Since May, community leaders and riders in Atlanta, Birmingham, Detroit, Cleveland, San Francisco, Sacramento, Houston and Miami have joined the Save Our Ride alliance at rallies to demand an end to the destruction of mass transit - service cuts, layoffs and fare hikes - and the effect this destruction will have on their cities and the environment.

"The transit cuts are actual amputations. They are cutting routes completely; they are cutting people off from their jobs and they are cutting the community off from the vital service of public transportation," said Theotis James, TWU International Representative at a Save Our Ride rally in Atlanta in May.

As reported in the last issue of the Express, under the leadership of International President James C. Little we have formed the Save Our Ride alliance with the Amalgamated Transit Union and Rev. Jesse Jackson to support TWU transit locals and the riding public in cities that are suffering from the transit crisis. At the direction of President Little, TWU International Executive Vice President Harry Lombardo is heading up the TWU's efforts, supported by International Representatives Theotis James, John Bland, Irwin Lum, J.W. Johnson and with ground support from local leadership.

"This is an uphill battle for the riding public and transit," said Little. "Our locals and representatives around the country have done a commendable job publicizing the issue and our concerns for mass transit in the media." He pointed out that a recent survey by the American Public Transit Association showed that 84 percent of public transit agencies across the country have increased fares, reduced services, or are considering one or both actions.

Little stressed that TWU locals have a major role not only in driving the Save Our Ride campaign locally by building alliances, and mobilizing member support for federal legislation, but also in making sure that financial assistance is used by local transit authorities "to maintain jobs, wages and the service that we and riders advocate for." He noted that federal stimulus funds already have been provided to many cities that could have used them to preserve and improve transportation, but instead are slashing jobs and services.

"We'll be in this for the long run as it is a complicated task to change long- standing formulas. The International is working hard to help our legislators understand that this is about our communities, our environment, the ability for a mother to take her child to day care, or a senior citizen to get himself to the doctor," said TWU Executive Vice President Lombardo.

"If these bills pass, it's important to remember that just because municipal systems will have greater ability to control their federal funds, it doesn't mean that they will use it for operations - on behalf of the riding public and their employees," said President Little. "We've seen it too many times: transit authorities neglecting what's best for the public and workers in favor of their own agendas. We have to fight for jobs and public service on the ground, city by city, as we take this campaign forward."

TWU State Conferences and Grassroots Training have helped to spur the coordination of local campaigns and activities at the local level. This kind of nationwide support network will be a resource for locals that are forced to battle local authorities to invest in operations that create jobs and maintain quality service.

Strong community support and unity between the TWU and ATU at the city and state level also will be required in order to demand municipalities to use federal funds for operations. The TWU plans to strategically build on the momentum created by this summer's nationwide Save Our Ride rallies to foster relationships with community groups, riders and others concerned with the future of public transit.