Transit Workers Undaunted By Storm

(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)

Rain doesn't stop Metro's trains and buses, so Thursday morning's downpour -- including the threat of a tornado -- didn't deter hundreds of transit workers from rallying outside WMATA headquarters in downtown DC to protest what their union, ATU 689, calls union-busting, with members working the last two and a half years without a contract. “Unions are being made the scapegoat for poor management in city after city and state after state,” said Local 689 President Jackie Jeter as rain pelted the picketline. “We say No to anyone who wants to trample the rights of workers,” she added. “We say Yes to organized protests and massive demonstrations to support unions and the rights of all workers, organized and unorganized. Yes to collective bargaining, and Yes to job security. We have the numbers and we are united!” - report/photo by Chris Garlock