4 minute read
Union Politics with David
from June 2017 - 689 Connector
by atu689
Next Article
ATTEMPTS TO OPEN WMATA COMPACT ARE NOT ABOUT FIXING THE SYSTEM
Opening the WMATA Congressional Compact to “fix” Metro’s problems is one of the hottest topics being discussed by some members of Congress and all over the news. It sounds like a good idea…but only in theory. In practice, what the congressional representatives who want to open the Compact seek to do is attack Metro’s workers; not fix the system.
The road to improvement for Metro has to include dedicated funding. Dedicated funding is money that allows for upkeep to the system without the interference of personal and political agendas. Whether it is deferred maintainence, safety lapses, incompetent leadership, or faulty equipment, nearly every challenge that Metro has can be traced back to the current funding structure of begging the jurisdictions for money. Securing dedicated funding is where the priorities of WMATA reform should be, not attacking the rights of the workers through the Compact.
Last December, Congresswoman Barbara Comstock (VA-R) made her anti-worker intentions clear when she said that Congress needs to “blow up” the Compact. In addition to her very poor use of language, she explained that she wanted to rewrite the Compact in order to get rid of binding and interest arbitration, decrease employee wages, and change the makeup of the Metro board. All those proposals beg the question: how does any of that improve the safety, reliability or affordability of Metro? Here is the answer: it won’t.
The United States Congress plays an essential role of oversight and funding for Metro. That role should not be corrupted by political agendas like Comstock’s. Taking advantage of Congress’s responsibility by convincing the public that if workers get less it will make Metro better is not only wrong, it is also dangerous to the livelihood of workers and communities across the region.
The Federal City Council, a pro-business nonprofit organization with a close relationship to Comstock, is working with other politicians in Congress to intentionally play on the public’s outrage by targeting workers. Earlier this year, the Federal City Council wrote an op-ed in the Washington POst where they proposed to have a federal control board take over Metro until a revision of the WMATA Compact was done. That proposal is a thinly veiled attempt to attack Metro’s workers by nullifying the negotiated union contract and privatize work. Thereofer, exploiting public tax dollars to enrich private businesses. Nowhere in the proposal was there mention of dedicated funding to actually make funding the system less political. This is because the Federal City Council’s objectives are only political.
At the end of March, ATU Local 689 rolled out a comprehensive 16-page plan to “save, stabilize, and improve” Metro. Among the proposals was the very necessary dedicated funding for the system, a flat fare for riders, as well as new taxes for companies that benefit from being located near Metro stations. Supporting these proposals is real change that will save, stabilize and improve Metro. It is now the responsibility of the membership of Local 689 to keep the focus on that real change or the only change that Metro workers will see will be a reduction in their paycheck and benefits, or possibly a loss of a job.
David Stephen
David Stephen is the Communications Coordinator for Local 689. He can be reached at (310) 669-8207 or dstephen@atu689.org.
Today’s Women’s Caucus Presents Crab & Cruise
Crisfield, Maryland Saturday, August 12, 2017 12:00 noon (Bus leaves Local 689 Union Hall) Cost: $165 ($50 Nonrefundable deposit due) Balance Due: July 18, 2017
Trip Includes: • Roundtrip Motor Coach Transportation - Crisfield, MD • Buffet Lunch at Crab Place — Awesome crabs, shrimp, ribs, corn on cob, draft beer, and more... • 3-hour sunset cruise on the Bay, dance party with DJ Adam Dutch
Contact
Jewel Williams (202) 277-5395 Valerie Thomas (240) 419-0763 Beth Page (571) 235-0489 Francine Bidgell (240) 475-5703
Amalgamated Transit Union Local 689 Family & Friends Cruise to Southern Caribbean Jewel of the Seas - March 25 - April 1, 2018
Day Port ItInerary
arrive Depart
Sun Mon tues Wed San Juan
8:30 p.m. St. thomas 8:00 a.m. 5:00 p.m. St. Kitt/nevis 8:00 a.m. 5:00 p.m. St. John’s antigua/ 8:00 a.m. 5:00 p.m. Barbuda
thurs St. Lucia
8:00 a.m. 5:00 p.m. Fri Barbados 8:00 a.m. 5:00 p.m. Sat at Sea --- --Sun San Juan 6:00 a.m.
