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Updated 1-28-2022 GMT

January-July 2021 U-News Front Page Headlines

Breaking News & Bulletins

Up your UPS in Sparks on Thursday 1-27-2022

Demonstrations at UPS Sparks Teamsters demonstrate in Nevada & California Interview with Local 533 CEO Debbie Calkins KRNV TV-4 & KRXI TV-11 / 1-27-2022 KTVN TV-2 video unavailable Teamsters Local 533 will hold a day of action in support of our Teamster membership working at United Parcel Service (UPS). This action will take place at all UPS facilities in Northern California and Northern Nevada, in peaceful support of our members who just recently were forced to take a massive pay reduction while United Parcel Service has been raking in billions of quarterly profits. (See above.) Times: 8:30am to 10am & 4pm to 6pm Date: January 27, 2022 Location: UPS Facility – 45 Vista Blvd. Suite 102, Sparks NV 89434 For more information contact Teamsters 533 CEO Debbie Calkins (775) 348-6060 ext. 105 Business Agent Ross Kinson (775) 348-6060 ext. 106 NevadaLabor.com Teamsters Local 533 War Room including complete local coverage of 1997 UPS national strike

Rittenhouse in Reno & rationality in Sparks?
Barbwire by Andrew Quarantino Barbáno / Expanded from the Sparks Tribune 1-26-2022

What black people won't say
Barbwire by Andrew Quarantino Barbáno / Expanded from the Sparks Tribune 1-19-2022

Ghosts of Mississippi, Lani Guiniere & U.S. Grant
Barbwire by Andrew Quarantino Barbáno / Expanded from the Sparks Tribune 1-12-2022

STORIES WITH LEGS
Barbwire by Andrew Quarantino Barbáno / Expanded from the Sparks Tribune 1-5-2022

"I wept because I had no shoes until I saw a man who had no feet"

On the smoky streets of Reno

SUDDENLY LAST SUMMER Left to right: Cindy Davidson, Logan & Michael Lansborough. Cindy and Michael are union bus operators.

"My son Logan, in the wheelchair, was born with congenital absence of the tibia. At 17 months, Logan had an operation to amputate his legs. When Keolis first took over the (transit system managment) contract, I was trying to get Logan some new prosthetic legs when the company making the legs informed me that the insurance company informed them that I had been terminated while Keolis continued to collect my premiums. I had never missed work other than doctors appointments." —  Michael Lansborough FROM BARBWIRE BY BARBANO / SPARKS TRIBUNE / 1-5-2022 HELP DAD AND THE KIDS. Logan Lansborough was the poster child of the Hat Trick Strikes, all three won to national acclaim against Keolis-19 last year by Teamsters Local 533. Logan is 10 and picketed the mass transit system from his wheelchair last summer. "He couldn't wait to get back on the line even in the heat," his father Michael, a union coach operator and Sparks resident told me. (Photos at NevadaLabor.com/)  "My son was born with congenital absence of the tibia. At 17 months, Logan had an operation to amputate his legs," dad Michael said. "When Keolis first took over the (bus system management) contract, I was trying to get Logan some new prosthetic legs when the company making the legs informed me that the insurance company informed them that I had been terminated while Keolis continued to collect my premiums. I had never missed work other than doctors appointments." Alas, Michael Lansborough had little time to savor his union's victory. He's now on the beach and facing major surgery. "One of my shop stewards has a serious medical condition and will be missing quite a bit of time from work," fellow bus driver Mike Humes informed me. "Michael Lansborough is the sole provider for his family. Some of my (union) sisters have started a GoFundMe page to help him and his family during this difficult time. Please share this so we can help our brother out," Brother Humes added. Here is the link <https://gofund.me/7eae2ed0> Be generous. If you would like to help by check, make it payable to Michael Lansborough and send to his attention at Teamsters Local 533, 1190 Selmi Drive, Suite 100, Reno NV 89512. Mr. Lansborough shortly faces major surgery. Join me in donating. Please. AB

Transit bosses illegally cut service to seniors and disabled...

While Logan rallied his dad and his supporters for justice

HOT AUGUST STRIKE 2021 — Logan Lansborough and his fellow trade unionists taking the heat and bringing heat to the streets of Reno in the quest for workplace dignity and fairness. All supporters were invited to pick up a sign and join them any day and into the evening at the downtown bus station, 200 E. 4th Street, Reno 89501.

HAT TRICK: Teamsters mass transit 3-strike wins named 2021 top story
Union "out-messaged" foreign bus management contractor
By Bob Conrad / ThisIsReno.com / 12-30-2021

NEVADA STILL A COMPANY TOWN
Gross mining mega-merger turns gold to dross for tribes, workers & environment
The Nevada Independent and High Country News / 1-3-2022

Feliz Navidad, próspero año y felicidad TRUE OR FALSE: 1. Jesus of Nazareth had blue eyes and blonde hair. 2. Buddha is a Christian saint. 3. Christianity existed more than 600 years before Jesus. If you missed all three, you really need to read on. Barbwire by Andrew Quarantino Barbáno / Expanded from the Sparks Tribune 12-29-2021

Betty J. Barbano 2-7-1941 / 12-27-2005 Remember her kindness and laughter

Happy High Holly Days to all Merry Christmas/Kwanzaa/Solstice/Festivus/Chanukah/Thanksgibleting Feliz Navidad, próspero año y felicidad Joyeux Noël et Bonne Année ! HAPPY NEW YEAR / Feliz Año Nuevo / Felice Anno Nuovo Frohe Weihnachten und beste Wuensche fuer 2022

Death Panels for Christmas
Barbwire by Andrew Quarantino Barbáno / Expanded from the Sparks Tribune 12-22-2021

You will remember the Ides of December
Barbwire by Andrew Quarantino Barbáno / Expanded from the Sparks Tribune 12-15-2021

The Cure for What Ails Us, Part IV
Barbwire by Andrew Quarantino Barbáno / Expanded from the Sparks Tribune 12-8-2021

11-30-2021
St. Andrew's Day in Scotland & BarbwireLand
Be well. Raise hell. Stay safe. Ciao

Agreement ends Bus Strike 3
Did St. Andrew intervene?
(The contract agreement was announced on St. Andrew's Day.)
Trending downward even before strikes, driver numbers now down 50%. No return to full service soon.

I want my $10,000.00, dammit!
Barbwire by Andrew Quarantino Barbáno / Expanded from the Sparks Tribune 12-1-2021

Happy Thanksgibleting: Grueling gruel from the cruel
Barbwire by Andrew Quarantino Barbáno / Expanded from the Sparks Tribune 11-24-2021

Striking picketers fired on in Reno 4 of 6 hit with rock salt & BB-gun rounds Bus strikers continue to refuse three-year pay cut FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT GARY WATSON, President Teamsters Union Local 533 (775) 348-6060 ext. 104 Links, recent archives & 3+ decades of Teamsters/RTC history at NevadaLabor.com RENO, Nev. USA (November 19, 2021 / 17:24:22 PST) — Six Teamsters Union picketers were fired upon in downtown Reno at about 4:50 p.m. PST (00:50 GMT 11-20). Four were hit while marching in the proximity of the E. 4th Street bus terminal in the hotel/casino district. The shots were fired from a red pickup truck. "I told my members to call 911 and immediately informed Reno Police Chief Jason Soto and Deputy Chief Tom Robinson," stated Teamsters Local 533 President Gary Watson. "Even supposedly non-lethal rounds can do serious damage, especially to someone's eyes," Watson said. Reno Police are on scene right now and the union has been informed that the pickup's rider(s) may be shooting at others in the downtown area. The union went on strike a third time in four months when the Regional Transportation Commission of Washoe County's foreign contractor insisted on a non-negotiable below-inflation pay scale which would amount to a three-year pay cut. BB found on site of picketers assault on November 19 Local 533 has represented Regional Transportation Commission of Washoe County transit system employees since 1987. Chartered in 1934, Teamsters Local 533 represents about 2,200 workers in various trades throughout northern Nevada and eastern California, including about 200 RTC/Keolis workers. The three dozen-plus member unions of the Northern Nevada Central Labor Council/AFL-CIO voted for strike sanctions before the Hot August Strike. They supported the second work stoppage during "Striketober" and have done so again with Strike 3 now on the streets. The United Labor Agency of Nevada has helped arrange a strike fund. Please send checks to United Labor Agency of Nevada, 1201 N. Decatur Blvd. Suite 106, Las Vegas, NV 89108; Attn: Teamsters Keolis Strike. OR... HELP THE STRIKERS. PLEASE DONATE TO THE STRIKE FUND Online Sign the FIRE KEOLIS petition RTC Washoe Contact Information — Utilize frequently The Regional Transportation Commission of Washoe County is comprised of Sparks Mayor Ed Lawson (R), Washoe County Commissioners Vaughn Hartung (R) and Bob Lucey (R); Reno City Councilmembers Oscar Delgado (D) and Neoma Jardon, (R), board chair. RTC board e-mail <rtcpubliccomments@rtcwashoe.com>, bthomas@rtcwashoe.com (RTC Executive Director Bill Thomas), HIGHLIGHT, COPY AND PASTE delgadoo@reno.gov (Reno Councilmember Oscar Delgado-D), vhartung@washoecounty.us (Washoe County Commissioner Vaughn Hartung-R), jardonn@reno.gov (Reno Councilmember/RTC Chair Neoma Jardon-R), elawson@cityofsparks.us (Sparks Mayor Ed Lawson-R), blucey@washoecounty.us (County Commissioner Bob Lucey-R), bthomas@rtcwashoe.com (RTC Executive Director Bill Thomas), rtcpubliccomments@rtcwashoe.com (RTC board e-mail), Teamsters Union 533 Strike War Room CWA 9413/AFL-CIO Y11/19 ShotsFired/Strike3/Keolis-19/ibt/Unews/opsn21 -30-

Ghosts of Christmas past bite us on the ass
Barbwire by Andrew Quarantino Barbáno / Expanded from the Sparks Tribune 11-17-2021

Help rebuild Nevada's infrastrucure and create Nevada jobs
By Rob Benner / Building & Construction Trades Council of Northern Nevada/AFL-CIO/ Reno Gazette-Journal op-ed 11-17-2021

FIRE KEOLIS! —Teamsters Union members march on Reno City Hall (11-10-2021) Bus system overlords go on strike Why did RTC chickens cross the road? To avoid voters! Regular RTC meeting cancelled while system collapses Bus strikers continue to refuse three-year pay cut and call for executive director's resignation BREAKING NEWS: Reno inflation hits 7% Reno is in the Mountain Division and its CPI (cost of living index) went from 6% in September to 7% in October U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics / 11-10-2021 Gee, now the Teamsters' demand for a 17.4% pay raise for mass transit workers seems quite reasonable compared to the bus system's "last-best offer" (an inflation-eroded pay cut) of 12% for three years or 4% annually. The union has demanded a pay increase of 5.3% to 6.3%. The midpoint is 5.8% per year, or 17.4% over three years, below the 7%/21% current rate which everyone hopes will go down as the economy recovers from the plague. IS 18 PERCENT ENOUGH? Reno is in the top 10 cities nationally for year-over-year rent increases according to Apartment Guide (KRNV TV-4 10-4-2021). Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment broke $1,600.00 for the first time ever in the second quarter. (RGJ.com 8-16-2021)

Strike 3: Washoe transit workers walk off again
Barbwire by Andrew Quarantino Barbáno / Expanded from the Sparks Tribune 11-9 & 11-10-2021

STRIKE 3 hit the streets at Eee-Yo-Leven a.m. Nov. 9 LANDSLIDE—Union members vote 9 to 1 to walk Third Washoe/Carson bus strike in four months Foreign contractor offers $1,000 bribes to take pay cuts HELP THE STRIKERS. PLEASE DONATE TO THE STRIKE FUND Sign the FIRE KEOLIS TRANSIT petition Teamsters Union: Third Mass Transit Strike Imminent By Bob Conrad / ThisIsReno.com 11-4-2021 SINDICATO: “LA TERCERA HUELGA ES INMINENTE” By Bob Conrad / ThisIsReno.com 11-7-2021 Bus system bosses' best offer busted Lower level casino jobs offer more Mike Pilcher Guest Commentary / ThisIsReno.com / 11-8-2021 Teamsters Union 533 Strike War Room

 

Pitchforks, torches, mensches, tar & feathers Moonhowlers on Steroids Barbwire by Andrew Quarantino Barbáno / Substantially updated from the Sparks Tribune 11-3-2021 Ripoffs, Riches, Riots, Rhymes and R-ratings Barbwire by Andrew Quarantino Barbáno / Expanded from the Sparks Tribune 10-27-2021

Eee-yo-leven! Barbwire wins 11th Nevada Press Association award 6 of 11 gold Tribune editorial page voted 2020 best Dennis Myers 2nd Barbwire nominee elected to NPA Hall of Fame Support Don Dondero and Jake Highton next Send endorsements The Dean's List    The Dean of Reno Bloggers could very well be Andrew Barbano, self-described "fighter of public demons," who started putting his "Barbwire" columns online in 1996 and now runs 10 sites. RENO NEWS & REVIEW, 11-9-2006