Delegates elect International President John Costa, International Executive Vice President Yvette Trujillo, and International Secretary Treasurer Ken Kirk, Address Challenges Ahead
New York City, NY – “Our Voice, Our Power” was the call and response echoed this week as hundreds of delegates of the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) gathered in New York City, NY, for their 61st convention to chart a vision for the future.
The strength, diversity, and unity of the ATU were front and center as ATU delegates laid out their strategic vision to build power for transit workers and riders, address changing technology and autonomous vehicles, rising violence on the job, privatization of transit systems, transit service cuts, and justice for all workers.
On Thursday, the 682 delegates representing more than 200,000 ATU members re-elected John Costa as International President, Yvette Trujillo as International Executive Vice President, and Ken Kirk as International Secretary-Treasurer. Delegates also elected 18 International Vice Presidents and delegates and alternates to the AFL-CIO convention.
“Thank you, my ATU Family, thank you for giving me this opportunity once again,” said Costa as the delegates chanted ‘Costa, Costa, Costa’ after he was elected.” And I commit and I'm honored and humble to have it that I will to the best of my ability continue to do what I'm doing, as long as I have the strength and health to fight like hell to get respect for our members and you, to make changes in this industry, to make us safe and not one more of our members deserve to be treated like shit, be spit at, punched at, and be afraid to go to work. Once again, I am very humbled to have your support, honored to have your support. Thank you.”
Also re-elected by delegates were International Vice Presidents Marcellus Barnes, Gary Johnson, Jim Lindsay, Manny Sforza, John Callahan, Curtis Howard, Natalie Cruz, Anthony Garland. Raymond Greaves, Stephan MacDougall, Ken Wilson, Amanda Sawyer-Malone, Arturo Aguilar, Jacques Chapman, Mark Henry, and Ken Day. Delegates also elected International Vice Presidents Michael Corneilus and Carly Allen.
ATU embraced its reputation as one of the most progressive unions in the U.S. and Canada, with delegates overwhelmingly passing resolutions promoting diversity, protecting transit workers and riders on the job, fighting privatization, supporting paratransit workers, curbing microtransit, expanding transit workforce development programs, electing pro-labor, pro-transit politicians, combating racism and sexism, advancing the rights of all workers, and more.
Delegates heard powerful messages from AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler, International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) General President Edward Kelly, International Transport Workers’ Federation General Secretary Stephen Cotton, State Women’s Organizing Secretary of the Maharashtra State Transport Kamgar Sanghtana (MSTKS) Sheela Sanjay Naikwade, Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL) President Laura Walton, and several union and nonprofit leaders.
“What we experienced here wasn’t just a few days of speeches, votes, and resolutions,” continued Costa. “What you see here is power. Living, breathing, undeniable union power. Power built with every hand that turns a wrench. Every voice that demands respect at the bargaining table. Every step walked on a picket line. Every conversation with a coworker who was ready to give up until you reminded them that in this Union, nobody stands alone. We came into New York City as Locals from across two nations. We leave as One Union, united by a common purpose. Here’s to the ATU, today, tomorrow, and for generations to come! Thank you, brothers and sisters. I love you, I’m proud of you, and I am honored to fight alongside you. Our Voice, Our Power!”