http://atu.bluestatedigital.com/index.php All the news of interest and importance to members of the Amalgamated Transit Union en amiller@atu.org Copyright 2010 2010-09-02T13:08:15+00:00 http://www.atu.org/content/atu_news/nj_transit_pays_267m_to_purchase_100_new_rail_cars/#When:12:08:15Z PLATTSBURGH, NY: Bombardier Transportation has been awarded a $267 million contract for 100 New Jersey Transit Corp. commuter railcars that will be assembled in Plattsburgh. 2010-09-02T12:08:15+00:00 http://www.atu.org/content/atu_news/decamp_buses_may_go_on_strike_starting_today/#When:12:02:56Z VERONA, NJ: Jorge Maldonado, president of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1317, said on Tuesday that drivers of the bus company will go on strike to press for their demands. ATU 1317 represents about 100 DeCamp employees. The bus drivers are demanding higher wages, retention of their pensions and better medical insurance, Maldonado said. They have been working without a contract for a year now. 2010-09-02T12:02:56+00:00 http://www.atu.org/content/atu_news/transit_union_members_vote_to_strike/#When:10:07:46Z THUNDER BAY, ON: Thunder Bay Transit workers are frustrated after going more than a year without a contract, and that‘s part of the reason they voted 96.6 per cent on Sunday in favour of a strike, their union president said Monday. Charlie Brown, president of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 966, said the City of Thunder Bay asked the more than 130 workers to make several concessions. 2010-08-31T10:07:46+00:00 http://www.atu.org/content/atu_news/under_law_bing_could_make_union_take_pay_cut/#When:10:04:34Z DETROIT, MI: The Amalgamated Transit Union, which represents bus drivers, recently agreed to an 8% across-the-board pay reduction -- including base and overtime salaries -- because it would be impossible to schedule furlough days into an around-the-clock operation. The ATU contract still needs to be approved by City Council.  2010-08-31T10:04:34+00:00 http://www.atu.org/content/atu_news/ac_transit_pushes_severe_service_cuts/#When:10:01:50Z SAN FRANCISCO, CA: We are being forced to cut our service to the bone," said Mary King, AC Transit's acting general manager. Claudia Hudson, chief negotiator for Amalgamated Transit Union Local 192, said she had not had time to review the proposed cuts but said AC Transit lacks competent or experienced transit managers. "What they need to do is bring in a transit expert to help them solve their problems," she said. "Because the people here now don't have a clue." 2010-08-31T10:01:50+00:00 http://www.atu.org/content/atu_news/series_of_service_disruptions_fare_hikes_hit_a_nerve_with_n.j._commuters/#When:14:06:45Z TRENTON, NJ: The summer of discontent continues for New Jersey commuters who rely on the rails. Over the past two months, commuters have been late for work or had their trips home delayed because of overheated locomotives, suicidal pedestrians, signal malfunctions, disabled trains, overhead wire problems, track maintenance and a falling 70-foot tree. 2010-08-26T14:06:45+00:00 http://www.atu.org/content/atu_news/metro_transit_police_on_platforms_as_students_pour_out_of_schools/#When:14:05:35Z WASHINGTON, DC: As school started in the Washington area this week, Metro police stepped up morning and afternoon patrols at seven key stations that are near schools or transfer stations. The goal is to prevent fights and "inappropriate behavior," said Deputy Police Chief Tracie Simmons, who is in charge of before- and after-school patrols. The patrols involve three to five officers at each location. 2010-08-26T14:05:35+00:00 http://www.atu.org/content/atu_news/metro_picks_nations_as_new_transit_chief/#When:14:03:48Z ST.LOUIS, MO: By selecting Chesterfield Mayor John Nations as its new president, Metro has tapped a local politician with no experience in running a transit agency. But Metro officials credited Nations, 47, on Tuesday with demonstrating strong leadership running the successful Proposition A sales tax campaign in April and building the kinds of regional coalitions the agency will need in the future. 2010-08-26T14:03:48+00:00 http://www.atu.org/content/atu_news/council_oks_new_deal_with_transpo_workers/#When:14:01:15Z OTTOWA, ON: Council discussed the agreement in private Wednesday, emerging to unanimously approve the proposed deal, which members of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 279 are to vote on today and Friday. The union local includes OC Transpo bus drivers and mechanics. ATU members saw the deal earlier this week and have mixed reactions, said acting union president Mike Aldrich.   2010-08-26T14:01:15+00:00 http://www.atu.org/content/atu_news/n.j._transit_and_amtrak_are_hobbled_this_morning_too/#When:18:36:46Z NEW YORK CITY, NY: In an unhappy coincidence, electrical problems on Tuesday morning caused New Jersey Transit to suspend all trains for an hour on its most popular route. Trains along the Northeast Corridor line, which includes Amtrak, were stopped between 7:45 a.m. and 8:45 a.m., a spokeswoman said. Although trains are now headed into Pennsylvania Station, commuters were warned to expect delays of more than an hour. 2010-08-24T18:36:46+00:00