ATU, Transit Union

The ATU is celebrating Asian and Pacific Islander (API) Heritage Month by recognizing rock star ATU members who have made a difference in their Locals and our Union. Our first honoree is Boston Carmen's Local 589 Member Richard Lee. #OurVoiceOurPower

Day 3 of the ATU Black Caucus 59th Annual Conference got down to business in Jersey City. With International President John Costa and ATU leadership in the room, the general session moved through a full agenda, from roll call and financial reports to regional rep updates from the Caucus Executive Board. International Secretary Ken Kirk addressed members on the importance of Locals being financially responsible, and IVP Amanda Sawyer-Turner led a session on what members should expect from their International Vice Presidents. Both sessions reflected what the Black Caucus does best: connecting the big picture to the work happening on the ground in Local communities across North America. The Fearless Dancers Empire brought energy to the room before the afternoon closed with honorary awards, and finally, the All-Black Dinner. International President John Costa closed with a message to our members. "Thank you for coming to my home state, New Jersey. The International is here to assist you. I'm so proud of all the IVPs in the room who serve our Locals every single day. The 59th Annual Conference may be done, but the work isn't. Black workers built this movement. You'll help build what comes next." Thank you to Black Caucus President Karima Howard and the full executive board, as well as our International Executive team, International Executive Vice President Yvette Trujillo, International Secretary Ken Kirk, and International Vice Presidents Gary Johnson, Natalie Cruz, Anthony Garland, Ray Greaves, Amanda Sawyer-Turner, and Mark Henry, for attending.

The ATU Black Caucus 59th Annual Conference is underway in Jersey City, and it's a homecoming for International President John Costa. A Newark boy who started his labor career at NJ Transit as a proud member of ATU Local 819, Costa is back in his home state and didn't hold back when he addressed more than 300 members, kicking off a full day of ATU International workshops focused on organizing for power in the digital age and ensuring Black workers are at the table when decisions about automation and AI are made. "The attacks on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are real. The rise of automation is real. And the ATU Black Caucus isn't pretending otherwise. There are people in positions of power who want those words to disappear. They think that if they gut the programs, erase the language, and roll back the wins, we'll just go quietly. They don't know this room very well." "These decisions about automation and AI aren't coming someday," Costa continued. "They're being made right now, in boardrooms and city halls, sometimes without our members in the room. And who gets hurt first when those decisions go wrong? Black workers. That isn't a coincidence. That's a pattern. What about us?" ATU International staff led two major presentations during the general session: one on AI and technology and what it means for transit workers, and one on workforce development training and the resources available to help members build power on the job. Joining Costa in Jersey City were International Executive Vice President Yvette Trujillo, International Secretary Ken Kirk, and International Vice Presidents Marcellus Barnes, Gary Johnson, Natalie Cruz, Anthony Garland, Ray Greaves, Amanda Sawyer-Turner, and Mark Henry, and ATU Canada President John Di Nino. Black Caucus President Karima Howard and the full executive board led the charge. Because inclusion isn't a checkbox. It means Black workers will help build the future.

We continue our celebration of National Apprenticeship Week recognizing Local 1070-Indianapolis, IN, member Curtisha Patterson. #nationaapprenticeshipweek2026

Reinforcing that the safety of our members on the job is priority one at the ATU, International President John Costa hosted a Safety Committee training for more than 100 members to provide our ATU Locals with successful strategies and tactics to set up safety committees. “Our members are exposed to hazards like violence, poor equipment, dangerous chemicals or lack of training on a daily basis. Often these issues are a result of management ignoring our members’ concerns or making decisions without our input as frontline workers. We fought hard for these Safety Committees to ensure critical protections for our members and riders in both the U.S. and Canada,” said Costa. “APTA and some in Congress are trying to take away these Committees, we need to stop that. These Safety Committees allow us to hold our transit agencies accountable on safety issue. Thank you for your leadership and taking the time to take part in this invaluable training.” ATU Government Affairs Director Jeff Rosenberg also spoke about APTA’s attempts to get rid of these Safety Committees and encouraged attendees to get their transit agencies to sign a letter against that move. The letter can be signed at bit.ly/Support-BusOpe… Conducted by ATU Health and Safety Director Andrew Falotico, Training and Education Administrator Russell Bateman, Health and Safety Coordinator Anna Byrd, and Associate General Counsel Laura Karr, the training covered campaigns and tactics that safety committees can use. Also discussed were legislative differences regarding safety committee requirements, work refusals, whistleblower protections, and safety reporting. #OurVoiceOurPower

Kudos to our Local 85 members in playing a critical role in the success of the NFL Draft in Pittsburgh. post-gazette.com/sports/2026-nf… #1u #canlab

The ATU celebrates National Apprenticeship Week recognizing our Local 256-Sacramento, CA, member Vanessa Ramirez of #nationalapprenticeshipweek2026

We celebrate School Bus Driver Appreciation Day today! #schoolbusdriverappreciationday #1u #canlab

This Worker’s Memorial Day and National Day of Mourning, the ATU honors our hero members and all workers killed on the job and Hold the Line for Safety. #WorkersMemorialDay

More than 100 of our Local 588-Regina, SK, members staged practice picket this weekend to show Regina Transit and the City that they are united in their fight for a fair contract. #OurVoiceOurPower

Also attending the conference were International Executive Vice President Yvette Trujillo, International Secretary Treasurer Ken Kirk, and International Vice Presidents Marcellis Barnes, Gary Johnson, Natalie Cruz, Mark Henry, Kenneth Day, and Carly Allen, who proudly represent members across the Midwest.

The Midwest isn't waiting for the future of transit to happen to you. You're building it. Thank you to all the Locals from Iowa, Michigan, Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Kansas, Nebraska, and Oklahoma who attended, and to the Midwest Conference President, Todd Strasser, and the entire Board for their leadership.

This weekend, International President John Costa, who lives by his saying, you can’t run a union from your office, joined members from across the Midwest in Riverside, Iowa, to hear directly from them about what's happening on the ground, from contract fights to new technology threatening our jobs.

The ATU General Executive Board (GEB) gathered in Chicago this week for a full slate of reports and updates from across our Union. International President John Costa chaired the week-long meeting, joined by International Executive Vice President Yvette Trujillo, International Secretary Treasurer Ken Kirk, ATU Canada President John Di Nino, and ATU’s International Vice Presidents representing members from Coast to Coast across the United States and Canada. Over the course of the week, the GEB held informative discussions to set a course for the future of our Union. The GEB heard presentations from every department, including Organizing and Campaigns, Research, Legal, Communications, Health and Safety, and Workforce Development. The sessions reflected the full scope of the ATU's work on behalf of the 200,000+ workers we’re proud to represent. The week didn't end in the boardroom. The GEB also visited the Pullman National Historical Park in Chicago, along with Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs, which was the site of the 1894 Pullman Strike and where the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters was organized beginning in 1925. A. Philip Randolph built a union out of the largest Black workforce in America and won a landmark labor agreement in 1937 that was as much a victory for civil rights as it was for workers. Standing in that space, the weight of that history was impossible to ignore. "The civil rights movement and the labor movement were never two separate fights," said Costa. "A. Philip Randolph knew that, and standing on that sacred ground, we felt it. ATU carries that legacy with us every single day. Thank you to our Chicago hosts, Locals 241 and 308, for your hospitality, and to our leadership for spending the week doing the significant work of this mighty Union.”

We applaud Local 113-Toronto, ON, member Tom Emery for going above and beyond the call of duty by reporting a house fire and assisting emergency services while on his route. Tom was recently recognized by the TTC for his heroic actions and professionalism. #ATUHero

Local 689-Washington, DC, blasts WMATA rail automation plan. #OurVoiceOurPower atulocal689.org/press/union-cr…

Training is essential to ensure our members are prepared to deal with challenges of the job and ensure the safety of riders. #OurVoiceOurPower kxan.com/traffic/transp…