Today, the ATU New England Joint Conference Board met in Mystic, CT, bringing together more than 100 leaders from Locals across the region to talk about critical issues affecting our members, our Union, and our communities.
International President John Costa kicked-off the conference, thanking the Locals for their leadership and talking about the importance of training, organizing, political action, and the support of the International for our Locals in their fights to best advance the interests of our members, and our Union.
“It’s been an exciting three days with you in the Northeast. Now you need to take what you learned here into shops and on the road to engage more members and officers,” said Costa, reminding the Locals of the challenges ahead. “I believe microtransit is our next big fight. It's our privatization fight that's coming. Also, the assaults are out of hand, and it’s disrespectful that the agencies don't recognize it. I think this union has done a good job of putting it out front and calling out politicians and calling out the agencies, but we're not there yet. We need a new bus design, meaning a bus of the future. And I think it's coming.” Costa also talked about the importance of de-escalation training, elections, and organizing the unorganized to build our union and protect our members.
Joining Costa were International Executive Vice President Yvette Trujillo, International Secretary-Treasurer Ken Kirk, International Vice Presidents Stephan MacDougall, and Mark Henry, along with ATU Canada President John Di Nino, Conference Board Chair Jim Evers from Boston Carmen’s Local 589 and recently retired IVP Richie Murphy.
Thank you to all the Locals in attendance for this productive and inspiring meeting and trainings over the past few days including Locals 22 (Worcester, MA), 174 (Fall River, MA), 281 (New Haven, CT), 425 (Hartford, CT), 443 (Stamford, CT), 448 (Springfield, MA), Boston Carmen’s Local 589, 618 (Providence, RI), 714 (Portland, ME), 1037 (New Bedford, MA), 1209 (New London, CT), 1512 (Springfield, MA), 1547 (Brockton, MA), 1548 (Plymouth, MA), 1578 (Lowell, MA), 1588 (South Windsor, CT) and 1763 (Rocky Hill, CT) as well as a delegation from 689 (Washington, DC), 107 (Hamilton, ON) and 113 (Toronto, ON).