Hold the Line, Shut It Down, and WIN!
ATU Members in Taunton, MA, and Gatineau, QC, Score Back-to-Back Victories for Fair Contracts
The call to “Hold the line!” echoed through Taunton, MA, and just weeks later, chants of “Solidarité!” rang out in Gatineau, QC. Two cities, two countries, one message: when transit workers stand united, they win!
Taunton, Massachusetts: A Fight for Fair Wages and Respect
After months of stalled negotiations, Local 1548 operators and mechanics for the Greater Attleboro Taunton Regional Transit Authority (GATRA) went on strike, demanding fair wages, job security, and respect.
International President John Costa joined the picket line, rallying workers with his trademark call: “Brothers and sisters, what do we do when we don’t get the respect we deserve? We shut it down!” Supported by International Vice President Steve MacDougall and ATU Locals from across the region. Costa condemned GATRA management for undervaluing essential workers.
After just two days, the unified action forced GATRA back to the table. Local 1548 secured and ratified a fair contract. “Our members stood strong and united,” said Local President/Business Agent Chuck Ryan. “This is a contract they earned and deserve.”
“Solidarité!” in Gatineau: Quebec Transit Workers Take a Stand
Soon after Taunton’s victory, Local 1557 members at Gatineau’s Société de Transport de l’Outaouais (STO), led by President/Business Agent Olivier Lachance, launched a one-day strike for wage parity and respect. Costa flew in again joined by International Vice President Manny Sforza, ATU Canada President John Di Nino, and ATU Locals across Ottawa.
“You deserve parity in your wages,” Costa told the crowd. “This is our 15th strike in three years, and every time, we’ve won!”
By day’s end, STO management agreed to reopen talks. Local 1557 secured a tentative deal with wage increases, job protections, and key improvements. “You held the line and showed STO we won’t back down,” Costa declared at the victory rally.
A Message for All Workers
Across North America, ATU’s twin victories in Taunton and Gatineau prove the power of solidarity and the simple truth: when workers stand together, they win. Bravo! “We shut it down, and we won!”