The Bay Area’s regional transportation agency, MTC (the Metropolitan Transportation Commission), is responsible for $1.3 billion in federal emergency funding for public transportation. MTC Commissioners -- mayors (like Libby Schaaf in Oakland and Sam Liccardo in San Jose), and county Supervisors (like Dave Cortese in Santa Clara and Scott Haggerty in Alameda) from nine Bay Area counties -- voted on April 22 to spend nearly $800 million of that money, with no plan to protect the lives and safety of our courageous transit workers and our transit riders.
On May 27, they will vote on the remaining half-billion dollars. Let’s wake them up to the fact that this is a crisis. Essential workers and unemployed people who rely on transit are at risk. MTC has a lot of money, and it’s time for them to act.
SIGN THE PETITION
Who is ATU 192 & what are they fighting for?
The Amalgamated Transit Union Local 192 is AC Transit’s union of bus operators, mechanics and other AC Transit workers, and they may have to strike to fight for a fair and just contract for riders and workers.
We won our public bus system in 1960 with our brothers and sisters at ATU Local 192. Today, we need to stand with AC Transit workers in their fight for justice on the job, and for high-quality public transportation for all!
What are ATU 192’s demands?
Reliable Service
Riders need safe, reliable buses, and enough workers to operate them. But instead of hiring enough drivers, AC Transit bosses make them work 12 hour shifts with only 5 minute bathroom breaks and over-packed schedules. Let’s give workers the bathroom breaks, safety equipment, fair staffing, and realistic bus schedules they need to keep our buses running safely on time!
Protection for Sick Workers
AC Transit bosses want to fire sick workers when long commutes and enormous overtime lead to chronic illnesses. ATU 192 is fighting to protect sick workers.
Keep Workers in the East Bay
Workers’ wages have not kept up with the skyrocketing cost of living—especially housing. AC Transit workers are overwhelmingly people of color, and many of their workers have had to leave the East Bay. Now they drive hours to get to work before driving our buses. ATU 192 is fighting for living wages to keep our community together.
Help us take action for better public transit!
Here are 3 simple ways to support the campaign!
1) Each time you get on the bus, greet your driver and say: “We’ve got your back!”
2) Talk to bus riders in your neighborhood and at the bus stop about why we should support AC Transit workers. Print your own flyers here!
3) Contact the AC Transit Board of Directors and tell them you stand with ATU Local 192 to win good jobs and great bus service. (https://tinyurl.com/ACTransitBoard or President Wallace at 510-891-7143)