November 2008

Member of the Month

Rena Nelson

November 2008 Member of the Month is School Bus Driver Rena Nelson who works for Durham School Services in Gulf Breeze.

Rena was a shop steward for several years and has been an advocate for Local 1395.  She has encouraged many to join the Local Union and supported the efforts of a better labor contract for the school bus drivers and monitors.

Rena also went to Tallahassee and got a crash course on how to lobby for workers rights when she represented Local 1395 at the Florida AFL-CIO Legislative Session in 2005.

Recently Rena stepped down as a Shop Steward and we like to thank her for her dedication and support of her co-workers.

Rena is the November 2008, Member of the Month.

October 2008

Member of the Month

Maryann Stanton

October 2008 Member of the Month is ECAT Bus Operator Maryann Stanton.  She has served in the past as the Recording Secretary of Local 1395 and Maryann has worked at ECAT since 1995. 

Maryann is married to ECAT Maintenance Shop Steward Jim Stanton.  They met on the job and have two sons along with Maryann's 4 other daughters.

Maryann is clearly a long time professional operator who never finds herself in trouble with Management.  Prior to becoming a Bus Operator at ECAT she drove a school bus in Indiana.

Maryann and Jim live in Santa Rosa County and are respected by their peers for their hard work and loyalty to ECAT.

Maryann Stanton, October 2008 Member of the Month.

September 2008 Member of the Month

Martin Talkowski

Martin is a faithful member who works for the BCC as an Equipment Operator III (Street Sweeper).  He works out of the 9 mile facility.  You can always count on seeing Martin at a Union meeting.  He attends them on a regular basis.

"Martin is one of those Union members who are educated to the process and is always up on what the Union is doing, he deserves a lot of credit for his support" states Gary Rauen, ATU International Vice President.

Martin Talkowski is our member of the month for September 2008.

August 2008

Member of the Month

Donna Snead

Bus Driver

Durham School Services

Meet our Union member of the month - Donna Snead, who is also a shop steward for Local 1395, she has been a faithful and loyal member the entire time the ATU has been representing .  Donna has attended a shop steward training class in Mobile with fellow Union officer Teresa Coffield.  Congrats to Donna S.

ATU Local 1395 Member of the Month

July 2008

Janet Brooks 

Bus Operator at ECAT

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Janet is a faithful member of Local 1395 and attends most meetings.  She assists the Local Union by being a spirital leader - often leading the membership in prayer when Local Union preacher James McIntrye is not in attendance.  Janet is very vocal about issues within the Local Union.  She often states her position and tries to influence members to do the right thing.  Janet is a professionsl bus operator at ECAT and never turns down the opportunity to work.  Janet's husband (James Brooks) was a former candidate for Sheriff.  Recently James has been sick and our thoughts and prayers are with him.

Janet Brooks this months ATU Local 1395 July 2008 web site Member of the Month.

Member of the Month - April 2008

Cliff Rooker

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The Member of the Month for April 2008 is BCC VP Cliff Rooker.  In the month of April he has done so much for Local 1395.  Working directly with Local President Mike Lowery and ATU International Vice President Gary Rauen, he worked on filing and maintaining a grievance for Bobby Nigh termination.  He ran the midnight oil with Lowery and Rauen typing up unfair labor charges against the County on wages and retirement buyout.  Also Cliff runs about 160 miles putting up flyers on County bulletin boards each month.  Lastly Cliff has been a huge advocate during meetings and now reaching out in County departments for new Union members.

There Cliff is our Member of the Month.  Congrats Cliff!

March 08 Member of the Month

Emmit Smith

Bus Operator at ECAT

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Emmit Smith is a 33 year employee at ECAT.  Emmit is considered a very professional bus operator by his peers and Management.  Emmit has served under the Local Union in many different positions.  Under former Local Union President Ken Edgerton (President from 1981-1998) Emmit served for about 2 years as Vice President of the Local Union.  Emmit also under current Local Union President Mike Lowery (President from 1999-present) Emmit served as Chief Shop Steward of Local 1395 and currently he holds the position of Shop Steward representing ECAT Bus Operators. 

"Emmit is a special and loyal member, he never complains about the leadership, he only supports the leadership." states Lowery.  Emmit is a huge advocate for seniority rights and fairness on the job.  In recent weeks Emmit has stepped up his support of President Lowery and helped out with grievances and letters/correspondence to Management.  "When I spoke of Shop Stewards taking more responsibility, Emmit was listening" said Lowery.

Yes, Emmit is the proud father of Emmit III the all-time leading rusher of the National Football League.  He also is proud of his other daughters and son.  His wife is the lovely Mary who is the back bone of the Smith family.  Congrats Emmit for being Local 1395 Member of the Month on our Website.

February 2008

Member of the Month

JERRY MILAM

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Working at the Road Department since 1999, Union faithful Jerry Milam has been a member of Local 1395 since the Union was formed.  Jerry who is an Equipment Operator III is the true definition of a loyal member.  He attends regular meetings every month.  Sometimes Jerry even sits in on Executive Board meetings to give input on issues that effect him and his co-workers at the County.  In recent months, he has been very vocal about the wage increase issue and he reminds his co-workers that it was the Union that got rid of the "merit increase" which was so unpopular in years past.

Jerry keeps up with what is happening in the County Commissioner meetings often e-mailing Union President Mike Lowery and BCC-1395/VP Cliff Rooker about upcoming topics and events.  With Jerry's commitment and loyality, Union President Mike Lowery asked Jerry to take the position as shop steward representing the Road & Bridges Department.  Without hesitation, Jerry accepted the position.

Let's welcome Jerry as a Shop Steward and let's commend him for being the ATU Local 1395 "Member of the Month".  Way to go Jerry!