Member Voices
Anthony Miles
Local Representative, Local 1056-Flushing, NY
"Tony has been a strong advocate for Local 1056-Flushing, NY,and the working class, both on and off the job," said Local President Ed Figueroa about Local Representative Anthony Miles. "He’s been active in the local from day one."
"I try to be helpful," says Brother Miles.
And, according to his local president, he is very helpful. "He manned the picket lines when we went out on strike in 2005. Anytimethe call goes out for volunteers, Tony is there and you can count on him," said President Figueroa. "We’re lucky to have a man like Tony on our team."
Most recently, Brother Miles volunteered to help his home-statesenator, Hillary Clinton, win the New York Democratic Primary on February 5. He helped organize volunteers from the local to mobilize on election day. Brother Miles and his fellow volunteers participated in "visibility events" throughout Queens and passed out information about Hillary outside polling places.
Handles New Member Orientation
As union "rep," he is responsible for providing union orientation tonew members in his division. "COPE is one of the main things we stress with new members," he says. During orientation, BrotherMiles tries to educate new members about COPE and sign them upfor COPE contributions.
In addition to these activities, Miles serves as his local’s representative on the Central Labor Council and attends political directors’ meetings, town hall meetings and other events on behalf of his local.
Brother Miles joined the ATU six years ago and he wasted no time getting involved in the local. "It’s hard for me to understand whymore people aren’t involved in the local," he says. "Just because we pay our union dues doesn’t mean our obligation is over."
About his job as a bus operator, Miles says "I’m in heaven whenI’m driving. I really enjoy it. If you’re a people person, this is agood profession for you – and I’m a people person. I get along with the passengers."