ATU FIGHTS TO KEEP TRANSIT PUBLIC IN ONTARIO - NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2017 OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE AMALGAMATED TRANSIT UNION|AFL-CIO/CLC
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O F F I C I A L J O U R N A L O F T H E A M A LG A M AT E D T R A N S I T U N I O N | A F L- C I O/C LC
NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2017
ATU FIGHTS TO KEEP
TRANSIT PUBLIC
IN ONTARIO
NEWSBRIEFS
INTERNATIONAL OFFICERS
LAWRENCE J. HANLEY
International President
JAVIER M. PEREZ, JR.
International Executive Vice President
OSCAR OWENS
International Secretary-Treasurer Wrong to make NJ commuters pay for Gateway Tunnel
Businesses not NJ Transit commuters should shoulder the tax
INTERNATIONAL VICE PRESIDENTS burden to pay for the new Gateway Tunnel – a rail tunnel under
RICHARD M. MURPHY the Hudson River to link NYC and New Jersey - that is critical to
Newburyport, MA – rmurphy@atu.org
national security and economic vitality of the region. “As Governor
JANIS M. BORCHARDT Christie is leaving office, he is taking one more shot at NJ Transit
Madison, WI – jborchardt@atu.org
commuters with another round of huge fare increases to pay for
PAUL BOWEN
Canton, MI – pbowen@atu.org the tunnel,” says Chair of the ATU NJ State Council Ray Greaves.
KENNETH R. KIRK NJ commuters already pay the highest fares in the country and
Lancaster, TX – kkirk@atu.org have already had two fare increases since 2010. “We call on the governor and legislators to
MARCELLUS BARNES find a way to tax the businesses who will reap the rewards of a new tunnel,” says International
Flossmore, IL – mbarnes@atu.org President Larry Hanley.
RAY RIVERA
Lilburn, GA – rrivera@atu.org
YVETTE TRUJILLO Staying safe on the job in winter weather
Thornton, CO – ytrujillo@atu.org Winter is in high gear with snow and cold temperatures in
GARY JOHNSON, SR. many areas across North America. Many members are facing
Cleveland, OH – gjohnson@atu.org
dangerous cold conditions on the job. ATU International has
ROBIN WEST created a “Cold Weather Safety” bulletin to offer advice to
Halifax, NS – rwest@atu.org
protect yourself in freezing temperatures, how to identify cold
JOHN COSTA
Kenilworth, NJ – jcosta@atu.org injuries and other tips. This bulletin can be downloaded at
CHUCK WATSON http://bit.ly/2kUaGR4 and printed by most computers. We
Syracuse, NY – cwatson@atu.org encourage you to share this with your fellow brothers and sisters
CLAUDIA HUDSON throughout the winter to stay safe.
Oakland, CA – chudson@atu.org
BRUCE HAMILTON
New York, NY – bhamilton@atu.org ATU Safety SWAT Team gears up at training
MICHELLE SOMMERS An International Safety “SWAT” Team took part in an innovative
Brooklyn Park, MN – msommers@atu.org
training at the Tommy Douglas Conference Center to prepare to
JAMES LINDSAY
Santa Clarita, CA – jlindsay@atu.org conduct safety audits at ATU properties. The “SWAT” team will be
working in concert with Locals to identify workplace problems that
EMANUELE (MANNY) SFORZA
Toronto, ON – msforza@atu.org threaten the well-being of our members. This is the next phase of
JOHN CALLAHAN the union-wide Workstation Initiative campaign to fight for healthy,
Winnipeg, MB – jcallahan@atu.org safe and secure work environments.
INTERNATIONAL REPRESENTATIVES
DENNIS ANTONELLIS
Spokane, WA – dantonellis@atu.org INTERNATIONAL OFFICERS EMERITUS
STEPHAN MACDOUGALL
Boston, MA – smacdougall@atu.org International President Jim La Sala, ret.
ANTHONY GARLAND International President Warren George, ret.
Washington, DC – agarland@atu.org
ANTONETTE BRYANT International Executive Vice President Ellis Franklin, ret.
Oakland, CA – abryant@atu.org International Executive Vice President Mike Siano, ret.
SESIL RUBAIN
New Carrollton, MD – srubain@atu.org
Subscription: USA and Canada, $5 a year. Single copy: 50 cents. All others: $10 a year. Published bimonthly by the
CURTIS HOWARD Amalgamated Transit Union, Editor: Shawn Perry, Designer: Paul A. Fitzgerald. Editorial Office: 10000 New Hampshire
Atlanta, GA – choward@atu.org Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20903. Tel: 1-301-431-7100 . Please send all requests for address changes to the ATU
Registry Dept. ISSN: 0019-3291. PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 40033361.RETURN UNDELIVERABLE
CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO: APC Postal Logistics, LLC, PO Box 503, RPO, West Beaver Creek, Richmond Hill ON L4B 4R6.
ATU CANADA
PAUL THORP
Brampton, ON – president@atucanada.ca
CONTENT
N OV/ D E C
2017Vol. 126, No. 6
11 Has your Local passed the resolution to fix
the bus driver workstation?
12 International Executive Vice President’s
Message: Where will we end up?
13 International Secretary-Treasurer’s
Message: ‘We demand this fraud be stopped’
14 Shooting of St. Louis bus driver spurs Local
ATU FIGHTS TO KEEP PUBLIC TRANSIT 6 demand for better security
Transit investment can help close racial job gap
PUBLIC IN ONTARIO
15 More than 130 Locals pass resolution to fix
the bus driver workstation
22 Gainesville Local weighs in on coming
driverless shuttle
Largest North American bus maker to
develop electric, autonomous technology
23 Twin Cities Local ratifies contract, averts
Super Bowl strike
FIGHTING FOR WORKERS 16 24 Local strikes deal for labor peace for
streetcar workers
YESTERDAY, TODAY, AND TOMORROW
Organizing Win in Milwaukee
2 International Officers & 25 Winnipeg Local: Use smaller buses or Uber-
General Executive Board like apps instead of cutting service
News Briefs Win an ATU jacket like Raymond Vandervort,
3 Index Page 1145-Binghamton, NY
4 Canadian Agenda: Canada, Ontario invest in 26 Mississauga Local pushing to ‘Keep Transit
Ottawa Region public transit Public’ with LRT
5 ATU hits Parliament Hill to push for safer ATU condemns NYC Port Authority bombing,
bus workstations mass transit security critical
8 Nation observes Day of Remembrance, 27 Punched, spit on, hit with objects: Edmonton
Action on Violence against Women bus drivers regularly face violence on the job
City to make up transit budget cuts with 28 Translations (Spanish)
increased parking fees
31 In Memoriam
9 Reps. Brown and Local 689 propose bill to
make the Metro safer, more affordable 32 Reminder: ATU headquarters has moved
Uber has no place in International Association
of Public Transport
10 International President’s Message:
‘Our survival will be found in our solidarity…
or not’
IN TRANSIT | www.atu.org 3
Canadian Agenda
Canada, Ontario invest in Ottawa
Region public transit
The governments of Canada and Ontario are making
investments that will help create well-paying jobs and
grow the middle class now while building a strong
foundation for a sustainable economic future.
MP Anita Vandenbeld, on behalf of the Amarjeet
Sohi, 569-Edmonton, AB, minister of infrastructure
and communities; Bob Chiarelli, Ontario minister of
infrastructure; and Mark Taylor, deputy mayor of the
City of Ottawa, have announced two new projects
funded through the Public Transit Infrastructure Fund
(PTIF) that will benefit the residents of Ottawa. The
announcement marks a significant milestone with the is providing more than $28,000 and the Township of
recent delivery of new double decker buses also funded Russell will provide the balance of funding.
through PTIF.
New high capacity buses
Garage improvements Also in Ottawa are some of the 17 new high-capacity
Improvements will be made to OC Transpo’s Pinecrest buses that have been purchased to expand the OC
Garage that consist of repairing the aged concrete in Transpo fleet and provide additional service capacity in
the bus bay and upgrading the sidewalks and asphalt growing areas of the city, including Orléans, Barrhaven
in the yard. Across town, a new multi-use pathway will and Kanata. The new double-decker buses, funded
be built to link OC Transpo’s St-Laurent Station to through PTIF, will increase capacity by approximately
the commercial district on the east side of St-Laurent 950,000 additional customer-trips each year.
Boulevard. The federal government is contributing
more than $800,000 for these two projects, and the City These investments are part of an agreement between
of Ottawa will provide the balance of funding. Canada and Ontario for the Public Transit Infrastructure
Fund. v
In addition, a project to upgrade a park and ride station
in Russell has also been approved. Not only will the
existing park and ride station be moved to a new, more
convenient and accessible location, but it will offer
ample parking and a bus shelter. The federal government
4 November/December 2017 | IN TRANSIT
ATU hits Parliament Hill to push
for safer bus workstations
More than 40 members from across Canada descended
on Parliament Hill to meet with federal legislators to raise
awareness on serious bus workstation design flaws and
safety concerns that are endangering bus operators and
pedestrians alike.
Prior to the meetings, the members took part in an
innovative ATU training to prepare for their meetings with
the elected officials from their communities.
This Fall, the ATU has been engaged in a union-wide
Workstation Initiative Campaign to stop bus blind spot ATU leaders with the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities
deaths, assaults on bus drivers, poor seats, and dangerous and Local 569-Edmonton, AB member Amarjeet Sohi.
fumes. More than 130 Locals have passed the “Resolution
to End Fatalities and Injuries Resulting from Poor Transit
Bus Design” at their Local union meetings. unnecessarily! We need commitments for financial
resources to redesign new buses and to retrofit suitable
changes to older buses.”
Driver blind spots, assaults on drivers
Among the key legislators ATU met with were MP Judy
on agenda Sgro and Minister of Infrastructure and Communities and
One of the key safety concerns addressed at the meetings Local 569-Edmonton, AB member Amarjeet Sohi. MP
was dangerous blind spots due to huge side mirrors and Sgro was so moved by the meetings especially on the driver
the massive “A” pillars on the left side of the windshield blind spots that she sent a letter to provincial politicians
which obstruct a driver’s view of up to 13 pedestrians in about her meeting and calling for changes to current buses
a crosswalk. Also on the agenda was violence against to address this problem.
transit operators and the lack of bus shields and other
safety measures to protect operators. Across Canada, there “The transit industry throughout North America has
are 2,000 assaults on bus drivers every year according to acknowledged that the blind spot issue is a real problem
the Canadian Urban Transit Association, and more that and the current proposed solutions are not going to work,”
go unreported. Sgro’s letter read. “The Amalgamated Transit Union
(ATU) has proposed two reasonable solutions that will
eliminate this danger and I would like to bring them to
All levels of government must be involved your attention: 1. Low mounted, reasonably sized left side
mirrors. 2. Reasonably sized “A” pillars. Thank you for
“It is crucial that we gain support from all levels of your consideration of these requests.”
government in both Canada and the US to address these
serious safety issues. Operators are entitled to work each ATU Canada President Paul Thorp says, “These lobby
and every day in a safe environment without the risk of day are important to pushing for important changes to
being attacked or even spat upon,” says ATU International protect transit workers and the public. For years now the
Vice President Manny Sforza, who lobbied politicians. ATU has been lobbying to have the serious safety concerns
“The blind spot issue is also extremely serious, and addressed and it’s time our government does their part.
everything possible should be done to reduce and eliminate Our Employers and the Government need to stop putting
entirely any risk of pedestrians being injured or killed a price on humanity.” v
IN TRANSIT | www.atu.org 5
ATU fights to Keep Transit Public
in Ontario
ATU Locals across Ontario are fighting together to “Keep private companies often request – and receive – additional
Transit Public.” The Ontario provincial government, subsidies.
currently led by the Liberal Party, is spending billions of
dollars on transit infrastructure and service expansions The bottom line is that private companies who bid on
under its regional transit agency, Metrolinx. transit projects are interested in one thing: generating
a profit. After taxpayers pay them for their services, they
further maximize profits by cutting wages and benefits
or raising fares and cutting services. We often see them
do both. With private transit, our members and the
public suffer.
Since the government of Ontario is using this model across
the province, ATU leadership from Ontario Locals have
built a campaign called “Keep Transit Public.”
Full-scale campaign
Rally to “Keep Transit Public” With the support of neighbouring Locals, ATU Canada,
the International, and Local 107-Hamilton, ON, launched
a full-scale campaign in June. The city of Hamilton has
Unfortunately, many of these service expansions are being received $1 billion in funding for a new light rail transit
delivered through public-private partnerships, or P3s, project (LRT) as a FDBOM P3.
which use private companies to Finance, Design, Build,
Operate, and Maintain (FDBOM) new transit. Metrolinx’s
P3 model excludes public transit agencies from these new
projects, turning integral pieces of transit systems over to
private companies.
Public-private partnerships allow governments to appear
to invest in infrastructure and services without increasing
their debt load. In fact, total costs are often higher, but P3s
create the illusion of savings by stretching-out costs over a
longer period.
True costs hidden Local 107-Hamilton, ON, President Eric Tuck at rally.
Governments use P3s so they can claim balanced budgets
ahead of elections, with the true costs hidden until those Local 107 knew from the beginning that, in order to keep
in power are long retired from public office. Companies transit public, it had to partner with riders. But how does
are eager to engage in P3s to make money on public a Local of 700 members build a coalition and campaign to
projects because they are guaranteed a return on their take on a massive government agency and the ruling party
investment, with guaranteed profit margins often of the province?
stipulated in their contract. If these profits aren’t realized,
6 November/December 2017 | IN TRANSIT
One-on-one The model was simple: organize members to organize their
passengers. Then, together, they use their collective power to
First, local union leaders and rank-and-file volunteers
get the government to change their delivery model.
engaged members one-on-one. They discussed what
impact privatization would have on the work members Now that the Hamilton campaign has forced action
do every day and their livelihoods. Then, we offered a from Hamilton City Council, Ontario Locals
way to get started: get trained on the issues and on how 1572-Mississauga, 1573-Brampton, 1587-Toronto at
to engage riders. GO Transit, and 113-Toronto have launched their own
Keep Transit Public Campaigns to stop privatization
Dozens of ATU members volunteered on their own time
in their communities and help pressure the provincial
to attend campaign training courses at the union hall.
government to end the use of P3s.
There, they learned about Metrolinx’s big picture plan
and how to translate that into a message riders would
respond to. Soon, members were signing up to talk to
riders and community members at bus stops and events.
Their hard work and dedication paid off. They collected
more than 6,500 petition signatures and emails that
were sent to city council, provincial officials, and
Metrolinx staff.
Allies join the ATU at rally
Bringing the fight to the next level
As In Transit went to print, Hamilton City Council voted
in favor of a new resolution, 15-1, to have Local 107 represent
LRT workers. The Local also introduced a new passenger
bill of rights. However the final chapter in Hamilton
shakes out, ATU Locals are already bringing the fight to the
Local 107 members hit the streets of Hamilton, ON
next level.
Then, Local 107 mobilized members and passengers to Ontarians will go to the polls in June for their provincial
push Hamilton City Council to pass a motion. It called elections and then again in October for municipal
on Metrolinx to allow the local public transit agency, elections. These looming deadlines have underscored the
HSR, to operate and maintain the Hamilton LRT. political urgency of this campaign.
Members and riders rallied outside city hall with transit Privatization is one of the biggest threats transit workers
workers and riders from Hamilton and across the Greater face today, but ATU members are not alone. Along with
Toronto-Hamilton Area. other unions and labour networks, such as the Ontario
Federation of Labour, the Ontario Public Service
Employees Union and the Canadian Union of Public
‘First of its kind’ Employees, ATU has vowed to make privatization a major
They also called councillors to keep the pressure on. election issue in 2018. v
This show of public support and solidarity gave the city
council no choice but to pass the resolution – the first of
its kind – demanding that Metrolinx keep operations and
maintenance public.
IN TRANSIT | www.atu.org 7
City to make up transit budget cuts with increased
parking fees
Winnipeg, MB’s plan to reduce service on 22 bus routes
may be shelved, as a result of Mayor Brian Bowman’s new
plan to raise funds by increasing parking fees.
“What we heard loud and clear from transit riders and from
many of the delegates were concerns about the anticipated
route rationalization,” says Bowman.
Local 1505-Winnipeg, MB, sees this as a sign of progress.
“I think it’s an excellent start but there’s a lot more work to
be done,” says Local President Aleem Chaudhary. “I think
there’s still low income people who’ll be hurting because of
the fare hike.”
Chaudhary is referring to a proposed 25¢ fare increase.
Bowman says, however, that the city is considering a lower
fare for low-income residents. v
Nation observes Day of Remembrance, Action on
Violence against Women
Canada celebrated the National Day of Remembrance and consider concrete actions to eliminate all forms of
and Action on Violence against Women on December violence against women and girls.
6. Established by Parliament in 1991, the day marks the
anniversary of the murders in 1989, of 14 young women at November and December are important months for
l’École Polytechnique de Montréal. raising awareness of gender-based violence in Canada
and around the world. In addition to the National
As well as commemorating the 14 young women whose Day of Remembrance and Action on December 6, the
lives ended in an act of gender-based violence that shocked International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against
the nation, December 6, provides an opportunity for Women takes place on November 25, and marks the first
Canadians to reflect on the phenomenon of violence of 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence,
against women in society, and consider the women and which ended on December 10, with International Human
girls for whom violence is a daily reality. Rights Day. v
Time to consider concrete action
It’s also a time in which Canadians are urged to remember
those who have died as a result of gender-based violence,
8 November/December 2017 | IN TRANSIT
Winnipeg Local: Use smaller buses or Uber-like
apps instead of cutting service
Local 1505-Winnipeg, MB, is urging the city of Winnipeg
to consider using smaller buses, devising flexible routes
and moving to service on demand in some areas instead of
just cutting back on service along routes with lower ridership.
Facing a budget crisis, the city is considering less frequent
bus service on up to 23 Winnipeg Transit routes, but many
people in outlying areas who rely on public transit will be
left stranded.
“Cutting service on those routes, in the evenings and
weekends, you’re going to frustrate people. People are
already waiting for service as it is, and if you cut the
service, instead of waiting 20 minutes, you’re waiting an “It’s super-frustrating. You’re standing there waiting for the
hour,” says Local President Aleem Chaudhary. “You’re bus. It sucks to be passed over,” said Ben Collins, a graduate
pissed off, here comes the next bus and who are you student at the University of Manitoba. He said it doesn’t
going to take it out on? The first person you see. Who is make sense to cut back on transit service while the city
that? The bus driver.” invests in transit infrastructure such as bus corridors.
A transportation expert and University of Manitoba
professor Barry Prentice said simply reducing service in
Students frustrated with poor outlying areas is no solution for people who rely on some
bus service form of public transit. “I don’t know of anybody who’s
Students who rely on Winnipeg Transit are already ever shrunk their way to greatness,” Prentice said. “Maybe
frustrated with poor service. More passengers are stranded they should be focusing more on really good service for the
at the start of the fall and winter university semesters. people who will use the transit.” v
Win an ATU jacket like Raymond Vandervort,
1145-Binghamton, NY
Want a chance to win an ATU jacket like Raymond? It’s easy. All
you have to do is go to http://www.atu.org/, go to the bottom bar
of the homepage and sign up to receive email ATU action alerts on
the latest news and developments on ATU, public transportation,
politics and other important issues.
To enter the drawing, simply provide your e-mail, local number
and zip/postal code. If you have already submitted your email
you’re still signed up for the contest, simply click “Skip and Continue
to Website.”
IN TRANSIT | www.atu.org 25
Mississauga Local pushing to ‘Keep Transit Public’
with LRT
The Mississauga campaign is part of the province-wide
“Keep Transit Public” campaign by ATU Locals from
Brampton, Hamilton, Toronto and Mississauga.
City is short-sighted
Concerned about the impending operating costs of the
LRT, Jackson accused the city of being short-sighted when
it comes to how much this project will have to be subsidized
by taxpayers.
“They are so focused on the carrot that the province is
Local 1572-Mississauga, ON, representing 992 transit
dangling in front of them — the $1.4 billion in capital
operators, is pushing for the province to delegate control
funding. But they’re not telling the municipalities all the
of the 20-kilometre Hurontario LRT to MiWay transit
negative that’s going to come with this funding,” he said.
workers who are already running Mississauga’s existing
transportation network. Jackson argues the system would better reflect the needs
of transit users if it was run by MiWay instead of a third
“We believe that our involvement is not just beneficial for
party. “I think they forget we move thousands of people on
us — the members — but for the actual public, because
a daily basis,” he said. v
it’s a system that will be run and maintained by the
people who have been running it for decades,” said Local
President Jack Jackson.
ATU condemns NYC Port Authority bombing,
mass transit security critical
“The bombing at the NYC Port Authority is the latest “Transit stations like the NYC Port Authority are big
example of a vicious, senseless attack on innocent open spaces that are difficult to secure. I urge our transit
people that is becoming much too common. This terrorist agencies, operators and passengers to continue to be
attack serves as a reminder of how vulnerable mass vigilant and watchful for anything of a suspicious nature
transit systems are and the critical importance of security on our systems, as we work together to defeat terrorism in
on our transit systems,” said International President the United States, Canada and the world.” v
Larry Hanley.
“Our hearts and prayers go out to those injured and their
families, as well as our praise for the first responders who
treated the injured with their quick actions.
26 November/December 2017 | IN TRANSITPunched, spit on, hit with objects: Edmonton Bus
drivers regularly face violence on the job
On a sunny afternoon last February, a young man “We’re getting a lot of people, young operators, that are
boarded an Edmonton bus and got into an argument starting the job and they try it for a year and get assaulted or
with a transit operator who told the rider he had boarded spit on, sworn at and they say, ‘No, this isn’t for me,’” said
with an expired transfer. When the operator called transit Local 569 President Mark Tetterington. “You get a lot of
control to advise them of the issue, the man became people who quit. There’s got to be more that we can do to
aggressive, punching the driver in the face and biting him protect those operators.”
on the arm.
Early driver shields created glare, heat
193 attacks on transit operators Edmonton transit tested driver shields in 2010, to mostly
This was one of the 193 documented cases of violence against negative reviews. But operators said the early model
a transit operator in Edmonton since 2014. shields rattled, created glare and made drivers feel isolated.
The biggest issue was the heat — in the summer, the shields
These attacks including the death of a Winnipeg bus driver turned the driver’s seat into a sauna.
in February have renewed debate over the “disturbing”
level of violence against transit operators and how to protect
operators. The debate began eight years ago when a vicious
attack left Local 569-Edmonton, AB, bus operator Tom
Bregg seriously injured.
The Bregg attack lead to the House of Commons introducing
Bregg’s Law, a private member’s bill in 2011, that allows
for steeper penalties in assaults where the victim is a transit
worker. However, it took until 2015 for The House of
Commons to finally pass Bregg’s Law.
That could change as Edmonton upgrades its buses.
The city is buying around 55 new buses that will have
air-conditioning and is considering newer bus operator
shields. v
Mark Tetterington, President of Local 569
But the bill obviously hasn’t deterred attacks as evidenced
by data showing 2,000 assaults on bus operators every year
in Canada and many more incidents including verbal abuse
and spitting on drivers that goes unreported.
IN TRANSIT | www.atu.org 27« Notre survie dépend de déroule à une table, l’autre table paie la note.
Nous n’avons pas de temps pour les « Je te l’avais dit ». Ce
notre solidarité... ou pas » sera le moment de rassembler toutes nos forces. Au cours
des six prochains mois, il y aura contre notre syndicat des
À l’aube de 2018, le SUT se remémore une année attaques directes, conçues par les mêmes personnes qui
mouvementée. Des campagnes importantes ont été et ont conçu la réglementation fiscale.
continuent d’être menées dans nos deux pays. Au Canada, Ils veulent réduire votre capacité à survivre au sein d’un
nous poursuivons notre campagne anti-privatisation syndicat. Ils vont attaquer la structure du syndicat, y
partout en Ontario. Aux États-Unis, nous luttons de compris nos finances.
toutes les façons possibles contre la privatisation, pour la Le loup est non seulement à la porte, il est dans toutes les
sécurité au travail et nous survivons à un gouvernement pièces de la maison.
dévoué à la baisse des salaires.
Notre survie dépend de notre solidarité... ou pas. À vous
Le masque de l’Administration Trump est tombé et il de décider.
est clair que ce que vous obtenez N’EST PAS ce qui
vous a été promis. Difficile de ne pas arriver à la conclusion
que beaucoup de travailleurs ont été poussés à voter Qui dirige le SUT ?
pour cela. Chaque section locale du SUT doit tenir des réunions
2018 s’attaquera aux « droits ». Les droits sont des syndicales mensuelles. Chaque membre devrait y assister.
prestations comme la sécurité sociale et l’assurance C’est lors de ces réunions que les activités de votre
maladie qui sont en réalité gagnés par les travailleurs. section locale sont décidées. Les votes s’y déroulent. Les
plans y sont approuvés. Les contrats et les avantages y
Les États-Unis ont choisi de ne pas payer leurs factures. sont discutés.
Nous pourrions le faire, si nous n’avions pas la plus grande
Si vous n’êtes pas présents, vous confiez votre participation,
armée du monde. Les travailleurs paient pour cette armée
votre voix, votre vote à ceux qui le sont. Songez à donner
même si, en fait, elle existe surtout pour protéger les une heure par mois pour faire entendre votre voix et
milliardaires et leurs entreprises. participer à la conversation syndicale.
Elle garde le pétrole à flot et les voies d’expédition
ouvertes. Nous avons des bases militaires et des troupes
dans plus de 100 pays, mais nous avons été incapables de Qui ne devrait pas diriger le SUT ?
sauver Porto Rico de plusieurs mois de conditions de vie De temps en temps, nous entendons des histoires terribles
inhumaines après une tempête. au sujet des avocats des sections locales qui franchissent
les limites. Nos avocats sont embauchés pour nous donner
des conseils juridiques, non pour diriger une stratégie
Traîtres milliardaires syndicale, décider de ce qu’est un bon contrat ou nous
dire comment stopper un politicien.
Alors les traîtres milliardaires utilisent notre argent pour
protéger leurs entreprises. Mais, ils conservent leur propre Beaucoup d’avocats avec qui j’ai travaillé sont des gens
argent à l’étranger pour éviter de payer des impôts. formidables. Certains ont accompli des choses héroïques
pour le mouvement ouvrier.
Puis le Congrès leur accorde docilement une amnistie
d’impôts, les suppliant de « rapatrier » leur argent. Malheureusement, il arrive souvent que de bons avocats
Rapatrier... Ensuite, les républicains empruntent soient incapables de rester dans leur voie et limiter leur
1,5 trillion de dollars pour donner encore plus d’argent contribution à ce qu’ils comprennent le mieux – la loi.
à ces non-patriotes, en utilisant l’argent des travailleurs Nous devrions leur accorder le respect qu’ils méritent en
pour payer la facture. tant qu’avocats syndicaux.
2018 : l’addition est sur la table. Sauf que dans ce jeu, Mais ils doivent également nous accorder le respect que
ceux qui ont fait la fête ne paient jamais. Le repas se nous méritons en tant qu’adultes capables de prendre
28 November/December 2017 | IN TRANSITdes décisions sans être rabaissés. Si les avocats syndicaux Les partenariats public-privé permettent aux
disent aux membres qu’ils sont « trop stupides pour gouvernements d’avoir l’air d’investir dans l’infrastructure
comprendre le contrat » ou qu’ils menacent que les et les services sans augmenter leur endettement. En fait,
membres en disant qu’ils « feraient mieux d’accepter un les coûts totaux sont souvent plus élevés, mais les PPP
accord sinon... », ils ont besoin de se faire rappeler à qui créent une illusion d’économies en répartissant les coûts
ce syndicat appartient. sur une plus longue période.
Si votre section locale fait face à de sérieuses menaces
extérieures, surtout depuis que les tribunaux sont en
train d’être pris en charge par les partisans de la droite, Coûts réels dissimulés
ne comptez pas sur les avocats ou les tribunaux pour Les gouvernements utilisent les PPP pour pouvoir faire
vous sauver. Ce syndicat a été bâti par des travailleurs état de budgets équilibrés avant les élections, les véritables
du transport en commun – pas des consultants. Vous ne coûts étant cachés jusqu’à ce que les dirigeants au pouvoir
pouvez pas poursuivre ou arbitrer votre chemin vers le soient retraités de la fonction publique depuis longtemps.
pouvoir. Les entreprises sont impatientes de s’engager dans des
Le pouvoir est ce dont vous avez besoin pour gagner. PPP pour gagner de l’argent sur des projets publics pour
Les membres, une fois informés et organisés, sont des le rendement garanti sur leur investissement, avec des
bâtisseurs de pouvoir. Près de 100 % des défis auxquels marges bénéficiaires garanties souvent stipulées dans
nous faisons face sont des points de ralliement potentiels leur contrat. Si ces bénéfices ne sont pas réalisés, les
pour nos usagers. Nous comptons 100 usagers pour entreprises privées demandent souvent ‒ et reçoivent ‒
chaque membre actif. Pensez-y. des subventions supplémentaires.
Mettez votre confiance dans vos membres et vos usagers – En fin de compte, les entreprises privées qui soumissionnent
pas quelques avocats et un juge. v pour des projets de transport sont intéressées par une
chose : générer un profit. Après que les contribuables
les aient payés pour leurs services, ils maximisent leurs
profits en réduisant les salaires et les avantages sociaux,
ou en augmentant les tarifs et en réduisant les services
Le SUT se mobilise pour (souvent les deux). Avec le transport privé, nos membres
et le public sont lésés.
garder le transport « public » Puisque le gouvernement de l’Ontario utilise ce modèle
en Ontario partout dans la province, les dirigeants des sections
locales du SUT en Ontario ont lancé une campagne
appelée « Keep Transit Public » (Gardez public le transport
Les sections locales du SUT en Ontario unissent leurs
en commun).
forces pour garder public le transport en commun avec
sa campagne « Keep Transit Public ». Le gouvernement
provincial de l’Ontario, dirigé par le Parti libéral, injecte
des milliards de dollars dans l’infrastructure de transport Une campagne à grande échelle
en commun et dans l’expansion des services de l’agence Avec le soutien des sections locales voisines, SUT Canada,
de transport régional, Metrolinx. l’International et la section locale 107 Hamilton (Ontario)
ont lancé une campagne à grande échelle en juin. La ville
Malheureusement, bon nombre de ces expansions de de Hamilton a reçu un financement de 1 milliard de dollars
services sont réalisées dans le cadre de partenariats public- pour un nouveau projet de train léger sur rail (TLR) en
privé, ou PPP, qui utilisent des entreprises privées pour tant que P3 FDBOM.
financer, dessiner, bâtir, opérer et maintenir (FDBOM)
de nouveaux transports en commun. Le modèle P3 de La section locale 107 savait dès le départ que pour
Metrolinx exclut les organismes de transport en commun maintenir le transport public, elle devait s’associer avec les
de ces nouveaux projets, transformant des systèmes usagers. Mais comment une section locale de 700 membres
intégrés de transport en commun en sociétés privées. peut-elle mettre sur pied une coalition et une campagne
IN TRANSIT | www.atu.org 29pour s’attaquer à une agence gouvernementale massive et puissent organiser leurs passagers. Ensuite, tous ensemble, ils
au parti provincial au pouvoir? utilisent leur pouvoir collectif pour amener le gouvernement
à changer son modèle de prestation.
Maintenant que la campagne a réussi à forcer le conseil
Un contre un municipal de Hamilton, les sections locales 1572 –
Premièrement, les dirigeants syndicaux locaux et des Mississauga, 1573 – Brampton, 1587 – Toronto chez
bénévoles ont engagé des membres individuellement. GO Transit et 113 – Toronto ont lancé leurs propres
Ils ont discuté de l’impact que la privatisation aurait campagnes publiques Keep Transit Public pour stopper
sur le travail quotidien des membres et sur leur moyen la privatisation dans leurs communautés et aider à faire
de subsistance. Ensuite, nous avons offert un moyen de pression sur le gouvernement provincial pour qu’il cesse
démarrer : une formation sur les enjeux et sur la façon d’utiliser les PPP.
d’engager les usagers.
Des dizaines de membres du SUT se sont portés
Amener le combat au prochain niveau
volontaires pour assister à des formations au sujet de
la campagne, dans les locaux du syndicat. Là, ils ont Au moment de l’impression de l’In Transit, le conseil
pris connaissance du plan d’ensemble de Metrolinx et municipal de Hamilton a voté à 15 contre 1 en faveur d’une
ont appris comment le traduire en un message auquel nouvelle résolution pour que la section locale 107 représente
les usagers réagiraient. Rapidement, les membres se les travailleurs du TLR. La section locale a également
sont inscrits pour discuter avec les usagers et les présenté une nouvelle déclaration des droits des passagers.
membres de la communauté aux arrêts d’autobus et à Peut importe comment le dernier chapitre de Hamilton
divers événements. se terminera, les sections locales du SUT amènent déjà le
combat au niveau suivant.
Leur travail acharné et leur dévouement ont porté
fruit. Ils ont recueilli plus de 6 500 signatures de Les Ontariens iront aux urnes en juin dans le cadre des
pétitions et des courriels qui ont été envoyés au conseil élections provinciales, puis de nouveau en octobre pour
municipal, aux fonctionnaires provinciaux et au personnel les élections municipales. Ces échéances imminentes ont
de Metrolinx. souligné l’urgence politique de cette campagne.
Ensuite, la section locale 107 a mobilisé les membres La privatisation est l’une des plus grandes menaces
et les passagers pour pousser le conseil municipal de auxquelles les travailleurs du transport en commun
Hamilton à adopter une motion. Elle a demandé à sont confrontés aujourd’hui ; mais les membres du SUT
Metrolinx d’autoriser l’agence de transport en commun ne sont pas seuls. Avec d’autres syndicats et réseaux de
local, HSR, à exploiter et à entretenir le TLR d’Hamilton. travailleurs, comme la Fédération du travail de l’Ontario,
Les membres et les usagers se sont rassemblés à l’extérieur le Syndicat des employés de la fonction publique de
de l’hôtel de ville en compagnie des travailleurs du l’Ontario et le Syndicat canadien de la fonction publique,
transport en commun et des usagers d’Hamilton et de la le SUT a promis de faire de la privatisation un enjeu
région du Grand Toronto – Hamilton. majeur en 2018. v
« Première du genre »
Ils ont également appelé des conseillers afin de maintenir
la pression. Cette manifestation de soutien public et de
solidarité n’a donné d’autre choix au conseil municipal
que d’adopter la résolution ‒ la première du genre ‒
exigeant que Metrolinx rende publics les opérations et
l’entretien.
Le modèle était simple : organiser les membres pour qu’ils
30 November/December 2017 | IN TRANSITIn Memoriam
Death Benefits Awarded September 1, 2017 - October 31, 2017
1- MEMBERS AT LARGE BILL SMITH JR 689- WASHINGTON, DC 880- CAMDEN, NJ 1182- ST. JOHN, NB
JOSEPH BARBER JERRY TAYLOR JOHN L BUNDY FELIX ELEAZER GEORGE PROKIPCZUK
JOSEPH L ENGLISH JAMES R VAUGHN JR REGINALD L BUNTING RICHARD A MUCHOWSKI
JAMES O FRIEND PHILLIP L WHITE MARTIN COPELAND ALBERT SNELL 1267- FT.LAUDERDALE, FL
GEORGE R GIPSON WALTER A HINES SHEILA FRANCIS
JACK REEL 265- SAN JOSE, CA WALTER J JONES 998- MILWAUKEE, WI
STEPHEN A SEFICK JR SHIRLEY J BROOKE HOWARD L KIRK HENRY ARD 1277- LOS ANGELES, CA
HAROLD C WOODWARD BARBARA J COOVER ROBERT W MORRIS JOHN T AXTELL CAMERON HALL BEAN
FRANCIS DESCHAMPS FREDDIE NIX JOHN H BELLAMY NELS E HICKS
22- WORCESTER, MA JOHN P EELLS EDWARD L OVERTON LENORA BEVERLY THOMAS T TAIRA
MICHAEL A DROHAN ROBERT J PETERSON JACK E BOSS ABEL TAMEZ JR
RICHARD J MAWDSLEY 279- OTTAWA, ON JIMMY RICHARDSON CARL J BRAHMSTEAD JIMMY L WEAVER
DANIEL R DORION STEVEN L SOLOMON KENNETH E EIKE
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SAM ANDERSON ROBERT A FORAN WILLIE L PERKINS SR ALBERT WILBURN
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85- PITTSBURGH, PA DONALD SCHREIBER 1300- BALTIMORE, MD
NED WASHINGTON
ROBERT CLAYTON ADAMS 308- CHICAGO, IL GILBERT STANOWSKY JAMES MC GEE
RICHARD M WELLS
GUY J BUZZELLI WARREN MANCIL MARTHA W WASHINGTON
STEVEN YOO
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KENNETH J ROBINSON 1360- TOPEKA, KS
725- BIRMINGHAM, AL JAMES M KIRNON
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PEPPINO BARBIERI
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GEORGE L SIMMONS
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732- ATLANTA, GA RAYMOND O SKINNER
GEORGE DIMAURO JOHN KOSTELNY
BETTY G JOHNSON
ODINO DURATTI DEBRA E LAFFERTY 1447- LOUISVILLE, KY
1179- NEW YORK, NY
LLOYD JOSEPH GARDNER BRENT WHITFORD PAUL L FULNER
741- LONDON, ON JOSEPH E ATTENIESE
SAMUEL WILFRED MC NIECE MARTIN KELLY
KIRK FOWLER
JOHN MORTON 582- ROME, NY 1505- WINNIPEG, MB
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1181- NEW YORK, NY
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OSWALD A PATTERSON 587- SEATTLE, WA 757- PORTLAND, OR REG A WHEELER
MELVIN R CHAMBERLAIN JOSEPHINE AURICCHIO
FRANCIS POWER CHARLES J ALLEN EDNER BODO
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241- CHICAGO, IL ALICE L LANE JOSEPH J LE BARRON 1573- BRAMPTON, ON
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