UPDATED AT 12:30 P.M. ON MARCH 30: Michael Ennis of the Washington Policy Center weighed in on the upcoming “Occupy Transit” rally in Seattle. Click here to see his blog post. – JP
UPDATED AT 5:40 P.M. ON MARCH 29: Mark Lowry, president of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 843, said the local transit union will not participate in this event. “Disrupting transit service – which this is disrupting – is something that we would take very, very seriously,” he said. “That’s a nuclear option.” Buses here are already crowded, and while he appreciates the need for national action, this move wouldn’t fit well in Whatcom County, he said. The union has a different relationship with the transit agency and public than unions in many big cities do, he said. – JP
From Paben
In Seattle, transit workers, a riders union and members of the Occupy movement will join together next Wednesday for an “Occupy Transit” event to fight fare hikes and service cuts.
The Amalgamated Transit Union International has endorsed the National Day of Action for Public Transportation on April 4, and the Seattle union chapter will participate in the event.
I haven’t heard of any participation locally (Whatcom Transportation Authority’s drivers are also represented by ATU) but I put out a call to the union president to check. I’ll let you know what I hear.
In the meantime, here is the press release on the event in Seattle:
Local transit unions, throughout the country, will be participating in call to action from Amalgamated Transit Union International. The General Executive Board of the ATU International has endorsed the National Day of Action for Public Transportation on April 4, in cities all over America. Transit workers, riders unions and the Occupy Movement are joining together for this action.
Public transportation is a right. It is also an integral part of our sustainable future. Rather than fighting price hikes and service cuts, we should be focusing on expanding service and innovating more sustainable and convenient systems for mass transit. The economic downturn has been used as a reason to cut back service, raise fares, and layoff workers throughout the U.S.
Here in Seattle, transit workers and their allies will “occupy” buses and trains, traveling down to 4th & Pine St. near Westlake Plaza. There will be informational picketing and distribution of flyers to remind the public that mass transit is for the 99% and that stable funding is needed now.
Drivers of Puget Sound’s electric streetcars founded ATU Local 587 in 1912. The union currently represents more than 4600 transit workers and retirees in Clallam, Jefferson and King Counties. Local 587 will be celebrating their 100th anniversary on April 21st.
The Seattle Transit Rider’s Union is a democratic organization of working and poor people who are dedicated to preserve, expand, and improve the public transportation in Seattle and beyond, so that every human being has access to safe, affordable and reliable transportation.
In Whatcom County, WTA cut service and has increased fares, but some of the service was restored after Bellingham voters approved a sales tax increase for transportation.
They lost me at Public transportation is a right. Public transit is a priviledge that a community can choose to grant to/pay for itself. Those 1% arguing for this “right” have special monied interest in public transit in that they are either earning a paycheck from that system or wanting more subsidized service than the greater community is willing to grant it.
I’m right there with you, Bellinghammer, but they lost me at “transit workers, a riders union and members of the Occupy movement.” If ever there was a group who should be thankful of the blessings bestowed upon them by the “evil 1 percent” it’s these folks who, as you point out, are either employed by, subsidized by or tolerated by the REAL “workers” in this society.
Washington Policy Center’s transportation analyst, Mike Ennis, posted an interesting comment on this idea of public transportation being a right.
It’s at http://www.washingtonpolicy.org/blog/post/transit-union-protest%E2%80%A6transit
Ennis puts it this way in his post: “I think transit union officials are being a bit overdramatic about the relevancy of their industry by claiming public transportation is a right. Public transportation is not a right; no more so than driving a car or flying in an airplane is a right. The freedom for citizens to move around and go where they want is a right, but the method by which they do it is not. Union executives are confusing a right with a benefit. A right is something all people have, like freedom to travel, and it is protected by government; a benefit is a good or service people receive, and might be provided by government, like a bus ride.”
Public transportation is a government social service with limits set by resource availability, and the voting public has the right to set how much public resource should go to this service.
You asked,
“Why don’t Metro drivers organize against Light Rail?”
Metro drivers are on a waiting list for to be operators on Light Rail. I know this because I am a Metro driver. I have no desire to be a light rail operator. I am one of those who is disgusted with the cost of the Light Rail. Such a waste of tax payer dollars. And yes, I am a tax payer too.
I thank God every day that I am employed but I don’t agree with 99 percent of what Metro does. The 1 percent I agree with is that there are those, disabled, elderly, and those working in the downtown area who do not want to drive or can’t drive. These people need alternate transportation.
Drivers will never protest against light rail because many of them want to be light rail operators. I am one of the FEW conservatives who work for Metro.