ATU Local 757, Portland, OR
May 14, 2012 - Press Release: ATU 757 and First Transit Inc. Reach Tentative Agreement
After a strike on Wednesday May 8th, the ATU Local 757 and First Transit Inc. returned to the
bargaining table on May 9th and 10th, reaching tentative agreement after a marathon negotiating session
that ended at 1:00 am on May 12th. FULL STORY>>
May 9, 2012 - Text of President Hunt's speech at the Press Conference
Thank you for coming out today and showing your support. My name
is Jonathan Hunt and I am the president of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 757. We represent
the dedicated workers who transport the elderly and disabled in Multnomah and Washington
counties. FULL TEXT>>
May 9, 2012 - President Jonathan Hunt at First Transit Strike
May 9, 2012 - Press Conference Scheduled over Paratransit Strike for 11 am
ATU Local 757 representing the paratransit workers on strike against First Transit, Inc. a private, multi-national company that provides the service under contract with TriMet, has scheduled an eleven am press conference in front of TriMet’s administration building, 4012 SE 17th Avenue, Portland.
Regional elected leaders have weighed in on the strike, calling on the parties to end the strike and return to the bargaining table to settle the dispute. They claim their constituents are the victims in the strike and should not have their vital services interrupted because of a labor issue. The elected leaders are also calling on TriMet to step up to the plate and see to it that the strike ends now without further disruption of service.
May 9, 2012 - ALL ATU 757 MEMBERS: FIRST TRANSIT STRIKE PRESS RELEASE
TriMet elderly and disabled transit operators on strike: Bus operators who operate the elderly and disabled transportation service for TriMet in Multnomah and Washington Counties went on strike this morning after negotiations and mediation that began in February 2010 failed to produce a new agreement. The operators, who are employed by the foreign company First Transit, Inc. under contract with TriMet, are represented by the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 757. Pickets start going up this morning at the TriMet administration building located at 4012 SE 17th Avenue, Portland. FULL PRESS RELEASE>>
April 27, 2012 - ATU 757 TriMet Members: Contract Issue Vote Results
The vote count took place on Friday, April 27, 2012 and was supervised by Helen Goche, the duly elected Chair of the ATU 2012 Election Committee. Proposal #1, maintain status quo: 336 Proposal #2, maintain status quo except insurance changes: 607
April 26, 2012 - ATU 757 - TriMet Members: Drug Testing
The Union recently learned that TriMet may not have paid employees the reward payment for testing negative for reasonable suspicion (probable cause) and post accident alcohol and drug tests. Pursuant to the January 17, 1995 Alcohol and Drug Testing Policy Reward Payment Agreement, any employee who tests negative for a reasonable suspicion and/or post accident drug test is eligible to receive $100 or run/days work pay, whichever is greater. If you tested negative for these tests and were not paid the reward, contact your Union Representative. You will need to establish that you were tested, tested negative and did not receive the reward payment. This only applies to reasonable suspicion (probable cause) and post accident tests. It does not apply to random alcohol and drug tests.
April 24, 2012 - President Hunt's May Labor Press article: At TriMet: The Busses Are Rolling Without any Wheels
It has been a record number for one year. I am referring to the number of local newspaper articles and editorials published about TriMet, its financial problems and its contract dispute with the Union representing TriMet employees. While most of these articles and editorials were slanted in favor of TriMet, the main theme in all of them is that TriMet’s problems were caused by everyone else, except by inept senior management. And the latest editorial in The Oregonian, which was published in the April 20, 2012 edition, is no exception. FULL STORY>>
April 20, 2012 - ATU 757 - TRIMET Members Tracking Faster
TriMet's Randy Stedman was hired to be a union buster. Other people applied for Stedman's position who have a history of working well with union employees. They didn't get the job, instead, TriMet's "management team" gave the job to Stedman. Probably because he brags on his resume that he was able to get a pro-union election overturned in the State of Washington. FULL STORY>>
April 20, 2012 - Union Brother In Need - Financial Secretary Treasurer's May Labor Press Report
We have a union brother who is in great need of our help. David Cahill is an ATU 757 member out of the NELA lift yard who has been diagnosed with stomach cancer. David has worked at this location for more than seven years, and for the first time, has worked enough hours to qualify for health insurance. However, his treatment has been completely delayed due to management not providing the necessary paperwork after he qualified for insurance. FULL STORY>>
April 3, 2012 - Press Release TriMet Targets Yellow Line Passengers
TriMet's rail and bus supervisors are outraged at recent mandated changes to the agency's fare enforcement practices. Evidently responding to media criticism that too many passengers are riding for free, TriMet has decided that it wants to be able to brag to the media that more $175 tickets are being issued. FULL PRESS RELEASE>>
March 28, 2012 - ATU 757 TriMet Members
TriMet's management team has launched a new fare confrontation campaign that we believe is unsafe and unfair. FULL STORY AND PETITION>>
March 27, 2012 - ATU 757 - TriMet Members
Follow the story for the recent letter from the Northwest Oregon Labor Council to Neil McFarlane, General Manager of TriMet concerning the ongoing contract dispute as reported by ATU Political Director Mike Pucik. FULL STORY>>
March 2, 2012 - TriMet’s Neil McFarlane Still Doesn’t Get It
TriMet continues to blame the Union and the Union leadership for their inability to negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement with the Union. TriMet continues to blame the Union for delaying the arbitration process, claiming the Union has deliberately postponed the contract dispute from being heard by an arbitrator. TriMet claims the law that prohibits transit workers from striking should be repealed, because it is to blame for the delay. Then TriMet has their friends at the Oregonian and The Portland Tribune run anti-worker, anti-union stories and editorials. FULL STORY
March 1, 2012 - Union Election Questions
All questions regarding the upcoming (or past) ATU Elections may be directed to the special Election line: 503-231-3563. If the line is not answered, leave a message with your complete contact information and your call will be returned as soon as possible.
February 28, 2012 - Let's Have Some Real Transparency!
This is ATU's letter regarding the topic of the TriMet Lift Audit directed towards the Chair of the TriMet Board of Directors. FULL STORY>>
February 22, 2012 - President Hunt addressing the TriMet Board of Directors
Video Credit: Al Margulies, 2012.
February 21, 2012 - PLEASE JOIN ATU AT TOMORROW'S TRIMET BOARD OF DIRECTORS' MEETING
While there will be no Information Picket prior to tomorrow's Board of Directors' meeting, ATU asks for your attendance at the Board meeting itself to show that we stand united and in solidarity. ATU 757 continues to pressure the Board and management, and Jon Hunt will be making a presentation to the Board at this meeting February 22nd.
ATU needs your support and presence now more than ever to show we stand strong and that there is solidarity amongst those of us that support mass transit. Stand up for what's right!! Please come out and join us at this Board meeting!
WHEN: Wednesday, February 22nd, 9:00 am WHERE: Portland Building, 1120 SW 5th Avenue, Room C
February 20, 2012 - Press Release: Another Bad TriMet Management Decision Will Cost Taxpayers
In a decision that contained blistering comments about the negotiating behavior of TriMet's management team's negotiating tactics, the Oregon Employment Relations Board (ERB), for the third time, ruled against TriMet in an ongoing labor dispute with its union. At the bottom of the dispute is a colossal error made by TriMet negotiators. They failed and/or refused to put a wage offer on the bargaining table. Then they tried to correct that failure at the last minute by proposing a brand-new wage proposal to the interest arbitrator. FULL PRESS RELEASE>>
February 15, 2012 - Press Release: TriMet Causes Further Delay in Contract Arbitration Dispute
TriMet has repeatedly accused the ATU of causing delays in preventing the contract dispute interest arbitration from being held in a timely manner. Now, once again, TriMet's failure to comply with the order of the Oregon Employment Relations Board (OERB) has resulted in the contract interest arbitration hearing date being pushed forward to May 14, 2012. FULL PRESS RELEASE>>
February 15, 2012 - Setting the Record Straight at TriMet about Lift
TriMet employees recently received information from General Manager Neil McFarlane on TriMet's website entitled "Bringing Lift In-House" in which McFarlane informed employees that he wanted to set the record straight. Once again, from an administration that is well known for its "spin doctor" approach to presenting the facts, McFarlane misrepresents the results of the paratransit audit performed in 2008. THE REAL STORY>>
January 27, 2012 - Video of TriMet Board of Directors' meeting
Video Credit: Andy Heesacker, 2012.
January 25, 2012 - President Hunt's statement to the TriMet Board of Directors
Follow the link for the text of the statement President Hunt prepared for the meeting of the TriMet Board of Directors' January meeting. FULL STORY>>
January 24, 2012 - Are you serious? Fresh and Objective Thinking at TriMet
In a letter to the Union from the labor relations director recently hired by TriMet, he wrote: “Because the General Manager must keep in mind the interests of all TriMet employees, it is inappropriate that he serve as the president of the Unions’ counterparty or primary interface. There will be times when the interests of union and non-union employees are at odds.” Now comes the best! “In those situations, the General Manager must bring objective and fresh thinking to the dispute, unclouded by having advocated for one side or the other.” FULL STORY>>
January 24, 2012 - Union Complaints may Halt Bend Area Transit Funding
The Union has filed a grievance and unfair labor practice against the Bend Area Transit system contractor. A complaint is also being filed against the City of Bend who receives federal funding to operate the system. FULL STORY>>
January 18, 2012 - Information Picket January 25th, 2012
It has been some time since ATU 757 has held a picket before the Tri Met Board meeting but this is so important that we feel we have no choice but to do it again. Please come join us at this informational picket January 25th at 8:00 am in front of the Portland building. Please feel free to stay for the meeting (9:00am) and give your opinion to the Trimet board. FULL STORY>>
January 17, 2012 - Press Release
This is the press release sent out today in regards to Paratransit Services in Bend. FULL STORY>>
January 13, 2012 - Attention ATU 757 Members: MLK Day
The ATU 757 office will be closed on Monday, January 16, 2012 in honor of Martin Luther King Day. The office will reopen on Tuesday, January 17th at 8:30 a.m. If you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact your union officer.
January 11, 2012 - Attention ATU 757 Members: Bylaws Change
Check out the suggested changes to Section 13 - Nominations here.>> These proposed Bylaws changes will be voted on at all February 2012 membership meetings.
January 11, 2012 - Attention ATU 757 Members: Bylaws Change Section 14
Check out the suggested changes to Section 14 - Elections here.>> These proposed Bylaws changes will be voted on at all February 2012 membership meetings.
January 11, 2012 - Attention ATU 757 Members: Bylaws Change Section 15
Check out the suggested changes to Section 15 - Election Committee here.>> These proposed Bylaws changes will be voted on at all February 2012 membership meetings.
January 11, 2012 - Attention ATU 757 Members: Bylaws Change Section 17
Check out the suggested changes to Section 17 - Dues Standard Formula here.>> These proposed Bylaws changes will be voted on at all February 2012 membership meetings.
January 11, 2012 - Attention ATU 757 Members: Bylaws Change Section 5
Check out the suggested changes to Section 5 - 7 - Office of the President, Vice President, and Financial Secretary - Treasurer here.>> These proposed Bylaws changes will be voted on at all February 2012 membership meetings.
January 6, 2012 - Election Timeline:
All letters of nomination and acceptance for the 2012 Election Committee must be received prior to or made at the March 4th (tentative) Charter meeting. Correspondence should be sent to Evette Farra at the union office or by fax to (503) 230-2589. FULL STORY>>
January 4, 2012 - Election News:
Nominations will be held on May 20th, 2012.
ATU 757, 1801 NE Couch Street, Portland, OR 97232
503-232-9144
Upcoming Meetings:
