Open letter to WMATA Board of Directors on proposed on-demand transportation subsidies
Open Letter to WMATA Board of Directors
Dear WMATA Board of Directors,
We, the undersigned organizations, are deeply concerned that the Board of Directors of the Washington Metro have planned to subsidize trips on transportation network companies such as Uber and Lyft for late night and early morning workers, instead of restoring hours of service during those times.
By subsidizing services like Uber and Lyft, WMATA is effectively subsidizing its competition and undermining its own long-term viability in exchange for short-term monetary savings, at the expense of low-income workers and the environment.
The plan calls for a subsidy of $3 per worker per trip. Even with this subsidy, it will be a financial burden on low-wage workers to use transportation network services instead of Metro.
As an hypothetical example, a worker who commutes from a job in the vicinity of Metro Center to their home near the New Carrolton stop on the Orange Line would pay an off-peak fare of $3.65 for late night Metro service. An Uber trip from the Metro Center to the New Carrolton stop would cost $14.70 per trip even with a pool option, as determined from Uber's own fare estimation website. If this individual does not have any coworkers commuting in the same direction, they will have to pay $22.48 per ride. A $3 subsidy per ride – or even a $10 subsidy reportedly mentioned by some members of the WMATA Board – will be grossly inadequate for a low-wage worker.
Metro can and must balance extending hours and safety
In response to the proposal to extend late-night service on Metro Rail to be voted on Thursday, February 28 by the WMATA board, ATU Local 689 releases the following statement:
Local 689 supports the concept of restoring late night service, but only by adjusting the system's overly-aggressive maintenance schedule.
General Manager Paul Wiedefeld has taken long-term maintenance work and packed it into a short-term schedule not necessary to keep the system safe. If leadership adjusts the maintenance schedule of the rail system, Metro can address current and future matters when it is appropriate, instead of all at once. By making these adjustments, Metro can restore late night service and maintain the system's safety.
Our members know that many passengers can no longer rely on Metro's abbreviated and interrupted service, and we share their frustration. Metro can balance safety, affordability, and reliability without more single-tracking, shutdowns or additional costs to the tax-paying public, and we must.
Restoration of late-night service, while assuring safety, is what the riding public deserves, and is what the WMATA Board must do.
Metro Worker's Union applauds Bowser's fare evasion bill veto
Washington D.C.: In response to D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser's veto of the D.C. Council's bill to decriminalize Metro fare evasion, ATU Local 689 issues the following statement:
ATU Local 689 applauds Mayor Bowser's rejection of the D.C. Council's decriminalization of fare evasion bill.
Our union's membership is made up of more than 80% people of color. We are mindful of the disproportionate effect of fare evasion citations, but we do not believe that inviting theft is a reasonable way to resolve this issue. The best way to achieve fairness, bring back riders, and boost revenues on Metro is through a modified $2 flat fare system and with financial assistance to low-income riders. Should the Council insist on free Metro rides, those rides must be for everyone, and the District must increase its funding to cover that cost. The Council's bill, as written, encourages more evasion that leads to assaults on bus operators and station managers, and creates greater tension between paying riders and fare evaders. Our union is ready and eager to work with the Council on developing solutions that will address all the issues while making Metro safe, affordable and reliable for all.
Jack Evans is the Problem, not Metro employee pensions
Washington D.C.: In response to WMATA Chairman Jack Evans comments at the WMATA Board meeting today, ATU Local 689 President Raymond Jackson issues the following statement:
"At today's WMATA board meeting, Chairman Jack Evans said the unfunded pension liability at WMATA is impeding the system's future. What Evans failed to admit is that he is the reason for the pension fund's liability.
"For eight years WMATA failed to honor its responsibility and did not contribute anything to the employee pension fund. Jack Evans was on the board when Metro stopped contributing. The pension is not the issue. The issue is Jack Evans cannot lead or make responsible fiscal decisions.
"If a robber takes money from a bank, he can't go back and blame the employees he robbed when there is no money left in the bank. Evans and his co-conspirators on the WMATA board were those robbers.
"Evans needs to own responsibility for the mess he made and clean it up without blaming and punishing the workers who did everything right, while he did everything wrong. A leader takes responsibility, and Jack Evans is no leader."
ACTION ALERT: East End Hospital Equity Act of 2018
UPDATE: We have survived to fight another day. On December 4th, the DC Council passed two amendments to the East End Hospital Legislation.
East End Hospital will hire UMC RNs and will be bound by the DCNA contract, thus ensuring continuity of patient care
East End Hospital will support the Howard College of Medicine and the Howard University medical Faculty Practice Plan in the training of Howard medical students and residents
Universal Health Services, the Mayor and Councilmember Gray have now pushed back, stating that UHS will back out of the deal to operate East End Hospital if these two measures remain part of the legislation
The amendments were passed because of efforts of DCNA, SEIU 1199, other unions, community leaders and Howard University. We must continue the fight and make sure the DC Council does not abandon workers or Howard University.
We need to flood the chambers of the DC Council on Tuesday, December 18th. Please come out.
The District of Columbia Nurses Association (DCNA) and Service Employees International Union (SEIU) 1199 are in need of our support.
​DCNA & SEIU 1199 CALL TO ARMS –
PLEASE CALL OR EMAIL MEMBERS OF THE DC COUNCIL AND THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR TO SUPPORT WORKERS AND RESIDENTS IN WARDS 7 & 8
On Tuesday, December 4th, the DC Council is poised to vote on the "East End Hospital Equity Act of 2018." The legislation gives carte blanche to the District and George Washington University Hospital, a subsidiary of mega-corporation, Universal Health Services, to no longer recognize DCNA and SEIU 1199 as your union and to refuse to hire UMC employees into positions within the new hospital. There is also no promise to provide specialty care at the new hospital. Howard University has also stated that if Universal Health Services obtain this exclusive contract, it will mean the end of Howard University Hospital in the near future.
Arbitration Panel Rules Paul Wiedefeld's attempt to privatize without bargaining unacceptable
Forestville, Md.: An independent arbitration panel released their decision today that WMATA General Manager Paul Wiedefeld's effort to undermine Metro workers by contracting out work that belongs to ATU Local 689 at the new Cinder Bed Road bus garage in Lorton, Virginia without bargaining with the union is unacceptable.
The panel has ordered WMATA to come to the bargaining table and negotiate with the union on the impact and effect of existing work on what will go to the new bus garage.
In the decision, the arbitration panel found that the opening of the Cinder Bed Road facility would remove bus routes from being chosen in "work picks" by existing WMATA bus operators who would want to select those routes.
Additionally, the arbitration panel found that "the reassignment of duties for WMATA bus operators is a direct result of the federal grants funding Cinder Bed Rd and its buses." This finding acknowledges the union's argument that the contract for the garage with Transdev and federal grants are "inextricably intertwined," and therefore WMATA must preserve the collective bargaining rights as protected under Section 13(c) of the Urban Mass Transportation Act of 1964 by negotiating directly with ATU Local 689.
"Today is not only a win for our union, but it is also a win for the labor movement around the country as we all fight back from these attempts to privatize public transit with no evidence that it will save money in the long term or improve the system," says ATU Local 689 President Jackie Jeter. "This award should be a wakeup call to Paul Wiedefeld that balancing the challenges of Metro on the backs of the workforce that move this city and region isn't going to fly."
Today's award follows monthly of worker and legal protest by ATU Local 689 where the members have stood steadfast in their commitment to protecting the work they rightfully believe is theirs and working for a safe, affordable and reliable Metro system without private contractors known to cut corners and raise fares.
The union says it looks forward to scheduling negotiations with WMATA soon.
Labor Field Events this week
(Baltimore) Phone bank for District 8 – Kathy Klausmeier, Bhandari, Bromwell, Jackson
What: Member-to-Member Phone bank for the District 8 Team
When: EVERY Tuesday, from 5:30 to 7:30 pm
Where: AFT-Maryland - 5800 Metro Dr Suite 100, Baltimore, MD 21215
https://goo.gl/forms/wz8e1A4eme5Z7biU2
(Baltimore) Phone bank for Ben Jealous, Ben Cardin, and Brian Frosh
What: Member-to-Member Phone bank for Ben Jealous, Ben Cardin, and Brian Frosh
When: EVERY Thursday, from 5:30 to 7:30 pm
(St. Mary's) Phone bank for Ben Jealous, Ben Cardin, and Brian Frosh
When: EVERY Monday through Thursday, 5:00 to 7:00pm
Where: IAM – Winpisinger Center – 24494 Placid Harbor Way Hollywood, MD 20636
https://goo.gl/forms/RABoA7hdvKsrHRCU2
CANVASSING on Wednesday, October 17th
Baltimore County – District 10 – Johnny O, Ben Jealous, Ben Cardin, Brian Frosh
What: Member-to-Member Canvass in Gaithersburg
When: EVERY WEDNESDAY – Meet at 3pm
Where: 1199 SEIU – 611 N. Eutaw St. Baltimore, MD 21201
https://goo.gl/forms/ijf2e4QiFiuDBoHu1
CANVASSING on Saturday, October 20th
Montgomery – Marc Elrich, Ben Jealous, Ben Cardin, Brian Frosh
When: EVERY SATURDAY - Meet at 10am
Where: UFCW 1994 – 600 S Frederick Avenue Suite 200 Gaithersburg, MD 20877
https://goo.gl/forms/iJ05vrbZYRRjHqAi1
Baltimore County – District 8 – Kathy Klausmeier, Bhandari, Bromwell, Jackson
What: Member-to-Member Canvass in District 8
When: EVERY SATURDAY- Meet at 9am
Where: Meet at AFT-Maryland - 5800 Metro Dr Suite 100, Baltimore, MD 21215
https://goo.gl/forms/HHDua5817ZmNx5zE3
Baltimore County – Johnny O, Ben Jealous, Ben Cardin, Brian Frosh
What: Member-to-Member Canvass in Towson
When: EVERY SATURDAY – Meet at 9am
Where: UFCW 27 – 21 West Rd. Suite 2 Towson, MD 21204
https://goo.gl/forms/f7fkWEeNp8qx7VNl1
Prince George's – Lanham – Jealous, Cardin, Frosh
What: Member-to-Member Canvass in Prince George's County
When: EVERY SATURDAY - Meet at 9am
Where: IBEW Local 26 - 4371 Parliament Pl # A, Lanham, MD 20706
https://goo.gl/forms/jtG7JGiexclbdEbr2
Prince George's – Upper Marlboro – Jealous, Cardin, Frosh
What: Member-to-Member Canvass in Upper Marlboro
Where: AFSCME 2250 - 14440 Old Mill Road Upper Marlboro, MD 20772
https://goo.gl/forms/gLVHGoDCSNA1lO9o1
Baltimore City – Jealous, Cardin, Frosh
What: Member-to-Member Canvass in Baltimore City
Where: AFSCME 67 - 1410 Bush St Suite B, Baltimore, MD 21228
https://goo.gl/forms/zBnYjMfWcqmQq9DA2
Annapolis – District 30A – Jealous, Pittman, Elfreth, Busch
What: Member-to-Member Canvass in Annapolis
Where: MD/DC AFL-CIO - 7 School St. Annapolis, MD 21401
https://goo.gl/forms/aX01rKWfU0TCa73p2
Howard County – District 9 – Calvin Ball, Fry-Hester, Ziegler, Watson, Bolen
Where: MD State Pipe Trades – 7050 Oakland Mills Rd. Columbia, MD 21046
https://goo.gl/forms/says8x7IH2F2chfW2
Frederick County – District 3A – Ron Young, Karen Young, Carol Krimm
What: Member-to-Member Canvass in Frederick for our Endorsed Candidates
Where: Frederick County Teachers Association - 1 Wormans Mill Ct # 16, Frederick, MD 21701
https://goo.gl/forms/pg6v1fCz3M3rNBib2
Wicomico County – District 38 – Jesse Colvin, Ben Jealous, Jim Mathias
What: Member-to-Member Canvass in Salisbury
When: Saturday, October 20th, meet at 9:30am
Where: Delmarva Central Labor Council - 106 W Circle Ave. Salisbury, MD 21801
https://goo.gl/forms/zAuCOcG2iVewA8oO2
Barbara Comstock lied
Forestville, Md. – October 11, 2018: Last night, Virginia 10th District Congresswoman Barbara Comstock made a statement to the press where she blatantly lied about the arbitration decision to rehire a Track Inspector Supervisor to Metro when she falsely stated that he approved falsified inspection reports. The person making false statements is her.
An independent arbitrator ruled that the track inspector supervisor did not approve falsified reports, but was "[scapegoated] by the Authority for a widespread failing," where WMATA management chose to give track inspectors poor training and instruction. As a lawmaker, Mrs. Comstock should know the importance of due process, yet she chose to ignore it to further her political agenda that will soon be over.
"Comstock's allegiance and 97% voting record with President Trump makes it clear that she is the one lying to the public, not Metro's track workers," said ATU Local 689 Second Vice President Raymond Jackson. "We have to restore integrity to the congressional seat in the 10th District, and it starts by ousting Comstock on November 6."
Metro continues to waste money and ignores workers
Alexandria, Va.: Against the warning of union leaders and workers, highly-skilled rail mechanics at Alexandria rail yard are being instructed to clean rail cars in another case of wasteful spending and ignoring workers by WMATA General Manager Paul Wiedefeld, who is paid $425,000 + benefits annually.
ATU Local 689 vindicated with arbitration decision to rehire track supervisor
Forestville, Md. - October 10, 2018: In an arbitration decision damning the leadership at the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), a neutral arbitrator sided with ATU Local 689 to rehire a Track Inspector Supervisor, with backpay, for what the arbitration panel called "[scapegoating] by the Authority for a widespread failing" that lead to the 2016 derailment of a Metro Rail car at East Falls Church.