The Executive Board and members of the Boston Carmen’s Union joined with the ATU to demand funding for public transportation at an April 4th State House Rally. The ATU sponsored a national day for workers and riders to join together to urge funding public transportation services across America.
 
The April 4th National Rally coincided with the MBTA Board’s vote on service cuts and fare increases. A coalition that includes the T Riders Union, Community Labor United, the Occupy Movement and Unions rallied at the State House in Boston to oppose the cuts.
 
Local 589 President John Lee told the crowd that Service cuts and funding problems can be tied directly to the MBTA’s $5 billion debt. 

The funding problems at the T aren’t because of service or workers. The funding problem is the debt that the MBTA was forced to take on by the Legislature a decade ago. Everyone here and every rider on the T should be calling their State Reps and Senators and telling them that the T’s action today is a band-aid not a solution. You cannot solve this problem with service cuts – you have to cut the debt!

Click here to view photos from the rally.