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The leadership of the ATU extends gratitude to all who have dedicated time to voice their questions and concerns regarding the upcoming ATU and TriMet Tentative Agreement transportation vote on August 14th. The inquiries have reinforced our decision to offer a second vote for transportation due to the persistent lack of clarity and confusion surrounding the contract and the tentative agreement process. We aim to clarify and address the main myths that are circulating and causing additional confusion among the membership. We urge our transportation members to consider all the information provided and to exercise their right to vote for the option that will best serve the interest of our collective membership.
Upon assuming office on July 1st, your ATU leadership has been dedicated to maintaining open communication and transparency about our decisions and practices, as you, our members, rightfully deserve. Here's what you need to know:
Background
On August 3rd, the tentative agreement with TriMet was put to a vote among our members. While the agreement was approved by 60% of those voting, it did not achieve the level of approval required for full ratification. According to ATU local bylaws, the agreement needs to be ratified separately by each group: Transportation, Maintenance, and all non-Maintenance and non-Transportation employees.
Following the initial vote, the top three officers of our local, along with the International Vice President and our legal counsel, convened to discuss the next steps. During this meeting, it was determined that a second vote might be necessary to ensure compliance with our bylaws and address any concerns from the membership.
Subsequently, a meeting was scheduled with the Transportation Wage Committee to further review the situation. After thorough discussion, the top three officers and the Transportation Wage Committee agreed that a second vote should be conducted specifically for the transportation members. This additional step aims to ensure that all required groups have the opportunity to fully consider and approve the tentative agreement in accordance with our bylaws.
We believe that offering a second vote will help facilitate a fair and thorough ratification process. We appreciate your understanding and participation in this important matter.
Our recommendation is for the membership to vote 'yes' on the Tentative Agreement
We share the struggles and pressures faced by transit workers and recognize the sacrifices you make to provide top-notch transportation throughout this region. We would not endorse a contract that could harm our members or diminish your value. We ask for your trust, assuring you that your best interests are the driving force behind this administration's actions. We will stand united and will see this through because we are ATU.
Debunking Myths and Inaccuracies
We understand there are myths and inaccuracies circulating, these are sometimes driven by non-members, or those with personal grievances. It is important to focus on accurate information and the facts of the situation.
(1) MYTH: The purpose of offering a second vote is to get more yes votes so it can pass.
FACT: The purpose of the second vote is not to solicit additional affirmative votes; rather, it is to ensure that all members are fully informed to make the best decision possible. The outstanding questions and feedback received indicated that some members felt they had not been provided with adequate information.
(2) MYTH: A “no” vote will provide an opportunity to renegotiate all of the terms in the CBA.
FACT: A no vote will not reopen negotiations for the CBA. All contract negotiations are complete, and the TA was settled before July 1. There will be no further amendments or ongoing negotiations. Contrary to rumors, rejecting this tentative agreement does not allow the current administration to re-enter negotiations or renegotiate all of the terms. Prior to reaching the final terms of the TA, TriMet moved negotiations to mediation. If the contract is not ratified, we would have the opportunity to negotiate in mediation, but this would not re-open the whole CBA for renegotiation. Rather, the mediation process is a very narrow, and limited, opportunity to try and see if we can resolve any final outstanding terms before going to interest arbitration. If we do not quickly reach an agreement through mediation, TriMet can declare impasse and move to interest arbitration.
(3) MYTH: Casting a 'no' vote communicates a message to management or previous ATU Local 757 leadership.
FACT: The former administration has departed, and the current administration, along with the membership, will be bound by the vote's outcome. To clarify, if the Tentative Agreement (TA) is not ratified by the membership, mediation followed by binding interest arbitration is the next step. An arbitrator will review TriMet’s final offer against ATU Local 757’s final offer and will decide our contract terms for us. This means the decision is taken out of the membership’s hands. The arbitrator's decision will determine the CBA that will bind ATU for the next four years. Although ATU 757 cannot be certain of the outcome, based on our research and experience, we believe that an arbitrator would choose TriMet’s final offer, which offers significantly less financial benefit than the TA. This is the real decision at stake for the membership: accepting TriMet’s final offer or the Tentative Agreement.
(4) MYTH: ATU leadership does not support the TA.
FACT: While the TA was negotiated while the former administration was in office, the elected Wage Committee was involved in and supported all of the negotiations. The Wage Committee endorses the contract. The new administration recognizes that the new contract has some terms that are not popular, but based on the advice we have received and research we have conducted about the alternatives we could negotiate, we believe the security that comes with a four-year contract, the significant increase in wages, and the additional financial benefits all make this a contract we endorse.
Our recommendation is for the membership to vote 'yes' on the Tentative Agreement
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