As the lockout of Saskatoon, SK, transit workers entered its second week, Local 615 and city officials were set to begin talks again to put an end to the dispute that has left transit commuters frustrated and traffic jams across the Saskatoon area. The Local remains committed to fight for improved wages and to preserve its defined benefit plan. The current pay scale is so low that many transit workers qualify for public housing assistance, and the citys latest offer would have left Saskatoon transit workers at the bottom of the pay scale in the province. To show their resolve and unity, Saskatoon transit workers were joined on the picket line by members of Local 569-Edmonton, AB, riders, local labour council unions and the Bus Rider Association for a rally with the ATU camel. Read more. MARTA workers, allies hold Moral Monday for Atlanta rally Holding signs and shouting chants, hundreds of Atlanta transit workers and allies held a Moral Monday for Atlanta rally outside MARTA Board Chair Robbie Ashes law offices demanding a fair contract, an end to the scheme to outsource essential transit services, and economic justice for all Atlantans. MARTA CEO Keith Parker and Ashe have concocted a plan, dubbed MARTAs Transformation Initiative that is deliberately misleading riders to believe that the system will be more efficient. In reality, it discriminates against Atlantas working poor by making it more difficult for minority workers to get to jobs and jeopardizing the safety and reliability of paratransit service. Atlanta seniors, children with special needs and those with disabilities rely on this vital transportation service to get to and from the doctor, grocery store and other daily tasks. Years of wage stagnation have left MARTA workers with an effective 15% reduction in pay that puts them far below what is considered a living wage in the Atlanta metro area. At one time these were jobs that lifted African American workers out of poverty, ATU Local 732- Atlanta President Curtis Howard said, But now MARTA is pushing us right back out of the middle class. Parker and Ashe are demanding workers pay even more for health care, which would further reduce their take home pay. Read more. Dallas transit workers Get-Out-The-Vote While Novembers mid-term elections are critical for transit and working families, voter turnout has historically been much lower than in presidential election years. Dallas, TX, transit workers are hoping to reverse that trend in their community by conducting a strong Get-Out-The-Vote campaign. Texas has a key governors race and there are many critical local elections. Local 1338 has a van that they are using to canvass key neighborhoods, to register voters, and transport them to the polls for early voting and on Election Day. Similar efforts are happening in other states. Staten Island transit workers, assemblywoman push for return of express bus Staten Island has already has few mass transit options, yet in 2010 numerous bus lines were cut. Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis called the move unconscionable, and joined with ATU Local 726 to demand the return of the X18 express bus. The reinstatement to this route would increase links between Staten Island and Manhattan, helping many to get to work and other daily tasks. Staten Island transit workers, riders and allies will be walking door to door to collect signatures to call for restoration of this critical service. Aside from the petition, the Local endorsed Malliotakis, whos seeking re-election for a third-term in the Assembly in November, calling her a champion for mass transit. Read more. ATU joins call to urge eBay to leave ALEC ATU joined a coalition of over 80 organizations, demanding eBay leave the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). The anti-worker, anti-union ALEC is the group that brings local lawmakers together with corporate lobbyists to create boilerplate legislation that is introduced in state legislatures to, among other things, weaken and destroy unions and defund public transit. ALEC was behind the Stand Your Ground law that led to the controversial shooting death of teenager Trayvon Martin. The letter to eBay states The public knows that the ALEC operation - which brings state legislators and corporate lobbyists behind closed doors to discuss proposed legislation and share lavish dinners - threatens our democracy. The public is asking eBay to stop participating in this scheme. The groups are following the lead of other recent alliances that have successfully pressured Google, Yelp, Yahoo, Facebook, and Microsoft into leaving ALEC. Read more. Kentucky Senate candidate on board with ATU A champion of public transit, Kentucky Senate candidate Alison Lundergan Grimes is on board with public transit and the ATU. Grimes joined ATU Kentucky members for a rally in Lexington, KY, for Nuns on the Bus to fight for transit, social justice, the need to raise the minimum wage, and the importance of voting during this years midterm elections. Grimes said about the event that she is excited with the energy and excitement that continues to grow. LOCKED OUT!!!! ATU ATU A MUST READ
Posted on: Wed, 08 Oct 2014 12:23:13 +0000
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