60th Convention Daily Proceedings - Day Four
ATU International Convention Reconvenes for Day Four
Costa Re-elected International President; Trujillo Elected International Executive Vice President, Kirk Elected Secretary-Treasurer
Incumbent IVPs re-elected to three-year terms
The delegates to the 60th Convention of the Amalgamated Transit Union unanimously voted to re-elect John Costa to serve as international president for the next three years.
“It's an honor and it's just an amazing, humbling experience that all of you give me this honor and this energy at this convention,” said Costa. “If it wasn't for all of you, I would not be here, and I just want to say thank you. It's quite an honor, and as we move forward, we can do so much if we stick together. We can get so much for our members and our union if we stick together, and I just thank you. Please stick together, and thank you for this honor, everybody.”
Former International Vice President Yvette Trujillo was elected the first woman and first Latina International Executive Vice President. And International Secretary-Treasurer Ken Kirk was elected to serve a three-year term.
The 60th Convention of the Amalgamated Transit Union reconvened on Thursday, September 22, 2022, at 8:38 a.m.
Invocation
The Invocation was delivered by Reverend Dr. Karen Anderson of the First AME Church here in Las Vegas, NV, and the daughter of a 45-year ATU Local 788-St. Louis, MS, member.
Credentials Report
Credentials Committee Chair Eric Tuck gave the final Credentials Committee report. Tuck reported that the committee found 659 credentials to be in order. Of those delegates, 627 are voting delegates; 32 are non‑voting delegates, consisting of 21 international officers, one delegate from ATU Canada, and two delegates from the New Jersey State Council, and one delegate from the Connecticut State Conference Board and seven alternates. The delegates represented members from 199 locals, two joint bargaining councils and ATU Canada.
The report was adopted by unanimous voice vote.
Oscar ‘Double O’ Owens
In honor of our dearly departed International President Larry Hanley, in 2019 the GEB created the Lawrence J. “Larry” Hanley ATU Life Achievement Award to be presented at each convention. The award recognizes individuals who have shown commitment to the ATU's mission and ideals and who have dedicated a lifetime of service to the ATU, our members, and all working families in the U.S. and Canada. This year’s award went to departed International Secretary-Treasurer Oscar ‘Double O’ Owens. The award was accepted by Oscar’s wife, Betty and his children. “Daddy was amazing,” said Damon Owens. “He reminded us that if we don’t stand for something, we’ll fall for anything. He reminded me, us, every day that the labor movement and the union that he loved has been, a haven and a tool to uplift the working poor, the neglected, the downtrodden, the used and abused, that it has been a sounding board for those who have no voice and let us continue to stand on our principles and let’s continue to remain Stronger Together.”
Secretary of Transportation
Next, International President John Costa introduced a video message from Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg who praised members for the service they provided throughout the pandemic. “It’s no exaggeration to say that if you had not shown the courage and the work ethic that you did, the darkest days of this pandemic would have been even darker. As we look forward, there is a lot left to do, but we’re on the same page about how to do it. My department’s first priority will always be safety, and that means safety in our skies, on our roads and subways and for our transportation workforce.”
COPE Awards
Next up, International Secretary-Treasurer Ken Kirk and Government Affairs Director Jeff Rosenberg joined Costa to give out our COPE awards for the locals that have stepped up to the plate.
Winners for the Chairman Award for the locals with the highest dollar amount contributed included:
- Local 1310-Eau Claire, WI
- Local 821-Jersey City, NJ
- Local 282-Rochester, NY
- Local 618-Providence, RI
- Local 726-Staten Island, NY
For the President’s Award was given to Locals with the highest percentage of active members enrolled in COPE and the COPE clubs winners included:
- Local 1209-New London, CT
- Local 558-Shreveport, LA
- Local 1575-San Rafael, CA
- Local 694-San Antonio, TX
- Local 726-Staten Island, NY
For the Patriot Award, given to the ATU member who contributed the highest dollar amount in 2021, Local 587’s Bill Clifford was awarded for his contribution of $1,400.
Finally, a new award was created called the International President’s Political Activism Award for efforts in getting members involved in the political process across North America. The winners for the United States included
- Local 268-Cleveland, OH
- Local 689-Washington, D.C.
- Local 1300-Baltimore, MD
- Local 1596-Orlando, FL
- Local 757-Portland, OR
The winners for Canada included:
- Local 569-Edmonton, AB
- Local 107-Hamilton, ON
- Local 583-Calgary, AB
Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity Committee
The Diversity, Inclusion and Equity Committee presented its report, making its recommendations on three submitted resolutions:
The Convention adopted a version of Resolution P, as amended by the committee, “Combating Racism and Advancing the Rights of All Workers,” submitted by ATU.
The Convention adopted the committee’s recommendation of concurrence with Resolution Q, “Supporting Women’s Equity and Preventing and Stopping Sexual Harassment.”
And, the Convention adopted the committee’s recommendation of concurrence with Resolution R, “Building Safety, Power and Rights for LGBTQ+ Workers.”
President Joe Biden
Next was a very special video message from United States President Joe Biden. “Now, I'm always going to have your back, I promise you, like you have had mine, John. Together we passed the American Rescue Plan. I have critical funding to states and cities to keep essential services going and transit workers on the job. We passed the infrastructure law, the most significant investment in passenger rail in the past 50 years, the most significant investment in public transit ever, protecting transit workers on the job, as well…I know you and you know me, and together let's keep building a better America.”
Nominations and Elections
International President
IEVL Javier Perez assumed the Chair to conduct the election of for international president.
John Costa was enthusiastically nominated by Local 819 President Veronica Cobb, and seconded by Local 113 President Marvin Alfred, and Local 265 President John Courtney. Costa was unopposed and unanimously re-elected by acclamation.
International Executive Vice President
Costa reassumes the Chair for the election of the IEVP.
Yvette Trujillo was enthusiastically nominated by Local 1001 President Lance Longenbohn, and seconded by Local 1091 President Brent Payne and Local 583 President Mike Mahar. Unopposed, she was unanimously elected by acclamation to become ATU’s first woman and Latina to be elected International Executive Vice President.
International Secretary-Treasurer
International President Costa opened the nominations for International Secretary-Treasurer.
IST Kenneth Kirk was nominated by Local 241 Financial Secretary-Treasurer Toi Bowers, and seconded by Local 1338 President Ken Day and Local 85 Financial Secretary-Treasurer Jeff DiPerna. Kirk was unopposed and unanimously elected by acclamation.
International Vice President
The following officers were nominated, ran unopposed, and were unanimously re-elected:
- Richard Murphy as 1st IVP
- Marcellus Barnes as 2nd IVP
- Gary Johnson as 3rd IVP
- Michelle Sommers as 4th IVP
- Jim Lindsay as 5th IVP
- Manny Sforza for 6th IVP
- John Callahan as 7th IVP
- Curtis Howard, as 8th IVP
- Natalie Cruz as 9th IVP
- Anthony Garland as 10th IVP
The following officers were nominated, ran unopposed, and were unanimously elected:
- Ray Greaves as 11th IVP
- Steve MacDougall as 12th IVP
- Delegates also elected the following IVP’s:
- Ken Wilson as 13th IVP
- Amanda Sawyer-Malone as 14th IVP
- Arturo Aguilar as 15th IVP
- Jacques Chapman as 16th IVP
- Mark Henry as 17th IVP
- Kenneth Day as 18th IVP
The convention adjourned at 7:20pm and we will reconvene for the last day, Friday, September 23, at 8:30am.