CITYTransit Workers & Advocates to Mobilize Riders to Demand Better, Safer Public Transit forMay National Transit Action Month
Transit activists unite across the US, Canada to engage riders, elected officials
Local Contact: Local President, Telephone Number
City, State/Province– Throughout the month of May citytransit workers and transit advocates will mobilize to engage cityriders to join in support of more, better, and safer public transit for National Transit Action Month.Riders will be encouraged to contact elected officials and demand increased funding for public transit.
It’s all a part of an unprecedented campaign to build a international coalition that will demand that legislators address the growing crisis in public transit. Across the United States and Canada transit workers, and local transit advocates will hold rallies and events to leaflet and educate riders at bus depots and train stations, and coordinate “ride-alongs” with members of Congress/elected officials/Parliament.
Among the many actions to take place this month are a National Transit Call Congress Day, May 20/ Parliament Day,May 13 in which thousands of citizens will call their representatives asking for increased funding for public transit.
“Public transit is suffering from the not-so-benign neglect of elected officials,” saysLocal officer name, title of Amalgamated Transit Union Local XX, representing transit workers in City. “The underfunding of transit has led to deep service cuts, increased fares and angry riders, who account for an uptick in attacks on our drivers. During Transit Action Month, workers and transit advocates are standing up in city and cities across the U.S. and Canada, not just defending what we have in transit – but fighting to expand it.”
Sierra Club, one of the international organizations supporting Transit Action Month will partner with ATU locals throughout Mayto urge people to make public transit part of their everyday commitment to protecting the environment and fighting pollution.
Public transit provides reliable mobility for everyone and benefits communities in many ways. It creates good jobs and delivers customers to businesses. For every $1 invested in public transportation, $4 in economic returns is generated. It helps fight pollution and traffic. More people riding buses mean fewer cars on the road and less emissions.
“Riders are our natural allies — we get them to their job by doing our job. Mobilizing our passengers builds the power of our members and empowers our riders to demand that politicians stand up for them by standing in support of transit,” Local officer namesays.
The Amalgamated Transit Union is the largest labor organization representing transit workers in the United States and Canada. Founded in 1892, the ATU today is comprised of over 190,000 members in 264 local unions spread across 44 states and nine provinces, including 3,000 workers at Greyhound Lines, Inc. Composed of bus drivers, light rail operators, maintenance and clerical personnel and other transit and municipal employees, the ATU works to promote transit issues and fights for the interests of its hard-working members.