TRIMET LIES AND DISORTIONS

Those of us who follow Trimet management understand exactly who they are and how they operate. Most operators never see the side of Trimet management that I did because most operators just show up , do their jobs and go home. I got involved with politics as well as operating that video camera before there were rules against that so I became a prime target of their ruthlessness.  The management took a big turn towards the dark side when Mcfarlane took over with his 'my way or the highway' philosophy.

What we do know is that Trimet management has a culture of distortion and downright lies. You see that culture close up and personal when you are a targeted employee. And we see that culture in every-single aspect of the 'public face'. They say one thing while doing another, you basically can't believe anything out of that propaganda department. Let's take a look at this recent TRIMET 'press release' regarding the ELRB ruling. I'm only going to reprint the most obvious distortions and lies
You can read the entire press release HERE!

In addition, ERB ruled yesterday that TriMet must forgo $6.8 million in retroactive health care costs back to December 1, 2009. During mediation of this case, TriMet had already offered to forgo those costs.(No, that was used as a bargaining chip to be traded for concessions. Bald faced lie)

The arbitrator’s July 2012 award gave TriMet the authority to implement its proposal for the three-year contract period and yesterday’s ERB ruling upheld this award. (the facts are that the arbitration award was already implemented except for the 'pay back' requirement)
 
The Oregon Employment Relations Board (ERB) ruled yesterday in favor of TriMet and upheld the arbitration award regarding the last contract with the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 757. The ATU had challenged the arbitrator’s July 2012 award selecting TriMet’s offer for the contract term Dec. 1, 2009 – Nov. 30, 2012. (a bold faced lie, the 'order' said no such thing, read it HERE! Both ATU and TRIMET made all sorts of claims against each other the majority of which were thrown out. Did anybody actually expect the ELRB to throw out the arbitration? Only a fool would have believed that. Imagine the precedent that would have set, the only 'official' ruling by the court was against trimet, so for them to claim victory is a bald faced lie)

“This ruling reaffirms our contract award and allows us to continue realigning health care costs with the market and, in turn, begin putting those savings into service,” said TriMet Executive Director of Labor Relations and Human Resources Randy Stedman. “Union health care benefits remain a platinum-level plan under the Affordable Care Act. With this contract award, we’re moving toward financial sustainability, but we have more work to do.” (Randy 'the fat hack' Stedman has a most excellent reputation as a union buster, so we know you won't get anything even close to truth out of him. The news media has left out the fact that the new contract was already implemented, it was not on hold. And the media also left out that I have lost 20% of my puny pension since January first since that Tryant Mcfarlane made all union employees pay for the increases in health insurance, non union members did not get that treatment. Fat Boy Stedman then uses a word which is intentionally used to precipitate an emotional response from readers "platinum level" Not only is it a lie since we all have deductibles and co-pays that we previously did not have, but he attempts to link it to the "affordable care act". The correct terminology is 'Cadillac health plan'  but the word platinum creates a better emotional response. Pure propaganda at its finest. Stedman also alluded to the fact that Trimet will won't be happy till they strip as much out of the union workers benefit plan as possible. The war against Trimet transit workers has just begun.)

However, TriMet must pay employees $3.6 million for premium contributions they made during the term of the prior contract. (the tyrants that run Trimet have been fighting repaying us for the 'illegal' charges they put onto Trimet union  employees and here we  have yet another legal ruling forcing them to pay us. Lets see if they actually honor it)