ATU General Executive Board Vote Unanimous

Media Contacts: David Roscow, 202-537-1645 

WASHINGTON, DC - Calling for big banks and stockbrokers to be held responsible for their greed and corruption as the economic crisis continues, the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) General Executive Board unanimously endorsed the Occupy Wall Street Movement at its first meeting since the movement began.

ATU locals across the country as well as the International Union have been providing support to the movement through donations of food and other supplies, physically engaging in protests, and getting the message out to the public.

“The ATU applauds the Occupy activists across the country for their courage and strength to expose the greed and corruption on Wall Street as the rest of America struggles to survive,”  said Larry Hanley, ATU international president.  “These young people are speaking for the vast majority of Americans who are frustrated by the bankers and brokers who have profited on the backs of hard working people.

“While we battle it out day after day, month after month, the millionaires and billionaires on Wall Street sit idly by – untouched – and lecture us on the level of our sacrifice,” Hanley continued.

“Working Americans have sacrificed too much already. Transit riders have paid with record fare increases and service cuts.  How dare they demand that we coddle the rich while poor people are losing their benefits and millions are becoming poor?”

About the ATU  

The Amalgamated Transit Union is the largest labor organization representing transit workers in the United States and Canada. Founded in 1892, the ATU today is comprised of over 190,000 members in 264 local unions spread across 44 states and nine provinces, including 3,000 workers at Greyhound Lines, Inc. Composed of bus drivers, light rail operators, maintenance and clerical personnel and other transit and municipal employees, the ATU works to promote transit issues and fights for the interests of itshard-working members.