[Mpls] Re: Bus Strike

[Thomas Searles]

Don't forget to include ATU Local 1005 in your calling. Phone 612-379-2914.
Be sure to ask them how their members are going to afford to pay their
health insurance now that they are responsible for the full payment.

" *Family coverage is $1,131.10 plus 2% for a total of $1153.72. *Single
coverage is $452.43 plus 2% for a total of $461.47."
http://www.atu1005.com/Contract_Updates.htm

Also ask them why there is no wide spread support of the transit workers. I
talked to several union member relatives (electrical and police) this past
weekend about the strike. Everyone agreed that the union has done a poor job
of getting their version of the strike out into the public's awareness, and
not one person I have talked to supports the striking workers. Granted, you
may talk to different people than I do, but the fact remains that after 29
days there is only narrow support for this strike.

Meanwhile, the people who really need the buses are suffering. Please
mention this when you contact ATU Local 1005 with your concerns. Also, tell
them how it will take years for ridership to come back to the levels they
were a month ago. Ask them if there will be layoffs due to the decreased
ridership.

There are two sides to every story, and it is a mistake to lay of the blame
at one doorstep.

Tom Searles
Waconia, Twp.


----- Original Message ----- 
From: <petertomschmitz at juno.com>
To: <wizardmarks at earthlink.net>
Cc: <mpls at mnforum.org>; <petertomschmitz at juno.com>; <bjc at cullenhomes.com>
Sent: Wednesday, March 31, 2004 9:46 PM
Subject: Re: [Mpls] Re: Bus Strike


>
> Members: I'll dig up  Sandy's  number  Friday.  I think you should all
give her a call    since she  seems to be the designaated point person at
the Met Council for irate  callers.   There's also a person in  Governor
Pawlenty's   office who needs to hear more  from us.----Peter Schmitz
Downtown  St. Paul