Louis DeShane speaking at the August 30, 2017 Rapid Board Meeting.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI – Misdemeanor trespassing charges against Rapid Bus Driver and Amalgamated Transit Union Local 836 Union Member Louis DeShane were lowered to a civil infraction on November 28, 2017.
After requesting a bench trial to be heard in front of Judge David Buter, DeShane accepted an offer to plead responsible to a civil infraction, pay a fine and the original charges of trespassing were dropped.
Grand Rapids police arrested DeShane on Wednesday, August 30 after he stood up voicing his opposition of the merit raise for Rapid CEO Peter Varga. DeShane faced board members and began yelling “Not today. No contract, no vote.” He rallied other activist union members, leading them in a chant of resistance before the expulsion from the room.
As he was being arrested, board members adjourned the meeting, and exited the room. Returning a short time later, the boarded approved Varga’s merit raise before ending the public meeting and heading into a closed door session.
ATU members had been without a contract for the two years and had recently voted down a contract proposal at the time of his arrest.
They are still without a contract.
You can watch Louis DeShane being arrested here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EESJku5TYZ0
Media Works of John Rothwell 