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Minutes of Meeting ofLocal 880 General MembershipTuesday, December 8, 2009
Officers Present: Officers Excused: President – Joseph J. Sullivan Steward – J. Borrero Vice-President Steve Knestaut Steward – D. Carstarphen Secretary-Treasurer – John Campanella Steward – V. Gourdine Operators Delegate – John Cooper Steward – J. Marks Mechanical Delegate – Frank J. Olive Jr. Steward – H. Marvel Field Salary Delegate – Gabe Sullivan Steward – S. Rollins Steward – Raymond Cappy Steward – Joseph Ciancio Steward – Jami Lyles Steward – Anthony Morgan Steward – Deonne Moore Steward – Jerome Page Steward – Conrad Reynolds Steward – Joseph Romeo Steward – Rudy Scipione Steward – Dave Wilson
Call to Order: President Sullivan opened the meeting and asked for a moment of silence for the following members: Brother Raymond Dougherty, a pensioner who passed away; Brother Robert Foster, a pensioner who passed away; Brother John Williams, whose wife passed away; Brother Thomas Witts, whose mother-in-law passed away; Brother Joseph Middleman, whose father passed away; Brother Joseph Middleman Jr., whose grandfather passed away; Brother Carlos Rivera, whose father passed away; Brother Philip Rivera, whose grandfather passed away; Brother Marvin Taylor, whose uncle passed away; Brother Raymond Wetzel, who is recovering from surgery. President Sullivan also asked that we keep our soldiers in our prayers.
Minutes: President Sullivan said the minutes were posted in all locations and asked for questions. There were none. A motion to accept the minutes, as written, was made by Brother Steve Knestaut and seconded by Brother William Martynek. Motion passed.
Financial Report: Secretary-Treasurer John Campanella read the financial reports, which were also posted on the bulletin board, and asked for questions. There were none. A motion to accept the financial reports was made by Sister Jami Lyles and seconded by Brother William Martynek. Motion passed.
New Business: President Sullivan said that there is a rumor going around that the union has met with the new governor. This rumor is false; the union has not met with the new governor. However, there may be a meeting between the union and the governor’s transition team. We will keep you posted. President Sullivan briefly explained the political climate that will not be in the minutes. Also, the NJ Assembly has passed a bill that allows the Chairman of the NJ State Joint Council to have a non-voting seat on NJT Board of Directors. This bill still needs to pass the Senate.
President Sullivan said the new buses are in the Washington Twp. and Newton Ave. garages. Most of the experienced operators are satisfied with these new buses. There are some issues but the operators will get comfortable to these new buses.
President Sullivan said some union officers attended a demonstration for the new cameras on the buses. The cameras are live all the time but will only record an event. The cameras are currently set to record 10 seconds before an event and 10 seconds after an event. An event is any hard-braking, the bus being hit or the bus swerving suddenly. The only way for the camera to be disabled is by the battery kill switch. However, if anyone uses the battery kill switch to disable a camera, they will be disciplined. The camera demonstration showed an operator running over something in the roadway that he did not see because he was using a cell phone at the time. Once the operator hit the object in the road, the camera recorded the event with audio and video. The cameras will help with the safety of our operators but they will also provide evidence if operators are doing something wrong. The cameras will be downloaded everyday at 4 AM or whenever management needs it. Also, management can now see any location through their computers in their office. Be truthful when filling out accident reports. If you are caught lying, you will be discharged. Report all accidents because you are only assessed points for an accident, but you will be discharged for failing to report an accident. Also, there are cameras in the bus terminals. Again, if anything happens on or near your bus, report it. If you hit something, admit it and take the points.
President Sullivan said there is no reason for starters in the Atlantic City Bus Terminal to be rude to fellow employees. There have been problems in the past that have seemed to calm down. Please conduct yourself in a professional manner and be respectful to all employees.
President Sullivan said that he has received complaints that some Egg Harbor Twp. bus operators are telling passengers about the personal problems of other employees. Please do not discuss personal information about other operators because you do not know who is listening. Mind your own business.
President Sullivan told members that on December 19th, all the field salary jobs that changed should take effect.
President Sullivan told members to make every attempt to attend second or third step hearings when they are called. The company is refusing to hear cases over one year old. If you do not want to pursue your case, just inform the union. Again, please make an effort to attend your hearing.
President Sullivan said that if you are discharged or resign your position and you have less than 10 years of service, you will be refunded the money you put into the pension plan. There is a form that must be filled out and sent to the pension department. A member asked if the RX65 payments are refunded if you leave the company. President Sullivan said no, that money is not refunded.
President Sullivan told Egg Harbor bus operators that the Dorset Bridge will be closed on the new change. The pull-out and pull-in times will remain the same, but the layover or recovery times may change.
President Sullivan wished everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and asked if anyone had any questions he could answer. President Sullivan said we are going into some very difficult times in 2010.
A member asked if the RX65 prescription plan can be eliminated. President Sullivan said only if enough members put it as a priority on the wish list in the next contract negotiations, which would be voted on by the entire union membership.
A member asked about the lack of public timetables. President Sullivan said the public timetables are printed by an outside vendor now and he does not know when the company will receive them. However, it is not likely we will receive any timetables before the next change. President Sullivan also said that the new contract books have been printed and will be sent to the garages soon.
A member asked how much of the driver’s area is shown on the new cameras. President Sullivan said it shows the entire driver’s area where you can see the driver but you cannot see the register. The cameras are also equipped with infrared lens and GPS. If you have an accident, the camera will record the speed of the bus at the time. This technology is the same as in airplanes. The company will view the information provided by the cameras as fact.
A member said that the City of Philadelphia is no longer giving warnings for cell phone violations. It is a $75 fine. President Sullivan also said if you have an event on your bus while in Philadelphia the camera will record you using your cell phone. Stop using cell phones while you are driving your bus.
A member said that he would like to begin a program called “Member vs. Member.” If a member has a problem with another member, they can bring it to the union instead of taking it to the company. It would really help the shop stewards if members would come to the shop stewards first and then the shop steward can explain the procedure of how a member can bring another member in front of this panel to try and resolve the issue between the two members. In Egg Harbor Twp. there are a lot of problems between members and as a shop steward he has never experienced so many members running to management on another member. There will always be problems between members but if the problems are taken to management, they are going to take care of the problems, and then it is harder for the shop steward to get members back to work. This member asked President Sullivan if the union can start this program. President Sullivan said it would take a bylaw change to make members attend this panel. President Sullivan also said that panel members are going to have to be paid to conduct these panel hearings. This member said the supervisor of the Atlantic City Bus Terminal is 100% behind this idea and he will give the union a room to settle these differences. President Sullivan said all locations have a room to use but there are other issues such as how are you going to get everyone together. If someone in Egg Harbor has a problem with someone in Newton Ave, where are you going to meet? Brother John Campanella said that shop stewards have been handling conflicts between members for years and are doing the best they can to solve the problems. This member said that if this program were put in place, members would understand that they need to stop going to management. Vice President Steve Knestaut said that the union has tried to solve problems when members call the union hall. President Sullivan said we try to solve them, but some members have hidden agendas and we cannot help them. This member said that the panel would create a paper trail, especially if the same member continually has problems with other members. If the member fails to show for the panel, it is documented and if they are discharged and come in to the union body for arbitration, the union can produce paperwork showing where they tried to help the member.
A member said that he has a break at Sixth and Race Sts. in Philadelphia and wants to know if he can leave his bus and go to the gallery. President Sullivan said no; do not leave your bus. If anything happens to your bus, while you are away, you will be in trouble.
A member said that, on the 403 line, he is supposed to have a 15 minute break at the WRTC but never gets it. Can the scheduling department change this? President Sullivan said the scheduling department can look at this issue, but they will check other operators also and if other operators are not running late, then the schedule will probably remain the same. Another member said every operator on the 403 line is late. Also, operators are late because if they shut their bus down to use the restroom, the GPS system takes 5 minutes to reactivate.
A member said that on the 403 line he is getting a lot of cash at the WRTC bus terminal; customers should be buying tickets. President Sullivan said he will ask the starters to make announcements at the terminal reminding customers to purchase tickets, but do not refuse any customer who wants to pay cash.
A member said that there are no breaks built into the runs; any breaks are considered recovery time.
A member said that he has said it before but will say it again, what we do on the road affects other operators on the road. I have been run off the road, and blocked in by other operators. We all need to wake up, including myself, and check ourselves in the mirror before we get to work. The job is stressful enough. We cause more grief to one another than any customers can. We need to think about this. There are cameras on the buses, so what, do your job and there is nothing to worry about. This member said he has listened to operators’ conflicts with passengers and granted there are some customers that do not deserve to ride our buses, but this is our job and we have to do it. Some of you may not want to hear this, but this is what is going on and until we check ourselves, it will continue. Until we come together as operators, because we are all Local 880, we are going to continue to have problems. Until we come together as a local union, how are we going to go to the company and fight for anything? Let’s start here. There is only a portion of our operators in attendance, but we can take this group and spread the word. We have shop stewards that come together and meet; the members need to know what is being discussed. Shop stewards need to come to the garage and tell us what was discussed at the meeting. This is information the members can use. We should come to work, check our attitudes, look out for the operator in front and behind us and do our jobs. This member said he is not saying this to hurt anyone; it is just what he sees. This member said “thank you” to the shop stewards who are doing their jobs, but for those shop stewards who are not doing their jobs, when the time comes, vote them out. Management should not be allowed to come into the dayroom and ask operators to come into their office to address an issue. Operators do not have to talk with management; just tell them that you would rather have your union representative present.
A member said there was a time that we did not bid for holidays and asked if we can go back to that way. President Sullivan said it is a contractual issue and can only be changed in contract negotiations. However, there are eight local unions and this issue only affects two local unions. Local 880 was outvoted on this issue. Also, the one-day picks are contractual and we try to get as many people off as possible. However, the company could excuse a larger amount if everyone was off the sick list. The long-term sick list does affect how many operators can be excused. We are obligated as a union to provide enough employees to fill the work.
A member asked why the company does not just make everyone work their own job on the holidays and same-day picks. President Sullivan said the purpose of the bid is to allow the company to cut runs that are not needed. Therefore, certain operators would be excused and this would be a violation of seniority. The company must reduce the number of runs and that is why we have a bid.
A member suggested that when bidding, operators should look at the upcoming holidays and if they want those holidays off to pick accordingly. Also, there are part-timers to fill the work. President Sullivan said that is correct, operators can bid to be off on holidays if certain “days off” are available. However, there are guidelines stating the part-timers can only work up to 10% of the platform work. Also, part-timers do not have to be available to work on holidays.
A member asked about the security of our pension fund if it is putting out more money than it is taking in. President Sullivan said that the pension committee monitors the fund. Investment income has decreased because of the economy but is starting to rebound. A member asked if the State of New Jersey missed a payment to our pension fund. President Sullivan said no, the State may have missed a payment to the public employees’ pension fund. President Sullivan explained the issues regarding pensions.
Adjourn: A motion to adjourn was made by Brother Marvin Taylor and seconded by Sister Jami Lyles. Motion passed. Meeting adjourned at 8:25 p.m.
Sincerely,
John Campanella Secretary-Treasurer
Note: The next general membership meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 12, 2010. Hope to see you there. |
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