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IAM Local 264 Bus Mechanics and a coalition of public transit riders and community supporters are ramping up their campaign against the outsourcing of bus maintenance garages.
Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker is pushing to privatize MBTA, or “T,” bus maintenance work done by more than 400 IAM Local 264 members. Baker had previously promised to not privatize T jobs.
More than 100 people gathered outside a bus maintenance facility in Quincy, MA.
“All of Massachusetts will be watching to see whether the governor accepts our $29 million offered in savings, or whether he rips apart the lives and jobs of these hard working mechanics, their children and their families,” said Mike Vartabedian, an IAM District 15 Business Representative.
READ: MBTA workers rally against proposed privatization of jobs The (Quincy, MA) Patriot Ledger
Today we saw Boston rally for public transit riders and skilled @IAM264Boston Bus Mechanics. https://t.co/3bXKuCZrEu
— Machinists Union (@MachinistsUnion) July 17, 2017
U.S. Rep. Joe Kennedy III spoke in support of the fight to save the jobs of Local 264 mechanics, fuelers and technicians.
“The men and women that are here today are just asking to negotiate. They’re not asking for much,” Kennedy told workers and their supporters outside the garage. “They’ve put their own proposals for saving on the table and are asking for a chance to engage across a table to see how we can come to an agreement.”
“Like our members, Rep. Kennedy understands the importance of a decent job with decent wages and benefits,” said IAM Eastern Territory General Vice President Jimmy Conigliaro, Sr. “He also understands the importance of the valuable service the MBTA and its workers provide the public.”
IAM International President Bob Martinez is also monitoring the situation closely.
I am appalled by @MassGovernor‘s ill-conceived attack on public transit. We have your back, @IAM264Boston. #1u https://t.co/cVCrnWt3GQ
— Robert Martinez, Jr. (@IAMBobMartinez) July 18, 2017
Want to show that you have the back of hardworking IAM Local 264 Bus Mechanics?
Share this video on Facebook from the Invest NOW MA Coalition:
And share this tweet:
RT to tell @MassGovernor to keep his promise to @MBTA riders & workers. Negotiate with @IAM264Boston Bus Mechanics. https://t.co/3bXKuCZrEu
— Machinists Union (@MachinistsUnion) July 17, 2017
