ATU's California Conference Board (CCB) kicked off its spring meeting this week in Petaluma, CA, with International President John Costa in the house, alongside members from Locals across the state, to do the work that matters.
"California's transit workers are facing real threats right now, from rising assaults on the job to autonomous vehicles to funding cuts,” said Costa. “But what I see here gives me hope. Our Locals are organizing, training the next generation of workers, and fighting back. That's what the ATU does. No one’s coming to save us. We’re going to save us."
The conference agenda covered operator safety amid rising assaults and violence on public transit, state and federal funding shortfalls that threaten service, and the fast-moving challenges of autonomous vehicles and AI technology. California's Locals are also deep into organizing campaigns and workforce development, with apprenticeship and mentorship programs for operators and mechanics at systems from Oakland to Los Angeles to San Bernardino, setting a national standard.
International Executive Vice President Yvette Trujillo, International Secretary-Treasurer Ken Kirk, International Vice Presidents Jim Lindsay, Art Aguilar, and Michael Cornelius, CCB Chair Jeff Shaffer, Local 1277-Los Angeles, and CCB Secretary/Treasurer Shane Weinstein, Local 1575-San Rafael, were also on the ground in Petaluma.