[van-announce] On Sunday, November 9th: Speak out against transit privatization!

[Bus Riders Union]

ON SUNDAY NOVEMBER 9th:  SPEAK OUT AGAINST TRANSIT PRIVATIZATION

Crowded buses.  Skyrocketing fares.  Long waits.   Bus riders need
relief – but it's not going to come from the new TransLink CEO, Thomas
Prendergast.

Mr. Prendergast was president of the Long Island Rail Road, the
largest commuter railroad in the United States, from 1994 to 2000.

Under Prendergast's management, riders suffered air conditioning
failures, undercarriage fires and breakdowns that were due to
neglected or faulty maintenance.  These problems were at least partly
caused by Prendergast's difficulties with labour and management.

In 2000 and 2001, Mr. Prendergast led an international team that bid
for a major public/private partnership contract with the London
Underground.

Since taking over the job of TransLink CEO, bus riders haven't seen
much of Mr. Prendergast.  He certainly isn't transit dependent, since
his annual wage will be over $300,000 per year.

But he's found the time to reach out to the business community.  In
fact, he gave his first public speech as TransLink CEO to the downtown
Vancouver business improvement association.

What does privatization mean for bus riders?  It means that we pay for
expensive Public Private Partnerships like the Canada Line, instead of
buying more buses and lower fares.  It means that we don't have
democratic control over our transit system.  It means longer waits and
overcrowded buses.

Join the BRU for an action on November 9th to send a message to Mr.
Prendergast, and to Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon.  Let them
know that people are more important than profit– and bus riders demand
an end to the privatization of our public transit system.


WHEN:  1PM SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 9th

WHERE:  MAIN STREET SKYTRAIN STATION

WHAT:  STREET THEATRE PERFORMANCE and LETTER WRITING DRIVE
Contact the Bus Riders Union at 604-215-2775 or email
busridersunion at gmail.com for more information.


--
Bus Riders Union
672 East Broadway St.
Vancouver BC
V5T 1X6
http://bru.vcn.bc.ca/
604-215-2775



--
Bus Riders Union
672 East Broadway St.
Vancouver BC
V5T 1X6
http://bru.vcn.bc.ca/
604-215-2775