ATU Out in Force for Occupy MovementFrom Santa Rosa, CA to Washington, DC, from New York City to Vancouver, BC, ATU members have been out in force across North America as the Occupy movement picks up more steam and has now gone global.
In Pensacola, FL ATU Local 1395 participated in an Occupy rally and gathered 1,000 signatures for a petition to support bus drivers in their contract dispute with Veolia. In Atlanta, GA, Local 1700 and Local 732 joined with other labor unions to persuade Atlanta Mayor Reed to back down on his eviction notice for the Occupy Atlanta movement.
This action comes on the heels of the first-ever International-wide telephone town hall meeting last week in which ATU International President Larry Hanley and over 200 Local presidents discussed plans to support and participate in Occupy Wall Street protests across North America. The ATU will be available to assist locals with advice and provide materials including talking points as locals make their plans to join up with local Occupy demonstrations.
Please visit the ATU website to get updates on the ATU Occupy movement. If you missed the call, and would like to hear the recorded conversation simply click here. You can get involved with the Occupy movement in your area at: Occupy Wall Street Where You Live.
NDP in ‘Catbird Seat’ in Ontario
Ontario’s New Democratic Party (NDP) Leader Andrea Horwath woke up in the catbird seat, October 7, having won an impressive 17 seats in the province’s parliamentary elections. At 37 seats, Progressive Conservatives fell well below expectations. Liberal candidates won 53 seats – one short of an outright majority. Since Tories seldom vote with Liberals, the Grits will need at least one labour party vote to pass legislation. Ontario Federation of Labour President Sid Ryan exclaimed, “[Conservative Leader Tim] Hudak thought he could bank on the Liberals fumbling the ball so the Conservatives could score an easy touchdown, but he never anticipated an NDP interception.” Read more at: the Toronto Star.
Chicago Mayor Emanuel Targets Transit WorkersChicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and his Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) chief Forrest Claypool kicked off the contract negotiation season with Local 308, last week with the “demonize ATU” press release that has become so popular with transit agencies of late. This time the CTA decided to go with the “crazy-work-rules-that-people-
Local 308 President Bob Kelly reacted, “We’ve just started a boxing match. It’s the end of the first round. I’m walking back to my corner and he comes up behind me and sucker punches me. That’s what this feels like.” Read more at: Chicago Sun-Times
New, Improved ATU Facebook PageCheck out the new, improved, official Amalgamated Transit Union Facebook page. You’ll find lots of useful information about the ATU, keep up to date, and be able to share what’s going on in your local with the rest of the International.
Check Out These Other Stories
Ottawa Local 279, Go Transit to Extend Contract - Read more at CBC News
Pensacola Local 1395 to Give Riders 72-Hour Notice of Strike - Read more at Pensacola News-Journal
NJ Transit Praises ATU's Hurricane Response - Read more at Asbury Park Press
Michigan’s SMART Service to Cut 123 Jobs, Service by 22% - Read more at Detroit News
Board Affirms Toronto Local 113's Right to Strike, October 24 Deadline Set - Read more at City News Toronto
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