Category: Bus officer columns

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Making bus voices heard in Washington

February 3, 2011 By Bonnie MorrAlternate Vice President, Bus Department The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is seeking comments on proposed new rules affecting drivers of commercial motor vehicles, which includes bus operators. The rules cover revocation or disqualificatio [...]

When Parks refused to move, we were raised higher

January 11, 2011 By Calvin Studivant, Alternate vice president, Bus Department December marked 55 years since Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a Montgomery, Ala., bus — “an act that challenged the moral conscience of an entire nation,” said President Obama in honori [...]

Tags Local 1594, Montgomery Bus Boycott, Rhonda Taylor, Rosa Parks

Vote your paycheck on Election Day

October 29, 2010 By Bonnie MorrAlternate Vice President – Bus Department Right now in our country, economics is spelling out what transit and transportation will look like now and in the future. The UTU Bus Department has been following the trends for funding that are necessary for pass [...]

Tags ballot, bus, candidates, election, election day, paycheck, vote

Elect lawmakers who support public transit

October 15, 2010 By Bonnie Morr, Alternate vice president, Bus Department Right now in our country, economics are spelling out what transit and transportation will look like, now and in the future. The UTU Bus Department has been following politics and the trends for funding that are necessar [...]

Tags bus, candidates, election day, funding, lawmakers, public transit, vote

We are monitoring bus-belt regulations

September 22, 2010 By Calvin StudivantAlternate vice president, Bus Department Newly manufactured motorcoaches would be required to have lap-shoulder seat belts – and older motorcoaches might be required to add them – under proposals from the U.S. DOT that are open for public comment. The feder [...]

Tags bus, bus-belt, DOT, regulations, safety, safety belts

LACMTA talks continue; operational funding a must

August 11, 2010 By Vic Baffoni, Vice president, Bus Department I extend my congratulations to all the newly elected and re-elected Bus Department officers and delegates, and I ask that they do their best to represent all their membership. Dedication and hard work must include conversation an [...]

Tags agreement, bus, contract, LACMTA, negotiations, operational funding

Strength, unity will help us win a good contract

June 17, 2010 By James A. Williams General Chairperson, LACMTA Contract negotiations are underway between the UTU and the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA). As required by California law, the parties exchanged proposals prior to April 1, and, as also dictate [...]

Tags bus, bus contracts, contracts, LACMTA, MTA, Williams

UTU, AFL-CIO tackle school bus driver issues

June 17, 2010 By Bonnie Morr Alternate Vice President-Bus The UTU, other labor unions and the Transportation Trades Department (TTD) of the AFL-CIO are jointly tackling workplace training, discipline and other workplace safety and economic issues on behalf of school bus drivers. Nationwide [...]

Tags AFL-CIO, school bus, school bus driver, Transportation Trades Department, TTD

Bus operators too often face assaults

April 26, 2010 By Calvin StudivantAlternate Vice President, Bus Department There is no question that more must be done to protect bus operators. When operating a motor coach — whether carrying students, commuters, tourists or the handicapped – whenever we open the door, we are e [...]

Tags assault, bus, bus drivers, bus operators

I am optimistic for 2010

April 21, 2010 By Rich Deiser Vice President, Bus Department During my six months as Bus Department vice president, I have done my absolute best to meet many of you, and I look forward to getting to know more of you in 2010. I still have a lot to learn and look to you for guidance. Hopefull [...]

Tags armed forces, bus, bus safety, Deiser