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Dear Brothers and Sisters,
One of the great strengths of our political system
provides that any organization or any individual can
become an active participant in the law making process.
ACRE entered that process right after its creation with
a bill in Albany designed to make our jobs safer by
increasing the criminal penalties imposed on people who
assault train and engine service employees.
The successful passage of that bill, A11756, amended
Section 120.05 of the penal law and Section 1266 of the
public authorities law. The bill broadened the category
that makes assaults on police officers, firefighters,
paramedic, and emergency personnel a felony to include
the same protection for conductors and engineers on
Metro-North. The new law has added an additional layer
of protection that has already been used on a number of
occasions to prosecute riders who have assaulted
conductors.
With the addition of the Signalmen to the ACRE
community, their Legislative Representative, Ron San
Giovanni, pushed to have the Signalmen protected under
the same law that was amended to protect conductors and
engineers. Working with ACRE's Legislative Committee,
his efforts resulted in the introduction of Assembly
Bill A8351 which adds our Signalmen to the categories of
workers who are provided felony assault protection.
ACRE's Legislative Committee is proud to report that
A8351 was passed in the New York State Assembly on June
20th by a vote of 138 to 0. This completes the third
step in its movement through the legislative process.
With its passage in the Assembly, A8351 has been sent to
the New York State Senate's Committee on Rules where we
are confident it will receive the same positive
consideration. Once the bill is passed in committee it
will go to the full Senate for a vote and then to
Governor Pataki's desk to be signed into law.
When we first formed ACRE, questions were raised
concerning the ability of ACRE to represent its members
in the political arena. These questions were certainly
understandable however, and this is very important, they
have been fully answered over the past five years. Yet
there are still some among us who just refuse to
recognize that ACRE, the largest union on Metro-North
representing all the operational crafts, has become a
recognized and respected player in the political arena.
From our very beginning we argued that the service ACRE
members provide is extremely important to the financial
well being of the entire Northeast and the country as a
whole. We argued that our importance as one of the
arteries that feed the financial and information capitol
of the world could be leveraged into a strong
legislative presence. As it turns out this is exactly
what has happened. But it has only happened because of
our unity and professionalism. Whatever role ACRE will
continue to play in the political arena will stem from
the very valuable work you all perform, the professional
manner in which you perform it, and your desire to
remain united.
In closing, ACRE would especially like to thank A8351's
sponsor, New York Assembly Majority Leader Paul A.
Tokasz, and his entire staff for their efforts in its
successful movement through the New York State Assembly.
We will keep you posted as the bill moves through the
New York State Senate.
Fraternally yours,
Jack Gaines
ACRE Executive Legislative Director |
