Shirley is the first woman, and the first African-American, to be elected President – Business Representative of Division 757 since it began in 1917. She grew up in Florida and Michigan, the daughter of migrant laborers. Once she graduated from university with her nursing license she worked in Detroit’s Henry Ford Hospital before moving to Portland in 1974 for the weather.

She worked as a nurse, and then got a job as a TriMet bus operator in 1981. She also married and raised children of her own, as well as 11 foster children. Her daughter currently works at TriMet, as did her husband, now retired. In the 34 years Block has worked at TriMet, she’s been a bus operator, fare inspector, field operations coordinator, and road supervisor. She’s also served several terms as a member of the Union Executive Board.

Kevin Kinoshita joins ATU 757 in the role of vice president with over 20 years of experience as an ATU 757 Executive Board Officer, and a strong background in contract negotiations. Kevin is an accomplished and well-known leader throughout ATU, known for his strength in field organizing and his adaptability to fulfill any role of service within the union.

Kevin has been working in the Bus Maintenance department at TriMet for 29 years.  He began his career in 1994 as a helper (service worker). During his tenure at TriMet, Kevin worked in various roles within bus maintenance including platform cleaner, tireworker, and janitor. In the late 90’s Kevin joined and successfully completed TriMet’s apprenticeship program for bus maintenance workers, becoming a journeyman and a state certified heavy duty diesel mechanic. Kevin quickly became known among his peers for his knowledge as a skilled mechanic, and as someone who would use his voice to speak to management in support of workers’ rights issues. 

In 1999 Kevin was approached by the ATU 757 Executive Board Officer of Merlo garage who identified him as a leader who could expand his service to members of ATU by working as a shop steward. Kevin offered such a strong support for members during his role as shop steward, and when the executive board officer was promoted out of his position, Kevin was elected to the role. This was the beginning of a dynamic 20-year career as an ATU officer merging Kevin’s degree in sociology, and his passion for service to others, with his love for workers in the transportation industry.

In addition to his outstanding performance as an ATU 757 Executive Board Officer representing TriMet, Kevin has been repeatedly praised for his extraordinary commitment to the labor movement across ATU. Kevin has been recognized with American Transit Training and Apprenticeship Innovators Network (ATTAIN) for his instrumental role in establishing a good labor-management relationship with TriMet and leveraging his relationship to help revive the Joint Apprenticeship and Training Program for bus maintenance workers (JATC). That program is now thriving and continuing to improve. Kevin’s credits also include:

• Elected as ATU 757 Executive Board Officer at TriMet Powell, Center, and Merlo maintenance garages
• Worked as Region 2 Paratransit union representative simultaneously while performing duties as the executive officer for maintenance at TriMet Merlo Garage
• Member of the TriMet Safety Committee since 2014
• Completed training with University of Oregon Labor Education and Research Center (LERC)
• Member of the Apprenticeship Committee at ATU International
• Proud committee member of the Asian American and Pacific Island Employee Resource group (ASPIRE)

Driven by his unwavering commitment to serving others, Kevin takes special pride in being a strong voice in contractual negotiation and as a bargainer for better and inclusive rights for all employees. As the vice president for ATU 757, his goals include continuing to fight for the rights of workers and establishing meaningful pathways for employees to move up and receive promo­tions within their organization.

Mary was elected as ATU 757’s Financial Secretary-Treasurer in 2012.

Mary began working at TriMet in 1998 as a Trip Planner in Customer Service, becoming a proud member of ATU 757. She then advanced to the Finance Division as a Fare Revenue Specialist, overseeing millions of dollars of ticket and pass inventory. She became an ATU 757 shop steward in 2006 and has been active in our union and the broader labor movement ever since, including Portland Jobs with Justice and the Oregon AFL-CIO, as well as ATU International’s National Advocacy work. She participated in Take Back the Capitol action in Washington D.C. to demand funding for public transit.

Mary is married to Jamie Longoria, who is also an ATU 757 member at TriMet. Jamie started as a helper in the Maintenance Division in 1995, working on cleaning and fueling buses. He moved on to Field Equipment Maintenance, where he currently works as a Journeyman.

Mary and Jamie have two adult children. Their daughter Nicole works at Rogue Community College in Medford, Oregon, as a Student Employment Services Program Coordinator. Nicole helps students with resume building, interviews, and connecting them with jobs while they are attending school. She helps students explore all that Rogue Community College has to offer.

Mary & Jamie’s son Derek was a firefighter for Cal Fire in Shasta County California. Derek’s ambition was to become a Paramedic Fire Fighter and worked hard to achieve his goal. He is currently a Paramedic Firefighter in South Lake Tahoe, California. Derek has been dispatched to fight fires throughout California for weeks at a time, and he’s proud of the service that he and his fellow firefighters provide for the communities they serve.

Mary & Jamie are proud their children have chosen careers that give back to the community.