SUPPORT STRIKING WORKERS OF PENSACOLA AMALGAMATED TRANSIT UNION LOCAL 1395
Submitted on Sun, 11/06/2005 - 9:29pm
The ATU 1395 are drivers working for little above minimum wage. Maybe you've seen them. They drive the "Community Transportation" vehicles that take the elderly and disabled where they need to go around town. Since unionizing in 1998, the Community Transportation drivers have made many gains, going from $6 hour top pay w/ no benefits to $8 hourly wage with some paid vacation and holiday time and health insurance. Now their boss, Pensacola Bay, which is owned by Marjorie Wilcox of Mobile, is trying to take away their health insurance and as rejected further negotiation on the possibility of future pay increases. It was with great difficulty that the senior members of ATU 1395 have voted to go on strike and take their grievences to the streets. The PNJ's Monday article about the strike said that ATU 1395 President Michael Lowery has stated the dispute is about wages, increased health insurance costs, and a harsher point system on their driving record. The formal complaints include: Failure to bargain in good faith, coercion and intimidation of employees in the union and unilateral policy changes without negotiations.
How can we support them?
First, they need people to bolster their numbers on the picket lines. They are currently going from 5am to 5pm on the the corner of Palafox and Texar and down Texar and possibly at other locations. If you go to Palafox and Texar, ask for the strike captain working that day and they should be able to let you know where you're needed the most.
Second, they are currently in need of money for their strike fund to help the workers pay their bills while on strike. For more info on that, contact Michael Lowery at 433-0596.
Many of us plan to come out to help add to their numbers, so if you'd like to coordinate with other Wobblies, call us at 417-2766.
More information will be posted as we get it.
AN INJURY TO ONE IS AN INJURY TO ALL