The Obama Administration strongly opposes H.R. 1120, which would prohibit members of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) duly appointed by the president from taking any action. If the president is presented with legislation that would undermine the functions of the National Labor Relations Board, his senior advisors will recommend that he veto the bill. [...]
AFL-CIO and Union Privilege offer scholarship
April 4, 2013
The AFL-CIO and Union Privilege (also known as Union Plus) announced today they have partnered together to offer students a chance to win scholarships commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. They will award 50 scholarships of $5,000 each to high school seniors to help pay for college costs. To [...]
At L.A. motorcycle show, this ‘knucklehead’ is tops
April 2, 2013
Hundreds of motorcycle enthusiasts who entered custom bikes in the Easyriders® 2013 Bike Show in Anaheim, Calif., were apparently barking up the wrong tree. When it was all said and done, Howard “Tree” Slayton’s replica 1947 Knucklehead Harley-Davidson Radical Chopper was the cream of the crop. Tree is Los Angeles Metro bus operator Howard Slayton, [...]
Bus companies target sleep apnea
March 22, 2013
By Calvin Studivant, Alternate Vice President, Bus – Sleep apnea is a serious ailment and certainly one that should not go untreated. But it also should not be used to discriminate against our members, which it appears some carriers are doing. There are reports from some of our locals that their carriers are more likely [...]
Halt the neglect of transportation infrastructure
February 27, 2013
SMART Transportation Division President Mike Futhey and Assistant President John Previsich this week joined the leaders of other AFL-CIO affiliate unions at the organization’s annual winter meeting. They also meet separately with members of the organization’s Transportation Trades Department to roll out a 2013 transportation investment and jobs agenda, stake out an aggressive stance against [...]
With elections past, our work begins
February 22, 2013
By James Stem, National Legislative Director – As a new Congress begins its largely partisan struggles, which are sometimes difficult to understand and frequently disturbing, the job of the National Legislative Office is to convince lawmakers that the legislative agenda of SMART members is the ideal recipe. The education process itself can be brutal, as evidenced [...]
Healthy drivers are happy drivers
February 22, 2013
By Bonnie Morr, Vice President, Bus Department – As the year kicks off, I must ask you: “How are you doing?” “I am healthy and happy” is the answer I’d love to hear, but, sadly, it’s the answer I hear less and less. Consider our work schedules, and the nature of our jobs: We sit all [...]
First Student employees bring Christmas to kids
February 20, 2013
“First Student bus drivers and mechanics from Local 1908 are so much more than just people who get your children to and from school,” said Local Secretary Joann Ehrhardt. If you need proof, just ask some of those children. After a Buffalo, N.Y., School District family of six lost everything to a Dec. 1 house [...]
We pledge allegiance, in solidarity
February 11, 2013
By SMART General President Joe Nigro – We are one! Not only as a result of our recent merger, but also by the pledge we make to one another as union brothers and sisters. The strength of organized labor lies in the hearts and minds of every union member who understands the meaning of allegiance. [...]
Regional meeting online registration now open
February 11, 2013
Members planning to attend one or both of the UTU’s regional meetings this summer can now complete their registration online through the UTU website. The secure pages on the UTU website provide for safe and convenient registration. There’s no need for filling out a paper registration form or finding a postage stamp. UTU regional meeting [...]
