ATU Celebrates Pride Month

Brother Latrelle Gibson (he/him/his) joined Local 587-Seattle, WA, when he was hired as a Transit Operator for King County Metroin 2001 to follow his lifelong love for public transit and its history. Brother Gibson serves as the first out and proud RecordingSecretary of his Local and is a founding member and currentVice President of the Local 587 Black Caucus. His enthusiasmof historic buses led him to become Director of MEHVA-Metro Employees Historic Vehicle Association that preservesits historic buses and provides excursions for thepublic. Brother Gibson has also played a key rolein renewing the Local’s call for better safetyin the wake of Local 587 Brother ShawnYim’s tragic stabbing death late last year.We applaud Brother Gibson for hiscommitment and dedication to fightingfor inclusion and diversity for ourmembers, his Local, and our Union.

Sister Leigh-Ann Hearne (she/her/hers) joined our Local 113-Toronto, ON, in the fall of 2014, beginning her journey as a Professional Bus Operator with the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC). She later expanded her expertise by transitioning into Subway operations. Sister Hearne’s dedication to community service and leadership quickly became evident, leading her to take on roles as a Bus Divisional Trainer and playing a key role in the Local 113 LGBTQ+ Committee. “I started in community service as a young child, watching my parents volunteer in the various community groups. My grandmother always fed and clothed the needy without batting an eye,” said Sister Hearne. “These early experiences nourished my personal journey into serving my community after I immigrated from Jamaica to Canada in 2011. Giving back was instilled in me from birth.  It’s who I am.” As a proud Black Queer woman, Sister Hearne values the safe and inclusive environment Local 113 fosters for advancement regardless of one’s identity. Her experience and dedication within her Local have deepened her resilience and commitment to the collective strength of the ATU.

Johnny Reese moved to the West coast from the Boston area in 2015 and took a job as a Train Dispatcher at Metrolink. Frustrated by the lack of respect and poor work-life balance, Reese recognized a Union would give him and his fellow workers a voice in the workplace. He reached out to our Local 1277-Los Angeles, CA, and played a key role in the organizing drive to join our Union. In July 2019, after waging a campaign, Brother Johnny Reese and other Metrolink Dispatchers, Chief Dispatchers and Communication Coordinators joined our Local 1277. After successfully taking part in the negotiating of Metrolink's first contract for this work group, Brother Reese was elected as Shop Steward for the Chief Train Dispatchers in 2019. Proud and out, Brother Reese represented Local 1277 at the first-ever ATU International Pride Caucus meeting in New Orleans, LA, earlier this year. We thank Brother Reese for his work to promote tolerance and acceptance of all people in his Local, our Union, and the community.