Rescue Muni

For the November 2nd election, Rescue Muni has endorsed:

Board of Supervisors

• District 2 – Mark Farrell
• District 4 – Carmen Chu
• District 6 – Theresa Sparks
• District 8 – Scott Wiener
• District 10 – Steve Moss

BART Board of Directors

• District 8 – Bert Hill

San Francisco Ballot Propositions

• Proposition AA (Vehicle License Fee) – YES
• Proposition G (Transit Operator Wages) – YES

Our thanks to all the candidates and members who participated in our endorsement process.

The Rescue Muni Board would like to cordially invite our members to our biannual Candidates’ Forum on Monday, September 13th, 2010 @ 6:30pm in the SF County Fair Building.

Where does your district’s candidate stand on the proposed service restoration, crime, POP, Prop AA, and Prop G? Rescue Muni members are invited to vote for their preferred candidates for endorsement – we have invited the leading candidates from districts 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 to speak and take your questions. Supervisor Elsbernd will also attend to discuss Prop G. If your membership has expired, you can renew at the meeting.

Details:

Monday, Sept 13th
Refreshments at 6:30 pm
Program PROMPTLY 7:30 pm – 9:15 pm
SF County Fair Building, Garden Club Room
9th Ave and Lincoln Way
(In the park, nearby suggested routes N, 6, 43, 44, 66, 71)

The California Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) denied a request from the Transport Workers Union Local 250-A to pursue an injunction to block the partial Muni service restoration that went into effect over Labor Day Weekend.  The drivers’ union sought the injunction after SFMTA announced a plan to restore 61% of the service cut in May.

Had an injunction been granted, service would have reverted to the levels in effect after the May service cuts.  In their petition filed with PERB, the union claimed they would suffer immediate and irreparable harm if, among other things, new absenteeism rules went into effect and union chairs at each division were no longer paid full-time salaries by the city to do union work.

You just can’t make this stuff up.

The Muni operators’ union, TWU Local 250-A, filed a brief with the California Public Employee Relations Board (PERB) to block the restoration of 61% of the service cuts that took effect in May.  The restoration is supposed to take place Saturday, but if the board grants TWU an injunction, the service cuts will remain in place.  SFMTA Executive Director Nathaniel Ford says Muni is moving forward with the restoration, at least for now.

One thing is clear: TWU has given up even the slimmest hope of defeating Proposition G.  Having alienated San Franciscans thoroughly by insisting on pay increases during a severe budget crisis, just as other city workers were accepting pay cuts, they’ve decided to go for broke and litigate their way to cushy jobs for union leadership and less service for Muni riders.

PERB isn’t scheduled to meet until October 14, according to its web site.  It’s hard to say from here whether that’s a good thing or a bad thing for Muni riders.