Policy
MBTA Looking To Privatize Bus Routes, Increase Service
State House News Service | By Andy Metzger | August 20, 2015 The MBTA plans to test the appetite among private bus companies to provide service on all of the express bus routes, the lesser-traveled routes in Boston and the suburbs and late night service. All 93 buses and their 65 drivers that would be…
Read MoreThe Politically-Driven, Koch-Backed Campaign to Undermine Boston Transit
StreetBlogsUSA | By Angie Schmitt | Thursday, August 20, 2015 Boston’s MBTA has been having a tough year. Following a disastrous winter season marked by extreme weather and service disruptions, the agency has been inundated with charges of mismanagement. While the MBTA has its flaws, the charges against it don’t stem from a good government campaign so much as…
Read MoreIs The Boston Globe’s Joan Vennochi Too Lazy To Read Her Own Story Or Simply A Pawn For Privatization?
Last Friday, Boston Globe columnist, Joan Vennochi, wrote a column titled: “Labor’s hot rhetoric grows cool without facts.” Judging by the title of her column, the only one light on facts appears to be Joan Vennochi herself. In her column, Vennochi criticizes organized labor for attacking the Pioneer Institute. Pump the breaks right now and think about…
Read MorePresident Hanley Testifies Before Congress
Citing exploding urban populations, worsening traffic jams, young people forgoing cars and stressed public transit systems, Larry Hanley, international president of the Amalgamated Transit Union, called on the House Transportation Committee to set forth a major urban transportation agenda at the first hearing on the reauthorization of the transportation funding bill. Speaking on behalf of…
Read MoreSenate leaders reject Baker’s plan to shake up MBTA
Boston Globe | By David Scharfenberg and Nicole Dungca | May 12, 2015 Senate leaders are rejecting Governor Charlie Baker’s plan to shake up the beleaguered Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, mounting a significant challenge to the administration’s top legislative priority. The leadership, which plans to roll out its own, more modest T legislation Tuesday, is…
Read MoreThank you for attending today’s transportation hearing!
Thank you to all Local 589 members―active and retired―as well as members from other unions for showing up at today’s rally, knocking on legislators’ doors, and attending the transportation hearing. For those who were not able to attend, here are some articles written about the hearing: WBUR: Baker Urges Lawmakers To Approve MBTA Overhaul MassLive:…
Read MoreWithout Pacheco Law, can we trust the MBTA to undertake privatization?
Boston Globe – OPINION | By Suzanne Bump | May 07, 2015 The “Pacheco Law” has been cited as an obstacle to the goal of a more efficient, less costly mass transit system for Boston. As the state official charged with ensuring that plans for having private companies run certain government operations meet the requirements…
Read MoreState House Rally This Monday (5/11)
Join Local 589’s executive board, members, and retirees―as well as other MBTA unions―for a rally this Monday (5/11) at 11:00 AM on the steps across the street from the Massachusetts State House (corner of Beacon and Park Street). After the rally, we ask that you visit with your state senator and state representative and urge…
Read MoreMBTA union wants to repair image
Boston Globe | By Joan Vennochi | May 3, 2015 THEY OPPOSE any changes to a state law that makes it hard for the MBTA to do business with private vendors. They agree employee absenteeism is a problem — just not as big a problem as a recent report made it sound. Other than that,…
Read MoreT report misses mark on absenteeism numbers
Commonwealth Magazine | By Steve Koczela | April 30, 2015 ONE OF THE MOST ALARMING figures to come out of Gov. Charlie Baker’s MBTA panel report earlier this month was 57. That’s the average number of working days that T employees miss each year, according to the panel’s analysis. The analysis also found that the absence rate across all…
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