September - Amalgamated Transit Union -Local 757

NORTHWEST
LABOR
PRESS &
THE
BULLETIN
Official Publication of
AmalgamatedTransit Union Local 757
503-232-9144 • 1801 NE Couch St.,Portland,OR 97232-3054
Vol. 111, No. 17 Portland, Oregon September 3,2010
And so you asked
By Jon Hunt • ATU Local 757 President
VP’s Report
On August 10, ATU filed an unfair labor
practice against TriMet. As you’re
aware, the ATU’s final offer maintained the
status quo. In contrast, TriMet’s final offer
contained a number of new issues, including
items that would affect retirement benefits,
pension plans, and health and welfare benefits,
to name a few. Because these items were
not brought up in their initial offer, the ATU
has requested that we return to the bargaining
table. The Employment Relations Board will
make a ruling to either move negotiations forward
to binding arbitration, or they will grant
ATU’s motion to return the two parties to the
bargaining table. In any event, if the parties
are still unable to resolve their dispute we will
once again move forward to binding arbitration.
Once again, 14 days prior to binding arbitration,
both parties will have the opportunity
to put forth their last, best final offer. If
TriMet’s offer holds significant improvements,
we would then take it to the membership
to accept that proposal or go to binding
arbitration. For future updates, please continue
to check your union boards or the ATU
757 website.
We enjoyed the opportunity to meet with
the Bend Paratransit folks and celebrate their
annual picnic. We need to thank Cynthia and
her family for graciously hosting, and I especially
need to thank Vic and Melanie for the
hard work they put in as your union officers.
Our group in Canby is in mediation. In
Lane Transit District we have gone through
two rounds of negotiations. First Student
and Portland Public Schools have both just
gone through their first round of negotiations.
At MV Transportation in Salem, formerly
WHEELS, we have a tentative twoyear
agreement, which maintains the same
level of health care, increases wages, and adds
a sixth step into the contract.
In addition to seeing many of you at the
picnic, I have enjoyed the opportunity to see
and speak with so many of you during our
property visits. Where we can, we are trying
By Sam Schwarz • ATU Local 757 Vice President
Iwas pleased to see so many of our brothers
and sisters at the Portland picnic. I believe
it was a record turnout.
Back to business at hand: We have many
open contracts, and many that are just opening.
TriMet has taken the position that they
can change the Working & Wage Agreement
and any negotiated policies with the ATU.
We have to protect our members and their
rights at Lamar Advertising, as they are
about to hire a new installer without bringing
back the ones that were laid off. At Portland
Public Schools, we are in negotiations,
(Turn to Page 32)
and have a great negotiating committee and a
really good feel for management. At Canby,
we are ready to meet again with the federal
mediator in a negotiation session. At First
Student (Portland), where Anna Tompte is
our officer, we are ready to go to the table.
As officers, we must protect our retired
members as well as those presently working
under the current contracts, including Lane
Transit, Salem, TriMet, and Valley Transit in
Walla Walla, to name just a few.
In these tough times, it is more important
than ever that we stand united.
Secretary-Treasurer’s
Report
By Evette Farra • Financial Secretary-Treasurer
Hello again. We’re all gearing up for the International
convention in Florida, where
elections will be conducted for the top International
ATU leadership positions the last week
of September. I will be gone from the office
most of September. I was recently diagnosed
with cervical cancer, which will require surgery
on Sept. 3. But I want to reassure you that I
have been working with staff to ensure that
payroll and per capita dues will go out on time.
Also, we have safeguards in place which will require
staff to run checks and supporting documents
to me at my home while I recover from
surgery. I physically have to sign the checks,
with either Jon or Sam as a co-signer.
As you can imagine, being diagnosed has
been a frightening experience for me and my
family, and I want to encourage all of you,
Officer Reports
Lane Transit
District
As reported by
BRIAN PASQUALI
Negotiations are in full swing now, and we
have a number of non-economic issues
that are currently and tentatively agreed upon.
Many of you ask me daily of the progress of the
talks and have questions regarding the timeliness
of the process. For those of you who were
around during the last contract, you may remember
that the prior ratification vote did not
occur until a cold November morning. So it’s
hard to say if this contract will take more or less
time, as the thick of it doesn’t really get under
way until we begin economic proposals. For
those of you who are new, it may be a stressful
time, but remember before you succumb to that
vicious old rumor machine to approach any of
your officers and stewards if you need to hear the
real deal.
whether you are a woman or have women in
your life, to follow through on your personal
testing! You cannot rely on symptoms to tell
you something’s wrong. Right now, I am
pain-free and don’t feel a thing. It frightens
me to think that I could have gone another
year before doctors caught this.
I cannot thank people enough for their
well wishes and warm thoughts during this
time. I am overwhelmed by the level of support
offered to me by my fellow officers and
executive board members. The staff here at
the local office have been really helpful and
professional.Their willingness to take on extra
duties during my absence means a lot to me
and will allow me to recover with the least
amount of stress. See you in October.
We all are mourning the loss of Mel Morgan,
and I say all because I honestly believe there isn’t
a person here who did not love Mel. I don’t
know what more I can say than that he was one
of the best guys I have ever met. I remember
when I was just in my first couple months here
at the District and I took my wife and kids out
to the pumpkin patch at Thistle Down Orchard.
I was in line buying the pumpkins and felt this
tap on my shoulder. It was Mel. Being fairly new,
I recognized him as one of the other drivers, but
I barely knew him. We ended up talking for a
good half hour and he treated me as though he
had known me for 20 years. That was Mel.
I have been trying to mend some fences
amongst the ranks of the EmX drivers. Apparently
there is a lot of stress associated with driving
this thing I say this in jest only because I
drove it myself before happily bidding off of it.
While it is a heavily flawed system, each driver
handles those flaws in their own way.
By the time this post has come to print, I will
have contacted most of you (EmX drivers), but I
(Turn to Page 2)
Amalgamated Transit Union - Division 757
Representing working men and women in Oregon and Washington at:
TriMet • Lane Transit District • C-TRAN/C-VAN • Salem Area Transit • WHEELS •
Rogue Valley Transportation District • Bend Area Transit • Canby Area Transit •
Tillamook County Transportation District • Valley Transit Association • First Transit
(TriMet Lift, Portland) • City of North Bonneville • Portland Public Schools •
American Medical Response Northwest (Josephine County) • First Student
(Portland Public Schools, Corvallis School District, Corvallis City Transit) • MV
Transportation, Inc. • Northeast Coalition of Neighborhoods, Inc. • Lamar Advertising
Company • ATU Retired Member Chapter
What IS this
The four outside pages are news
from and about your Union. The
other pages are produced by the
Northwest Labor Press,and are about
the labor movement as a whole.

ATU LOCAL 757
ATU Local 757 Officer Reports
want to emphasize a couple points again. First,
try to remember that the person in the other big
green bus is your brother or sister and that what
may be perceived as a slight or a deliberate maneuver
to get one over on you, positionally or
timing-wise, may be nothing more than a simple
mistake. If, however, it isn’t, and you consider it
to be a selfish act at your expense, the answer for
correcting this problem is not to go directly to a
supervisor to turn that person in.
Once you have crossed that line, everyone
loses. We (the union) can collectively work on
the systemic problems that clearly exist, and we
can also work on our performance, but turning
someone over to a supervisor for nitpicky issues
is not acceptable and goes against our oath as
union members.
So please stop letting the District’s big green
mistake turn us blue. We have an EmX union
steward in place and in addition you are welcome
to talk to me about these small problems
that don’t need to be made into big ones.
C-TRAN/C-VAN
As reported by
ROY JENNINGS
In August we had two more full days of negotiations
on the Operators’ contract. If you
want to know more details concerning what
happened, check out your newsletter “In Solidarity.”
The “In Solidarity” is an e-mail newsletter
that comes out monthly. Just so you know, all
the information in your newsletter deals with
you the members here at C-TRAN. If you currently
are not receiving a copy of this newsletter,
just send an e-mail to atunewsletter@gmail.com.
Now, the only way I can think to describe
how your negotiations’ committee feels about
how the current negotiations are going is by providing
this comparison: If management had
their way, C-TRAN would work us just like the
fire fighters were worked in Tacoma in 1917. In
1917, the fire fighters worked 24 hours a day
with just one hour off for each meal. In addition,
they were only granted a day off every
eighth day. As far as weekends goes, these fire
fighters only received two days off after working
six weeks straight. No way in Hell! So after years
of abuse, these fire fighters turned to the AFL-
CIO to be organized and become a union.
Now I have heard from some members that
in today’s climate we don’t really need a union
here at C-TRAN. Of course that’s what C-
TRAN wants you to think, because without a
union here, who would protect you I know for
a fact that without the ATU here a lot of us (including
me) would not be working here today.
Now those of you who may still be here, would
not only be working for a lot less pay and benefits,
but fear, intimidation, and undue pressure
would be the norm here at C-TRAN. Remember:
you are the “Union”, get involved!
Now I want to congratulate Scott Miller because
in August, Scott reached a milestone in his
life. Congratulations, Scott on becoming a
Grandfather!
TriMet Powell
Transportation
As reported by
KHRIS ALEXANDER
Hello my brothers and sisters. This month at
Powell it's been busy. We had five grievances
filed. Two were for timeloss, one for a fatality
accident, one for cell phone use and one for
mini's doing fulltime work when extraboard
were available. We also got a new garage manager
and things seem to be going okay for now.
We are in a holding pattern with our contract.
Trimet has added additional changes to
their proposal after we already started negotiations
in November 2009.The Union has filed a
complaint against TriMet and now we are waiting
for a response from the Employee Relations
Board.
During the heatwave in August I was out and
about with Jeff Hunt and Sergio Garcia making
sure there was water for drivers.
Final note: TriMet changed the line 15 Thurman
Loop because I did a yellow card that stated
it was unsafe and a transit officer said TriMet
would be 100 percent liable and the driver
wouldn't be. Well TriMet wouldn't want that
because they want to hang us as drivers.
Also, I am looking for volunteers to be ready
to help out when needed so if you want to be on
that list, contact me at my new email at
Trimet6213@msn.com or text me at 503 890
4870.Thanks, be safe and take your breaks.
TriMet Merlo
Transportation
As reported by
JEFF ACKERSON
Hello fellow operators. Summer has been a
busy season so far. There were more than
15 operators who were identified as not calling
out ADA-required stops. In all meetings, the operators
have requested a definitive list of stops
for each route. The District has decided to leave
this responsibility solely up to the operators. The
quality assurance riders do have these lists however,
and they are not supplying copies of their
observations to the drivers. The District is refusing
to supply the same lists to the drivers that
they are supplying to the quality assurance riders.
This is patently unfair to the operators. How can
we be expected to call out all stops if we do not
have a definitive list
Cell phone suspensions are on the rise. The
District is not showing any leniency in this matter.
The grievance process is our only vehicle to
deal with this issue. I can’t stress enough how important
it is for all of us to refrain from using our
cell phones for any reason during our shifts, unless
we are at our layover.
Recently, we had a visit at Merlo from
TriMet’s communications manager to remind
our resident blogger that he is not to wear any
TriMet-designated clothing while he is being
videotaped. He also informed us that an investigation
was conducted and our resident blogger
has been found not guilty of violating any
TriMet policy. If you have a blog, be aware that
it may be being monitored. Also, be very careful
of any comments you make on anyone else’s
blog or facebook page. They are probably being
read as well.
Lastly, I would like to say goodbye to our station
manager at Merlo, who is on his way to
Powell garage. And congratulations to Larry Hoy
and James Wilson on their recent retirements!
Salem Area Mass Transit
As reported by
KEN RICHINS
This is an open message to Scott Zinc who
retired July 30. You worked 31 years on a
job that is diabolically incompatible with human
metabolism. You tolerated the most egregious
working conditions on the planet.
You created a plan. You worked your plan.
Now, take a good look. There are no cracks in
your building!
So --- Yeah, YOU DESERVE IT! Now, enjoy
your retirement.
First Transit
TriMet Lift
As reported by
LES GREEN
Well, another summer has come and gone
and it is school bus season again. We all
know what that does to our schedules on a daily
basis. So be it for another nine months with Trapeze
not taking into account the additional traffic.
Now for the important stuff. I have had (as of
August 15th) six “fair and impartial” hearings
with management so far with drivers alleged to
have broken the rules (both TriMet’s and First
Transit’s) and it appears there will be more before
August is up. This system puts hardship not only
on the drivers (lost wages) but also on First Transit
to provide the service on the routes affected.
I can not emphasize enough that a “fair and
impartial” hearing is one step from the driver losing
his job and collecting unemployment. So if
you are put on administrative leave and told that
you must make an appointment for a fair and
impartial hearing, do not take it lightly!
In most cases union representation is a must
as we drivers have been known to hang ourselves
in our own meetings! You are entitled to union
representation in all matters concerning employment
or alleged misconduct and as attorneys say,
“a person who is his own attorney has a fool for
a client.” In our business, dealing with duel employer
that goes double. Our CBA gives us rights
in our employment and I urge all drivers to
make full use of them. A word to the wise is all I
can say.
Now, I would like to thank Region One (the
old MV) for including me in their work towards
a new contract. I am humbled that I can help
our brothers and sisters work toward a contract
that they can live with in these troubled times.
Again, remember our contract (CBA) is there
for our protection, use it or in the future we may
lose it. Until next month…
TriMet Powell
Maintenance
As reported by
DAVID KAY
What a sad state of affairs. After years of
work to bring TriMet to the absolute top
of its game we are now faced with watching this
organization systematically destroy itself. For
years we have been contacted by tourists from
all over the world about how fine our system is
and how clean and safe it is. TriMet’s response
to this is to cut all but one bus cleaner and move
maintenance back to a breakdown maintenance
mode of operation.
While the need for fiscal adjustments is obvious
to all, the destruction of the system to do so
is foolish. With many different areas to adjust,
(ie, defer green line, several maintenance expenses
could be stopped or adjusted and many
other areas), the District has chosen to cut at the
front line the most visable and potentially hazardous
positions. How long do they think it will
take before the fleas and cockroaches take over
and we are awash in human detritus
Twenty-eight years ago when I was hired you
did not tell anyone where you worked. A few
years later that job became a matter of pride for
all front line people. Now we seem to be headed
back to the dark ages. What a sad state of affairs.
First Student
Portland
As reported by
ANNA TOMPTE
Hello Brothers and Sisters. I hope everyone
had a great summer and enjoyed their time
off and that like me you are looking forward to
being back to work. I'm looking forward to seeing
everyone again.
I would really like to thank everyone that
helped with the negotiations from the beginning
all the way through to the presentation. We entered
into negotiations on August 5th and we
have scheduled two more meetings for October.
Just as a reminder, our current contract remains
in effect until December 31st, 2010. As these
meetings continue to take place we all need to
unite and back our union through this process.
We encourage everyone to stand strong during
these contract negotiations and any member
who has a question or concern about anything,
please find a shop steward or your union rep and
we will be glad to help in any way we can. We
have a union board and the names of the union
reps and officers with photos are posted above
it. We also have a union box. If you would prefer
to write something in private, you can put it
in the box, which is kept locked at all times. Ray
Gibson and I are the only two that have keys to
it. Thanks again for all your help and input.
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PAGE 2 NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS SEPTEMBER 3, 2010

ATU LOCAL 757
(From Page 2)
TriMet Light Rail
Maintenance
As reported by
JOE RUFFIN
Hello Brothers and Sisters. I hope all of you
are having a splendid summer. I really
hope you are spending valuable time with your
loved ones and doing the things that you love to
do. It’s very important for all of us to take some
personal time for ourselves, it’s one of the best
medicines for the mind. Just keep in mind that
this kind of time is precious and it’s the one
thing we can’t get back once it’s gone.
We are still having some communication
problems with our rail management personnel.
We’re averaging two to five pre-filings a month.
Last month I scheduled five pre-filings, I also
have several step twos and threes that are in the
process. I’m also currently working on a very
long arbitration list so please be patient. I don’t
want to rush into anything and miss out on
some important information that might help me
with the arbitration I’m working on.
Brothers and Sisters, I identify with a lot of
you at our properties that are currently in contract
negations. All of the proposals handed to
the ATU by management have been very foolish,
please do not stress over these proposals. With
that in mind don’t forget, management doesn’t
think much of us. We all deserve a good working
and wage agreement. If we leave it up to them,
management will take everything away from us
while the economy is in a slump. As if we’re living
the good life, we drive average cars, we live in
average neighborhoods. We have highly stressful
jobs, we work off shifts and it takes a toll on our
body. That’s why we deserve good wages and a
good health care program.
Brothers and Sisters, I would like to thank all
of you for your help and support during these
difficult times. Keep your heads up, stay positive
and union strong. I would also like to say thank
you to all of the picnic volunteers for all of your
hard work. I would also like to say thank you to
all of my fellow UNION OFFICERS for all of
your hard work, keep up the good job.
Thanks for your time.
FirstTransit
Region 1
As reported by
KATHLEEN BROWN
Hello Everyone, So many contracts open.
One by one they are being resolved. One
question that is always asked of me is how are
contract negotiations going Well, the deadline
for this article was two weeks before the last
round so this article can not provide the answer.
I can tell you this much. Our President
Jonathan Hunt and our Vice President Samuel
Schwarz are two of the best negotiators that we
can have dealing with a corporation like First
Group. They are well connected at the ATU International
level in Washington DC. They are
highly experienced, educated and skilled negotiators.
I am confident that they will work to give
us the best contract possible.
ATU Local 757 Officer Reports
We are working especially hard to obtain the
benefits and wages that we all deserve. When
you sit down at the bargaining table you must
bring two groups together and put them on the
same page. You must come together with a mutual
agreement that all parties can sign off on so
that the members can have something to vote
on.
That is when the membership will make a
personal decision on whether or not what the
contract puts forth is what they are willing to live
with, within its term. Please, when you have the
opportunity to take a look at this contract, read
the entire contents. Discuss it with your family
member(s). Ask questions. Do not leave a single
stone unturned. Make your own decision.
Voting is a personal decision and a person
should have their own freedom of choice without
the influence of others. Hopefully the August
31st, September 1st and 2nd round of negotiations
will be the final one. We all want to be
done with this.
Everyone be patient and stay safe out there
on the road. We are in the final lap and we want
to stay focused on what is happening now. Not
what will happen. Try not to speculate and share
what is speculated. There are quite a few rumor
squads out there. A rumor is a rumor. Rumors
are not productive. Feel free to ask me questions
if you hear a rumor so that I can clarify whether
or not it is truth or fiction. We are only as effective
as we are united. Until next time.
TriMet Merlo
Maintenance
As reported by
JEFF HUNT
This month I've had three pre filings and one
grievance. The first prefiling had to do with
not being paid for jury duty. The member did
give proper notification of the jury summons,
however the reason the company has chosen not
to pay them is that they were on jury duty on
their RDO. In the past, when you got called for
jury duty on your RDO, you got that day as a
trade day. The supervisor acknowledged that
that is the way it has been dealt with in the past
but the affected person had only been at TriMet
for a year and a half and was unaware of how
things worked. On the other hand, the supervisor
has been here over 20 years and felt that it
was not his responsibility to inform the employee.
I was only made aware of the situation
after it happened. This also happens if you're
working graveyard or swing shift. You should be
put on day shift or given different days off when
this happens. If you do get a jury summons on
your RDO, call me or alert your officer at your
location so that we can get you a trade day so we
don't run into this problem in the future.
The second pre filing was about contracting
out work in the body shop without first offering
that work to the mechanic assigned to do nonrevenue
body work. We've had previous grievance
settlements stating that the work must be
first offered to the nonrevenue body shop mechanic.
The manager appears to believe that the
grievance settlement says that he can do whatever
he likes, which is completely incorrect. This
will be moving onto the next step.
The other grievance had to do with disparate
treatment and a mechanic not receiving the same
courtesies provided to other employees. People
in unit rebuild have been allowed to work without
a medical card before, as long as they did not
drive a bus, but in this case the person was not
provided the same allowances that others have
had and we're only asking that people be treated
the same. Without going into too much detail, I
can tell you that the person who received a written
warning had that reduced to a verbal warning
and the letter notifying them of the verbal
warning will be removed after six months.
The solidarity breakfasts were a big hit. We’ve
been trying to do something healthier and so this
year we have been offering granola bars, yogurt
and fruit. For me, it was a great opportunity to
see a lot of people that I haven't seen for a long
time and to meet new people. Additionally, it
has been a great opportunity to discuss with people
how bad TriMet’s contract proposal was and
the fact that it is so bad that it actually helps us
with the arbitrator because the arbitrator can
only pick one and TriMet’s is so bad that it
should make it an easy decision for that arbitrator.
Last month in my article I told you that the
union officers in maintenance would be signing
to the side of a job and that obviously did not
happen. When we were first approached with
the idea by Tom Nielsen, we were told that we
wouldn't be competing with vacation. By chance
I was then told later on that we would be competing
with vacation. I still disagree with that
and I believe that when you do sign to the side of
a job you are not part of the vacation rotation so
therefore you would not compete. Some of us
were also told that because of the side-signing we
would be changing the hours in our jobs because
we are union officers. There was also a manager
who said that he'd had a conversation with Jon
Hunt and that Jon had agreed to the side signing.
In fact Jon never did agree to it. I did have
an opportunity to speak with people that were in
favor of this in unit rebuild at Ruby and I
wanted to let you know that your comments and
concerns weighed heavily on the decision made.
We were able to address your concerns by adding
an additional job in unit rebuild at Ruby to offset
the officer being drawn.
This year the picnic was at Blue Lake. Terrell’s
Texas barbecue did a fantastic job and the pulled
pork sandwiches were great. The numbers are
not tallied yet but we enjoyed a huge turnout. I
believe we had some 3000 members and family
show up. Putting on an event like this would not
be possible at all if it weren’t for all of the volunteers
that we had. I'd really like to thank the guys
who were working snow cones and the cotton
candy machine. The lines never died down, and
these guys tried to do everything they possibly
could to please everyone. What you don't know
is that they were not planning on doing cotton
candy and snow cones; it was just something
they got handed to them because no one else
would do it. I hope everybody had a great time
and I hope to see you again next year. If you
know of any way to make things run more
smoothly next year please do not hesitate to
share your ideas with me or your executive board
officer. Thanks!
Portland Public Schools
As reported by
TERRY HOWARD
Greetings, Brothers and Sisters. There are
many things that I would like to address in
this article but I will focus on the most pressing
issues at this time. August 12th the ATU and
PPS met for our contract opener. I can not give
details but what I will offer is we are not too far
away as far as the offer and our wants. I am not
saying we’re close to signing, only that we’re close
in what both sides see as fair.
I would like to say as always that we must stay
united. Do not let the rumor mill break our
unity. As always, be prepared for every little ploy
to break us, from the breakroom to talks about
removing parkouts. It has been brought to my
attention that management is blaming some of
the changes that they made on certain drivers
going to Human Resources and reporting on
them. I can assure you there is no truth to that
accusation. Management made those changes
for their own reasons, mainly to cause strife
amongst us and to divide us as we enter negotiations.
It is my belief that they hope that with
all of these minor issues we will focus on them
and put less energy and concentration on our
contract.
The other thing I’d like to address is the assumption
that I only support friends. As an
elected official I assure you I support every person
regardless of whether you consider yourself a
friend of mine or not. I represent everyone the
same. If anyone needs my assistance please ask. If
you don’t feel comfortable talking to me please
contact one of your shop stewards: Pan Sammons,
Charisse Wall, Chris Smith, Helen
Goche, and Karen Currah.
In closing, let’s have a safe and productive
school year and remember, for anything that
could possibly lead to discipline, I advise you to
always take a union rep with you just in case. It’s
your right. In solidarity!
SEPTEMBER 3, 2010 NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS PAGE 31

September Meetings
Charter
Charter members meet 7:30 p.m.Monday,
Sept.13,at the Salvation Army,Rose Center
for Seniors,211 NE 18th Ave,Portland (18th
& Sandy Blvd, adjacent to the ATU office.)
Charter day members meet 10 a.m. Tuesday,
Sept. 14, at Schoppert Hall, 1801 NE
Couch, Portland.
Salem Transit/WHEELS
Salem members meet 7:30 p.m. Tuesday,
Sept. 14, at the West Salem Branch Public
Library 395 Glen Creek Road, Salem.
Lane Transit
Eugene members meet 7:30 p.m.Wednesday,
Sept. 15, and Eugene day members
meet 10 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 16, at the
Woodworkers Local Lodge, 1124 South A
St., Springfield.
Corvallis First Student City
Transit/Schools
Corvallis members meet 7:45 p.m. Thursday,
Sept.16,at Woodstock Pizza,1045 NW
Kings Blvd, Corvallis.
Portland and First Student
School Bus Drivers
Portland School Bus members meet 6 p.m.
Retirees Report
by Bill Wimmer
Iwould like to invite all of our 757 members
who are about to retire or who have recently
retired to join us in our retiree chapter.
The benefits of remaining a member include
the International death benefit ($1,000) and retaining
the right to vote on the top three officers
of this local union, who are the chief negotiators
for all the contract benefits that we enjoy. Membership
also gives you the right to attend retiree
meetings, as well as the annual picnic in July and
the annual Christmas party in December. There
are also other benefits to our members, which
Retirees’ Corner
Thursday, Sept. 16, at Rigler School, 5401
NE Prescott, Portland.
Rogue Valley Transportation
Medford members meet 7:30 p.m. Thursday,
Sept. 16, at Bruno’s Pizza and Pasta,
2105 Roberts Rd., Medford.
C-TRAN/C-VAN
Vancouver members meet 7 p.m. Sunday,
Sept.19th at the Laborers Hall,2121 NE Andresen,
Vancouver,Washington.
Tillamook County Transportation
District
Tillamook members meet 1:00 p.m. Sunday,
Sept.19,at 212 Main Street,next door
to Beach Pancake House in Tillamook.
AMR Northwest Josephine
County, Bend Area Transit,
LAMAR Advertising and Valley
Transit
See your liaison officers.
PLEASE NOTE: ATU members are invited to
attend any of the above-listed meetings.
are the subscription to the Northwest Labor
Press and the ATU In Transit magazine.
This retiree chapter is open to all dues paying
members of Local 757 regardless of where
you are employed, be it Salem, Eugene, Vancouver,
or any of the other properties that are represented
by Local 757.
Thank you and hope to see all of you soon at
one of our retiree meetings which are held the
first Wednesday of the month at Westmoreland
Union Manor.
The following retirees will celebrate birthdays in September: Gerald Aaron; Lisa Armani;
Sam Avery; Gwen Basye; Terry Bergland; Kenneth Bruce; Dennis Bruner; James Burgess;
Leilani Chartier; Marian Chulos; Michael Claflin; Robert Coley; Randall Conant; Donald
Coombs; Charles Cummins; Curt David; Arthur Deming; John Dorner; Donald Dunn;
Clyde Earl Sr.; Richard Emra; Patrick Foushee; John Frey; Stephen Gillmer; Raymond Goff;
Tom Gonzalez; Howard Green; William Guthrie; Donald Hambrick; Ronnie Hartman;
Dale Helmer; Philip Henderson; Rolf Hermes; Robert Hoeft; Charles
Holden; Jimmy House; Chester Johnson; Connie Johnson; Rebecca Jordan;
Linda Kallberg; Pauline Kelly; Karl Klotz; Victor Kuss; Samuel Learn; David
Mariman; Harry Mills; John Mitchell Sr.; Stephen Orr; Garald Ottoboni;
Pamela Owen; Michael Palmer; Robert Papke; James Perez; Donald Phillips;
Darrell Propst; Douglass Renfrow; Jerry Richardson; Greg Rivera; Alvin
Roder; Norma Roland; Charles Rooney; Phillip Rotella; Kenneth Rupp;
George Schmidt; Terry Scudder; Virginia Simmons; Patricia Smith; Kenneth
Stambaugh; William Strong; Willie Sutton; William Vanryn; Barbara
Wells; Kenneth West; Sam West; Christy Yelton; Albert Zullo.
The names of the 50-year members are in bold type.
Next month’s regularly scheduled ATU 757 Retired Member
Chapter meeting is Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2010, at
9:30 a.m. at Westmoreland’s Union Manor, 6404 SE
23rd Ave. Coffee and doughnuts will be served at 9 a.m.
ATU LOCAL 757
ATU Local 757 Officers
President-Business Representative...........................................................................JONATHAN HUNT
Vice President-Assistant Business Representative....................................................SAM SCHWARZ
Financial Secretary-Treasurer/Recording Secretary....... ............................................EVETTE FARRA
Executive Board Officers
C-TRAN................................................................... ................................................................ROY JENNINGS
First Student ....... ............................................................................................................ANNA TOMPTE
Lane Transit District (LTD).......................................................................................BRIAN PASQUALI
Portland Public Schools ...........................................................................................TERRY HOWARD
Salem Area Mass Transit District..................................................................................KEN RICHINS
TriMet Center Maintenance............ ...................................................................KEVIN KINOSHITA
TriMet Center Transportation.....................................................................SANDY GUENGERICH
TriMet Powell Maintenance ..............................................................................................DAVID KAY
TriMet Powell Transportation ......................... ................................................KHRIS ALEXANDER
TriMet Merlo Maintenance.................................................................................................JEFF HUNT
TriMet Merlo Transportation..........................................................................JEFFREY ACKERSON
TriMet LRT Maintenance ......................................................................................................JOE RUFFIN
TriMet LRT Transportation....................................................................................................TOM RUIZ
TriMet Monthly Rated Employees.................... .....................................................BRUCE DUNCAN
Liaison Officers
AMR Southern Oregon-Josephine County ..................................................... SEAN GARTLAN
Bend Area Transit......................................................................................................................VIC GILARDIN
C-TRAN...................................................................................................................................SCOTT MILLER
C-VAN ..........................................................................................................................JIM COLLELL
First Student (Portland School Bus) ....................................................................................RAY GIBSON
First Transit . ....................................................................................................................KATHLEEN BROWN
First Transit (TriMet Lift) ......................................................................................................LES GREEN
First Student (Corvallis City Transit) ........................................................................JOHN OLIVER
First Student (Corvallis Schools)......................................................................................STEVEN BLACK
LTD Secretary ..............................................................................................JOHN GELSOMINO
LTD Maintenance.............................................................. ....................................TOM SHACKELFORD
LTD Extra Board ................................................ ......................................................DARRYL WHITAKER
Portland Streetcar........................................................................................................HUGH OVERTON
Rogue Valley Transportation District .......................................................................ROGER SPRY
SAT Maintenance.................... ............................................................................................DON ELZNIC
Tillamook County Transportation District ............................................MARLENE TAYLOR
TriMet Merlo Extra Board ..................................... ........................................................STEVE ECKLES
TriMet Center Extra Board .........................................................................GARY HERNANDEZ
TriMet Powell Extra Board.................................................................................GORDON DUNCAN
TriMet Ruby Junction ..........................................................................................JEAN STRICKLAND
TriMet Ruby Junction Maintenance ..................... .................................................DAVID LINGLE
TriMet Elmonica ...................................................................................................GREG DODGE
TriMet Elmonica Maintenance................................................................................. DAVE HARVEY
Valley Transit.......................................................................................................................NICK NOTARAS
WHEELS......................................................................................................................TERRY ROSE
Hunt
(From Page 1)
to provide healthy options, but sometimes we
will show up with a familiar stand-by such as
barbecue. Even if you’re not hungry, please stop
by for a chat or at least to pick up some water.
Speaking of water, on the hottest days, keep
an eye out for the Hot Weather Patrol. Your
union officer brothers and sisters will be around
town handing out cold bottles of water. Special
thanks to Jeff Hunt, Sergio Garcia, and Khris
Alexander for their roles in organizing these initiatives.
Kenneth (Sonny) Eugene Santmyer Jr
June 3, 1937 - August 12, 2010
We are sorry to note the passing of Kenneth (Sonny) Santmyer Jr., retired TriMet mechanic of
32 years. He died August 12 in his sleep after an ongoing battle with diabetes. He is survived by
his wife of 50 years, Rose Marie, and his five children, as well as numerous grandchildren and
great grandchildren. He was an avid fisherman, hunter, and great provider for his family.
PAGE 32 NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS SEPTEMBER 3, 2010