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About Northwest labor press. (Portland , Ore.) 1987-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 19, 2012)
At TriMet Lift, contracted bus drivers say they want a union It’s not every day workers get to swarm their manager’s office to de- mand union recognition. But that’s what a group of TriMet Lift workers did Oct. 3, accompanied by a state sen- ator, the Oregon AFL-CIO president, and the president of the union they want to join. The employer is First Transit — a division of the giant UK-based multi- national First Group. Under contracts with TriMet, First Transit runs TriMet Lift, a transit service for seniors and the disabled, from three Portland-area lo- cations. At two of the locations, work- ers are represented by Amalgamated Transit Union Local 757, but at the SE 92nd and Powell yard, they’re Oregon ETA honors Burns at awards dinner Vickie Burns, executive direc- tor of Labor’s Community Service Agency, received a “Com- mitment In Ac- tion” award from the Oregon Em- ployment & Training Associ- V ICKIE B URNS ation. The annual award is presented to an individual who, through service and leadership, has demonstrated commit- ment in action and excellence in the field of workforce development. As part of her job at Labor’s Com- munity Service Agency, Burns, a member of Office and Professional Employees Local 11, is part of a rapid response team that is called in to assist employees who have been notified of layoff. The Oregon Employment & Train- ing Association is a network of work- force development professionals, busi- nessmen and women, and supporters from the workforce spectrum. nonunion. Up to now, anyway. Workers weren’t surprised when First Transit operations manager Linda Ciavara, caught off guard, wouldn’t say whether the company will voluntarily recognize their choice to unionize. So the next morning, union supporters filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board. The federal agency has scheduled an election for Nov. 7 to determine if workers really want a union. [The fact that 112 of the 166 workers might have signed union au- thorization cards isn’t enough to demonstrate their choice to join a union under U.S. labor law; the employer first gets a chance to hire union avoidance consultants and go at workers at mandatory meetings.] But on Oct. 3, at least, spirits were high as workers felt the power of the union. State Senator Laurie Monnes- Anderson was there to lend moral sup- port, as was Oregon AFL-CIO chief Tom Chamberlain and Bruce Hansen — a 20-year TriMet driver who became Local 757 president earlier this year. Hansen said unionizing the third TriMet Lift unit is a top priority for Lo- cal 757, and was something he cam- paigned on. Pay, benefits, and fair treatment are among the reasons First Transit work- ers cite for unionizing, as well as the se- curity of knowing what the rules are — and that they apply to everyone equally. “The rules are there but you’re not the nonunion workers lack. Matt Leist — who’s worked at the 92nd Avenue yard for 18 years as a driver, road supervisor, and trainer — said the question of whether to union- ize has come up again and again. What made the difference this time, Leist said, was support from the wider union movement. As part of an Oregon AFL-CIO pilot project, affiliated unions pool re- sources, and lend staff organizers when a workplace unionizing campaign is ready to snowball. In this case, full- time union organizers paired up with First Transit drivers and visited their co-workers. In the course of a three- week blitz, union support grew from the initial 20-person committee to 112 workers having signed union cards. “This is a career; it’s not just a driv- ing job,” said driver Roni White. “Hav- ing a union, and benefits, supports that.” Paratransit drivers celebrate after making a demand for union recognition with Amalgamated Transit Union Local 757. They’ll vote Nov. 7. sure what they are,” said driver Mary Williams, “and they’re implemented one way for some people and another way for other people.” First Transit workers at TriMet Lift’s two unionized locations have separate collective bargaining agreements, but in both cases, they out-earn their counter- parts at the non-union location, the union says. Hourly wages at the 92nd Avenue yard top out at $18.75, com- pared to over $21 at the two union yards. The union workers also have hol- iday bonuses, paid sick days, the right to a representation during discipline, and a grievance procedure, all of which Low Prices! Mon-Fri 9-6, Sat 9:30-5:30, Sun 12-6 (International Standard Serial Number 0894-444X) Established in 1900 at Portland, Oregon as a voice of the labor movement. 4275 NE Halsey St., P.O. Box 13150, Portland, Ore. 97213 Telephone: (503) 288-3311 Editor: Michael Gutwig Staff: Don McIntosh, Cheri Rice Published on a semi-monthly basis on the first and third Fridays of each month by the Oregon Labor Press Publishing Co. Inc., a non- profit corporation owned by 20 unions and councils including the Oregon AFL-CIO. Serving more than 120 union organizations in Ore- gon and SW Washington. Subscriptions $13.75 per year for union members. Group rates available to trade union organizations. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT PORTLAND, OREGON. CHANGE OF ADDRESS NOTICE: Three weeks are required for a change of address. When ordering a change, please give your old and new addresses and the name and number of your local union. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS, P.O. BOX 13150, PORTLAND, OR 97213-0150 OCTOBER 19, 2012 NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS PAGE 3
