a blood-pressure pill?
Talent Corner by Deborah Sievers
If you or someone you know
has some special talent and
would like to share it with your
co-workers, please contact Deb
Sievers at Heywood Garage or
leave a message at 612-695-
0238. I would love to write
about the talented people at
Metro Transit!
Page 34
Edward A. Ebert #6365, 54, passed away at Regions Hospital after being injured
in a single-vehicle accident in St. Paul. Ed was hired January, 6, 1996 and was
an operator at East Metro at the time of his death. 'Eddie' was loved by his co-
workers. Always with a chuckle and commentary on something he observed, his
presence will be missed by many Operators and passengers.
Martin Berde, 79, of St. Paul, passed away around the Thanksgiving holiday. He
was preceded in death by his parents, Archie and Ann Berde and wife, Bernita.
He is survived by his daughters Marni Matthews, Sherry (Charlie Townsend)
Berde-Townsend and Carol (Janae Berg) Berde; and their mother, Maxine (Bill)
Vanderhoff; brothers, Stan Berde and Steve (Louise) Berde; sister, Bobbi (Morrie)
Ettinger-Wilf; granddaughter, Melissa (Tom) Sax and great-grandson, Logan Sax.
Marty #284 worked at Metro Transit from February 19, 1979 – October 19,
2009, taking a brief hiatus from his original retirement on February 7, 1998 to
return as retiree part-time Driver #7006 from June 14, 1999, until his second retire-
ment on October 19, 2009. Most of his career was spent at South Garage.
Mickelson, Walter, age 92, of Minneapolis, passed away December 13th,
2012. He was preceded in death by grandson, James; parents, Gertrude
and Alfred; sisters, Lorraine Demann and Josephine Olson; brothers,
Mayor, Howard, Palmer and Ervin. He is survived by his loving wife of 66
years, Catherine "Kay"; sons, Byron (Carol), Bruce (Kathy) and Steven;
daughter, Sheila (Larry) Bergquest; grandchildren, Jeanette, Marcy, Tina,
Kelly, Lukas and Troy; great-grandchildren, Aaron, Brandon, Michael,
Abby, Katie, Carson and Gwen; sister, Ginny Hahn; brothers, Lawrence,
Orlando, Adolph, Earl and Herbert; many nieces, nephews and extended
family. Walter was once the Recording Secretary of ATU Local 1005.
Lance Baumann #2465 passed away in December of 2012. Lance was hired as a
part-time operator on January 12, 2002. He was promoted to full-time operator on
December 6, 2003 and worked at South Garage. He enjoyed working the extra board
and his Red Corvette.
In Memoriam
Ron Fontaine, Light Rail Operator #1268, died February 11th, 2013. Ron was a big
fan of baseball and trips to his cabin in Big Lake. He was friendly and well-liked by
his co-workers.
His family will hold a private ceremony and have asked that cards be sent to the
following address:
Nokomis Chapel,
1838 E. Minnehaha Parkway
Minneapolis, MN 55407
In Memoriam
Page 35
Warren N. Bergman, 89, “moved from his home in Bloomington
to his home in heaven on Thursday, October 25, 2012."
Ross “Rick” Findorff #390, age 60, of Richfi eld,
passed away December 5, 2012. He was preceded
in death by his parents, Arthur and Valeria and
sister, Roberta. Rick is survived by siblings Richard
(Joyce), Roxey and Ronald; niece and nephews, Bill,
Mike, Pam, Rob and Russ; great-nephew, Riley, and
also many special friends. A longtime bus driver
for the MTC, Ross was hired January 26, 1987 as a
part-time driver, went full-time on May 16, 1988 and
retired from South Garage on May 10, 2012.
Anthony Franklin #39002 was hired April 1, 2002 by Metro Transit and worked
for almost eleven years as a cleaner, most recently at the East Metro Garage, al-
though he also worked at MJR and Heywood. 'Tony' was born in Hot Springs Ark.,
moved to St Paul, joined the Navy for 3 years. He came to MT in 2002 and worked
as a cleaner. He was a Deacon of his church, enjoyed spending time with his 4 sons,
loved sports, fi shing,and helping others. He was loved by his co-workers and will
be missed by all.
Charles "Chuck" Lauren #1674, passed away January 24, 2013 at the age of
77. He was preceded in death by parents Andrew and Marion Leko; sister Gloria
(Leko) Royce; brother Richard Leko; and son Stephen James Leko. He is survived
by his beloved wife Lorraine; daughters Carolyn Lauren-Schmidt (Harold Schmidt),
Yvonne Lauren and Barbara King; sons Kenneth Lauren (Jeannie), Raymond Lauren
(Diane) and Victor Lauren (Shari); 11 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Chuck was hired by Metro Transit as a part-time driver on September10, 1984,
promoted to full-time on September 18, 1985 and retired April 1, 2005 from East
Metro. Chuck also worked at St. Paul Transit Services, worked for years at Jerry's
TV Repair on Grand Ave. in St. Paul and was the owner and operator of Chuck's TV
& Repair on St. Clair Avenue in St. Paul.
Junior O.Sunsdahl, age 74, of Blaine, passed away on Friday, January 25, 2013 at
Mercy Hospital in Coon Rapids. He was preceded in death by his parents; brother,
Orvin; and sisters, Delores and Junes. He is survived by his loving wife of 53
years, Maxine; daughters, Kathy Gobel and Mary (Steve) Foyt; son, Bob (Jennifer)
Sunsdahl; grandkids, Corey, Misty, Keshia, Tanner, and Nathan; sister, Diane; and
many other relatives and friends. Junior was a loving husband, dad and grandpa
and taught us by example and loved us unconditionally.
Junior was a long-time driver and trainer, and one of the fi rst Safety Supervisors
at the MTC. He has left behind a long legacy that continues to this day.
2013 ATU Local 1005
Scholarship Award
This scholarship is open each year to the children of active and retired members
of ATU Local 1005.
The Scholarship Selection
Scholarships to aid in the attainment of a bachelor's degree or a two-year
vocational/technical/associate degree are determined by a lottery among eligible
applicants. Names will be drawn at the a.m. membership meeting on
May 28th, 2013.
Amount of Awards
Awards to applicants are $1,250 per academic year paid directly to the accredited college or vocational/techni-
cal school. Each award is given for a specifi c period of two (2) years, for a total of $2,500 per award. There will
be four (4) awards given per year to eligible applicants.
Eligibility Requirements
Any applicant must be: The son, daughter, stepchild or legally adopted child of an ATU 1005 member. Only
one scholarship per applicant will be awarded. If an applicant's name is not chosen, the applicant may reapply
prior to their fi rst, second, or third year of post-secondary education.
The Applicant
Must have one parent with two years of continuous service since the date of hire and be in good-standing
membership in ATU 1005, up to and including the application deadline of May 17th, 2013.
The ATU 1005 member (parent) must maintain continuous good standing throughout the life of the award. In
the event that the parent loses "good-standing," the son or daughter shall lose eligibility based on a per-year basis.
Eligibility will be retained if the parent dies after the son or daughter is awarded a scholarship, provided the parent
had two years of "continuous good-standing membership" at the time of death.
The applicant must also have a high school diploma or its equivalent.
Applicants are eligible up to and including age 21 at application deadline.
Applicants already enrolled in a two or four-year program must have held a minimum "C" average for
the previous full-time post-secondary education completed.
Must plan to take a regular college or vocational/technical/associate program on a full-time basis, maintaining
qualifying grades (minimum "C" average)
Ineligible Applicants Include
-Applicants who do not intend to work, without interruption, for a bachelor's degree or completion of a voca-
tional/technical certifi cation/associate degree.
- Graduate Students
- Applicants who do not plan to enroll in an accredited college or vocational/technical school
How to apply
To be valid, an application must be submitted on the appropriate form. Applications for the 2013 competition
may be obtained from your Executive Board Member, Union Offi cer, or at www.atu1005.com. Requests for ap-
plications should be made as early as possible.
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