ATU Local 1700 members know that Greyhound’s radical downsizing has hit the union’s treasury hard. During the past decade we have lost more than a third of our members, resulting in a huge drop in dues revenue.

In 2006, the Local 1700 Executive Board decided it would not let our deteriorating finances keep us from making an all out effort to secure the best contract possible. Thanks to that decision, we led an unprecedented effort to organize and mobilize union members.

We held terrific rallies across the country. We conducted membership surveys, including one professional survey conducted by an independent polling company. We took three contract-related votes. We met with elected officials and community leaders to gather wide support for our struggle. We provided far more information to members than during any prior contract negotiations.

We were ultimately successful, but company foot-dragging on contract demands that were too important for us to give up made the campaign extremely expensive. As a result, the union spent more than we took in during 2007. In other words, we are in debt.

The union could not have won the contract fight or defended members from a variety of other attacks without incurring the debt. Members need to know, however, that the money was properly spent:

• At every step of the way, the Executive Board has fully informed members about all details of our finances.


• The union has retained Lori Saqer of the firm Reilly, Penner & Benton to provide additional assurance that every transaction was proper.


• Independent auditor Paul Calmi of the firm Godfrey Hammel, Danneels & Co. thoroughly reviews the Local 1700 books twice a year.


• Their reports account for every dollar the union handles, and are available at union membership meetings.

The Executive Board has also taken several steps to deal with the financial crisis. The most significant was to propose new bylaws, approved by vote of the members, that allow the Board to reduce the number of full-time officers, and for a Contract Negotiation Fund to build up our economic strength for the next round of bargaining.

Also, Local 1700 shouldn’t have to deal in 2008 or ‘09 with two extra expenses during 2007: conducting an officers’ election, and defending against an expensive lawsuit by the anti-union Bush Administration.

Those savings – plus new dues revenue from Bolt Bus drivers, drivers and mechanics at Vermont, Carolina and TNM&O subsidiaries, and service workers, tire technicians and parts clerks – should turn around our financial situation.

Attend your union membership meetings for full inspection and discussion of your union’s finances.