Fired Transit Worker Back on the Job

[Omaha Steve]

http://blog.aflcio.org/2007/05/15/fired-transit-worker-back-on-the-job/

Fired Transit Worker Back on the Job

by James Parks, May 15, 2007

We reported that Russ Evans, a bus driver in Bend, Ore., was fired last month shortly after testifying in support of bills that would restore workers’ freedom to choose a union.

Now comes word from the Oregon AFL-CIO that Evans has been rehired and starts work today. This good news comes on the heels of the announcement by Evans’ employer, Paratransit, the contractor for Bend Area Transit (BAT), that it is dropping its challenge of the workers’ decision to join a union.

About four months ago, BAT workers voted to join Amalgamated Transit Union Local 757, but Paratransit challenged the election and appealed a National Labor Relations Board hearing officer’s judgment in favor of the workers joining the ATU. Now that Paratransit’s challenge and appeal have been dropped, the workers are looking forward to negotiating a contract.


As bus driver Pam Shon told the Bend Bulletin:

It means a battle won, and it means we’ll finally have a fair process for a contract.

The Bend victory is the latest in a series of wins for ATU. Four months ago, Charles Lester, ATU’s first-ever organizing director, vowed to put to work in his union the model for organizing presented at the 2006 AFL-CIO Organizing Summit.


FULL story at link.