Dubuque-Area Labor Management Council (DALMC) Awards Presentation Copyright 2014
City of Dubuque Presentation(s) # 1.
ITEM TITLE: Dubuque-Area Labor Management Council (DALMC)
Awards
SUMMARY: DALMC Executive Director Kelly Cooper to present the
2015 awards for:
- Great Job Honor Roll to Mike Feltes (Jule Transit) and the
- Labor-Management Partnership Award to Candace
Eudaley-Loeboch (City of Dubuque/Jule Transit)and Kevin
Saylor(Teamsters Local 120)
SUGGESTED DISPOSITION:
ATTACHMENTS:
Description Type
DALMC Great Job Honor Roll Supporting Documentation
The Dubuque Area Labor-Management Council was formed to help unions and employers work together and to
promote the principles of constructive labor relations.The awards program publicly recognizes and appreciates
individuals (the "Great Job Honor Roll") and labor-management committees (the "Labor-Management Honor
Roll") exemplifying one or more of the principles of collaboration in their daily work.These guiding principles
are:
1. Participation
2. Openness to change
3. Respect
4. Communication
5. Honesty
6. Responsibility
7. Trust
8. Education
9. Mutual Understanding
2015 Great Job Honor Roll Nomination—Mike Feltes
The Jule is the transit division of the City of Dubuque. Mike Feltes is a Bus Operator and Union Steward
for the Teamsters 120- Bus Operators.
Mike was voted in as Union Steward in 2014. His appointment was the beginning of an improved
relationship between labor and management. Mike has a positive attitude and an ability to see both
sides of an issue. Mike has been an advocate for safety and training in the division as well as a mentor
to new drivers.
Mike is active on the Labor Management Committee and regularly takes management up on their offer
of an open door policy. Mike works with management to address issues and concerns early, before they
have a chance to get out of hand. He is a constant advocate for his fellow drivers, but also or the
organization as a whole. He wants the place he works to have a good reputation,so he has high
expectations for his co-workers and for management.
Mike presented the idea of the Driver of the Year award in the summer of 2014 and worked with
management to hammer out the details and provide a fun dinner and "annual meeting" for drivers to be
honored by their peers. There is one for a fixed-route driver and one for a mini-bus driver who receives
the award each year and the unique aspect was that the winners are selected by a vote of other drivers.
The criteria are driver safety, customer service, care for equipment, communication skills,and
relationship with co-workers and management. Our first awards were presented in January 2015,to
Steve Heinz for the fixed-route service (driving since 2001) and Barry Gibson for the mini-bus service
(driving since 2013).
Safety and accident prevention has been brought to the forefront by multiple drivers with Mike as the
ringleader. It was at the urging of the Union Steward and many former UPS drivers who now work for
the city that the division implemented the SMITH safe driving system. Management was able to find
funding from the Iowa DOT Office of Public transit to fund 80%of the cost of training and materials and
Mike helped sell drivers on the idea that safer driving is better for everyone,drivers, management,
passengers and the citizens of Dubuque.
Mike has also taken it upon himself to provide a meal to his fellow drivers on a quarterly basis. He teams
up with other drivers to make a meal for the driver's meeting. Mike is an advocate for his co-workers,a
great liaison between drivers and management and an extremely caring individual.