Now that we have been acquainted with each other, NOW, is the time for action. There is a number of things that "all" of us can do if "we" put "our" heads together. This is a test of just HOW SERIOUS, you are about this situation. Although, it is good to hear that Lift got the response they need to get back to the table, NOW, it's "our" turn. As
I told you that "we" need to put the pressure on this company to do the
right thing and compensate "us" for creating an unsafe work
environment. In order to do this, you are going to have to
change the way you have been doing things, I know that you are turned
off by "our" rhetoric, but the situation "is" clear, "we" need them to
bend "our" way. "We" want "our" suffering to, NOT be silenced, due to the fact
that "we" can't speak out against them, in ALL public forums, “we” for one would have taken care of this problem 9 months ago, without your help. But since the situation "is what it is", then, let’s get started. Here
are a number of things "we" can do to get "everyone" on the same page
(I know you told me that you are having problems rallying members, so
let’s solve that dilemma, remember, Trimet knows this). But this will help solve that.
1. Get OSHA involved: I heard this story over and over again by you that "we" need proof, well here it is:
(http://www.oregonlive.com/
Standard number: 1910.30 Title: Equipment
1910.430(b)(3)
Respirable air supplied to a diver shall not contain:
1910.430(b)(3)(i)
A level of carbon monoxide (CO) greater than 20 p/m;
1910.430(b)(3)(ii)
A level of carbon dioxide (CO(2)) greater than 1,000 p/m;
..1910.430(b)(3)(iii)
1910.430(b)(3)(iii)
A level of oil mist greater than 5 milligrams per cubic meter; or
1910.430(b)(3)(iv)
A noxious or pronounced odor.
2005 Oregon Code - Chapter 654 :: Chapter 654 - Occupational Safety and Health:
654.010
Employers to furnish safe place of employment. Every employer shall
furnish employment and a place of employment which are safe and
healthful for employees therein, and shall furnish and use such devices
and safeguards, and shall adopt and use such practices, means, methods,
operations and processes as are reasonably necessary to render such
employment and place of employment safe and healthful, and shall do
every other thing reasonably necessary to protect the life, safety and
health of such employees. [Amended by 1973 c.833 §5]
654.015
Unsafe or unhealthy place of employment prohibited. No employer or
owner shall construct or cause to be constructed or maintained any place
of employment that is unsafe or detrimental to health. [Amended by 1973
c.833 §6]
654.022
Duty to comply with safety and health orders, decisions and rules.
Every employer, owner, employee and other person shall obey and comply
with every requirement of every order, decision, direction, standard,
rule or regulation made or prescribed by the Department of Consumer and
Business Services in connection with the matters specified in ORS
654.001 to 654.295 and 654.750 to 654.780, or in any way relating to or
affecting safety and health in employments or places of employment, or
to protect the life, safety and health of employees in such employments
or places of employment, and shall do everything necessary or proper in
order to secure compliance with and observance of every such order,
decision, direction, standard, rule or regulation. [Formerly 654.060;
1977 c.804 §35]
654.031
Citation and order to correct unsafe or unhealthy conditions. Whenever
the Director of the Department of Consumer and Business Services has
reason to believe, after an inspection or investigation, that any
employment or place of employment is unsafe or detrimental to health or
that the practices, means, methods, operations or processes employed or
used in connection therewith are unsafe or detrimental to health, or do
not afford adequate protection to the life, safety and health of the
employees therein, the director shall issue such citation and order
relative thereto as may be necessary to render such employment or place
of employment safe and protect the life, safety and health of employees
therein. The director may in the order direct that such additions,
repairs, improvements or changes be made, and such devices and
safeguards be furnished, provided
and used, as are reasonably required to render such employment or place
of employment safe and healthful, in the manner and within the time
specified in the order. [Formerly 654.045]
(All of this took me minutes to find), and there is a line of people, waiting to be heard about this.
Also
put out a mailer/E-mail on ATU activist asking for statements from
active and non-active members, who have come down with illnesses (any
illness) that they were not predisposed to getting, for example: rashes,
bacteria type infections, other infections, bad colds, pneumonia etc.
this way you can get an accurate count of those things that directly
involve the work that “we” do.
2. Since “our” benefits have been compromised without a fight, you need to remember what makes “us” strong. “Our” labor makes “us” strong. You
have not used this strength (or have forgotten), to “our” advantage, or
to put it another way, Trimet “only” survives, because “we” put in the
hours, work, overtime, RDO, etc. This means that you have this, as a “point of no-return”. Imagine worker (“us”) decided to not work RDO, or extra overtime. How would this company survive? Not, very long. So in the next sit down for bargaining, I think you should keep it in mind (or whoever holds your position). This “is” the only way to get “our” benefits restored to 100% (where it should
be). This company “is” image conscious, and if they
cannot fill routes because there are no bodies to fill them (because
they cannot use extra board, because they will be maxed out), and the
public will once again step up and question Trimet. An example of disruptive service, the Lift program, it took just hours to get Trimet back to the table. Why should they reap the benefits of “all of “our” sacrifices” without compensation.
3. Transparency: something
transparent, especially a picture, design, or the like on glass or some
translucent substance, made visible by light shining through from
behind. Far too long you have done “our” business, in a fashion that doesn’t involve a majority of the membership. Case
in point bartering our benefits with less than 4% approval out of 2500
members, that should never happen again, due to the fact that some did
not receive a ballot (all of which were outraged), or some did not
understand that this change was only good until November. None but a few are up to date with what you are doing. That “is” unacceptable. What
you can do to rectify it is to take a majority, to decide “all” union
business, starting with sending
“all” members in good standing (via e-mail/up to date mailer) an up to
date accounting of union funds, “we” should not have to drag it out of
you to see them. No more secret spending without “our” majority
approval, unless it is an emergency.
4.
Squash the useless bickering between operators and mechanics, for far
too long there has been an uneasy animosity between members. Case in point, there were some operators that filled out white cards, and overheard a mechanic call them a crybaby. Sad. “We” all have 1 foe, management. Another case in point, I wrote you about a bus that made me sick, I wrote it up several times, did work injury reports. And guess what happened, it was put right back in service. If
a fix on a bus/train slows down the shop, so be it, “we” should not
jeopardize fellow member’s health and safety, just to patch it up and
put it back in service. Let management handle that. Safety first.
5.
Management issues, now the word from on-high, stated that, in
disciplinary actions. They use the term, “we are not here to negotiate”,
and hit “us” with whatever is on their dockets. Hardball. “We” can also play the same game. Imagine the EPA were to do an air quality test during the morning start-ups. If
you don’t know what I’m saying, the sheer amount of bio-diesel fumes
being pumped into the air, during this period (a lot), going into:
neighborhoods, schools, businesses etc. If you have not
had the pleasure of walking into center garage during this time, you may
pass out, if the wind blows your way, the EPA might not like that. This also puts “our” mechanics in harm’s way, while they check tires.
Lastly, throw away the pride thing; it is simply not working for “our” cause. You
are going to have to except the fact that there “is” more than 1 mind
in this union, and except the fact that “we” can all benefit from
“everyone’s” ideas. Also, I do not care about the elections; this “will” be true for all in office. Today is a new day!
Henry.
Unless "we" are heard, the more "we" will shout!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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