From East to West, ATU’s Regional Conference Boards Get to Work
ATU’s Conference Boards are powerful regional groups of Local leaders who tackle the most critical legislative, political, and industry issues for our members. The Conference Boards also gather in state capitals to meet with state legislators to advocate for critical issues impacting our Union. 2025 kicked off with meetings of the New England Joint Conference Board and Northwest Conference Board.
New England Joint Conference Board
International President John Costa was in Mystic, Connecticut, at the ATU New England Joint Conference Board (NEJC), joining over 100 leaders representing Locals from across the region to discuss the issues impacting the ATU.
NEJC Chair and Boston Carmen’s Local 589 President/Business Agent Jim Evers opened the event with a moment of silence, honoring our members who tragically lost their lives in the line of duty, Local 587-Seattle, WA, bus operator Shawn Yim and Local 732-Atlanta, GA, bus operator Leroy Ramos.
Our Union Is Strong
Costa thanked the attendees for their leadership and discussed the challenges our Union faces in the new year. “We’re going to see a lot of fights in the year ahead,” said Costa. “That’s why these Conference Boards and trainings are critical. The epidemic of attacks on our members and riders is growing and we continue our push for better safety measures and a new bus redesign to better protect our members on the job. The growing trend of micro-transit and AV technology impacts our jobs. I know our Union is strong, and as leaders, you will advocate for our members and riders.”
Costa also spoke about the devastating California wildfires that destroyed the homes of our members, reminding attendees of the importance of our solidarity and support by contributing to the ATU Disaster Relief Fund.
Also at the NEJC were International Executive Vice President Yvette Trujillo, International Vice Presidents Stephan MacDougall, and Mark Henry, and retired IVP Richie Murphy.
Northwest Conference Board
The next stop was Phoenix, AZ, where Costa attended the ATU Northwest Conference Board meeting. Costa addressed the Locals in attendance about last year’s successes and challenges and what’s on the horizon for the ATU in the year ahead.
We’re Not Stopping
“There’s a lot of great work being done here in the Northwest around workforce development, organizing and campaigns, and key legislation,” said Costa. “From Washington to Montana, from Edmonton to Seattle, you’re fighting like hell on behalf of our members. This Union has stepped up. We’re known in the ATU because of the work we’re doing. We’re not stopping in 2025. Thank you for everything you do for our members. I need you. We need you. This Union needs you. It feels good to fight back, right? It’s time to get to work.”
The meeting was chaired by Local 1433-Phoenix, AZ, President/Business Agent Bob Bean and attended by more than 25 Locals across our Union. International Executive Vice President Yvette Trujillo, International Secretary-Treasurer Ken Kirk, International Vice Presidents Jim Lindsay, John Callahan, Art Aguilar, Michael Cornelius, and ATU Canada President John Di Nino also joined Costa and addressed the conference board.
