MTAcre - If a tree falls in the ACRE, does ANYONE hear it ? is anyone listening ?

ACRE's reputation and image as a company union is well known, among the employees of Metro North and unions and other entities off the Metro North property. This negative image extends beyond ACRE's history of allowing work agreements to be compromised or signing and pushing through the membership an inferior contract for ratification.

The following list of events involving ACRE contains some activity considered unprecedented in previous union operations. The list is in reverse chronological order, from the most recent episode to the more distant occurrences, and is a synopsis of incidents. The entire list of ACRE's embarrassing moments is too extensive to describe in this abbreviated format.

1. November 10, 2005 : Four letters forwarded by the Metro North Coalition requesting an investigation into a misuse of public funds issue concerning ACRE and the MTA. Specifically, an incident that occurred in the ACRE office in November 3, 2005.

2. November 3, 2005 : ACRE invites members from the various Coalition unions to the ACRE office to “explain” the ACRE contract. Mike Doyle mentioned during the monthly meeting for Division 9 in October 2005 that ACRE has intended to host this meeting. No one can remember an instance where a union would attempt to interfere with the collective bargaining process of another. The meeting did not go well for ACRE, these members actually possessed the boldness to ask questions, and expected rational, logical answers. None were forthcoming from ACRE. ACRE officers have agitated the other Metro North unions since ACRE's contract was ratified. Reports have surfaced that an ACRE officer(s) have attempted to gain entrance to another union's monthly meetings to “explain” the ACRE deal. Requests denied.

3. September 2005 : ACRE Division 1 fails to respond to the debate challenge issued by the UTU. There is not much to be said of an organization that cannot defend its position in the forum of a debate on issues. ACRE Division 1 must have realized they could not win in a presentation of facts versus ACRE misinformation.

4. Late Summer 2005 : Senator Nicholas Spano agreed to meet with Bottalico and Doyle and hear their version of events. The Senator consented in an effort to be objective. The meeting did not go well for ACRE. The Senator refused to retreat from his support of the Metro North Coalition. Doyle and Bottalico threatened the Senator with distribution of anti-Spano leaflets. The Senator requested Bottalico and Doyle to leave his office. Another step forward for ACRE's legislative efforts.

5. June 2005 : An ACRE officer does a cut and paste of the UTU letterhead and President's signature and affixes both to a text designed to interfere with the UTU A-Card drive. A portion of this activity was witnessed by an ACRE member.

6. May 2005 : Senator Spano's letter to MTA Chairman Peter Khalikow. The Senator's letter mentions ACRE's overpayment for the current contract and the Coalition's stance at attempting to obtain a fair contract for the collective membership.

7. 2005 Legislative Session In Albany : The legislation to deny the MTA the ability to compensate ACRE officers from any funds is re-introduced in the Senate and Assembly.

8. 2004 – All Year : The ACRE contract is ratified, ACRE signs a secret sidebar agreement to have ACRE officers paid by the MTA for union business, the Farley pension compensation vote, Division 9 raises dues by $8.00 a month, the financial effects of giving up Veteran's Day for the day after Thanksgiving are felt, the vacation wheel's initial pick. Does anyone wonder why A-Cards were distributed?

9. February 2003 : Passage of Omnibus Bill in Congress. Bill contains language forbidding MTA to compensate ACRE officers from Federal Funds. Signed by President Bush on 2/21/03. No one can remember language of this type directed towards a union and an agency prior to this legislation. The MTA ignores the legislation.

10. September / October 2002 : Numerous letters are forwarded by U.S. Senators, Congresspersons, and State Legislative members to the Secretary of Labor requesting an investigation into ACRE's relationship with the MTA.

11. August 2002 : Juan Gonzalez's story appears in the Daily News, “Rail Union Double Dipping”. That is correct, the story is about ACRE and their relationship with the MTA. This article led to the letters forwarded to the Secretary of Labor by various representatives and the 2003 Omnibus language.