Transit Workers Call On Congress For Increased Funding

(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)

Hundreds of transit workers massed on Capitol Hill yesterday to demand federal help for cash-starved transit systems across the country. The members of the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) came from as near Washington and Baltimore and as far away as Boston, Chicago, New York City and Atlanta to demand that the federal government make millions of dollars available to help local transit systems underwrite increasing operating costs. Rocking their union colors on hats, jackets and t-shirts, the union members carried signs calling on the Congress and local transit agencies “To Think Before They Cut” workers and services. “We are talking about the safety of the riding public,” said, Jackie Jeter, President of ATU Local 689, which represents most of the workers in D.C.’ s Metro’s bus and rail systems. “We need Congress to act so that we don’t have service cuts and layoffs.” Joining Jeter in the call for more funding was Rev. Jesse Jackson, Chair of the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, who pumped up the crowd with a series of chants that highlighted the need for Congress to shift funds from transit systems' capital budgets to their operational budgets. The workers and supporters were also joined in the afternoon sunshine by Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN), who urged to them to take their message of the office to every member of Congress. “They need to hear from you,” said Ellison. “Congress needs to know how important it is to increase funding for mass transit.” - Roger Newell; photo: ATU members protested service and job cuts at the “Rally To Resurrect Mass Transit” on April 22, 2010; photo by Roland Jeter