Local 1700 members recently marched across Los Angeles for the Employee Free Choice Act, and President Obama introduces Labor Secretary Hilda Solis.

Working Americans are welcome again in Washington. Union members mobilize across the county for the Employee Free Choice Act.

On April 24, nearly 1,000 union members jammed Los Angeles' train hub for a Town Hall meeting with Hilda Solis. The Union Station event was an opportunity for President Barack Obama's new U.S. Labor Secretary to hear about the problems military veterans are having returning to the workforce and civilian life, especially during the current economic crisis.

Union action will be key for political, contract progress

ATU Local 1700 members deserve a big pat on the back for helping to elect Barack Obama. Even so, I don't expect the disgraced supporters of George Bush to give us any credit. With hours of Obama's inauguration, Big Business and the "Wing Nuts" that run the Republican party made it clear that they want the new president to fail. The 30-minute honeymoon is over.

We took a big step toward putting America back on track last November. Now we must defend and expand that victory every day. This is the fight of our lives. The Obama Administration needs our active support to succeed. Without union members exercising our organized strength in the streets, not even a Democratic White House and Congress can restore the middle class.

We won more progressive legislation under Richard Nixon than during the Clinton Administration because the labor movement was more powerful in the 1970s than the 1990s. Without union support, Obama will not be able to overcome the powerful special interests standing in the way of health care reform, a healthy environment, or ending senseless wars.

If our political momentum stalls, you can kiss the right to organize a union or to a decent retirement goodbye, along with putting an end to unpaid work time for bus drivers, adopting reasonable regulations for all of public transportation, and reforming FMCSA hours of service regulations.

Summer's warmth is spreading across the country, but life at Greyhound gets colder and colder.  ATU Local 1700 was still developing alternatives to the slash-and-burn methods the company is using to cut mileage and jobs when management launched a new witch-hunt to terrorize employees.

Local 1700 objected to Greyhound’s background checks when the illegal, unilateral undertaking first got underway. Now the company is leveling false charges against good, hard-working bus drivers, mechanics and others, sending mail to their families containing false accusations, and intruding into their lives over matters that are completely unrelated to their jobs.

And Greyhound is trying to force even more employees to authorize the company to dig up dirt – even unproven and false accusations – on them. Regrettably, some members signed the releases. The company has now finally acknowledged that some supervisors overstepped their authority. They promised that they will return release forms to every employee who requests to have it back. If a supervisor refuses to give back your release form, or if a supervisor asks you to sign a release, immediately call your shop steward, your regional V.P., or the national union office at (212) 721-2077.

Clubs across the country let old friends stay in contact, keep tabs on pension fund.

You can teach old dogs new tricks.  Retired Greyhound employees have recently been pulling together across the country.  Union retiree clubs now meet in Los Angeles, Phoenix, Reno, Boston, Tulsa, Minneapolis, Kansas City/Omaha, Myrtle Beach, and Portland, Oregon.

Besides providing a connection with old friends and coworkers, the clubs allow retirees to keep track of the company’s now-frozen, defined-benefit retirement plan. The trust fund – established with Greyhound and participant contributions – has continued to pay benefits to about 10,000 retirees, thanks largely to steady growth in the financial markets.

Participants in the frozen Greyhound pension plan recently received an Annual Funding Notice (AFN) from plan Administrator Paul Oswley. The Pension Protection Act of 2006 requires that employers send an AFN each year to all participants and beneficiaries. Your receipt of the AFN does not mean that the Greyhound plan is terminating, or that it has been trusteed by the PBCG.

The AFN is meant to provide information to you about:

• The funding percentage of the plan
• The value of the plan's assets and liabilities
• How the plan's assets are invested
• PBGC guarantees of the plan's benefits

Contact Owsley directly at (800) 962-6934 if you have further questions about the AFN or your benefits under the Greyhound plan. If you have general questions about PBGC and guaranteed pensions, go to http://www.pbgc.gov.

ATU Local 1700 mourns the recent passing of two former officers and the following members:

Robert Rucker (1926-2008), retired president of Local 1313

Edward Strait (1930-2008), retired president of Local 1098 and president of the Amalgamated Council of Greyhound Local Unions

Rosie Simms (1946-2008) Cleveland Driver
James Certain (1949-2008) Denver Driver
Jack Anderson (1947-2009) Washington, D.C. baggage handler
Jemaine R. Greene (1971-2009) Atlanta Driver
Kawana Harrison (1971-2009) Washington, D.C. driver
John Cephas (1966-2009) Portland driver (also drove out of Cleveland)
Henry G. Moore (1942-2009) Phoenix driver
Danny E. Smith (1951-2009) Shreveport driver
Diane Baran (1953-2009) Detroit driver

A Las Vegas driver sees the light when Local 1700 stewards win back his job.

Driver Ronald Rossy

“You never know when you will be wrongly accused and need help.”

Editor’s Note: Ronald Rossy admits that he had a low opinion of ATU for 18 years, and that he thought Local 1700 wasn’t worth the dues it charged members. And then something happened, Rossy explained in a recent letter, “that has given me new insight and respect for the union, and why it is vitally important that all employees join this organization!” Following are excerpts from his letter:

"I was terminated by the company Human Resource Department without them making a complete investigation into my side of the incident. I vehemently denied all allegations made against me. I contacted the union and really did not think I would receive much help from them, mainly because I was not a member. Boy, was I wrong!"

Ron Jordan, Vice President Reg. 3Region 3 Vice President Ronald A. Jordan received an outpouring of good wishes, kind thoughts, prayers and support during his recent illness. The other four ATU Local 1700 vice presidents took responsibility for some of Jordan's work, from handling grievances and disseminating information to holding membership meetings and other regional issues.

Ron has now recovered, and is ready to bring new life to Region 3 with his inimitable style, energy and passion "by any means necessary." Please join us all in welcoming him back.

ATU Local 1700 finances improved greatly during 2008, and we hope to continue this improvement and the stability it brings. Greyhound's new owner, First Group, implemented several significant changes that will be very positive for the local in the long term.

After decades of sacrifice, we deserve a fair share of Greyhound's economic recovery.

Greyhound is finally turning around. Employees have had so much bad news thrown at us for so long that just the thought of an economic rebound seems incredible. And yet the future has never looked brighter during my 37 years behind the wheel.

ATU Local 1700 members have made huge sacrifices for 20 years to keep the buses rolling. Now it’s time to claim our fair reward: decent wages, benefits and working conditions.