ATTENTION ALL ATC-TEMPE UNION MEMBERS!
PROPOSED CONTRACT PASSED!!!

The Union conducted a ratification vote and the contract was ratified by a majority of the members at ATC-TEMPE.
Congratulations on a new three-year contract between ATC-Tempe and ATU Local 1433.
The officers of ATU Local 1433 look forward to a progressive worthwhile relationship with ATC-Tempe.
Contracts are now being signed by the company and the union and will be distributed to the members soon.
ATU Local 1433 leadership further advises its members that any non-union work stoppage by the non-union committee is illegal and members participating in such activity cannot be protected by the union.

The negotiating team is slated to return to Federal Mediation on February 4, 2002 to consider more options as to the ATC-Tempe proposal. We will keep you informed as to the results of that meeting.

ATTENTION ALL ATC-TEMPE MEMBERS

Below is a letter which was mailed out of the Union office this morning (December 24, 2001) to every ATC-Tempe union member in regards to the non-union committee--please take time and read it.

December 23, 2001

Dear Union Brothers and Sisters:

Just recently this office received word that a letter was sent out from the (non-union) TBOC (Tempe Bus Operators Committee). In that letter it talks about how the Union and the company are working against you, the operator, and coming out with a bad proposal. The TBOC is attempting to set up a work stoppage after the first of the year.

I want all of you to know that this letter from the TBOC is completely off base and full of falsehoods and innuendoes.

The Union negotiating team has worked hard this past year to bring this contract proposal to you to vote on this coming Friday, December 28, 2001. The Union negotiating team recommends this contract to the membership. The Union officers will be at the ATC-Tempe facility on Thursday, December 27th from 3:00PM until 6:00PM to answer any and all questions you may have about the proposed contract. As of the writing of this letter we have been in contact with International Vice President Don Hansen and he has agreed to fly into town and discuss the issues with the membership and be here for the vote on Friday.
The Union is here for the members and we work for YOU.
If this contract is ratified by the membership we can work hard in other avenues to get wage increases and we will.
The author of the TBOC letter would have you go on a sit down strike on a weekend that he doesnt even work. How convenient he isnt going to be working the day he expects all of you to do his dirty work. I say whats good for the goose is good for the gander. Dont ask your fellow worker to do any more than what you would do yourselfthat includes taking them out on a wildcat strike.
Local 1433 of the ATU disavows any actions taken by this non-union committee and warn that this would be a non-ATU sanctioned work stoppage and the company may take harsh measures against those participating in it.
I hope that all of you will take a deep breath and read the contract and come to the Thursday meeting and get answers to your questions. We want you to be as knowledgeable about this proposal as possible and then cast your vote on Friday.
When talking with the TBOC ask your non-union committee members the following:
1. What kind of legal representation can you offer us?
2. What kind of strike representation can you offer us?
3. What kind of replacement guarantee can you give us through the NLRB or any other organization through the certification of a bargaining unit?
When you come to Union we can offer all these things and a whole lot more.

Hope to see you at the informational meeting on Thursday the 27th and the ratification vote on the 28th.

In Solidarity,



Joe E. Mickelson, Financial Secretary/Treasurer e-mail: atu1433cfo@qwest.net

PAST EVENTS

There was a Union election held by the NLRB on ATC's property last January 11, 2001.
The operators voted 184 to 72 to bring in the ATU.
After the vote you could tell certain management personnel were very unhappy as we heard the screaching of tires as they left the parking lot.
This cartoon says more than words could ever say. Now it's time to give the operators a decent wage and benefit package boys!

caption states-"The votes have been counted. Congratulations, you are the proud owner of a Union Shop!"

Now time for Negotiations....

The ATU is now in negotiations with the management of ATC/Tempe & ATC/Mesa and have had two sets of meetings which took place on April 17 & 18, and May 14 & 15.
We have had continued dicussions on non-economic issues.
Meetings were held on June 18 & 19, 2001.
We just finished another round of talks on July 2nd and 3rd. Our next negotiation are at Federal Mediation to be held on October 22nd and 23rd for Tempe and October 24th for Mesa.
We would like to give more information but must let you know that while we are in negotiations you must trust your representatives that we are doing all in our power to negotiate the items that are on the table. We are working hard to get you a fair contract for your members to then vote on.

Health Insurance Change

It was learned during negotiations that the health insurance now in place for ATC/Tempe & ATC/Mesa operators was going to change effective May 1, 2001.
The company was in the midst of changing providers with increase cost to the employee.
The Union notified Forsythe that it was our position that this was worsening the operators working conditions during the time of negotiations and the company agreed to not increase the cost of health coverage provided to the operators.
It was brought to the attention of the Union that there were some Mesa operators incurring out-of-pocket expenses for "in-network" services and this information was passed on to the company with a letter asking Mesa operators to bring in their expenses to the company for reimbursement.