Transit Workers Fight to "Keep the 'Public' in 'Public Transit'"

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Transit Workers Fight to (Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)With the DC Department of Transportation looking to privatize over a dozen District bus lines, transit workers, members of ATU 689, are gearing up for a major battle. Local 689’s newly-launched Mobilization Action Team (MAT) is working with DC Jobs with Justice to “keep the ‘public’ in ‘public transit’,” says DC JwJ organizer Pedro Cruz (at right in photo). “Privatization of bus services puts ATU members’ jobs and benefits at risk, and creates a for-profit model that’s not accountable to the public.” MAT members and DC JwJ activists will be visiting bus garages and leafleting at bus stops to let Local 689 members and area Metro and bus riders know about how privatization threatens mass transit. At Monday’s Council meetings, Executive Board members and delegates committed to help get the word out by inviting MAT members to speak at union and community meetings. To get involved in the campaign or invite a MAT member to your next local meeting, email pedro@dcjwj.org. - photo (L-R): Roland Jeter (ATU 689), Kewana Battle-Mason (ATU 1764), Jackie Jeter (ATU 689), and Pedro Cruz (DC JwJ) tell Council delegates about the public transit campaign at the April Council meeting; photo by Chris Garlock

 

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