Transport Workers Solidarity Committee

NYC M.T.A. Delays A and E Plans for Reality Show on Subway Workers
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/02/nyregion/02reality.html?scp=1&sq=tv show transit&st=cse

And, Cut! Money Woes Delay a TV Reality Show on Subway Workers
By MICHAEL M. GRYNBAUM
Published: March 1, 2010

It is not your typical subway series.

Who knows what drama lurks beneath the city? Transit officials may let the A&E network find out, but not immediately.
For months, officials at theMetropolitan Transportation Authorityhave been working with television producers on a reality show set in and around the New York City subway. The series, commissioned by the A&E network, would follow an ensemble cast of train conductors, station agents and other subway workers as they handle track fires, angry customers and the grind of running the country’s biggest mass transit system.

But as with many of the authority’s major projects, the show is now facing a delay. Citing hard financial times, transit officials said they were halting work on the show, even though shooting had started last month for a 15-minute sample episode — the first step toward a pilot and potentially a full season.

“I still want to do it at some point,” said Christopher Boylan, the authority’s top marketing officer. “It may not make sense to do it right away.”

General Strike In Turkey Against Privatizations And Attack On Labor-Transportation Workers To Act

http://www.sendika.org/english/yazi.php?yazi_no=29082

Turkey – GENERAL STRIKE!
04 February 2010 -

To support the TEKEL tobacco and food workers struggle against privatizations, contracting and roll backs, 6 labor confederations started a joint general strike in Turkey. The confederations announced they are exercising their “right not to work” as the basis of their action.

Entire country is behind the struggling workers because everyone is under attack from neo liberal, free market policies of the Islamic, pro-US government implementing the IMF and World Bank mandates. Other sectors in Turkey such as students, youth and professional associations are also supporting the strike and are on the streets.

Transportation comes to a halt in Izmir

The third largest city in Turkey came to a halt today as all public workers participated in the action against imperialist mandates to economy in Turkey. The buses and other public transportation systems have completely stopped in Izmir.

Police attacks workers

Workers marching in Unkapi district in Istanbul were attacked by the police, currently, the police and the workers are on a stand-off.

Korean KCTU Labor group picks moderate leader who is train driver in Busan
http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/NEWKHSITE/data/html_dir/2010/01/30/201001300030.asp

Labor group picks moderate leader

The nation's second-largest umbrella labor union picked a moderate leader in a meeting of delegates on Thursday.

Kim Young-hoon, 42, former head of the Korea Railway Workers' Union, was elected to lead the hard-line Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, which represents about 650,000 members nationwide. His tenure runs through 2013.

"I'll make efforts to unify the organization and to reform its old way of operation. I'll work to make a strong and winning KCTU," Kim said after the announcement of voting results.

Within the union, Kim is considered young and free from the influence of several rival factions. And that aspect appealed to many members who prefer to participate in social issues through conversation, not violent struggle.

It remains to be seen, however, if he will take a moderate line in labor movements, observers say.

Last year, labor and management disputes were caused over a revision to labor union law. Amid expectations of an economic recovery, experts say the disputes could be accelerated this year.

Sacramento buses, rail face more budget squeezes
http://www.sacbee.com/ourregion/story/2469455.html

By Tony Bizjak
tbizjak@sacbee.com
Published: Monday, Jan. 18, 2010 - 12:00 am | Page 1B
Last Modified: Monday, Jan. 18, 2010 - 8:33 am
It's a harsh winter for bus companies and their riders.

Over at the state Capitol, a governor low on cash is proposing dropping all funding to transit agencies around the state.

The Senate budget committee will discuss Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's plans Thursday in what could be an emotional hearing.

Meanwhile, in North Sacramento, the local bus and rail district, Regional Transit, is testing what some say is a desperate measure to put a few more dollars into its depleted coffers.

For the past two weeks, RT has been charging light-rail riders $1 to park at three station lots: Watt/I-80, Watt/I-80 West and Roseville Road.

Until this month, all RT parking lots had been free.

If the experiment works, the RT board will face an emotional debate of its own later this year: Should it charge parking fees at other light-rail station lots?

The last time the question came up last year, the RT board was bitterly divided.

Sacramento City Council member Steve Cohn was all for charging drivers. There's no such thing as free parking, he said. Those lots cost money to build and maintain, so people should pay.

Public-Transit Passengers Face Rough Ride-Agencies Nationwide Raise Fares, Cut Service as Budget Pressures Mount; In Chicago, 'Less Frequent, More Crowded Service'

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB126238967349812961.html

Public-Transit Passengers Face Rough Ride
Agencies Nationwide Raise Fares, Cut Service as Budget Pressures Mount; In Chicago, 'Less Frequent, More Crowded Service'

By SARA MURRAY

Public transportation will be more crowded and more expensive this year as big-city transit systems across the country respond to severe budget pressures.

Funding from state and local governments -- a key part of budgets for transit systems -- has been cut and ridership is down overall, prompting transit officials to trim service and raise fares at a time when many customers are pinched themselves.

A streetcar picks up passengers in November on Market Street in San Francisco, where budget concerns have prompted cuts in transit routes, layoffs and an increase in the cost of monthly passes.
San Francisco is raising fares for commuters this month. Chicago will lay off workers and eliminate bus routes in February to avoid fare increases. New York City is planning to wind down free and reduced-cost student fares starting in September. And Washington, D.C., is proposing to decrease the frequency of trains.

1/18 Chicago MLK Day March for Jobs and Public Services
"Join us in celebrating Dr. King's legacy of struggling for social justice and defending workers' needs"
What: Rally
Start Time: Monday, January 18 at 11:00am
End Time: Monday, January 18 at 1:00pm
Where: Rally at CTA Headquarters
March will go to the Board of Education and end at the State of Illinois Building on 100 W. Randolph.

Chicago Transit Authority management is threatening to lay off over 1,000 bus drivers and maintenance workers on Feb. 7th. This means fewer and more crowded buses and trains.

Chicago Public School board plans to close another 25 to 30 neighborhood schools and hand over public education money to private companies. This won't help educate our kids.

Unemployment is at its' highest in 30 years, but caseworkers who approve Food Stamps and Medicaid have unworkable caseloads of 1100 to 2200 families per worker - so people can't get the help they need.

The rich and their politicians steal our taxes to bail out Wall Street. They sell our pubicly-owned resources to private companies, and then make us pay for it through higher fees and fines. We say: make the rich pay. They made this crisis; we're not giving up our jobs and services to pay for it.

Insurgents Oust Leaders of NYC Transport Workers Union Local 100

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/09/nyregion/09twu.html?_r=1&ref=nyregion

Insurgents Oust Transit Union’s Leaders

By RUSS BUETTNER
Published: December 8, 2009
A group of insurgent transit workers who ran in a recent union election on a platform of adopting a tougher negotiating stance with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority has ousted the union’s leadership.

Absent an unforeseen challenge, John Samuelsen, a subway track inspector, will become president of the union,Transport Workers Local 100, on Jan. 1. He defeated Curtis Tate, the choice of the departing president, Roger Toussaint, who has taken a position with the international union.

Mr. Samuelsen argued that Mr. Toussaint had fractured the 38,000-member union after he orchestrated the transit strike of 2005, and that he had become a weak negotiator.

Samuelsen loyalists claimed all four of the top posts from Mr. Toussaint’s slate, said Jeffrey Zaino of the American Arbitration Association, which counted the votes on Monday. Mr. Samuelsen defeated Mr. Tate by about 900 votes.

The union has been without a contract since last year. This year, an arbitrator awarded the union 11.3 percent raises over three years, but the transit authority filed a court challenge.

Cabdriver Hit by Recession Has Good Advice for Bad Times

http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/282805

Cabdriver Hit by Recession Has Good Advice for Bad Times Special

Subscribe to author Nov 27, 2009 by ■ Carol Forsloff
■ Carol Forsloff
Alan Matthews is a cabdriver in the Portland, Oregon area who notes that driving a cab might not be a good alternative for those who have lost jobs in other areas.
Vote up this image!
Lost your job and looking to make living driving a cab? That's what lots of men try to do during down times, but according to one cabbie, it's not easy. The taxi business has serious challenges but one fellow has advice for that and a whole lot more.
I interviewed Alan Matthews of Portland, Oregon who has been a cabdriver for approximately two years in Portland. He finds it especially difficult to make a living these days. He told me, "What I have noticed is that people are taking shorter cab trips these days. The fares are half what they used to be. I am willing to pick up people in different places, some in neighborhoods where other cabbies don't want to go; but I find that even hustling a lot, I still have trouble making the kind of money I did when I first started."

http://momento24.com/en/2009/11/10/subway-strike-in-buenos-aires/

Subway strike in Buenos Aires, free parking in most Avenues
Posted on10 November 2009 at 12:15. Tags: buenos aires, parking, strike, subway

Buenos Aires subway unionists, after the failure of negotiations, began a strike an hour before the service ended yesterday, surprising users who attempted to travel at that time of night.
This morning, crossed versions began to com eout from both sides, unionists and Company managers.
Union representatives confirmed tha workers were on strike in all lines and there was no service in any section.
Company Representatives, for their part reported that “there was an emergency service in some sections of lines D and E”.
The last report from the company at 6:30 am said that lines A, B, C and H were interrupted while the line D trains were circulating between Cathedral and José Hernández stations , and E was running only between Bolivar and Avenida La Plata.
Unioniosts refused accuisations from the company and accused them of “lying to society”.
The company’s spokeswoman Lucila Maldonado said that a presentation was made before the Federal Court for Criminal and Correctional Issues 4.

YouTube - UK RMT: Picket line solidarity with striking CWU postal workers (22.10.09)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3tDTmlvjhNM

UK RMT: Picket line solidarity with striking CWU postal workers (22.10.09)