IAM Local 264 will join other members of the Invest Now MA coalition for a rally at the Massachusetts state capitol on Wednesday, May 17.
IAM members have been leading the effort against the outsourcing of bus maintenance at the MBTA. Despite a diverse and aging fleet of buses, federal data shows MBTA mechanics to be the best performing in the nation.
International President Bob Martinez slammed transit privatization.
“Boston is the birthplace of American public transit system,” said Martinez. The system was created to make people’s lives better. Public transit not only helps create jobs, it also moves people to and from their jobs.
“We have an opportunity in America to increase our public infrastructure and transit investment. This is not the time to decrease service and quality by putting our system in the hands of a big private corporation.
IAM Local 264 has stated that privatization of MBTA services will take away good jobs and lack the proper accountability and transparency for Massachusetts taxpayers. The rally will focus on the importance of finding solutions that create a stronger public transit system that delivers quality service to the people of Massachusetts.
IAM Local 264 and the Invest Now MA coalition, which consists of riders, workers, community groups, non-profit organizations, businesses, elected leaders and municipalities that support public transit, will lobby state legislators for public transit investment, good jobs and quality transit service.
In the past few weeks, the Massachusetts Congressional Delegation, led by Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey, recently expressed their opposition to the outsourcing of bus maintenance at the MBTA in a letter to Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker and Transportation Secretary Stephanie Pollack.
More than 450 mechanics, fuelers and other skilled professionals in IAM Local 264 proudly contribute to the operation of the MBTA and our communities every day. The Machinists Union and Local 264 have been fighting for workers, their families, and Boston communities for 125 years.
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Source:: iMail