ATU Local 689 President Raymond Jackson issued a statement on behalf of the Union in response to statements made by WMATA regarding potential service cuts and cutting workers’ benefits and pay.

“Local 689 is incredibly disturbed by the suggestion of balancing Metro’s budget on the backs of workers. Through the life of this past contract, transit workers all over this region showed up to work through the worst pandemic in a century. We faithfully moved people to and from work and school and all around this city in the midst of an upsurge in violent crime and antisocial behavior on transit. Moreover, we experienced the worst inflation in 40 years, degrading the quality of life and straining the buying power for thousands of Metro employees. Without our contract, thousands of families would have been forced to leave the district or the region altogether, as the cost of living is sky-high.

We are proud that we fought hard for the dignity of working class Washingtonians while providing world-class service to the nation’s capital. We are ready and willing to engage with WMATA and our partners around the region to find ways to sustainably fund service; namely, finally finding a dedicated funding mechanism that takes us out of perpetual fiscal crisis. Let us be clear though: we will not accept drastic service cuts that harm the public and draconian cuts to worker healthcare, benefits, and wages. These simply will not solve the systemic funding issues plaguing WMATA. Metro issuing veiled threats to slash our frontline heroes’ pay and benefits before bargaining for the new contract even begins is absolutely disgusting.”