Our Issues and Priorities
Since Mayor Bowser Proposed Cutting DC Circulator Service and Failed To Provide A Transition Plan
April 3, 2024 (2025 FY Budget Introduced) - Today
Click Here to Email Mayor Bowser
“Responsibility falls on DDOT and the Mayor to reverse course and ensure those who depend on the Circulator every day are not forgotten. Accelerating the timetable for phase-out without a transition plan for workers, riders, and our city was reckless and cruel.”
ATU Local 689 is constantly working to improve the lives of transit workers, riders, and non-transit workers around our region. Below is a list of some current and past campaigns that we have taken on to help workers in our region.
Our Priorities
Fighting Privatization.
Privatization is when governments take public services and “sell” them to private businesses. These businesses then run them for profit and NOT the public good. We’ve seen the negative effects of this first-hand in the transit industry. We believe in PUBLIC transportation.
Fair Treatment for MetroAccess Workers.
ATU Local 689 has been the representative and bargaining agent of MetroAccess workers in several bus garages since 2014. These workers are underpaid, overworked, and not given the resources they need to provide service to Metro’s disabled community.
Fair Contracts for WMATA Workers.
This local has represented WMATA workers since the creation of the system. We understand what works at WMATA and what doesn’t. We fight for contracts that ensure our members are paid fairly and have the opportunity to retire after a life of service.
Organizing Unorganized Transit Workers.
Our strength comes from representing such a large number of the private sector transportation workers in this region. We are always looking to find new workers to organize new unions and join the labor movement. If you’re interested, contact us.
Fix It. Fund It. Make It Fair.
We are lucky to have a public transportation system like WMATA, but the way it is designed and funded does not place the needs of its riders and workers first. We need to move to a more just funding system to really build the transit system we all deserve.
Expanding Public Transit Access.
We believe that we are facing a climate crisis. We also know that traffic congestion forces workers to spend thousands of unpaid hours in their cars. We need to expand high quality public transportation and fast in order to meet the needs of our growing cities.
Who We Represent
