Landmark decision a great victory for working families

Media Contacts: David Roscow, 202-537-1645 x254

WASHINGTON, DC – Larry Hanley, president of the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) released the following statement in reaction to the decision by the US Supreme Court today to uphold the Affordable Care Act as fully constitutional.

“This a great victory for working families who have been struggling to survive since the onset of the Great Recession. The Affordable Care Act expands care to 32 millions Americans, ensures critical patient protections from insurance company abuses, lowers costs for the middle class, and improves quality of care.

“This landmark decision provides Americans with the health care they desperately need to be productive citizens. It assures parents that their children will continue to covered up to their 26th birthday, ensures coverage of pre-existing conditions, eliminates the possibility of going bankrupt paying for hospital care, and removes the anxiety suffered by seniors who must choose between food or medicine.

“We applaud the Court’s decision, and commend the president and the Democrats in Congress for their steadfast support of this vitally important legislation to our nation.”

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 its hard-working members.