ATU PROVIDES OFFER FOR WORKING CONDITIONS

The union leadership needs to remember its retirees and what is happening to us. We have no cash flow so any increase in our payments or decrease in our benefits hits us where we are now powerless to respond. Current workers can meet these changes, retirees cannot. REMEMBER YOUR RETIREES, WE ARE THE ONES THAT MADE THIS UNION!

The parties began bargaining for the first time today. The Union began by asking questions about TriMet's extensive proposals (over 400). In the afternoon, the Union provided TriMet with the non-economic part of the Union's proposed changes. These are the changes the Union would like to see in the parties' labor agreement. Most of these proposals addressed working conditions and safety issues. Asked why the Union did not provide an economic proposal, Union president Bruce Hansen stated that the Union is still waiting for TriMet to provide up-to-date health insurance information, including the anticipated costs for the next year. "Until the Union has accurate information about the cost of health insurance, we cannot formulate any economic proposals. TriMet understands this, given the emphasis they have been placing on the cost of health insurance," says Hansen. He also noted that these costs are necessary to determine whether the health insurance that TriMet's broker selects is, in fact, the best deal for the members and the taxpayer.