ATU Legislative Conference

March 13-17 • Washington, DC

The U.S. Transit Crisis and

The Longest Undeclared War in U.S. History—

On America’s Middle Class and Workers

Corporate America drives down power of workers

Public

Private

The Corporate Attack on Public Workers

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker:

“We can no longer live in a society where the public employees are the haves and taxpayers who foot the bills are the have-nots.”

FOX Gets it Wrong Again

Legislative Attacks

“Do public workers make more than private sector workers?

THE WRONG QUESTION

All workers wages and benefits frozen for 40 years

Hourly compensation

Hourly wage

38%38%

64%64%

3%3% 12%12%23%23%

181%181%Wealthiest Wealthiest 0.1% avg. 0.1% avg.

$1.7$1.7 million million a yeara year

116%116%97%97% 98%98% 103%103%

85%85%

Top 0.1%*

1947-'73 1973-'04*1979-2001

Top 0.01%*

Off the charts!Off the charts!497% income rise497% income rise

$6 million avg. income$6 million avg. income

Growing Together, Growing Together,

Source: Economic Policy Institute

Poorest20%

Second20%

Middle20%

Fourth20%

Richest20%

Household Income

Growing ApartGrowing Apart

0

50

100

150

200

Per

cen

t In

crea

se

We Make It, They Take It

Source: EPI analysis of U.S. Census Bureau, Historical Income Tables, and U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics,Major Sector Productivity and Costs data.

Productivity

Real median family income

How much does Defense Spending cost your city?

National Priorities Project's "Trade Offs"

How have workers survived?

• Spouses work

• Part time jobs

• Borrow on credit cards

• Borrow from retirement savings

• Take out savings/equity in homes

THEY HAVEN’T!

The Economy is NOT Like the Weather…

The Economy is NOT Like the Weather…

The Economy Is Not Like the Weather

• The market solves all problems

• Anything that gets in the way of the market is bad

• Get government out of the way of the market– Cut taxes

– Dismantle government

– De-regulate

– Privatize

• Unions are in the way of the market– Weaken, eliminate unions

Neo-conservative Ideas Govern America

This is a story of POWER

• Working families and our unions helped build a powerful American middle class.

• Corporations are taking power away from workers–we are losing bargaining power at work and in our country.

• This power grab is key to their corporate agenda for America.

Boxing Workers Into The Corporate Agenda

WHOSE Tax Cut?

Stranded at the Station

One Year's Mass Transit Cuts, 2009

Fare Increases

Service and/orStaff Reductions

Privatize: Everything for Sale

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Pittsburgh, PALas Vegas, NV

New Orleans, LAJefferson Parish, LA

Phoenix, AZDallas, TX

Bridgeport, CTRockford, IL

Savannah, GASan Diego, CA

Austin, TXDenver, CONewark, NJUnion, NJ

Marietta, GANorcross, GA

Charleston, SCSacramento, CA

Toronto, ONColorado Springs, CO

Plymouth, MABrockton, MAPensacola, FLRaleigh, NC

Richmond, VAKnoxville, TN

Milwaukee, WISouth Bend, INLexington, KY

Boise, IDAsheville, NC

Worcester, MA

The Economy is NOT Like the Weather…

The Economy is NOT Like the Weather…

Dismantle the Corporate AgendaBuild a Working Families Agenda

Corporate America has a plan.

What Is Our Plan?