http%3A%2F%2F72.3.139.132%2Findex.php%2Finternational%2Farticle%2F687%2F
OUR UNION
Save Our Ride: Cleveland
Jun 08 2010
Watch TWU, ATU and the Reverend Jesse Jackson in Cleveland, Ohio on May 22 fighting to Save Our Ride.
Transit agencies around the country are suffering, forced to cut service, hike fares and layoff hundreds of workers. This transit crisis is costing the riding public more for less service and making it more difficult for people to travel within their own communities. Save Our Ride is a coalition formed by the Transport Workers Union, Amalgamated Transit Union and the Reverend Jesse Jackson that is fighting for flexibility in federal funds allocated to transit systems in major American cities.
The federal aid offered to systems in cash-strapped cities with populations larger than 200,000 are restricted; the funds are allocated only for capital expenses. Save Our Ride is fighting for the passage of Rep. Russ Carnahan's bill, H.R.2746, and its Senate version, Sen. Brown's bill, S3189. The bills allow local transit agencies the flexibility to use the funds for operating costs based on local and community needs. The coalition is also calling for the passage of the passage of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee bill, S. 3412, to authorize emergency funding for transit agencies to help reverse fare increases and service cuts.
"The fight for quality transit isn't just about transit workers. It's about all of us. It's about our cities and our communities," said TWU Executive Vice President Harry Lombardo at the Atlanta rally in May.
Proper preservation and restoration of mass transit systems is essential for our country's efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, to create good green jobs, and to reduce dependence on foreign oil. Local transit workers know how best to allocated need stimulus funds in their systems, and "buying new buses with no money to pay operators makes no sense," said ATU President Warren George at a Save Our Ride rally.
"We cannot and will not allow our transit systems to crumble from financial neglect," said TWU International President James C. Little.
Save Our Ride rallies have been held in Atlanta, Ga., Birmingham, Al., Detroit, Mi., and Cleveland, Oh. and are planned for this summer in San Francisco, Ca., Sacramento, Ca., Houston, Tx., Miami, Fl., and New York, NY.
Transit agencies around the country are suffering, forced to cut service, hike fares and layoff hundreds of workers. This transit crisis is costing the riding public more for less service and making it more difficult for people to travel within their own communities. Save Our Ride is a coalition formed by the Transport Workers Union, Amalgamated Transit Union and the Reverend Jesse Jackson that is fighting for flexibility in federal funds allocated to transit systems in major American cities.
The federal aid offered to systems in cash-strapped cities with populations larger than 200,000 are restricted; the funds are allocated only for capital expenses. Save Our Ride is fighting for the passage of Rep. Russ Carnahan's bill, H.R.2746, and its Senate version, Sen. Brown's bill, S3189. The bills allow local transit agencies the flexibility to use the funds for operating costs based on local and community needs. The coalition is also calling for the passage of the passage of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee bill, S. 3412, to authorize emergency funding for transit agencies to help reverse fare increases and service cuts.
"The fight for quality transit isn't just about transit workers. It's about all of us. It's about our cities and our communities," said TWU Executive Vice President Harry Lombardo at the Atlanta rally in May.
Proper preservation and restoration of mass transit systems is essential for our country's efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, to create good green jobs, and to reduce dependence on foreign oil. Local transit workers know how best to allocated need stimulus funds in their systems, and "buying new buses with no money to pay operators makes no sense," said ATU President Warren George at a Save Our Ride rally.
"We cannot and will not allow our transit systems to crumble from financial neglect," said TWU International President James C. Little.
Save Our Ride rallies have been held in Atlanta, Ga., Birmingham, Al., Detroit, Mi., and Cleveland, Oh. and are planned for this summer in San Francisco, Ca., Sacramento, Ca., Houston, Tx., Miami, Fl., and New York, NY.
TWU |
TRANSPORT WORKERS UNION OF AMERICA AFL-CIO 501 3rd. St. NW 9th Floor Washington, D.C. 20001 202-719-3900 OFFICE 202-347-0454 FAX |
|