UTU scores win at SEPTA
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. -- Commuter rail workers on the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) scored a major victory recently when the United Transportation Union (UTU) was affirmed as their collective bargaining representative.

SEPTA train service workers turned back a raid by the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers (BLE) by voting to retain their UTU representation, according to election results released December 29, 2000, by the National Mediation Board (NMB).

In offering congratulations and thanks to members of Local 61, Assistant President Byron A. Boyd, Jr., underscored the importance of turning back the attempted raid, noting the BLE had been quoted in the Philadelphia Inquirer as supporting "engineer-only" operations on a planned SEPTA extension.

According to UTU Director of Strategic Planning John Nadalin, those deserving special recognition for their role in achieving victory include Local 61 President and Acting General Chairperson Earl Davis; Vice Chairpersons Paul Hutchinson, Darryl Jones, Ralph Vasquez and Vinnie Bove, and Local 61 Treasurer Richard Gallagher.

Nadalin also thanked rank-and-file members of Local 61 for their outstanding efforts, including Ivan Bright, Tony Comella, Tom Day II, Vernon Gibson, Geoffrey Johnson, Glen Lockley, Patricia Riley, Jeanne Shoemaker, Marty Strom, Mike Szymanski, Karen Vick, Charlie Webb, Jr., and Walt Yankowski.

Also playing a pivotal role in the election was Raymond E. Arenas, Port Authority Trans-Hudson Corp. (PATH) general chairperson and Local 1413 local chairperson, as well as PATH conductors Gregory Whitaker and Janette Walker-Warren, both members of Local 1413.

"We will continue to extend any and all support to our brothers and sisters working for SEPTA," said Arenas.

Another key player in the UTU victory, U.S. Alternate Vice President-West Arthur "Artie" Martin III, of Local 78, Pocatello, Idaho, who was cited for his ability to effectively communicate the advantages of UTU representation.

Nadalin also credited the efforts of UTU Special Representative James M. "Mike" Lewis of Local 490, Princeton, Ind., as well as Marcel Manta of Local 483, Toronto, Ont., and Roger Scarrow of Local 472, Windsor, Ont., both from VIA Rail in Canada.

(Click here to return to Page One)