Labor Beat: Stop CTA Service Cuts

A rally against mass transit service cuts in Chicago took place on Dec. 9, 2009. Carlos Acevedo, Amalgamated Transit Union Local 241, told a large protest crowd in front of CTA headquarters: “It seems the riding public gets numb to it because it seems not to happen, they get bailed out every year, but these cuts are real. You will be affected by them. It’s a different style of service cuts they are making, that will make you stand on the corner for a long, long time. They are going to eliminate buses on each route. They can avert this. We need a real solution for mass transit, to demand proper funding for mass transit.” Heather Benno, NoCTACuts.org, added: “This is a cause of justice. They say that they’re going to lay us off and cut our services. They say that there is nothing we can do. But by being here in the streets, we are fighting back.” Robert Kelly, President ATU Local 308, told the crowd of union and community activists: “Reducing services in this city, laying people off is a tragedy. We need to keep these jobs. We need the public involved.” Produced by Labor Beat. Labor Beat is a CAN TV Community Partner. Labor Beat is a non-profit 501(c)(3) member of IBEW 1220. Views are those of the producer Labor Beat. For info: mail@laborbeat.org, www.laborbeat.org. 312-226-3330.

Tags: 31st Street, chicago, CTA, Justicia Ambiental, Public Transit