|
RAZING
THE BUS SYSTEM
A profusion
of profligacy, confusion, conjobs, collusion and collapse
LET
THEM EAT MASKS
Sparks-Reno
superspreadators give booby bus boss big bucks
Sparks
Tribune
5-4-2022
¡Feliz
cumpleaños César Chávez!
/ Happy Birthday,
hermano!
Born 3-31-1927 / Nevada's César Chávez
Day
César
Chávez,
spinmeisters and hatemongers
Barbwire
by Andrew Quarantino Barbáno
/ Expanded
from the
Sparks Tribune 3-30-2022
Sexy
ways to commit societal suicide
Barbwire
by Andrew Quarantino Barbáno
/ Expanded
from the
Sparks Tribune 3-23-2022
March
21, 2022
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
STRIKE
4 SHUTOUT: Teamsters 40, Bus Busters ZERO
KEOLIS
TRANSIT SIGNS SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT ON MORE LABOR VIOLATIONS
40 National Labor Relations Board Charges Settled
in Teamsters Union Favor
RENO,
Nev. USA (March 21, 2022) —
Go and sin no more —> and you have to confess your transgressions
to your workers in writing.
So said
the National Labor Relations Board, or words to that effect
last week as the federal body validated the latest settlement
between Teamsters Union Local 533 and foreign-owned Keolis Transit
for violations of the National Labor Relations Act.
 |
FIRE
KEOLIS! —Teamsters Union members march on Reno
City Hall (11-10-2021)
|
“This
brings the total number of charges settled to 40, with more
likely to follow,” stated Teamsters Local 533 President
Gary Watson.
The agreement requires
Keolis to post the more than two dozen findings verbatim where
all employees may read them. (View the full
decision at the Teamsters 533 section at NevadaLabor.com/)
"These 40 charges, all resolved in union workers’
favor, should finally paint a clear picture of how the contractor
for the Regional Transportation Commission
of Washoe County mismanages public transit operations,"
Watson added.
“This settlement agreement was obtained due to our members’
dedication and resiliency by standing strong together against
adversity. The National Labor Relations Board settlement agreement
includes a monetary settlement for two of our sisters who were
retaliated against for honoring picket lines, among many other
violations related to the three strikes of 2021,” Watson
noted.
“I am incredibly grateful for my union," stated union
member Rachel Drum.
"They have diligently protected me against the retaliation
of Keolis Transit which tried to coerce and intimidate me to
cross the picket line. I refused and was subsequently terminated,”
she added.
Sister Drum will be returning to the job shortly, recouping
all back wages and benefits.
Numerous labor violations were committed specifically against
female workers.
“It is appalling and unacceptable for anyone to be subject
to such draconian treatment by Keolis," Watson asserted.
"Workers deserve safe working conditions free from harassment.
This settlement is a victory for all our members,” he added.
“The appointed commissioners of RTC Washoe —
Neoma Jardon, Oscar Delgado, Bob Lucey, Vaughn Hartung and
Ed Lawson — allowed their
Executive Director, Bill Thomas, to explicitly state
during the strikes that Keolis was bargaining in good faith,
while the Teamsters were not,“ Watson said. [CONTACT
INFO] [LAWSON:
Burn it down and start over]
“Those commissioners should demand that Mr. Thomas publicly
denounce Keolis’ actions and should offer the passengers,
our community and our members a public apology. Additionally,
they should retract their endorsement of Keolis and put safeguards
in place to protect our workers in public transit,” Watson
stated.
PENSION FUND STILL OWED A QUARTER MILLION: Last year,
an independent audit found Keolis
past due on pension fund contributions dating as far back as
2019. The money has still not been paid. This came on top
of an independent arbitrator's finding that Keolis failed to
enforce COVID-19 masking mandates which are still in
effect. Keolis and elected officials have taken no action despite
two years of smoking gun violations.
HEART OF THE UNION. Logan Lansborough,
now 11, became the poster child of the 2021
Hat Trick Strikes which the union won to national acclaim
last year. He has no lower legs due to a genetic flaw but nonetheless
took to his wheelchair and joined his father, Michael,
on downtown Reno picket lines. (Photos at the front
page of NevadaLabor.com/)
The Lansboroughs had little time to savor their union's victories.
RTCRide transit operator Michael underwent successful
heart surgery earlier this year. He is the sole support of his
family and will not be cleared to return to work for weeks if
not months.
A GoFundMe page has been set up by friends https://gofund.me/7eae2ed0
Those who would like to help by mail may make checks or money
orders payable to Michael Lansborough and send to his attention
at Teamsters Local 533, 1190 Selmi Drive, Suite 100, Reno NV
89512.
Chartered in 1934, Teamsters Local 533 represents about 2,300
workers in various trades throughout northern Nevada and eastern
California, including about 200 RTC/Keolis employees. For more
information, go to http://teamsters533.org/.
=========
BLASTS FROM THE PAST —
The Barbwire never forgets: The Washoe County Commission
will consider a raft of voting "reforms" at its March
22 meeting. The Nye County Commission recently passed
similar requirements, several of likewise questionable legality.
Both would require a return to old-fashioned handwritten ballots.
Read about two legendary Nye County paper ballot boondoggles
at NevadaLabor.com
and in Wednesday's Sparks Tribune. Also: How to skulduggerously
impact a handwritten ballot recount.
Those who forget history are condemned to repeat it.
And don't forget to check your local voter registration.
CWA 9413/AFL-CIO
March
17, 2022
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
Workers
win, abusive contractor loses. Again.
KEOLIS
TRANSIT SIGNS SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT ON MORE LABOR VIOLATIONS
40 National Labor Relations Board Charges Settled
in Teamsters Union Favor
RENO,
Nev. USA (March 17, 2022) —
Keolis Transit has come to terms and settled 17 additional labor
charges with Teamsters 533 for violations of the National Labor
Relations Act.
“This
brings the total number of charges settled to 40, with more
likely to follow,” stated Teamsters Local 533 President
Gary Watson.
These 40 charges,
all resolved in the union workers’ favor, should finally
paint a clear picture of how the contractor for the Regional
Transportation Commission of Washoe County mismanages
public transit operations.
“This settlement agreement was obtained due to our members’
dedication and resiliency by standing strong together against
adversity. The National
Labor Relations Board Settlement agreement details a
monetary settlement for two of our sisters who were retaliated
against for honoring the picket line, among many other violations
related to the three
strikes in 2021,” said Watson.
“I am incredibly grateful for my union," stated union
member Rachel Drum.
"They have diligently
protected me against the retaliation of Keolis Transit which
tried to coerce and intimidate me to cross the picket line.
I refused and was subsequently terminated,” she added.
Sister Drum will
be returning to the job shortly, recouping all back wages and
benefits.
Numerous labor violations were committed specifically against
female workers.
“It is appalling
and unacceptable for anyone to be subject to such draconian
treatment by Keolis," Watson asserted.
"Workers deserve
safe working conditions free from harassment. This settlement
is a victory for all our members,” he added.
“The appointed commissioners of RTC Washoe —
Neoma Jardon, Oscar Delgado, Bob Lucey, Vaughn Hartung and
Ed Lawson — allowed their
Executive Director, Bill Thomas, to explicitly state
during the strikes that Keolis was bargaining in good faith,
while the Teamsters were not,“ Watson said. [CONTACT
INFO] [LAWSON:
Burn it down and start over]
“Those commissioners should demand that Mr. Thomas publicly
denounce Keolis’ actions and should offer the passengers,
our community and our members a public apology. Additionally,
they should retract their endorsement of Keolis and put safeguards
in place to protect our workers in public transit,” Watson
stated.
Chartered in 1934, Teamsters Local 533 represents about 2,300
workers in various trades throughout northern Nevada and
eastern California, including about 200 RTC/Keolis employees.
For more information, go to http://teamsters533.org/.
|
Helping
a Teamsters family in their time of need: Good News!
David Toll: Compleatly
Nevadian
Barbwire
by Andrew Quarantino Barbáno
/ Expanded
from the
Sparks Tribune 2-23-2022
New
Teamsters General President Sean O’Brien comments about Reno Hat
Trick Strikes vs. Keolis-19
By Jonathan
Soroff / Boston Magazine / 2-8-2022
Dirty
deeds done dirt cheap: Workers stiffed for $250,000 for two years
Washoe
bus system mismanager owes Teamsters pension fund big time
Smoking Guns
Treasure
the age of the republic's wane
We
carry on with business as usual as we treasure the remaining time in
our democracy's decline.
Barbwire by Andrew Quarantino Barbáno
/ Expanded
from the
Sparks Tribune 2-2-2022
|
Up
your UPS in Sparks
|
 |
Demonstrations
at UPS Sparks
|
 |
Rittenhouse in Reno & rationality in Sparks?
RTC
commissioners agree with Teamsters — Will wonders never cease?!
Barbwire by Andrew Quarantino Barbáno
/ Expanded
from the
Sparks Tribune 1-26-2022
Transportation
commissioners blast their own transit system
By
Bob Conrad / ThisIsReno.com 1-21-2022
Arbitrator
finds Keolis violated union agreement by failing to enforce masks on buses
By
Bob Conrad / ThisIsReno.com 1-18-2022
 |
|
Greenpeace
graphic. Thanks.
|
SUPERSPREADER
2.0
Found
guilty, foreign-owned RTCWashoe bus system contractor still refuses to
enforce mask mandates
BUSINESS AS
USUAL: Regional Transportation Commission meets today to "approve
safety management plan" while jam-packed buses continue as COVID-19
superspreader
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT
CHRIS FUQUA, Vice-President
Teamsters Union Local 533
(775) 348-6060 ext. 103
Links,
references, supporting documents, recent archives & 3+ decades of
Teamsters/RTC history at NevadaLabor.com
RENO,
Nev. USA (January 21, 2022) — "Our collapsing bus system is
collapsing around its passengers and workers, crushing them with COVID,"
Teamsters Local 533 Vice-President Chris Fuqua will tell Regional Transportation
Commissioners on Friday morning.
"We have beaten the commission's for-profit foreign contractor
on the streets, winning the three Hat
Trick Strikes of 2021," Fuqua says.
"This week, we again beat them before federal regulators who found
in favor of the workers on 17 counts with 17 more to go," he added.
"Most important, federal arbitrator Stephen Hayford ordered
France-based contractor Keolis Transit to “take
whatever steps are necessary to ensure going forward that when a bargaining
unit Coach Operator reports the presence of an unmasked passenger on
his/her bus to RTC Dispatch, the passenger is promptly intercepted and
engaged by a Keolis supervisor, management official or Security official.
Keolis is further directed to make certain that when that encounter
transpires and a non-exempt passenger continues to refuse to wear a
mask while on the bus, the passenger is removed from the bus.”
“Just that situation happened this week to our member Chastity
Lockridge, a longtime bus operator. The passenger was not removed
and Ms. Lockridge is now on sick leave with COVID-19,” Fuqua charged.
In an identical situation last year in Los Angeles, Keolis fired an
immuno-suppressed African-American driver on from chemotherapy because
she told a passenger to don a mask.
"Turning the transit system into a superspreader could have largely
been avoided had not Regional Transportation System of Washoe County
Executive Director Bill Thomas
secretly and unilaterally waived all cash performance penalties starting
in March of 2020. Keolis could thus operate with impunity and they continue
to do so, endangering the public,” Fuqua said.
"Subcontracting of critically needed public services needs serious
review," the labor leader added. [UPDATE: Wonder of wonders
— RTC commissioners
agree. Finally.]
"The
current pass-the-buck system is good for only one thing: nothing is
ever anyone's fault or responsibility," Fuqua stated.
“No one will accept responsibility at Friday’s meeting of
the five elected RTC commissioners,” Fuqua said.
The meeting begins at 9:00 a.m. PST at the RTC Administrative Building,
1105 Terminal Way, first floor Reno 89502. Masks are apparently required.
It will also be streamed live at RTCWashoe.com.
“Those who are able should try to speak in person, as online statements
are not read at meetings,” Fuqua said. “Anyone without an
underlying condition who is vaccinated, boosted and double-masked should
consider attending.”
HELP AN AILING DRIVER: Longtime
union member and transit operator Michael Lansborough is away
from work and facing major surgery to save his life. He and his 10 year-old
son, Logan, helped man union picket lines during the Hat Trick
Strikes. Logan did it from his wheelchair, as he has no lower legs due
to a genetic affliction. (Photos on the
front page of NevadaLabor.com/)
A GoFundMe page has been set up to help the family. Please consider
donation via https://gofund.me/7eae2ed0
or at the front page of NevadaLabor.com/ Checks or money orders, payable
to Michael Lansborough, may be sent to his attention at Teamsters Local
533, 1190 Selmi Drive, Suite 100, Reno NV 89512. (Thank you.)
Chartered in 1934, Teamsters Local 533 represents about 2,200 workers
in various trades throughout northern Nevada and eastern California.
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),
CWA
9413/AFL-CIO
-30-
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