UTU Bus News Digest - April, 1999

UTU Bus Department News Digest
Information of interest to transportation employees April, 1999

Contract Ratification for Local 1589

Local 1589 in New Jersey, General Chairperson Bill Roberson and the Committee of HAML under Chairperson Lilian Clay recently reached a tentative agreement and was ratified by the members. The new agreement is for four years and includes wage increases as well as other economic and non-economic improvements. The contract expired about one year ago and the agreement includes retroactivity back to the expiration of the agreement.

Contract Ratification for Local 1670

Local 1670 in Laredo, Texas reached a tentative agreement on 4/8/99 for a new two year agreement. Vice President McNelis headed the negotiations. Vice President McNelis extends his appreciation for the successful negotiations to the hard work and dedication of General Chairperson Bill Koehn and Vice Chairpersons Joe Ortiz and Juan Morales. The General Committee worked very hard to be prepared for these negotiations and were prepared to strike if necessary. The new agreement calls for $1.10 increase over two years with fifty cents effective 3/21/99 and sixty cents effective 3/21/00. Other increases were made in weekly disability insurance from $285 to $350 and increase in Company contribution to the pension now up to 7% and an increase in the cap. Other gains in sick leave from six months to a year and health care costs which was a sticking point in the negotiations. Other economic and non-economic gains were made as well without any concessions. The agreement was ratified by the members on 4/9/99 by about a 3-1 margin. Vice President McNelis congratulates and thanks the Committee for their hard work on behalf of their hard work on behalf of their members and assistance in the negotiations. It truly was a team effort.

"Protect America's Transit Workers and Riding Public Act"

A Bill introduced in Congress three weeks ago would make assaults on transit workers and passengers a federal offense.

The "Protect America's Transit Workers and Riding Public Act" is a response to well-publicized crimes against transit workers. In November, a Seattle bus driver was killed and 30 passengers injured when an angry rider shot the driver, causing the bus to plummet off a bridge. In another incident last month, a San Diego bus driver was kidnapped and assaulted at the end of her bus route.

The Legislation would make it a federal crime to: (1) intentionally kill or seriously harm a transit worker or passenger, (2) intentionally damage a transit vehicle, (3) impair a transit worker's ability to safely operate a vehicle, (4) report false alarms of such activities, (5) carry unauthorized firearms, (6) propel objects or destructive substances at a transit vehicle. The bill was introduced by Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.). (3-24-99 UTN)