In Support of the Charlottesville Area Transit Union

January 16, 2024

The Charlottesville Democratic Socialists of America stand in solidarity with the unionized workers of Charlottesville Area Transit, ATU Local 1220 in their struggle for a fair collective bargaining process, dignified working conditions, and livable wages.

For years, the workers of CAT have made clear that the way to fix our broken transit system starts with their working conditions. Those with decades of service are earning stagnant wages. Many have to work a second job, overtime, or both in order to support themselves and their families. Few, if any, are able to afford to live in the city that they work tirelessly to keep running.

In response, the City of Charlottesville passed a collective bargaining ordinance. However, they have so far failed to agree to a fair contract. CAT workers and their union representation have made public statements attesting that the outside attorney that the City hired has been acting adversarially and cynically during the bargaining process. Her reported attitude of disdain was unacceptable last year when she was hired to help formulate the collective bargaining ordinance, and it’s worse now upon her questionable rehire to negotiate CAT’s contract.

A fair first contract could be a win-win for Charlottesville residents and transit workers. If negotiated in a way that puts workers first, it would help address long-standing deficiencies that have led to a driver shortage, decline in service, and hemorrhaging ridership. That means listening to CAT workers when they say that such demands as improving wages and reducing the time it takes for drivers to reach top pay are the keys to retaining and attracting the drivers that are necessary to reach the City’s transit goals.

Cville DSA, together with countless other organizations and community members, has made it abundantly clear for years: We stand behind our neighbors and friends at CAT. We demand changes that see CAT employees thrive personally and professionally. We are keenly aware of how CAT employees’ well-being is interlaced with the vision for robust, reliable transit service that is shared between riders, would-be riders, and CAT alike.

We call on City Council and the City Manager to use their power to stop the obstruction. They need to be firm and tell the attorney that what the City and its people want is a contract for CAT workers that sets the standard for collective bargaining in our state—that shows that Charlottesville is behind its transit workers and those that depend on them one hundred percent.