WE MUST CIRCLE THE WAGONS AND BE PREPARED FOR THE FIGHT OF OUR LIVES!!
To the senior members of our Union you know what this is all about, you lived thru the days Augenbright. You know what happens when the political powers that be, attempt to de-rail Hartline. When I say Hartline, I'm not talking about thrashing Steve Roberts or Ralph Lavado, or sending Ray Miller back to Delaware. What I mean is Us, Local 1593, our jobs are on the line.
,
When somebody says to you "don't vote it doesn't matter"
Well Brothers and Sisters, what County Commissioner Rhonda Storms is proposing is the same thing as putting YOUR JOB ON THE BALLOT.
If this happens we not only will have to vote ourselves, but get all our Families, Friends, Neighbors, Patrons, EVERYONE on board to save Hartline. From almost sure bankruptcy. (checks bounce, do you hear me)
Should this happen, a lot of scenarios may occur, none of which are good for us.
The City of Tampa could ask the Florida Legislature to create a City Transit Authority, and the City could run service only in the City, which would cut our jobs in half. Or the City could charge the County for the service they get, but where would the County get the Money to pay for it. Still we lose half our jobs.
Or the City could dump us all, and hire a private company, who would hire their own work force to drive the buses, repair them, and clean them. And we all are outside looking in.
I don't know about Mr. Miller, his head is clearly on the chopping block, we must circle our wagons and assist Mr. Miller in the task ahead of us. That task is do what we do best, Provide SAFE, REALIABLE, CUSTOMER FRIENDLY, bus, van and streetcar transit service.
Remember the largest block of voters we meet daily, is not on the bus, but off, the automobile drivers we encounter daily, we must drive friendly, let them have the road, just be safe and friendly. Be the Professional we have always been.
Maybe, just maybe Mr. Miller will recognize that we are all in this together, and make the changes at Hartline that resulted in over 800 of our brothers and sisters losing their jobs over the last 6 years.
Maybe, just maybe, Mr. Miller will see that the problem at Hartline are far beyond "Bad Communications" but the way the Mark-up (our work) is created.
Maybe, just maybe, Mr. Miller will see what the "Culture" that he keeps referring to, really is. And that is the "Sharon Dent" staff that was left behind.
Maybe, just maybe Mr. Miller will stop telling us what a hard job, General Manager Steve Roberts and Ralph Lavado have, and hire someone who doesn't see it as hard work, but rewarding work. Rewarding to direct 280 Bus, Van, & Streetcar professionals who are pleased to provide a public service, who are pleased when the disabled, youth, elderly, and just everyday taxpayers, daily life is made simpler because of what we do.
We must circle our wagons around Mr. Miller continue to do our thing, increase the readership, fill those buses up. Provide the Safe, On-Time, FREINDLY SERVICE. And Hartline will grow, and make up for all those DARK YEARS of SHARON DENT". As Hartline grows the Ronda Storms will back off, and proudly say, she was the reason Hartline became the Transit Company of the year.
The fact is we, brothers and sisters, we are all (ATU, Teamsters, The administration) the reason Hartline will grow.
Growth is what the County Commissioners want!
Lets give it to them.
Mike McCoy
President / Business Agent
ATU Local 1593 / Tampa
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