On the Move, October 2012
6
October 2012 Inside News from Transport Workers Union Local 234 October 2012 On the Move WHAT’S AT STAKE IN THIS ELECTION? John Johnson, Jr, President TWU Local 234 This November we face a stark choice at the polls. Republicans, led by the Romney‐ Ryan ticket, will, if elected, seek national right to work legislation and a roll back of collective bargaining. Medicare, Medicaid and other programs are in their crosshairs. Funding for transportation, including mass transit, would be further slashed. Meanwhile, at the top of their agenda are more tax breaks for corporations and the super rich and further deregulation to give Wall Street even more power. Divide and Conquer To sell this toxic brew to working people, Romney has resorted to the oldest tactic in their playbook – divide and conquer. Coded appeals to race, as in Romney’s false charges about the Obama administration suspending work requirements for welfare or his “innocent” joke about Obama’s birth certiϐicate, are at the heart of his campaign. In PA and other states Republicans have passed voter suppression legislation in the form of ID laws aimed at disenfranchising minority voters, the elderly and the young. We have to ϐight back against these attacks and we are. We’ve joined with My Right, My Vote, formed a voter registration/ID education coalition with the CWA and NAACP and participated in Workers Voice labor walks from our union hall with the AFL‐CIO and numerous other groups. We’ve walked and demonstrated with groups like Fight for Philly to bring to light the Romney‐Ryan economic “disaster” plan for America and with TWU members both here and from around the region, stood with workers at the Workers Stand for America rally. Just as we are committed to ϐighting against the violation of our rights by SEPTA management whenever and wherever it occurs around the property, we are committed to ϐighting for the rights of working people, families and the 99% whenever and wherever we can. On the Move is now produced bi‐ monthly and mailed to all members. More information is available on our web site:. www.twu234.org. We’re also on Facebook, all part of a commitment to a well informed and engaged membership. Call the ofϔice , (215) 972‐4140, to get active in your union Luther Finds New Diggs Death Mirrors Have to Go MV Workers Vote to Join TWU Fight Against Transit Violence TWU 234 President John Johnson at demonstration in center city Philadelphia “My Right, My Vote” Coalition and voter registration drive
-
Upload
ralph-branch -
Category
Documents
-
view
217 -
download
3
description
A mutlipage union newsletter highlighting events over the past few months.
Transcript of On the Move, October 2012
October2012
Inside
News from Transport Workers Union Local 234 October 2012
OntheMoveWHAT’SATSTAKEINTHISELECTION?JohnJohnson,Jr,PresidentTWULocal234
ThisNovemberwefaceastarkchoiceatthepolls.Republicans,ledbytheRomney‐Ryanticket,will,ifelected,seeknationalrighttoworklegislationandarollbackofcollectivebargaining.Medicare,Medicaidandotherprogramsareintheircrosshairs.Fundingfortransportation,includingmasstransit,wouldbefurtherslashed.Meanwhile,atthetopoftheiragendaaremoretaxbreaksforcorporationsandthesuperrichandfurtherderegulationtogiveWallStreetevenmorepower.
DivideandConquerTosellthistoxicbrewtoworkingpeople,Romneyhasresortedtotheoldesttacticintheirplaybook–divideandconquer.Codedappealstorace,asinRomney’sfalsechargesabouttheObamaadministrationsuspendingworkrequirementsforwelfareorhis“innocent”jokeaboutObama’sbirthcerti icate,areattheheartofhiscampaign.InPAandotherstatesRepublicanshavepassedvotersuppressionlegislationintheformofIDlawsaimedatdisenfranchisingminorityvoters,theelderlyandtheyoung.
Wehaveto ightbackagainsttheseattacksandweare.We’vejoinedwithMyRight,MyVote,formedavoterregistration/IDeducationcoalitionwiththeCWAandNAACPandparticipatedinWorkersVoicelaborwalksfromourunionhallwiththeAFL‐CIOandnumerousothergroups.We’vewalkedanddemonstratedwithgroupslikeFightforPhillytobringtolighttheRomney‐Ryaneconomic“disaster”planforAmericaandwithTWUmembersbothhereandfromaroundtheregion,stoodwithworkersattheWorkersStandforAmericarally.
Justaswearecommittedto ightingagainsttheviolationofourrightsbySEPTAmanagementwheneverandwhereveritoccursaroundtheproperty,wearecommittedto ightingfortherightsofworkingpeople,familiesandthe99%wheneverandwhereverwecan.
OntheMoveisnowproducedbi‐monthlyandmailedtoallmembers.Moreinformationisavailableonourwebsite:.www.twu234.org.We’realsoonFacebook,allpartofacommitmenttoawellinformedandengagedmembership.
Calltheof ice,(215)972‐4140,togetactiveinyourunion
LutherFindsNewDiggs
DeathMirrorsHavetoGo
MVWorkersVotetoJoinTWU
FightAgainstTransitViolence
TWU234PresidentJohnJohnsonatdemonstrationincentercity
Philadelphia“MyRight,MyVote”Coalitionandvoterregistrationdrive
Page 2
Top5ThingsYouNeedtoKnowThisElection
1) Makesureyourregistrationisuptodate–ifyou’vechangedyourname,haven’tvotedinlastfouryears;
2) Findoutwhereyourpollingplaceis–in2010manypollingplacesweremovedandbecauseanumberofvotersdidn’tknowwherethenewplacewas,theydidn’tvote.Findoutwhereyourpollingisgotowww.votespa.com andclickonFindOutNowunderWhereisMyPollingPlace?
3) Voteearly–makeitthestartofyourdaysothatifanythingunplannedhappensduringtheday,youwon’tbepreventedfromcastingyourballot
4) MakesureyouhaveavalidID–It’salwaysgoodtohaveavalidIDtovote.
5) Ifchallengedatthepollingplace,don’tgetmad‐gethelpandgetprepared–thereisajudgeofelectionsateachpollingplaceandpartoftheirjobistoensurethatelectionrulesarefollowed.Seekthemoutifyouhaveanyquestions,problemsorconcerns.ForhelpcontactthewatchdoggroupTheCommitteeofSeventyat(215)557‐3600
OnSaturdaySeptember15,2012,TWU234hostedthe irstoftwoWorkersVoicevoterregistrationwalksfromtheunionhall.ThePhiladelphiaCouncilof theAFL‐CIOsponsored thewalks,joinedbyareaunionsandactivistgroups.Nearly50peoplehitthestreets,knockingondoors,intheongoingefforttoregisternewvotersandeducatenewandcurrentvotersonthePAvoterID law. Even though the ID law was overturned, Local 234boostedtheregistrationofnewvoters.
Of icersandstaffreceivedtrainingonvoterregistrationbyNAACPDirectorofCivicEngagementJohnJordan.
TWULocal234alongwithAFL‐CIO,CommunicationsWorkersofAmerica,ACTIONUNITED,NAACPandFightForPhillyatrecentrallyagainsttheVoterIDlaw.
TWU/CWA/NAACP form a coali on to register new
voters and educate new and current voters.
Page 3
SecondBillofRightsOnAugust11,2012Local234leadacontingentofTWUmembersattheWorkersStandforAmericaRallyheldontheBenFranklinParkwayinPhiladelphia.TheRallyfocusedonaSecondBillofRights‐TheWorkersBillofRights(seeboxbelow).OrganizerssaidtheywouldrequirethatthosewhoseekthesupportofLaborbothsignontothebilland ightforthesebasicrights.
T S B R
TheRighttoFullEmploymentandaLivingWage
TheRighttoFullParticipationintheElectoralProcess
TheRighttoaVoiceatWork
TheRighttoaQualityEducation
TheRighttoaSecure,HealthyFuture
Formoreinformationgotowww.WorkersStandforAmerica.com
Clockwise:First ivesignersofthe2ndBillofRights–representingthe iverightsoutlinedinthebill;TWULocal100and234membersatrally;membersandfriendsgatheringatunionhallbeforerally;Local234marchinguptheparkwaytojointherally.
VictoryatMVTransportation:Local234WelcomesNewMembersOnMay4,2012,Paratransitdrivers,aidesandutilityworkersatMVTransitvotedoverwhelmingtoberepresentedbyLocal234.ManyoftheworkersareformeremployeesoftheEdensCorp.EdenslosttheircontractworkwithSEPTAinMay2011andshutdownoperationsinJuly2011.Local234forcedEdenstogiveseverancepayandallaccruedvacationandpersonaltimetothe168unionmemberslosingtheirjobs.
OnceLocal234learnedthatMVTransitinNortheastPhiladelphiawouldbehiringmanyoftheworkersandwererequiringthemtojointheUIU,thelocalswungintoaction.Local234 iledan
unfairlaborpracticechargewiththeNationalLaborRelationsBoard.
InnovativeOrganizingDrivePaysOff
Local234also iledarepresentationpetitionseekinganelectionthatwouldallowMVemployeestochoosewhowouldberepresentingthem.TheunionlaunchedanorganizingcampaignthatincludedapersonalmessagefromthePresident,phonecallstoeachMVemployeeandseveralhandouts.Ontheveryhotelectionday,thelocalhandedoutcoldbottlesofwaterwithVoteLocal234labels.Local234wasvictorious,97to76.Almost300workerscameundertheTWUumbrella.
TheUIUchallengedtheelectionresults.OnAugust16,2012,JudgeMichaelRosasdecidedthatMVshouldhavestoppedrecognizingtheUIUJuly29,2011,thatithaddeniednewhirestherighttochoosetheirrepresentativesandthatMVshouldreimburseall297employeesforapproximatelyoneyear’sworthofunionduesithadcollected.
The ightnowistowintheworkersanewcontract.Withthesameenergyshownintherepresentationight,Local234will ightlikehelltogainagoodcontractforMVtransitworkers.
New MV Sec on Officers, from le , Cheryl Bea y (Chairperson), Leon Tann (Vice‐Chairman) and Colleen Holloman (Recording Secretary) take their oath.
President John Johnson Jr. addresses new MV Transit TWU members.
Page 4
TheRoute234softballteamtraveledtoNewYorkandtookonanAllStarTWU100teamattheirMemberAppreciationDayfestivities.Despiteavalianteffortinthelast3inningsourteamlost27‐8(nope,notatypo).ThetwobusloadsofmembersenjoyedtheConeyIslandbeachandthehospitalityofourbrothersandsistersinNewYork.Wearehopingtomakeitahomeandhomeseries,so...nextyearinPhilly!
Local100PresidentJohnSamuelsonandLocal234PresidentJohnJohnsonJr.Join the Fun!
Page 5
DeathMirrors:DangerousbyDesignSEPTAbusesareequippedwithRoscobrandmirrorsthathavealargerectangulardesign,measuring14½by10½inches.Theirsizecoupledwiththeirplacementonthebuscausesablindspot.Pedestriansareoftenfullyhiddenfromtheoperatorsview.Theresulthasbeenalargernumberofaccidentssincethesevehicleswereputinservice.SEPTAdeniesthereisablindspotbyusingtheterm“temporaryobstruction.”Operators,theycontend,caneliminateitby“rockingandrolling”and“bendingoverandrisingup”intheseattoseeover,aroundandunderthemirrorandbetweenthemirrorandthebusframe.Governmentagencies,includingPennDOT,USDOTandtheNTSB,allrecognizetheexistenceoftheblindspot.Instead,SEPTAhaschosentoblameanddischargeoperators.Theycaneasilyfollowtheleadofothertransitagenciesandeithermoveorreplacethemirrors.AtransitagencyinCanadarecentlypurchasedthesametypeofarticulatedbusesSEPTAcurrentlyhas.Insteadofthemirrorsboltednearthebaseofthewindow,theyhangdownfromthetop.Thisreducesoreliminatestheblindspot,especiallyinrelationtopedestrianswhoarenolongerfullyhiddenbehindthemirrors.
TWULocal234hasdemandedthatSEPTAfollowtheleadofothertransitagenciesandexperts.TheunionisfocusedonreducingthenumberofknockdownaccidentsThecostofmovingorreplacingthemirrorsislessthanthecostofafatalityoraworkerlosingtheirjob.Ourcontractsays“thesafetyofitsemployeesandtheridingpublicisofparamountimportancetothesuccessfulaccomplishmentofthemissionofprovidingtransitservicetothecitizensoftheregion.”SEPTAmanagementhasalegalandmoralobligationtogetridoftheDeathMirrors.
LutherGetsNewDiggsSEPTA Assistant General Manager of OperationsLutherDiggsleftSEPTAonJuly31,2012.TheysaidDiggs“isretiring”at61,butwesuspectthatLuthermayhavebeenhelpedout thedoorby JoeCasey’sbootonhisbackside.
Diggs may have becomeexpendable due to his inability“tomanage”Local234.Diggshadwell‐deserved reputation forbeing “a control freak” whoprized loyalty above all. Hesystematically installed “hispeople” as managers of thedepartments under his
command. One of those departments is laborrelations.Butunderhistighthand,ithasnotbeenagood year for SEPTA’s labor relations of ice. Local234 has taken several initiatives that have givenSEPTAablackeye.
1.Facedwithanepidemicofassaultsonoperators,Diggs responded with sensitivity training foroperators, failing to address the real cause ofassaults and ight for stringent penalties againstthosewhoassaultus.
2.TheRoscomirrorsontheNewFlyerbusesplayamajor role in a growing number of pedestrianknockdowns.OnceagainDiggschosetoblameandireoperatorsinsteadofworkingforrealsolutions.
3. The M‐4 trucks debacle was anotherembarrassment.SEPTAtriedtosub‐contractrepairworkonthetrucks,sendingtheworktoaplant inPlattsburgh. By iling an injunction Local 234wasabletopreventSEPTAfromremovingjobsfromourarea in themiddleof aneconomicdepression andusingmuch‐neededfederalfundingtodoit.
SEPTAwilldenythatDiggs’laborrelationsfailureshadanythingtodowithhis“retirement.”Butweknowthat,thankstotheeffortsofLocal234,hispolicieswereexposedfortheharmanddamagetheydid.
MeetTWUmemberMicheleFletcherAfterstartingasabusoperatoratSouthern,MicheletransferredtoMCD,workingat69thStreet.Quicklyrealizingthatthebuswasnotforher,Micheleishappydoingajobthatgiveshertheworkhourssheneedstospendthetimewithherfamilythatshewants.
Roscoemirrorblindspotobstructsviewofperson.
TWU UNITED WILL NEVER BE DEFEATED!
On the Move Voice of TWU Local 234 500 N. 2nd St. Philadelphia, 19123
‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐
Finding Solu ons . . . Together! TWU Local 234 President John Johnson Jr is visi ng each transporta on loca on around the system over the coming weeks, holding Town Hall Mee ngs with operators to talk about and hear our sugges ons and ideas about what we need to feel and be safe while opera ng SEPTA’s buses, trolleys and trains. (A special Town Hall Mee ng will be held at the Union Hall for cashiers.)
One Ques on! One Agenda! Think about what it is you need to help you. One of the commitments of the leadership of Local 234 is to include everyone in the solu ons ‐ not just what the union hall can do for us, but what we can do together.
Our Safety . . . What It Takes, What We Want!
TWU United‐Invincible
www.twu234.org
