Just not for buses or bus service. (Who's the director of transit 'equity'?)
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Interesting correspondence between union members and union officials
The following are some communications between ATU 757 members and union officials:
Transit that needs no public money
The impending departure of Metropolitan Transportation Authority chief Jay Walder for the more lucrative shores of Hong Kong to lead its metro and commuter rail system has one silver lining: It has brought our attention to a top-notch metro system that not only can pay its chief a million-dollar plus salary, but which doesn't need public money at all. In fact, the Hong Kong Mass Transit Railway Corp. actually makes money.
Express bus service to Milwaukie area soon to be a thing of the past due to rail
Too bad that rail is such a fixation around here, people could be riding like this:
Swank new high-tech buses heading here | SILive.com
Swank new high-tech buses heading here | SILive.com
Republicans have intentionally destroyed this country
The reason that the Republicans deliberately destroyed the balanced budget and created unprecedented government debt was precisely in hopes that at some point they could use the debt as an excuse to destroy social security, medicare, and myriads of educational and health programs. They represent rich people, and the rich don’t want to be having to bear their fair share of the national burden. What better way to get out of having to pay those pesky taxes than making sure the government doesn’t do anything for anyone but the rich.
So everything unfolding in Washington was planned out in a room in 2001, and is going according to plan.
A Story More Important than Debt Limit Kabuki | Informed Comment
So everything unfolding in Washington was planned out in a room in 2001, and is going according to plan.
A Story More Important than Debt Limit Kabuki | Informed Comment
EMAIL FROM DRIVER
Yesterday, two thermometers in Hillsboro read at 93 degrees.Like filthy buses,hot vehicles
which sit for 20 minutes at layovers,are a health risk.As a heart attack survivor,I was very uncomfortable for the last 5 hours of my shift as were my passengers.I even saw 2 dinosaurs working the 57 line even though there were many rows of 2900's ready to go at Merlo.(It's very sad indeed that our management allows us to suffer even though they have the means to fix the issue)
Saturday, July 30, 2011
and here they are, direct from REAL PEOPLE...TWITTER REPORTS
PortlandAfoot: Signature-gathering is allowed on TriMet because it's categorically a "free speech" activity, TriMet says bit.ly/rewHjA ·
mikerigsby: A hot, stuffy #Trimet bus with several off work fast food workers on it. Nothing like the smell of sweat & french fry grease. :p
zfekede: #trimet has to be the worst transportation system in the world
esseAdamDavis: The trimet outfits look like police uniforms haha #pdx
eenrightsguy: @trimet trimet has made an enemy of me, & i really don't see the wisdom of it. i will keep people aware of the agency's inexcusable behavior
transit_tweets: RT @teenrightsguy: @trimet that is outrageous. i've already put you on notice via these tweets that i have concerns. i will not go out of my way further
sisterthyme: My love/hate relationship with Trimet is only matched by my love/hate relationship with rhubarb. And the Trimet iPhone ap? I just hate you.
Be on the lookout for ryan614@hotmail.com
He is harassing a Trimet bus operator making false claims and complaints!
As America Continues to Tank, What Will You Do?
When we are born, we are born free. As we grow older and are shepparded through public schools and out into the work force, we begin to face the realities of a centralized society – one that continually tries to collectivize people's time under a life-long bond to the State. It is as if there are fields full of gallows with fresh nooses swaying gently in the winds of time awaiting the necks of all the fresh blood entering the workforce. The heads slip in and the serpent-like noose fastens itself – for life. And once a person succumbs to the pressure, they lose their abilty to think. For who has time to think when one's life (time) is constantly being robbed by a collectivist State?
THE DAILY BELL
THE DAILY BELL
Letter from an ATU 757 member to Jon Hunt
Mr. Hunt.
It seems like we have lost another brother in "our" union. His name was Larry (forgot last), and he started a little bit after me (3yrs), he was older (50's), he stayed a mini-runner for his designation at Tri-met. He past from cancer. He'll be missed. Since you probably have not heard anything. I'll tell you that he worked while he was sick. He worked out of Powell around the last time I seen him (on a holiday run), he had lost 30lbs since I saw him before this. I didn't get a chance to talk with him at that time. He worked the 3, 10hr. shifts.
It seems like we have lost another brother in "our" union. His name was Larry (forgot last), and he started a little bit after me (3yrs), he was older (50's), he stayed a mini-runner for his designation at Tri-met. He past from cancer. He'll be missed. Since you probably have not heard anything. I'll tell you that he worked while he was sick. He worked out of Powell around the last time I seen him (on a holiday run), he had lost 30lbs since I saw him before this. I didn't get a chance to talk with him at that time. He worked the 3, 10hr. shifts.
Layover at the Hillsboro Transit Center
One of the great perks on saturday is the Hillsboro Farmers Market. I came home with raspberries,blueberries and zuchinni.
Poor Local Union Leadership
Our Union has its Bylaws, Constitution and General Laws that governs how it is to operate. Section 21.7 “Disclosure of Union Business” of our Constitution and General Laws states “No officer or member of the L.U. shall furnish to any unauthorized person a list of the names and addresses of the membership. All business of the L.U. must be kept strictly private from persons outside of the Union, unless publication be authorized by the L.U., and persons giving out any information contrary to the L.U. shall, after proceeding in accordance with the provisions of Section 22, if found guilty, be fined, suspended or expelled.”
http://betrueunion.blogspot.com/2011/07/poor-local-union-leadership.html
http://betrueunion.blogspot.com/2011/07/poor-local-union-leadership.html
Friday, July 29, 2011
Downtown Portland getting most of the $$$$$$ (we knew that)
“There are bad streets everywhere, but the city is spending most of its money in just one place, downtown,” says David Hampsten, a member of the Portland Bureau of Transportation Budget Advisory Committee, using the common term for the planning district that encompasses the urban core.
Street projects lose traction
Street projects lose traction
Jack Bogdanski commentaries
Two seniors badly injured on MAX
However they may trump up statistics, they can't deny these: a 65-year-old man with life-threatening injuries after being hit by a train on the west side, and an 84-year-woman thuggerized by a sicko on one of the MAX system's many dangerous east side platforms. Does this stuff happen on buses, and we just don't hear about it?
Read more: http://bojack.org/#ixzz1TXF8nh3J
You'll never guess what just happened with Milwaukie MAX
All together now, kids:
It's too late to turn back now!
Public process in the Portland area is such a bad joke.
Read more: http://bojack.org/#ixzz1TXFFjacg
However they may trump up statistics, they can't deny these: a 65-year-old man with life-threatening injuries after being hit by a train on the west side, and an 84-year-woman thuggerized by a sicko on one of the MAX system's many dangerous east side platforms. Does this stuff happen on buses, and we just don't hear about it?
Read more: http://bojack.org/#ixzz1TXF8nh3J
You'll never guess what just happened with Milwaukie MAX
All together now, kids:
It's too late to turn back now!
Public process in the Portland area is such a bad joke.
Read more: http://bojack.org/#ixzz1TXFFjacg
Oh boy, no comment on this
There is no end to the amount of bureaucrats that this place is willing to hire.
(Cultural competency?)
HEAR YEA HEAR YEA!!
sister E**** F** are worthy of being further entertained.
Trimet's latest self mastabatory event
Trimet's latest self mastabatory event from al m on Vimeo.
Trimet congratulates itself and other bureaucrats for their brilliant vision for Portland Orygon, the whitest city in America.
Public testimony Trimet board of directors-7/27/11
David Kay says changing lift will flood fixed route service
Cameron Johnson says "we can not trust you"
RA Fontes says don't degrade the bus service for streetcar
Michael Levine says "forget bureaucrats, reach out to the disabled"
Big shot doctor wants streetcar to get to his office
Anything is better than funding highways says streetcar supporter
Streetcar supporter says gas is running out
Cameron Johnson says "we can not trust you"
RA Fontes says don't degrade the bus service for streetcar
Michael Levine says "forget bureaucrats, reach out to the disabled"
Big shot doctor wants streetcar to get to his office
Anything is better than funding highways says streetcar supporter
Streetcar supporter says gas is running out
Trimet bus riders pay and pay and pay for rail
Trimet management PULLS BUSES OFF IN SERVICE ROUTES in order to take care of its beloved rail riders. This includes high density routes like the 57 and 76 at rush hour!
So what does that mean for bus riders? Long delays, overcrowded buses, missed appointments, reporting to work late, and other assorted misery's.
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Time for my performance report
It appears another year has gone by and now its time for my performance report. I guess it looks alright?
RAIL FAILS AT TRIMET TODAY
Max Train hits a pedestrian at Washington.
Car crash in Beaverton stops WES service.
Bus bridge in Hillsboro due to another pedestrian collision.
Car crash in Beaverton stops WES service.
Bus bridge in Hillsboro due to another pedestrian collision.
ANOTHER SILLY EVENT GOING ON AT THE AIRPORT RIGHT NOW
The whole thing was very masturbatory when you consider neil was in charge of capital projects for the red line, so his speech was essentially thanking himself
2 YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF ONE OF MY FAVORITE MOVIES DEPICTS TRIMET'S "DARK SIDE"
3 summers ago many of us "overpaid" Trimet employees suffered through a grueling heat wave. I became physically ill during that summer due to the disgraceful working conditions at this company. The company that is supposedly the "world leader" in transit. Well those of us that work here know the ugly truth about Trimet.
The only thing they are the world leader of is PROPAGANDA TECHNIQUES. There is a dark underside to Trimet's shiny downtown rail bonanza facade, and it was captured in this film by Dave Stubblefield, staring me of course. The funny thing is, not a thing has changed as far as equipment is concerned in the two years since this was filmed. Culture of safety? My ass!
THE DARK SIDE OF TRIMET THAT THE WORLD DOES NOT SEE.
WAKE UP AMERICA! - The Real U.S. Budget Problem: Defense & War Spending Equal 94% Of All Federal Income Tax Revenues
I thought this kind of puts things in perspective. In 2010, the US government collected $898 billion in federal income tax revenues. The same year, we spent $847 billion on useless wars and national defense. That means that 94% of all federal income tax revenue is equivalent to what we spend on the Pentagon. Who out there thinks it was money well spent?
Also, just to piss you off a little bit more - defense spending is equivalent to 443% of what we collect in total corporate taxes
REST IN PEACE ALAN TOWNSEND
Alan Townsend was a pal that I met on the group BUS EMERGENCY, this is the post that I made on that group.
One of the very first people that I met online and became pals with I met right
here in BUS EMERGENCY.
Those of you who have followed this group might remember that occasionally
someone would post some wise ass comments always directed at me, his name was
Alan Townsend, he lived in Seychelle Canada.
We became friends and chatted often via video chat. I even drove up to Canada
and visited with him. As time went on we chatted less and less but always kept
in touch with each other.
I got word today from his daughter that he died.
Rest in peace old pal
Treating us like children
This is actually a piece of a comment made on another post but it describes pretty well how we are treated in the eyes of the management and how far the management goes sometimes to placate the public. Remember, complaints from the public are ALWAYS embellished.
The last conversation I had with my Chief was over a customer complaint which said basically "Driver was talking too much and not paying attention to his driving". My Chief proceeded to lecture me - a 45 year old, college educated father, ex-military member and all-around grownup - about "the need for safety while driving a bus".
The last conversation I had with my Chief was over a customer complaint which said basically "Driver was talking too much and not paying attention to his driving". My Chief proceeded to lecture me - a 45 year old, college educated father, ex-military member and all-around grownup - about "the need for safety while driving a bus".
Board of Directors uses delaying tactic
 | delaying tactics | ||||
| Part of Speech: | n pl | ||||
| Definition: | an action taken to defer or postpone an event in order to avoid the outcome or gain an advantage; also written |
Assorted transit pics this month
Merlo MAX stop
City of Roses @ Beaverton Transit Center
Beaverton TC Bike & Ride
Bus stop closeup & Wells Fargo towerOperators need to do the job right
Now that Trimet management has gotten hysterical about the fares, we operators need to make sure that we have handed out the correct transfers! This is not the time to put riders through additional stress because of operator errors!
Hiring Fare Inspectors is good business
Chris Day was looking at the Jack Bogdanski post and did some calculations. What he came up with is that hiring fare inspectors is actually a money making venture.
OK another numbers game here. So from what I am reading here is what I come up with:
One Fare Inspector/Supervisor would cost about $100,000.00 a year (including benefits)
If this inspector gave two tickets an hour for an eight hour shift
TriMet =$1,104.00
Portland =$1,696.00
A five day work week that inspector
TriMet =$5,520.00
Portland =$8,480.00
In one year
TriMet =$287,040.00
Portland =$440,960.00
How much are our union executives making?
Full Time Officer Positions - These positions are voted on by the entire membership
President-Business Representative
The average income for the past 3 years:
Vice President-Assistant Business Representative
The average income for the past 3 years:
Financial Secretary-Treasurer/Recording Secretary
The average income for the past 3 years:
President-Business Representative
The average income for the past 3 years:
$119,405.00
Vice President-Assistant Business Representative
The average income for the past 3 years:
$108,807.33
Financial Secretary-Treasurer/Recording Secretary
The average income for the past 3 years:
$105,227.33
Jack Bogdanski weighs in on the fare evasion action
Woo hoo! Fare-jumper tickets on MAX.
Tri-Met's acting all rough and tough on the legion of scofflaws who don't pay money to ride Portland's wonderful, turnstile-free rail network. Those tickets are $175 apiece!
Yes, but Tri-Met actually nets only $69 of that -- the rest goes to the state and the county. And so, to pay for the six new fare "supervisors," who probably make $100,000 a year including benefits, it would take 8,696 citations that actually get paid every year to break even. That's 24 new paid citations every day, including weekends, above what Tri-Met's already been collecting. Think that's gonna happen?
They don't have this problem on buses -- at least the ones on which the driver actually enforces the fare rules.
Yes, but Tri-Met actually nets only $69 of that -- the rest goes to the state and the county. And so, to pay for the six new fare "supervisors," who probably make $100,000 a year including benefits, it would take 8,696 citations that actually get paid every year to break even. That's 24 new paid citations every day, including weekends, above what Tri-Met's already been collecting. Think that's gonna happen?
They don't have this problem on buses -- at least the ones on which the driver actually enforces the fare rules.
Monday, July 25, 2011
Layover-Beaverton TC
TRIMET REAL STATS FOR LAST MONTH
TOP PERFORMER-BUS SERVICE AT 58,431,700 trips
RUNNER UP-MAX SERVICE AT 41,200,200 trips
DEAD LAST IS THE PUNY WES AT 370,800 trips
RUNNER UP-MAX SERVICE AT 41,200,200 trips
DEAD LAST IS THE PUNY WES AT 370,800 trips
Transit authority hits end of the line!
. The KRM project fell victim to a tough economic climate where officials would not support construction of new transit systems as bus service is being cut back, said Karl Ostby, chairman of the Southeast Wisconsin RTA.
(WOW! UNREAL!)
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/news/2011/07/25/transit-authority-hits-end-of-the-line.html
(WOW! UNREAL!)
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/news/2011/07/25/transit-authority-hits-end-of-the-line.html
MINISTRY OF PROPAGANDA!
TriMet ridership tops 100 million mark again
I love watching our ministry of propaganda doing its spinning, it's fascinating to me. And I always give credit where credit is due. This public service agency really has perfected the art of spin, my hats off to you in the propaganda department. Todays news release starts off with (you'll never guess), the HUGE WES increases! Of course if you have 100 riders and get 50 more that is a 50% increase, hurrah for WES!
Of course the big disappointment is the bus service, alas, broken down, germ infested, late or never even showing up at all , that bus service will be the death of Trimet huh? (sic)
I love watching our ministry of propaganda doing its spinning, it's fascinating to me. And I always give credit where credit is due. This public service agency really has perfected the art of spin, my hats off to you in the propaganda department. Todays news release starts off with (you'll never guess), the HUGE WES increases! Of course if you have 100 riders and get 50 more that is a 50% increase, hurrah for WES!
Of course the big disappointment is the bus service, alas, broken down, germ infested, late or never even showing up at all , that bus service will be the death of Trimet huh? (sic)
You coming to work these days?
June saw a noted improvement in Operations Department attendance. The summer attendance campaign is continuing through the months of July and August.
Why is good attendance important for our organization? On the maintenance side, strong attendance means:
• Our daily maintenance needs are met. Absences prevent work from being completed as scheduled.
• By being here and performing your job at the highest level, you serve our customers who depend on our service to get to work, home, and manage their lives. You can take pride in the work you perform daily and appreciate the impact you have on the metropolitan area. The public appreciates what you do.
• When journey workers and service workers aren’t here as expected, it puts a burden on other members of the work group to get critical needs met.
• You are missed when you are not here. Your daily contribution to the overall mission is critical to our success in maintenance.
Our “In it to win it” attendance incentive is about reminding everyone of the impact of absenteeism on our daily business. By increasing our attendance we improve our service and our workplace. Thank you for your
Why is good attendance important for our organization? On the maintenance side, strong attendance means:
• Our daily maintenance needs are met. Absences prevent work from being completed as scheduled.
• By being here and performing your job at the highest level, you serve our customers who depend on our service to get to work, home, and manage their lives. You can take pride in the work you perform daily and appreciate the impact you have on the metropolitan area. The public appreciates what you do.
• When journey workers and service workers aren’t here as expected, it puts a burden on other members of the work group to get critical needs met.
• You are missed when you are not here. Your daily contribution to the overall mission is critical to our success in maintenance.
Our “In it to win it” attendance incentive is about reminding everyone of the impact of absenteeism on our daily business. By increasing our attendance we improve our service and our workplace. Thank you for your
Watch out Dumbasses!
The Transportation Safety Committee recently noted that frequent Operator injuries have occurred while Operators are stepping on or off the bus. Operators are reminded to please use caution when manuveuring the high step on an off the bus in the yard.
If you have a question or concern about this safety reminder or any safety issue, feel free to contact a Transportation Safety Committee representative at your garage:
• Center Street: Dowell Kearney, Laverne Martin
• Powell: Brian Runyan, Joyce Ray
• Merlo: Patti Pellegrin, Jan Lamascus
Safety is great unless you’re late.
If you have a question or concern about this safety reminder or any safety issue, feel free to contact a Transportation Safety Committee representative at your garage:
• Center Street: Dowell Kearney, Laverne Martin
• Powell: Brian Runyan, Joyce Ray
• Merlo: Patti Pellegrin, Jan Lamascus
Safety is great unless you’re late.
Nobody Knows Anything
Here in the pitiful tweet-sphere that contains the atomized remnants of USA governance, there is no such clarity. We don't know if that's spaghetti hitting a wall or the shit hitting the fan. But due to the amazing obduracy of the parties involved, the next sound you hear may just be the wall itself tumbling down, perhaps even the famous wall with the famous street attached.
James Howard Kunstler
James Howard Kunstler
2012 ATU757 Elections
Nominations of candidates will be held on the first regular union meeting in May 2012 at 7:30pm as set forth by the Financial Secretary-Treasurer. Names of the nominated members shall be recorded at the time of nomination by the Financial Secretary-Treasurer/Recording Secretary and shall be placed on the ballot in alphabetical order. Chick here for a list of all ATU757 elected Offices.
Layover at Meridian Park Hospital
There is a picnic table in the shade where one can enjoy their lunch with peace and quiet.Sunday, July 24, 2011
GREECE-TEST CASE FOR AMERICAN AUSTERITY BALONEY
The crisis in Greece must be seen in a global context for another reason. People in Canada, the United States, Spain, Ireland, Italy, Britain, and many other countries are being given the same message: your well-being must be sacrificed in the name of "austerity."
There is increasing resistance around the world to this latest form of class warfare.
In reality, however, transnational economic elites want an ever greater share of wealth, even if it means that poverty and inequality are increasing for the majority.
In 1940, when Mussolini demanded that Greece surrender or face invasion, the Greek response was a single word: "No" ("Oxi"). When Mussolini's troops attacked, the Greeks inflicted the first military defeat ever on the Axis powers.
Dead Souls
While riding the subway through the Boston rush hour, I have been able to observe just how well these personal electronic mental life support units work in shielding people from the sight of their fellow-passengers, who are becoming a rougher and rougher-looking crew, with more and more people in obvious distress. By focusing all of their attentions on the tiny screen, they are also spared the sight of our well-worn and crumbling urban infrastructure.
http://cluborlov.blogspot.com/2011/07/dead-souls.html
http://cluborlov.blogspot.com/2011/07/dead-souls.html
TWITTERS-rapidly becoming one of my favorite Trimet posts
JacoBrucker: RT @nataweejones: if you can't afford a car, you can't afford kids. so many screaming babies on Trimet right now. #notokay
ea12l: I'm so glad @trimet is actually checking fares now- even on the street cars! Maybe this way there wouldn't be yearly fare hikes.
maxfaqs: MT @SauntChris God damn I love the @trimet tunnel when on a westbound MAX you burst forth into the sunlight.
bryanstearns: Wow, the 14 Hawthorne smells like sunscreen. Nice change,
ea12l: I'm so glad @trimet is actually checking fares now- even on the street cars! Maybe this way there wouldn't be yearly fare hikes.
maxfaqs: MT @SauntChris God damn I love the @trimet tunnel when on a westbound MAX you burst forth into the sunlight.
bryanstearns: Wow, the 14 Hawthorne smells like sunscreen. Nice change,
Expectations of every Trimet operator-SOP B101
This procedure outlines the primary duties, responsibilities, and expectations of every operator. More detailed information on how to complete specific duties and tasks may be found in other standard operating procedures.
If you have a problem or concern regarding work expectations, TriMet encourages you to talk with your supervisor or to use any of the following avenues to find a solution:
If you have a problem or concern regarding work expectations, TriMet encourages you to talk with your supervisor or to use any of the following avenues to find a solution:
WISHY WASHY MANAGEMENT
I have been speaking to numerous operators all of whom get confused about stopping the bus after the bus has left a stop. It really is a safety hazard to make these stops but many of us "feel badly" about leaving people behind so we stop.
Trimet management could rectify all this mess by declaring publicly a firm policy on this problem:
Trimet management has directed its operators to not pull over for passengers once the bus has departed! All complaints regarding this issue should be addressed to customer service and not the operators.
Wars OF terror, not war on terror
These so-called "wars" (so-called because they are not constitutional) are not "wars ON terror", but "wars OF terror", of which not all the victims are among these foreign tribes. The American people are victims, too. The Middle Eastern tribes do not hate Americans' freedoms, with which they have had no experience whatsoever; rather, they hate America's leadership class, which is bombing, shooting, and otherwise trying to kill them on a daily basis. And if Americans want to preserve their freedoms, they should begin to look closely at this situation through those tribesmen's eyes.
Power Elite, the Police State and Opposing the Authoritarian Trend
I am not aware of any evidence that Hitler, Stalin, or Mao ever shot some political enemy in the back of the head; but hundreds of thousands of supposed "enemies" were shot by their lackeys. "Great men" of that stamp are apparently "great" because they can convince large numbers of "little men" to behave in the most bestial ways towards even larger numbers of their completely innocent and harmless fellow men. The questions that need answers, then, are: Why do the "lesser men" follow the Hitlers, Stalins, and Maos into the labyrinth of evil? And why do the masses allow themselves to be herded, and even slaughtered, by these thugs as so many sheep?
THE DAILY BELL
THE DAILY BELL
German unions call for healthy lunchtime siestas
The DGB confederation of trade unions argues that a short, lunchtime power nap makes sense for health and performance reasons. "Even though the siesta is something that isn't a given anymore in the southern European countries, it is still a good idea for health reasons," said Annelie Buntenbach, a DGB executive board member. "A short afternoon nap reduces the risk of, for example, a heart attack, and provides an energy boost," she told Tageszeitung in an interview.
Studies bear this out. Researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health and the University of Athens Medical School in Greece found that Greek workers who took regular siestas had 37% lower mortality rates from coronary illnesses than their napless counterparts.
The idea has caught on in Germany, where big German companies such as BASF, Opel, Hornsbach and Lufthansa provide special rooms for their workers, and employers say they benefit from the increased productivity of well-rested employees.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jul/17/german-unions-lunchtime-siestas-naps
Studies bear this out. Researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health and the University of Athens Medical School in Greece found that Greek workers who took regular siestas had 37% lower mortality rates from coronary illnesses than their napless counterparts.
The idea has caught on in Germany, where big German companies such as BASF, Opel, Hornsbach and Lufthansa provide special rooms for their workers, and employers say they benefit from the increased productivity of well-rested employees.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jul/17/german-unions-lunchtime-siestas-naps
Details released for SEIU tentative contract agreement with Oregon
“Over the course of the two-year contract, people will not go backward,” SEIU Executive Director Heather Conroy said. “In fact, they’ll go forward.”
Under the tentative agreement, SEIU-represented workers would begin paying 5 percent of the cost of their health insurance premiums in 2012, the same as workers represented by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 75.
But SEIU negotiated a richer health care subsidy to help lower-paid workers cover the cost of their premium share.
The state will provide SEIU-represented workers a monthly $40 subsidy for people making less than $2,816 a month, SEIU spokesman Ed Hershey said.
Full story here!
Under the tentative agreement, SEIU-represented workers would begin paying 5 percent of the cost of their health insurance premiums in 2012, the same as workers represented by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 75.
But SEIU negotiated a richer health care subsidy to help lower-paid workers cover the cost of their premium share.
The state will provide SEIU-represented workers a monthly $40 subsidy for people making less than $2,816 a month, SEIU spokesman Ed Hershey said.
Full story here!
Light rail around the country
But HRT and other transit officials that operate light rail say there's little that can be done to control how people act around the trains. A 2009 Federal Transit Administration report shows that more than 90 percent of fatalities and injuries in light-rail collisions over the previous five years were caused by "public behavior."
"There's a wide range of bad habits out there, egregious bad habits," Price observed after a few weeks of test runs through downtown. "Something happens pretty much every day."
Norfolk light rail's start-up could start up rash of accidents | HamptonRoads.com | PilotOnline.com
"There's a wide range of bad habits out there, egregious bad habits," Price observed after a few weeks of test runs through downtown. "Something happens pretty much every day."
Norfolk light rail's start-up could start up rash of accidents | HamptonRoads.com | PilotOnline.com
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Tri-Met touts benefits of flesh-eating bacteria on buses
by Dave Lister
You have to question the motives of the city of Portland, Multnomah County, Metro and TriMet when they seem to spend as much effort fueling their public relations machinery to promote their agendas and convince us they are doing a great job as they do in doing their jobs in the first place.
It’s a constant barrage of direct mail, emails and PR-flack radio interviews exhorting us to drive less and save more, or walk and bike the neighborhood, or jump on transit. Even during the wettest spring and early summer in recent memory, with the Columbia River dams’ spillways opened to maximum capacity, the radio jingles urging us to conserve water are already in full swing. And every dime spent to persuade us to behave one way or another is a dime not being spent on the services we require.
