The Only Stupid Question Is The One You Don't Ask 0 Comments

In last months report I'm sure many of you remember that I stated that it looked as though we were in the clear for summer, citing that this was based on current information, and that from the time I wrote the article, to the time you received it, was a difference of 3 weeks. (for those of you who forget the Labor Press is written & printed in advance...DOAH!)

  Well it all changed overnight unfortunately and where as the bulk of the Districts layoffs were to occur in the fall, they have now been moved up to summer. This change by the Districts own admission was due to the fact that the planning department made a counting error regarding EmX drivers. So while I prefaced my statement (knowing how fast things change), the Union was as surprised as you were, and now have a shorter timeline and more numbers to work with the District in the effort to offset layoffs.

   Upon delivery of the news to the Union of the District's error, it was agreed that due to the increase in layoffs, that the number of retirement incentive packages that were initially offered would be nearly tripled and for summer bid the District would now offer 5 voluntary furlough packages. This is the current action being taken. Whatever else may be brought forth to avert layoffs is not in play but your union is working as hard to do what we can to preserve jobs.

   I know this is a stressful time. I know because I can see it on many of your faces. I know because I don't sleep well if at all myself lately. (and no that's not just because I drive the 79x). Some of you have expressed discontent that at the last Union meeting there was a lack of information regarding layoffs. I am not sure what else I can say.

No More Speculating

 Learning from my last report: even speculating , even when it all seems in the bag - is a mistake. Optimism is all most of us really have. Still, I think Chris Rock the comedian once said: "They always told us, there was a light at the end of the tunnel...They never told us...It was a train!" I don't want my message to be that, but I ask you all that are in the Layoff effected range, to hope for the best, and plan for the worst.

 Understand that it is a day to day thing when it comes to the numbers and that for me to tell you anything I don't know as fact during a union meeting would be unfair and irresponsible of me. But remember, you are the Union...If you got to a Union meeting and don't get the information you want - ask. If you don't like the answer- tell us. But don't leave the meeting and spread the message that the union isn't giving the answers, when you passed on the opportunity to ask the question.

 We have begun early talks regarding the pension plan and the Health Plan in an effort to lay the ground-work for negotiations. Many of you have expressed your concerns of the timeliness of the process and while this is only the first time I have been involved with a contract negotiation directly, I have played a part in another contract ratification in another union. The process is slow at times and fast at others.

"Hurry up and wait." 

 This is not by design but is more a byproduct of collective bargaining. But hurry up and wait is outweighed by the end result of collective bargaining. Many of you who have been here a short time need to realize that your pay and benefits are a result of battles of old fought by the people you work beside day to day. I ask that during this time you stay focused in your solidarity and continue to ban together. Your union officers, local and universal, are dedicated to the cause and will keep you in the know as soon as they are in the know on issues surrounding the membership.

In Solidarity,
Brian Pasquali
ATU 757 Executive Board Officer
Lane Transit

Bid Week: The Good, The Bad & The Ugly 0 Comments

Bid week is upon us! Its a beautiful thing really. Now, generally most people handle it all fairly well, but the anticipation and build up is too much for others. Based on my humble observations, there are some 'boiler room' concepts I would like those few to consider ---


#1 Show up

If you don't - we bid as close to what you had last time from what work is still open in the current bid. There seems to be two repeat offenders in this department but the rule is applied in any case when an operator does not fill out a 'relief to bid', fails to turn in an 'absentee slip' or 'designated bidder form', and does not show when their number is called.

I am not trying to send a negative message regarding the bid but for me, the last thing I want to have to do is make the choice for you.



#2 Don't Stray

If you submit a 'relief to bid' form, remember that if your current run has a 'split' break, the relief slip does not hold the spot for you while in-between shifts, on your own time. If you get back from a run and see your number is close, don't go anywhere because we will not try and track you down off the property.



#3 The Clock is a-tick-in

Operators get ten minutes to make a choice. As with a no-show in the bid room, if you go over the time allotted, I have an obligation to pick for you. It has not happened recently but it has happened.

There can and have been exceptions to the time clock and there is ample warning but be aware that you get past ten minutes and are not making forward motion the union has the right to circumvent.

When walking into the room it is best to clear your mind of all that and focus on making your choices. Before going in, scan the 'unofficial post' in the driver lounge, so you can have more than one choice you can settle with.

Many people that end up with work they are not happy about, didn't think it through ahead of time. Still, hindsight is always 20/20 and you can never really know until your 1st week is through if the run is cake or if it is tight, but this may help a bit.

Never assume your number is FAR away from being called. Generally speaking it goes in waves, in the most favorable of circumstances we can process 20 bids in a half hour at times when we are on a roll.



#4 There is a cost to bidding...

...but it is minimal. If you are 'relieved to bid', by contract, you are not being paid to do so. While I am aware of the "time is money" formula and work to see that you lose a minimal amount of pay in the process, during the bid, it is not necessary to remind me of this nor is it appreciated.

Most people "get it" but it seems every bid cycle there is one member that feels they need to rudely point out that they have "waited "X" amount of time" and it has "cost them "X" amount of money".

In most cases it is less than an hour... In most cases it is a 10 to 20 minute wait upon arriving at the property... In most cases it won't be noticed on their pay stub... But for the few that feel they need to be snarky and run their mouth about how much money it is costing them, within earshot, while I am overseeing a bid, you need to get over yourself and realize the positives in being able to pick your work - FAR outweigh the cost of even an hour of mark off.

For the most part realistic folks get that, but if anyone has any further questions on the matter please seek out one of your union officers for assistance outside of the bid room, preferably during breaks in the process. Please present how much time you lost and how you propose we remedy the process. Like all contract suggestions it will receive attention.


#5 Overseen, but Not an Oversight

Another thing to remember is that while I oversee the bid and intervene when needed, I have no control over how the Operations Dispatcher schedules reliefs. If they make a mistake, or more often not, and there is a natural occurring delay or break in the bidding, it is too late or impossible to remedy.

 Obviously I step in when we start talking about repeated and frequent delays but that rarely occurs. So far in this bid - the longest bid was 20 minutes and that is reasonable.

My union officers, as well as The Districts personnel, do our best to prevent bid delays and keep waiting bidders apprised of delays when they occur and have vested interest in ensuring that the integrity of the bid remains whole.

I will never invalidate your reasonable concerns and constructive criticism on this issue.

Thank you and enjoy the your right to choose.

In Solidarity,


Brian Pasquali
Executive Board Officer
ATU 757 of Lane County

Vaco Board Update 0 Comments

As always - thanks for all of your support with recent events. I have heard some good feedback from members on this blog. I want ATU 757 brothers & sisters to feel at home here, and think of this site as a tool that we all can benefit from.

No Contest.

Resolution of the vacation board problem proved to be more than either side was willing to move on. While we could have conducted a Union run Re-bid, the District was unwilling to alter/ switch back the days off to the preferred, logical days off.

Unfortunately there is a past practice here in the sense that when vacation weeks have become vacant in the past - as in, when a operator terminates employment after bidding vacation but before bidding their work- that week and the days off that went with it has traditionally became property of the district. The week becomes an extra board slot on the VACO board and depending on what days off the District deems, it is what it is.

I'm not saying it is a fair thing. Its not. But past practice is what we live by and in this case die by. It goes without saying that when you bid work - any type of work, it can come with some unexpected pitfalls. However The District has been made aware that the way this info was communicated was unacceptable and we expect to see a better way to communicate these anomalies to the membership when they become known.


Momma always said "clean behind your ears".

There is another issue we have to discuss that doesn't effect all of you or even a fraction of you but it needs to be talked about. Ear buds. No --- not that gunk in your ear that gathers for weeks and is fun to play with (Sorry maybe that's just me). What I mean is: phone and radio accessories.

While we haven't had a problem with that as far as safety goes, no one has wrecked due to the use of these items, it has been rumored that some drivers still keep an ear bud, in while they drive or on occasion take a call. I don't know if any of this is true but if it is, whoever it is: Cease and desist. If you chose not to, well I will put it to you this way --- I am a victim of Drunk Driving, I was permanently injured 2 years ago by a highly intoxicated flatbed truck tow truck driver. I look at driving while using devices of this nature as the same, and research does too.

I am not trying to guilt trip anyone. We all have lives. Some of us have difficult situations going on with the home front. You still have to turn it off, figuratively and literally.

For the 0.1% that are rumored to partake in this type of activities warning: They are ramping it up due to nation wide attention on this matter. Do not be that guy or gal who ends up on you tube or the one they show on the evening news. And for the 99.9% of you drivers that don't thank you for being professional.



Rolling ON

The site is gathering momentum and we are tricking it out. There are many ways to be involved with this blog and get updated besides the normal ways of subscribing to posts via our RSS feed or by email --- such as following us on twitter, as well as friendfeed or our calender of events.

A page with our contract which has been broken down and posted by Department and by section, so you can download and have access to what sections you need - without downloading the whole contract. (There is no seniority list available for download, for privacy purposes.)

Always remember, as I am often on different work day to day, a good way to ask questions is right here on this site. Post away.

Union Bloggers, ATU 757, Union 2.0, Labor social networking

Four Take Leave - Four Releaved 0 Comments

As Four Operators Take The Furlough - It Allowed Four Other Operators Jobs to Be Saved

Without a doubt the Furlough program was a success. There was a minor problem that can be corrected I will mention later in this post. The first three were gone before day one of the bid was complete and the 4th closed the offer after a handful of people bid on the second day. Those that bid the summer furlough seemed very happy to be able to do so while keeping benefits and seniority rank while the 4 that in turn were able to keep employment at least until we cross the next bridge are somewhat relieved they do not have to search for a Job in this unforgiving Lane County job market.

I have heard from many of you that it would be nice if this was a regular offer and that many more of you would have accepted the leave had it made it to your seniority level. I agree, and I will be working with the District to explore our options in the future-layoffs or not. It may be something we look to get added either before or during Contract talks. I will keep the membership informed but I see this as a possible way the District can save some money and the Membership can take a few months off

One flaw was detected on the last day of bid week that was brought o my attention by someone that had bid vacation board and was waiting to select which weeks to sign for. Basically those who took furloughs also had bid vacation weeks for the summer back in March. Because these operators had the took the furlough, the days off were undetermined but it was reasonable to assume that as the 4 nearly always bid Sat and Suns as their days off-it would stay that way. So their names were posted as taking the furlough, but, days off were not posted as with other bidders at the time the vacation board operators signed up for the VACO board. Those considering bidding the Vacation Board have a very good idea how many weekends are to be available due to the fact that the operators scheduled for vacation that week have already picked a run showing their days off or have routinely pick the same days off in the past. So when any operator signs for the VACO board they sort of gauge what they see other operators s have taken for vacation during that bid and sign up, or don't sign up accordingly. If the four furlough takers listed normally take Sat and Sun off for their normal week it would be a reasonable assumption that that those days off would remain constant even during a furlough. When the District designated bid room personnel made the choice to change those consistent days off from Sat and Sun to other combinations of Days off they did so after the bid began and after the vacation board operators signed up for the Vacation board. While they have the right to do this they needed to notify all operators considering to sign for the vacation board so to ensure proper warning. Instead it became an unfair practice and because it made what vacation board bidders use as a long standing practice for making their choice of work it the ATU will likely request a Vacation Board rebid. I will be asking we restart the process of selection of VACO weeks based on this. The process should take only 8 hours but those hours will be broken up over the course of 4 or 5 days. I will conduct the sign up personally in an effort to save the District the cost. In addition I will try to do so in the without mark off by catching up with drivers before and after their scheduled run. So with this section of the bid being conducted by the ATU at almost no cost tot he district, the request for VACO Board rebid with the appropriate days off reset, shouldn't be denied.

What I will say about this oversight is that being the Furlough program was a ground breaking, one these types of anomalies are inevitable. But as the District bid personnel deliberately changed the days off and failed to properly notify the Operators or the Union before operators had signed up-the request to rebid is based on the principle of unfair notice. While I check over the run cut thoroughly before the bid is posted and before it begins, it makes it harder to stop the train after the bid is underway. Lets hope the District does the right thing here.

union bloggers, ATU 757, furlough, vacation bid, unfair notice