Solidarity with WMATA Workers
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Comrade,
For the past 12 days, WMATA Metrobus workers at the Cinder Bed Road garage in Lorton, Virginia have been on strike against their multinational corporate employer, Transdev.
The striking bus workers are members of Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 689. In recent days, Local 689 has approached our chapter with two urgent solidarity asks:
- First, on Wednesday, November 6, the striking workers will be holding a rally at noon at WMATA Headquarters, 600 5th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001. We implore all who can to show up to the rally in solidarity, and to get your friends and co-workers to do so as well. If you have DSA apparel, wear it! Download and print the rally flyer to pass out to friends and coworkers, or share the rally's event page on social media.
- Second, Local 689 has asked us to leaflet downtown Metro stations this week during peak morning and evening rush hours to inform riders in the system about the strike and the Wednesday rally. We have thousands of leaflets to go through. Those who can give an hour or two should sign up here and send a confirmation e-mail to [email protected]. There is a priority ask to sign up for shifts before the Wednesday rally.
Cinder Bed is the first privately managed bus garage in the WMATA system in over 40 years. Because of this, bus operators are paid $12 per hour less and pay $6,000 more in health insurance deductibles than other operators in the WMATA system. Put simply, these workers are striking against the privatization of public transportation and for the labor movement’s most basic principle—equal and livable working conditions for all.
As socialists, we must sacrifice our time for workers who are sacrificing their livelihood for a better future. We hope to see many of you at Metro stations throughout the week and at the rally this Wednesday.
Yours in solidarity,
Metro DC DSA Steering Committee
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