WMATA Bus Drivers Need Your Help!
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For the past 26 days, WMATA Metrobus workers at the Cinder Bed Road garage in Lorton, Virginia have been on strike for a better livelihood, against their multinational corporate employer, Transdev.
The striking bus workers are members of Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 689. To catch up on the current state of negotiations, take a look at this explainer from last week’s newsletter. Our chapter has done a lot of solidarity work for the strike, for which Local 689 has expressed their deep appreciation. Here are a couple ways you can get plugged in this week:
- First, 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 possibility that it could spread to the Fairfax Connector and the system at large. Last week we handed out about 10,000 leaflets. We just got a new delivery of thousands more to go through. Those who can give an hour or two should sign up here and send a confirmation e-mail to [email protected] so that we can get materials to you.
- Second, you can visit the strikers. The picket has moved from Cinder Bed Road to WMATA HQ, 7:45am-9:45am and 11:30am-1:30pm every weekday. You can also help pack the room at the next WMATA Board meeting, this Thursday, 11/21, at 9am at WMATA HQ, 600 5th St. NW.
- Third, there are a lot of ways you can support the strikers remotely. You can e-mail [email protected] and [email protected] to let them know you stand with striking Transdev workers at Cinder Bed Road. You can also take a picture with this sign and share it on social media, tagging @wmata and @atulocal689 on Twitter and @MetroForward and @atulocal689group on Facebook. You can also donate to the strike fund or donate a meal.
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 have a duty to support them however we can.
In Solidarity,
Metro DC DSA
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