Amalgamated Transit Union
Local 241, Chicago: Never a dull moment in this 6,700-member local of city bus drivers. Lamont Coleman and Marcus Scott continue their campaign to open up the union, for the right of members to free discussion in break rooms, for information on side agreements with management, and for rescheduling membership meetings at a more convenient time for members. Now a second group sought to file charges against the local president, accusing him of agreeing to contract memos without membership approval and of adding his wife to the union payroll to campaign for Obama. According to Coleman, a vote of 75% at a membership meeting is required before charges can be processed for trial. But 75% of what? This turns out to be an odd 75%. Here, he reports, is how it worked out:
