2009-2012 Contract, Attachment A -- Miscellaneous - pages 36 - 37
- A new Station- Maintainer Helper (“SMH”) position shall be created subject to the following conditions:
- SMH duties -- Assigned to stations to clean the station, work with Structure and Lighting
Maintainers to make repairs of the station, and perform the following minor repairs, after receiving training by Structure and Lighting Maintainers to perform these housekeeping skills:
- Lighting: Replaces light bulbs and cleans lighting fixtures.
- Plumbing: Clears clogged drains, toilets, floors drains, and waste traps and replaces faucet washers, flush kits, toilet seats, and towel and soap dispensers.
- Carpentry: Repairs and replaces door and cabinet hardware, such as hinges, knobs, and door closers.
- Painting: Performs spot and incidental painting.
- Masonry: Makes minor masonry repairs and replaces individual tiles.
- Air conditioning: Replaces filters
Additional duties are subject to the agreement of the parties.
- The SMH positions will be promotional opportunities for incumbent cleaners.
- Station Maintainer Helpers will be paid top Cleaner rate plus $1.70 per hour.
- Structure Maintainers will instruct and work with Station Maintainers. Consistent with training pay practices in other departments, Structure and Lighting Maintainers will be paid a $4.00 per hour differential for time spent working with and instructing Station Maintainers. These assignments will be posted on the Structure and Lighting Maintainer picks.
We here in why did you join the union believe our Station Department brethren from the Take Backward Our Union - TBOU - are full of drama by their inability to interpret clearly the above section of the contract. It is clear now why we are losing a majority of contract grievances due to the inability to interpret the contract. We here in why did you join the union would recommend reading comprehension classes for Take Backward Our Union. In addition to those who have time (Transit 25/55 Plan) to retire due to the fact that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks.
First once you sign on the dotted line you must hold to the end of the bargain. Imagine if one goes to buy a Hummer vehicle but after driving the vehicle has buyers remorse - what would a dealer or the bank say? It is your car! Keep on driving! Make those monthly payments! Now if the brethren in the Station Department feel otherwise we advise them to wait till the next contract of 2012 by voiding this section - show us your haggling skills.
Second our Station Department brethren have not taken into consideration what the management reaction will be in their strategy to make this program fail, delaying or prolonging the implementation of this section. It is obvious that they are putting the membership in harms way which goes against every union principle, objective or goal - the question is are those members sacrificial lambs?
Third SMH position is a new position which indicates that it will add more members to the TWU Local 100. Who is against adding new union members when the union density among the workforce is dwindling? Take Backward Our Union conflates between ‘cleaner’ with ‘Station Maintainer Helper’ - one is a Mustang while the other is a Corvette, clear as day and night.
Fourth lets imagine the Station Maintainer Helper has a task to repair and replace a door - can Take Backward Our Union give us an estimate time that would be required to accomplish the above work or task? Maybe Take Backward Our Union does not get it - this task alone will add another member to the TWU Local 100. Clearly the Station Maintainer Helper based on the above contract will take them away from cleaning duties thus we will still need a cleaner - that is an additional new member to the TWU Local 100.
Fifth the argument that this is labor class workers that do not have the protection of the civil service laws - we here in why did you join the union would point to the Take Backward Our Union. Now they have the baton, they have to run with it and convert it to their liking. However Take Backward Our Union are unable to run or pass the baton thus resulting in a dropped baton outside the take-over zone which shall result in disqualification in track and field. Therefore the TWU Local 100 membership may pay dearly.
Sixth on the remuneration side alone two titles would benefit. They are the Structure Maintainers - instructors, and the Station Maintainer Helpers. Why would anyone be against it? However this is John E Samuelsen’s Take Backward Our Union who are occupied in utilizing union credit cards in addition to flying overseas.
In conclusion we believe this section of the contract is good because the benefits to the members of TWU Local 100 outweigh the drama from John E Samuelsen’s Take Backward Our Union.
