ATU Celebrates Pride Month

A proud native of Baton Rouge, LA, Mercedes Holmes (she/they) joined Local 1546-Baton Rouge, LA, as a transit operator with the Capital Area Transit System (CATS) in March 2021. An outgoing people person, Mercedes is passionate about serving others and uplifting transit workers and the communities they serve. They currently work at the Transdev/LSU Tiger Trails campus transit shuttle operation. A natural-born leader who believes in the power of the labor movement to secure rights for all workers, regardless of gender or sexual orientation, Mercedes was recently elected Chair of the Local 1546 Pride Caucus.  We applaud Mercedes for their leadership, commitment, and dedication to fighting for inclusion and diversity for our members, their Local, and our Union.

Shaun Cobban joined ATU Local 279-Ottawa, ON, in 2017 after starting his career as a bus operator with OC Transpo.  From 2019 to 2023, he served as a shop steward, supporting and advocating for fellow members in the workplace. In 2018, Shaun became involved with the OC Transpo Pride Committee, helping organize the agency’s participation in the Capital Pride Parade, and later served as Committee President beginning in 2022. This year, Shaun made history by establishing the      ATU 279 Pride in Motion, the first Canadian ATU Pride Caucus. We salute Shaun for his efforts to build greater visibility, inclusion, and solidarity for LGBTQIA+ members within both our Union and the broader community.

Michael Winston (he/him), commonly referred to as “Winston”, has spent 14 years in North Carolina’s transportation industry, operating school buses, motor coaches, and limousines. Eight years ago, Winston joined our Local 1328-Raleigh, NC, as a GoRaleigh Transit Operator and later achieved the status of a Certified Trainer. Respected by his fellow members for his quiet yet bold confidence, integrity, and dedication to the ATU, Winston was elected Vice President of his Local. Besides his transportation career, Winston is an entrepreneur, serving as the CEO and Founder of Fashionably Favoured Boutique. Winston is also known for his vocal talent and his various leadership qualities. We are proud to call Winston a member of the ATU and applaud his commitment to creating a more inclusive society for all.

After working in corporate America and getting laid off, Steve Glasford (He/Him) wanted a more secure job with a stronger voice in workplace and took a job as a Metro Transit Bus Operator in 2024, joining our Local 1005-Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN. Steve realized being an ATU member afforded him many opportunities and recruited his father and brother to become Metro Transit Bus Operators. An activist at heart, Steve is involved in the Minnesota Democratic Farmer Labor Party fighting for worker’s rights, health care, and expanded public transportation. A member of the Local 1005 Pride Caucus and Twin Cities Pride, Steve advocates for the fair treatment of all people regardless of their gender or sexual orientation. An avid athlete, he is a bodybuilder and also competes in endurance bike races. We are proud to call Steve a member of the ATU.