0 Page 12-Thursday, April 17, 1980-The Michigan Daily S. . . . . .. ..k:..:.. .A tidz .,... .r ..x. .ie ..*.iC~K.**..'T. . .* a.****.***G**. .. . . . . . .. . . AATA Employee Union protests rule's By LEE KATTERMAN The Transportation Employees Union (TEU) last night voiced its "anger and outrage" over proposed work rules for Ann Arbor Transpor- tation Authority (AATA) employees. In statements to the AATA board union members said sections of the new Personnel Procedures Manual abridged their constitutional rights and "attacked drivers." THE TEU OBJECTED to proposed rules that make public criticism of AATA policies or procedures an infrac- tion punishable by dismissal, and that forbid employees to wear shorts, T- shirts, hats (other than AATA hats), buttons, pins, or any decorations carrying slogans. The TEU also contested a new policy on excessive absenteeism which overrules part of a previous labor con- tract. TEU president Harry Kevorkian said these rules distract the attention of both union and management at a time when they should be "focused on contract negotiations in an atmosphere of mutual respect." THE NEW MANUAL became available on April 1 with the rules scheduled to become effective on May 1, 1980 Included is a point system for determining an employee's job stan- ding. AATA Executive Director Richard Simonetta said the new rules, including codes for performance, appearance and attendance, "stipulates in precise terms penalties for violations." He also said the new policies included cash awards for good attendance. Shelly Ettinger, TEU vice-president, said the union has always encouraged "tightening" of work rules. However, she said, a lot of people feel the point system puts AATA in a "militaristic frame." About the rule on public criticism of AATA Simonetta said, "employees have a right to vent their concerns." As an example of what is prohibited Simonetta said, "it would be inap- propriate for every driver to distribute leaflets on the job." ONE TEU employee who spoke before the board said she had been refused her paycheck last Friday because she wouldn't sign a statement saying she had received the new work rules. Before she received her check, she had to speak to Manager of Human Resources Robert Potts, who told her that her name was being put on a "master list" because of her failure to cooperate. In addition to approximately 40 TEU employees, nearly a dozen handicapped residents attended the meeting to ob- serve and comment on a plan to provide transportation for the handicapped. THE HEARING, conducted by representatives of Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG) concerned a plan to identify transix tation improvements needed to achieve accessibility for the handicapped. Those who spoke at the hearing ex- pressed fears that federal laws man- dating wheel chair accessibility on fixed-route buses would jeopardize the existing Dial-A-Ride system. According to federal law, all federally assisted transportation programs must prepare a plan to ad- dress the transportation needs of ha dicapped residents. .. .. , v. ,^ S vvt v. Y .. -. b -a u a [ ": 5.... , .4+' ;G" A' Yy< .. . . .y ::.a a- __,.- .. ., >. .... .ea :x. ."a ..:: .., ..; : << ^^. :>#: YO< "4 .. ....,. ........... .:. ... .: .. . ,^: ,< : >, <..'<'i.: :t < . :D . .,. . ... Ma M .. . . ': y.. , . .. >. <. .. a.,.Y '?,. .,.. : S..,w a. C?" '.":' .°a3. :'.'': 4 ':v... .va..n [2 v.. , t.D. ... , ..: ., ., .. v.. r. . C!3a' ',b ..9 ~^C" ,. ,.. f .....l.TF:. Y......\. v.!E<..>.....!.. . .. r.: a.&, x:..a .Y.... ..a .?x. <.. ,: . .R aaa .a: _ z ':7,a1,o4.. e .