International President John Costa was on the ground in Monterey, CA, this weekend for California Transit Works’ annual convention, bringing together our ATU members along with transit agencies, colleges, and other partners to talk about empowering transit workers through collaboration.
Costa opened the convention with a warm welcome, setting the tone for an inspiring event. "The theme of this conference is ‘Mentors in Motion.’ I started my journey as a cleaner at NJ Transit, and through hard work and determination, I rose to become a mechanic," Costa shared. "Along the way, I was fortunate to have mentors—skilled mechanics who taught me the ropes. Their guidance was invaluable. Mentorship is at the heart of what makes workforce development programs successful. It’s about learning from those who’ve walked the path before us. The ATU plays a vital role in both training and recruiting the workforce of tomorrow, ensuring that public transit continues to thrive. Technology is advancing rapidly, and the ATU will remain at the cutting edge of these changes. Today, I look forward to our discussions and learning from all of you. Thank you for your leadership and for bringing others along on this journey with us."
Thank you to all our Locals, mentors, and mentees for attending this impactful conference.