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

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

Meet Your Lane ATU Crew 0 Comments

Hello again brothers and sisters. I am trully sorry for the delay in updates. In all honesty since being reinstalled as EBO I have been running my Italian ass off. However, Now that we have the new officers and stewards up and running it has allowed for some relief for me.

Your Officers

Stepping in as Extra-Board Liasion, Darryl Whitacker has been handling issues on the Extra-Board very well. In his first couple of weeks he insured two run around's were awarded to the membership. Nice work D.

Newly elected Rec-Sec John Gelsomino has made a name for himself amongst the membership as a problem solver around the drivers lounge. We want to hear your concerns, comments and questions and with Johns' dedication and persistance many of you have began showing your interest in the union again, or in many cases for the first time.

Tom Shakleford, as always brings his experience to the table as the Fleet Services Liaison.

In addition, Carl Faddis has rejoined the crew as Extra-Board Steward and Rebeca Bailey has signed on as our EmX Steward.

Jim Stinson, upon returning from leave, will resume his role as our "Night Watchman" (Full Time Steward - Nights).

You may be wondering - why so many Union positions? For one, I can't be everywhere at once and there are still twice as many Supervisors to keep in Check. Secondly I want every faction, every form of work to be represented. So we will continue to have presence and we want you the member to continue to approach us, inform us of activity pretaining to our Unions workplace and utilize us.

On The Table

Currently we are at step 3 with two grievances. Recently an agreement was reached regarding cell phone use awarding 2 days of pay, making whole, to one Operator and settling for a more reasonable discipline for another Operator by returning one day of pay to another.

More to come by the end of the week.

In Solidarity,
Brian Pasquali
Executive Board Officer
ATU 757@ LTD