Labor Leaders, Working Families Party, Facebook Activists Issue Earth Day Call on Albany for MTA Funding Deal
COALITION DEMANDS FAST ACTION, LONG-TERM SOLUTION FOR MASS TRANSIT
MTA Labor Rally at City Hall
New York - Labor leaders from the United Federation of Teachers, SEIU Locals 32BJ and 1199, TWU Local 100, and the Hotel Trades Council gathered with the Working Families Party, anti-fare hike Facebook activists, and transit and environmental advocates today for an Earth Day press conference outside City Hall today, calling on Albany leaders to pass a fair, commonsense funding plan to prevent looming MTA fare hikes and service cuts and maintain the long-term reliability of the transit network.
“Millions of New Yorkers, including thousands of UFT members, depend on MTA subways, buses and trains every day,” said UFT President Randi Weingarten. “We can’t accept a massive fare hike. We need a better funding solution – one that is responsible and equitable, so that it addresses the long term capital needs of our transit system while also protecting commuters against a 25% fare increase. This fight is a natural extension of the work we’ve been doing for the last year, and that is preserving the safety net for New Yorkers.”
Amir Darvish of 1,000,000 New Yorkers Against the MTA Fare Hikes (A FaceBook group)
“Public transportation is a lifeline millions of New Yorkers depend on every day.” Said George Gresham, President of 1199 SEIU United Healthcare Workers East. “Working families cannot shoulder steep fare hikes and service cuts during these difficult times. New Yorkers need a solution that prevents fare hikes and keeps the MTA financially solvent.”
In Albany, legislative leaders continued to debate an MTA funding deal, but the coalition of labor and advocates pledged to keep the pressure on until a final agreement sparing transit riders the bulk of the proposed fare hikes and service cuts and ensuring the long-term health of the transit system was reached.
“Millions of New Yorkers are waiting with baited breathe to see if Albany comes through and stops the fare hikes,” said Dan Cantor, Working Families Party Executive Director. “But getting close won’t cut it. We need a sensible solution that keeps public transportation affordable now and makes sure the transit system is healthy in long-run.”
“New Yorkers who need, love, and depend on public transportation are making their voices heard online by the tens of thousands,” said Amir Darvish, Co-Founder of the “1,000,000 People Against the NYC MTA Fare Hike” Facebook Group. “Using new media technologies, we’re giving new voice to regular transit riders in this debate.”
“Working people are being forced to bear the brunt of MTA’s budget problems in this unfair fare hike,” said Hector Figueroa, Secretary Treasurer of 32BJ. “With the rising cost of food and now transportation, working families are being priced out of the city.”
“New York City’s hotel workers are the lifeblood of the world’s top tourist destination,” said Vanessa Meade, Executive Vice President, Local 6 and the Hotel Trades Council. “Affordable, reliable public transportation is an absolute necessity for the hotel workforce. Albany must act now to ensure that MTA fare hikes and service cuts do not stop one single hard working New Yorker from getting to his or her job.”
“These severe fare hikes and cuts in service would be a terrible burden for working New Yorkers,” said Gene Russianoff, staff attorney for the Straphangers Campaign.
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