Transit Agency Could Outsource Transporting Seniors and People with Disabilities to Uber and Lyft

Calling WMATA’s plans to destroy MetroAccess operations and call center shortsighted and a major disservice to the riding public, the Amalgamated Transit Union International and Local 689 strongly condemned the move.

Last week WMATA put out a series of hypocritical and insulting requests for proposals (RFPs) looking to move the MetroAccess call center out of the region and divert 800 trips on weekends to for-profit companies with abysmal labor records that exploit independent contractors. This proposal would double down on WMATA’s longtime privatization of MetroAccess that has gutted safe, reliable, and affordable service in the region.

“This will ultimately harm the riding public, workers, and the whole system,” said Local 689 President Raymond Jackson. “Let’s be clear: Metro management is talking about having call centers to serve the public being outsourced to people who don’t know this transit system and who may not even know this country. Management is talking about handing over paratransit services that help the most vulnerable people in this region to entities like Uber and Lyft whose only concern is making money. Saving costs by leaving those who need help the most on the side of the road is cold hearted.”

These proposals come while WMATA has been loudly clamoring for additional funding from the compact’s jurisdictions, instituted hiring freezes, and attempted to dictate wage freezes to the Union before collective bargaining negotiations even started. The Union notes that this moronic push by WMATA will have no significant impact on its stated funding woes. Likewise, the proposals miss the mark to address the systemic management issues that have plagued the system from the very beginning and contributed to its financial debacles. In fact, privatized rideshare companies consistently have delivered less quality at more expensive rates.

“Privatizing public transportation leads to higher costs and lower quality service for the public, and this the case not just in the D.C. region but around the country as well,” said ATU International President John Costa. “These for-profit companies win with lowball bids and false promises of cutting costs and improving service, but never deliver. WMATA should promptly withdraw the RFPs and instead invest in its MetroAccess workforce and riders.”