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

Summer Bid, Concepts and Solidarity 0 Comments

Looks like we will manage to pull it off for summer. As there is a three week delay from the time I write an article, to the time the Labor Press gets to your mailbox, I often take an educated guess as to how certain issues will work out. Given the fact(s), to date we have had 4 people committed to the retirement incentive package out of 8 turned in, and given that out of those 8 turned in we sent out roughly 40 offers, and given that this is just the first week of the offer period my semi-bold guess is that we will make it through the summer without layoffs. Now to focus on Fall.

Pro-EmX:  Debunking The Anti-EmX Concept

It was suggested to me by an individual that some of my recent comments/ criticism of the EmX were closed minded and that in expressing my dismay with the project as a whole, that it was meant (or more it was taken) as me being against the EmX Operators. Now, you all have the right to disagree with me. I encourage it. You have the right to take what I write and interpret it and respond to it as you wish because I am not your boss. But you can't question my dedication and devotion to this membership. I am not in this for me. I am in it for the good of our membership-AS IN-the ENTIRE membership. 

When I speak out against a District or a District project such as the EmX it is always for the reason of giving the membership a voice. Most of my articles come from a consensus of the memberships' views and feedback. 

When it comes to the EmX, my belief of the negative impact it has had and continues to have on the membership is a shared reality amongst the majority of the membership. So really my words are not just my own. SO TO BE CLEAR I am in no way against the EmX operators based on my position on the EmX.Though it sounds as though it is only one fellow member that took it this way - I feel clarification is needed.

As for the EmX  "concept" as a whole, I am not, and never have been, against it (again, in concept). After all I drove the thing myself for a year. Still, we all know "concepts" sometimes don't pan out or go sour, not by any fault of our own. When this happens, the owner of the "concept" is ultimately responsible to adapt, improvise, delay, and if necessary abort, if the concept runs into the for-mentioned troubles or otherwise becomes unsustainable. 

But, when ego is coupled with the "concept" by the owner. It makes it very hard to adapt. When deception is used to promote the concept to the users, the need for improvisation is easily ignored. When heavy obligations are put forth to guarantee the concept to delay or to abort becomes litigious. This is the basic formula associated with the EmX that is troubling to me.

 All Together Now!

Our last two union meetings have been huge! I guess people have had enough of the bullying management tactics. And what better way to fight back than to show up in solidarity. The message of "enough is enough" that came out of those meetings was conveyed to management through your Officers and it made an immediate difference. And that's how it all works people. 

Now, lets keep the pressure on! Management knows we are uniting and that is their worst nightmare. So join me - Guido the Boogie man! If you didn't show up for the last meetings - maybe its time. It it your union. If you were one of the many who showed up thank you, and see you next month.

In Solidarity,

Brian Pasquali

Executive Board Officer

ATU 757 of Lane County

A Member Two-Fer: Missing Labor Press Articles Dec. & Jan. Editions 0 Comments

Happy New Year Brothers & Sisters.

Due to circumstances beyond my control, our properties' NW Labor Press articles for December and  January were not published in those recent editions sent out. I wanted to reassure you that the next article will appear in February's edition. To remedy this I am handing out this special flier to make sure that everyone gets a chance to read the words that would have appeared in both print editions.

2010 is a big year for our membership. I want you to know that your officers and stewards are working diligently to address the issues and your concerns. Not only can you read the monthly print article, but you can also get news on ATU 757 of Lane County's  Blog : http://laneatu757.blogspot.com/  which will be featuring weekly articles from your officers and stewards, and our Facebook Fan Page : http://www.facebook.com/laneatu757 .  Besides these 2 main sites Lane ATU 757 also has a facebook profile http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000301373249 , or our friendfeed account http://www.friendfeed.com/laneatu757 (which gathers all of our pages info from different sources and publishes it to one stream). All these sites are designed with the membership in mind. Showing your support can be in many forms - getting involved can be in person or on-line. We appreciate your input.

December 2009 NW Labor Press Article

Happy Holiday's Brothers and Sisters! I recently returned from the annual Pension Trust/Benefits training seminar in Orlando Florida. I took a variety of courses on subjects ranging from Fiduciary Responsibilities of a Trustee, to Health and Wellness Programs. As one of the 4 Trustees on our pension, I am obligated and appreciate the huge responsibility that comes with it. The material provided through these courses ensures that I have the proper training to manage our fund responsibly. One thing is for sure, as 2009 comes to a close, we are breathing a little bit easier, fiscally speaking.

Pension and Health trust funds all over the country took huge hits during the early part of this year and adjustments had to be made where they could. Some Public plans such as PERS, while initially looked as though they would weather the storm, took massive hits (see Climbing PERS expenses face Oregon pension board, agency budget writers). Luckily we are not a PERS and have significantly more control over our Fund as it is fairly small and sleek. All in all, It looks as if the Market has finally bottomed out now, and while we can hope more for a "V" like recovery (a sharp down, followed by an equally sharp up), all indications are that the rebound will be more gradually with some additional bumps still to come.

Time To Prepare

As winter creeps in and negotiations on other properties progress, your local officers are hard at work gathering data, marking the date's, and setting the strategy for our sessions. While we cannot out and out divulge our strategy, there are some keys to remember as we make our approach:

1st Key - Whatever differences we have with one another...whether you have, or have not been in a union before...whether in the past you just felt left out of the process, or just didn't want to be involved...now is the time for us to come together in solidarity for our future. If you have questions or suggestions we are listening. Bottom line - If you want MORE, If you want YOUR voice heard - participate.

2nd key - Expect fierce resistance from the other side as we approach negotiations. Expect anything from ticky-tacky procedural write ups as a driver, to a full on sickening propaganda campaign. They will tell you that "you make enough", and are "lucky to have a job"... They will tell you "The District is struggling to pay for your benefits", and that you get "so much already"... And they will tell you that Your Union, "is the problem"...So they will be lying.

When you hear the proverbial smack talk going around - like say - a newer road supervisor, one that never attended ONE Union meeting much less participate in his short time as a driver, "casually" commenting that "your union is weak" - you tell him, Sorry - you already heard the truth: The truth is that even the so-called "respectable" pay and benefits he has now, as a supervisor, are the result of a struggle that started long ago with the Headly's , Boyton's and the Allred's and the other brave Union soldiers that wouldn't take NO for an answer, and that same struggle continues to this day! (He only forgot to mention those insignificant details.)

"Don't let any man into your cab, your home, or your heart, unless he's a friend of labor."-Jimmy Hoffa

In the spirit of organization, I invite you to join our Facebook Page . Also we have some great links being collected on delicious (a bookmarking site), which range from labor history, labor theory & law, to articles about the economy - which may be of some interest to you.

In Solidarity,

Brian Pasquali

Executive Board Officer

ATU 757 of Lane County

January 2009 Labor Press Article

Happy New Year Brothers and Sisters! We are not sure what happened to the last report as far as it making it into the Labor Press but sorry for the error. Never the less the report for December is available for viewing on your local property's Blog: http://laneatu757.blogspot.com/ There are also links on the blog to our Facebook page, Twitter and FriendFeed.

I encourage those of you that don't attend meetings regularly to use these online tools to keep up with Lane ATU 757's current events. Guessing by the stats - people are visiting both of these sites and participating at an increase. Also judging by the last two months of our meeting sign-ins, more people are showing up in the flesh as well. All of this is good news and I expect it to continue as we approach contract talks. So know that you can show your Solidarity in many ways.

Nov. 13, 1946 - Dec. 16, 2009

While he was a quiet man for the most part, John Gonzalez had a away about him that didn't require him talk allot for a person to understand just how good of a guy he really was. In conversations I had with John, whether on stand in the drivers lounge, or at union meetings, it was evident to me that - while he didn't speak many words, the words he did speak always had substance and were genuine in nature. And that's how I will remember him. That and that awesome "Rollie Fingers mustache". We will miss you John. Rest in Peace.

We are now hurdling toward a new contract season. The District is posturing for their epic PR campaign which will entail not-so-subtle attempts to get the public behind them. But it is a tough sell. How does one have the minerals to start announcing service cutbacks to a community (one that bye the way - isn't getting any smaller and needs transit more than ever), while simultaneously driving on with a BRT project that you are now obligated to match funds for in the millions? How do you sell "less for more" to the tax payer?

While a recent letter to the editor in the local paper (written by a District Board member no less) spoke of our GM's "vision" and "ingenuity", nothing was said about his over-ambition and recklessness when it has come of the entire EmX project. If his "vision" was that the EmX be installed at all costs, and at a loss to the regular system, then this has come to fruition. The letter also didn't speak of the all the departmental spending spree's and the ridiculously top heavy administration that his "ingenuity" has given us and that is now crippling our once grand bus system. Maybe I am being a little unfair but he seems to have enough people out there praising his every word and worshiping his every step, so for now I will attempt to balance things.

In Solidarity,

Brian Pasquali

Executive Board Officer

ATU 757 of Lane County