Labor in the News: Keeping Transit Public in DC
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)The fight to stop the privatization of public transit is gaining steam. Last
week ABC
Channel 7 reported on the District government’s proposed expansion of the
Circulator -- a private bus service in DC -- and the Department of
Transportation’s interest in privatizing local bus routes. The Metro Council
pledged to support (Transit
Workers Fight to "Keep the 'Public' in 'Public Transit'" UC 4/17/2013)
ATU Local 689 in their fight against this privatization. “Privatization of
public transit in DC could cost hundreds of members their jobs and worsen the
bus service throughout the District” says DC JwJ organizer Pedro Cruz. Cruz
and Local 689 leaders are attending community and labor meetings to garner local
support against the privatization plans. Tonight Local 689 President Jackie
Jeter will be joined by AFGE’s Bill Fletcher and Gaynell Nixon of the Injured
Worker Advocates for a Panel
on Privatization where they will discuss DDOT’s proposal and previous
local and national attempts at privatization. Stay tuned for more updates as the
public transit campaign develops. - photo: ATU 689 officers Earl T. Beatty
(left) and Esker Bilger Jr. attend local meeting of APWU of Southern Maryland
and the Nation’s Capital to talk about their campaign ; photo by Pedro
Cruz