[Busriders-van] BRU Barred from Speaking at TransLink

[Bus Riders Union]

Monday, October 27, 2003

Bus Riders Union Barred From Speaking at TransLink Board Meetings

Prior to TransLink’s Board Meeting in September, the Bus Riders Union was
informed on behalf of Chair McCallum that no BRU member would be allowed
to speak at TransLink Board Meetings until the BRU signs a contract
promising not to disrupt meetings in the future.  Since then numerous BRU
members and representatives have been denied the right to speak at the
meetings.

“TransLink is falling back on intimidation tactics to support their
undemocratic processes and regulations,” says Ormond. “Previously we’ve
been told that we can only speak on an issue once, and now 250 members of
the BRU have been banned from speaking at all.  These decisions taken by
TransLink Chair Doug McCallum further marginalize the voices of thousands
of bus riders who have shared their experiences and demands with BRU
organizers."

Asked about the BRU's 'disruptive' behaviour, Ormond replies: "In the past
we have been forced to resort to civil disobedience to have the voices of
bus riders heard in the boardroom.  We will not give up our right to
democratic participation or to non-violent protest when the needs of bus
riders are ignored.  This ban is an illegal measure that is denying over
250 Bus Riders Union members the right to participation in regional
decision making.”

In response to the ban, Vancouver City Councilor and BRU member Tim Louis
has requested to speak at the next TransLink Board meeting on October
29th.   TransLink has not yet confirmed whether Mr. Louis will be
permitted to speak.

Although TransLink is barring the BRU from speaking at its board meetings,
BRU organizer Jennifer Efting will be speaking at the Public Consultation
on TransLink’s 10-Year Outlook and Three-Year Financial Strategy being
held in Vancouver on October 29th. However, the Bus Riders Union maintains
that the Public Consultation is a public relations campaign that tokenizes
to voices of bus riders.

“In light of TransLink’s track record in regard to public input and
democratic process, this public consultation is a sham,” says Efting.
“When hundreds of bus riders spoke out against a the October 2001 service
cuts and the April 2002 fare increase, TransLink went ahead and cut
service and raised fares. If TransLink really wanted to hear what bus
riders have to say, they would facilitate ongoing public input rather than
block it at every step of the way. Over and over, TransLink has
demonstrated its determination to make decisions based on a big business
and privatization agenda, not based on the needs and input of transit
dependent bus riders.”

Efting will be presenting the Bus Riders Union’s position on the plan,
which includes opposition to the proposed fare increase and a significant
delay in bus fleet expansion.

 “We will not be silenced in our campaign for more buses and lower fares
and justice for bus riders,” says Efting. “We need a democratic board
that is accountable to the public and that puts bus riders at the center
of public policy. Every week the BRU hears from bus riders who know how
we could improve the transit system.  These are the demands we have
brought to the TransLink board for the past two years, things like
restoring Night Owl bus service, prioritizing a region-wide expansion in
bus service rather than SkyTrain mega-projects and working towards
reducing fares.  If TransLink was serious about public participation they
would start taking these recommendations seriously and act on them. 
Instead they have not only ignored bus riders, now they've banned a
grassroots organization of transit dependent people from even speaking at
their meetings.”

Bus Riders Union
407-119 West Pender Street, Vancouver
(604) 215-2775
http://bru.resist.ca/
bru at resist.ca