I am writing to invite you to ATU Local 689’s rally on Thursday, March 10, 2011 at 8:30 a.m. The rally will occur at WMATA Headquarters (Jackson Graham Building), which is located at 600 5th Street, NW. We are rallying to address issues that not only impact our members, but that also impact other labor union members and the riding public, as well. We see ourselves as part of the larger labor movement and we stand in solidarity with union members across the nation. More specifically, issues that we plan to highlight are the need to preserve final and binding arbitration, concern over insufficient transit funding, issues of inadequate safety for employees and passengers, and attacks on collective bargaining rights.
Please join our union members, as well as community members, other labor union members, and the riding public in making our collective issues known. If you plan to attend and you want to address the crowd, please let me know by responding to this email. Also, please encourage all of your members to support us at our rally.
Thank you and I hope to see you at our rally!
Lateefah S. Williams, Esq. Political and Legislative Director Amalgamated Transit Union, Local 689 2701 Whitney Place Forestville, MD 20747 301-568-6899 lwilliams@atulocal689.org
Who the heck is Lateefah and what salary does she draw from my Union Dues which are "too damn high"! I did not approving hiring all these extra persons in the Union Hall. If the elected officials cannot run business then move on!
You must not know that the female (who was promited after cooking in the Kiose on a hot plate) is over Station Managers and has no real experience designing a training program, customer service program and is rac___.
This just an pure "PR" stunt by Leadership of Union Hall since most members do not support current Union Officals in office. Plus there getting ready to cover there 'Ass' when the more then likely Judge to rule that members will not win Arbriation Case. When see any such Union such action the union is not in control. Hay they forgot add to Protest flyer Lower Dues and pay cut for Fat Cats at Union Hall???
They were voted in by the members! The Justice and Labor Dept need to investigate the corruption that goes on. No more covering asses. Mgmt. needs replaced and the Union needs to go!
Hypothetically, if unions were established for only two reasons, and those two reasons were been addressed, what would justify the continue existence of unions?
1) Fair pay I would say that the union/non-union fair pay issue has been addressed, seeing as union employees are now paid the same or more than non-union employees to do the same job. Unions employees generally get a significant hourly wage PLUS very lucrative benefits that most private-sector employees do not.
For example, UAW members working at Ford assembly plants earn a combined $55/hour in wages benefits. That amounts to $110,000 per year. Before the UAW contract was reformed in 2009, the total of wages and benefits earned was a whopping $70/hour. Granted, Ford is an extreme example.
2) Safe working conditions I'd say this issue has been 95% resolved. Safe working conditions really are no longer an issue in the United States due to OSHA and worker's compensation laws. Of course, there's always room for more safety, but OSHA regulations are pretty restrictive already. Some would say they are too restrictive.
So... union dues are paying them to not do their jobs at 10am on a weekday but to have a protest where they can drink coffee, eat donuts, chat with each other and simply not work? Do any of them really think regular daily riders want to support them considering how poorly (and viciously) most of them treat us, the paying riding public? Oh this is such a CharlieSheen #whining #winless #TROLL moment for them, indeed. Even the weather is not cooperating in this one.
There are three shifts at Metro and the union asked people who are not working the AM shift to come in early or stay late to protest. It is ignorant statements like yours that take away from credible criticism of the union.
And do you really think only those who are not currently on duty are there? Tell me another one. And what part of ignorant did you not like: vicious treament? Poor treatment? ah.. musta been my weather comment there...
This shows your ignorance of what a Union does. If you think they just sit around and handle paperwork you are seriously flawed in your thinking. They lead their members in rallying, job actions, and other events that effect their members. It takes this type of action and even more to get it through our members heads that the events happening all over the US wont come here. Congratulations, Jackie Jeter and Local 689 for taking the fight to them. Keep it up and dont let this be a one time event.
I think unions do more than just sit around and handle paperwork. They also fight for violent criminals who punch cute crime dogs, work hard to make sure reckless drivers can keep driving recklessly, and most importantly suck up my tax payer dollars and make sure they are spent on their buddies instead of actually improving and maintaining the service I'm paying for. See they do lots.
Not sure which rock you've been under the last 5 or so years, but currently with the ATU Local 689 Union, METRO is in the worst condition ever, the highest fares ever, and the unsafest ever. Why would J. Q. Public want to support that? So the rates can go up again, to cover your salary? To carry incompetent staff? I think not.
You had your chance, and we see the result. Its time to give someone else a chance. Time to get rid of the dead weight that can't get fired because of the Union. Time to bring in fresh ideas and fresh faces. Its time for a change alright, its time to Privatize Metro.
I wasn't asking a sarcastic question for once. I didn't even know this was a problem (one that apprently rises above "safety first" according to the flyer). You'd think trains squashing people on tracks would be a bigger problem, so I'm curious.
To the many of you that like to respond negatively about Local689, what is your problem? The Union does exactly what it is suppose to do. If workers are treated unfairly, the react. When there are safety issues they act. It is not the workers that are responsible for WMATA's woes, look at the waste, look at the crime on the rail, look at the morality of the company and the riding public, and place the blame where it truly belongs. Metro employees were not given the wages they have now, but each benefit they now enjoy was fought over and negotiated by the UNION. Dont hate the UNION---Hate the game
Union members aren't the problem? Ho Ho! I enjoy a good laugh. Yes, not all of them are hopeless slob slack-asses. I know many metro employees who are good at their jobs and genuinely enjoy them and want to help. BUT a union with a slavery-accusing president that defends metro employees who beat the shit out of McGruff the crime dog, mow down disabled people on the street, and swear at the passengers when they ask questions are the poison of the agency. The only thing worse than that scum of society is the union that keeps them employed where they continue to contribute to the detriment of Metro. Remember - unions were created for two reasons only, as I stated above: #1) Fair wages #2) Safe working conditions Not everything up to and including #79) Get the McGruff punching employee his job back.
Hate the Game? Really? You had your chance Mr Union. Give us something positive the Union has done? . . . I'm waiting . . . . Still waiting . . . . Exactly! Reinstating texting bus drivers and asleep train operators with back pay, does not help your situation. And presently you are not negotiating with a big corporation about better pay and health benefits, you are negotiating with ME, John Q Rider, And I say NO WAY. GAME OVER!
Matt G and Frustr8dCommuter Lets get down to the real problem. Both of you and all the rest of the Metro Haters on this Blog are just mad, angry, upset, pissed off because 689 union members are majority BLACK and they make some dam good money. And you have to go to your lower wage jobs and pretend to be happy. How dare them. I bet you feel like you deserve there job. So sorry, So sad, all positions have been taken by the hopeless slob slack-a$$e$$, scum of society, dog hitting, mowing down disabled people on the street, swearing at passengers for asking questions, texting driving, sleep driving train operators and very well paid union slaves! LLS!
All you Local 689 members who come to the Union meeting for the sole purpose of showing your azz, the time to do that was today at the Rally. We as a perdominantly Afro-American male group has lost the true sense of what we are fighting for. Instead of belittling the Union President and being disrespectful to a black mother, grandmother, wife (Something we would not tolerate if simular remarks were being aimed at our relatives) we should use these energies and
Sound like you had a bad. I want you to know Iam a white mother, grandmother and Jackie Jetter has been nothing but rude and mean. If she can not stand the heat, get out of the kitchen
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June 9, 2010 "Apparently, you believe in slavery." Feb. 23, 2010 "Our members go to work every day cognizant of their responsibility to perform a job on behalf of our customers – the riding public.”
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Carlos Estevez · 733 weeks ago
Busting this Union #winning #tigerblood #believeinslavery
Anonymous Coward · 733 weeks ago
Anon · 733 weeks ago
insider · 733 weeks ago
I did not approving hiring all these extra persons in the Union Hall. If the elected officials cannot run business then move on!
Guest · 733 weeks ago
F'n JD · 733 weeks ago
ttt · 733 weeks ago
M-Z · 733 weeks ago
anonymous · 733 weeks ago
Hire all races, real
"DIVERSITY"
& Hire and promote
"DIVERSE" MANAGERS
abc · 733 weeks ago
Moldy Metro Smell · 733 weeks ago
abc · 733 weeks ago
Matt G · 733 weeks ago
anon · 733 weeks ago
dues to high members · 733 weeks ago
guest · 733 weeks ago
guest · 733 weeks ago
Matt G · 733 weeks ago
1) Fair pay
2) Safe working conditions
I'd say ATU689 is doing a shitty job of both with their cushy salaries and man-eating escalators.
Michelle · 733 weeks ago
Mike · 732 weeks ago
1) Fair pay
I would say that the union/non-union fair pay issue has been addressed, seeing as union employees are now paid the same or more than non-union employees to do the same job. Unions employees generally get a significant hourly wage PLUS very lucrative benefits that most private-sector employees do not.
For example, UAW members working at Ford assembly plants earn a combined $55/hour in wages benefits. That amounts to $110,000 per year. Before the UAW contract was reformed in 2009, the total of wages and benefits earned was a whopping $70/hour. Granted, Ford is an extreme example.
2) Safe working conditions
I'd say this issue has been 95% resolved. Safe working conditions really are no longer an issue in the United States due to OSHA and worker's compensation laws. Of course, there's always room for more safety, but OSHA regulations are pretty restrictive already. Some would say they are too restrictive.
BSO · 733 weeks ago
Mike · 733 weeks ago
abc · 733 weeks ago
Ever and Anon · 733 weeks ago
Guest · 733 weeks ago
It is ignorant statements like yours that take away from credible criticism of the union.
Ever and Anon · 733 weeks ago
the truth · 733 weeks ago
abc · 733 weeks ago
Another Anon · 733 weeks ago
Well, it's raining - wonder how many actually showed up?
abc · 733 weeks ago
Carlos Estevez · 733 weeks ago
DinaBigNose · 733 weeks ago
Frustr8dCommuter · 733 weeks ago
Not sure which rock you've been under the last 5 or so years, but currently with the ATU Local 689 Union, METRO is in the worst condition ever, the highest fares ever, and the unsafest ever. Why would J. Q. Public want to support that? So the rates can go up again, to cover your salary? To carry incompetent staff? I think not.
You had your chance, and we see the result. Its time to give someone else a chance. Time to get rid of the dead weight that can't get fired because of the Union. Time to bring in fresh ideas and fresh faces. Its time for a change alright, its time to Privatize Metro.
Thank you and good bye.
Frustrated Commuter
hrh king friday 13 · 733 weeks ago
abc · 733 weeks ago
While assault it still wrong, perhaps if the operators were nicer and more polite then a number of the assaults wouldn't have happened.
hrh king friday 13 · 733 weeks ago
UNION 4 Life · 733 weeks ago
Matt G · 733 weeks ago
BUT a union with a slavery-accusing president that defends metro employees who beat the shit out of McGruff the crime dog, mow down disabled people on the street, and swear at the passengers when they ask questions are the poison of the agency. The only thing worse than that scum of society is the union that keeps them employed where they continue to contribute to the detriment of Metro. Remember - unions were created for two reasons only, as I stated above:
#1) Fair wages
#2) Safe working conditions
Not everything up to and including #79) Get the McGruff punching employee his job back.
Frustr8dCommuter · 733 weeks ago
You had your chance Mr Union. Give us something positive the Union has done? . . . I'm waiting . . . . Still waiting . . . . Exactly!
Reinstating texting bus drivers and asleep train operators with back pay, does not help your situation. And presently you are not negotiating with a big corporation about better pay and health benefits, you are negotiating with ME, John Q Rider, And I say NO WAY. GAME OVER!
LLS@U · 732 weeks ago
Whatever · 732 weeks ago
Louderthanwords · 733 weeks ago
guest · 733 weeks ago
abc · 733 weeks ago