 |
 |
 |
 |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
||||||
|
||||||
| ||||||
|
||||||
|  |
|||||
|
||||||
| ||||||
|
||||||
|
UTU members trust TPEL It's no secret why the members of the locals listed on the top-ten list in the center of this special section believe in TPEL: They trust their money is being invested in their futures, their jobs and their families. The top three legislative representatives explain: For the 60 members of Local 1421 in Franklin Park, Ill., who work as conductors and switchmen on the Indiana Harbor Belt line in the Chicago area, supporting TPEL is the right thing to do. The local placed sixth on the top-ten list for 1995, fourth in 1996, seventh for 1997, first in 1998 and first again in 1999. Legislative Representative Joe Pastore explains the success directly. "We stress to the guys that if you want to be heard it costs money. The companies that are against us spend a lot of money lobbying, and we have to do that too if we want to play with the big boys. "The more money we contribute, the better we are heard. Lobbyists throw a lot of money at politicians, and I don't mean bribes, and you have to be able to do the same thing to succeed. You're lucky if your time in the spotlight with the legislator is a ride up in an elevator, but you have to be there. It's an investment of time and effort, and that costs money. "The guys know that everybody who works for them is doing the best they can. They have faith in their representatives. That is reflected in their willingness to contribute to TPEL. They know the money is going to be spent wisely. "(Illinois State Legislative Director) Joe Szabo works hard for us, and it's a pleasure to work for him. He's a bargain at twice the price. Lawmakers respect him, and the members respect that. "The bottom line is, the more money we contribute, the better we are heard," Pastore said. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The 50 members of Local 1293, conductors and locomotive engineers working for the Union Pacific in the Superior, Wis., area, placed second on the UTU's top-ten list of locals in per-capita giving. Legislative Representative Kenneth Staves said the passage of the Wisconsin two-person crew bill showed members in his local the value of TPEL donations. "We were happy when we got the bill pushed through," Staves explained. "The members realized what TPEL was really doing for them, that TPEL was looking out for their best interests." Staves also credited Local Chairperson Mark Mueller and former Legislative Representative Dave Peterson for their efforts. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The 85 members of Local 1129, working as conductors, engineers, switchmen and trainmen for Norfolk Southern and CSX in the Raleigh, N.C., area, also are staunch supporters of TPEL. The local placed third on this year's top-ten list. In 1995, 1996 and 1997 the local was first on the top-ten list; it was second last year. "We work on them a lot," said Legislative Representative Glenn Lamm. "We have incentives to get them to increase their donations. We try to keep them informed about what the legislative representatives are doing, and how much influence and power we can have by getting the right people elected to Congress and the state legislature. We keep them informed. "Also, (Assistant National Legislative Director) Jim Stem was a real good salesman. Local Chairperson and State Legislative Director Richard Westbrook, Jr., and Local President Mike Talbot, Jr., also work hard for TPEL. "TPEL is a valuable tool for us," Lamm said. "We have senators and congressmen come and speak to us and see the guys. They know the legislative representatives because of TPEL money. It works good." |
|||||
|
||||||
|
||||||
| ||||||
|
||||||
| ||||||
|
||||||
| ||||||
| | | | | | |