Washington, DC - Larry Hanley, international president of the Amalgamated Transit Union, issued the following statement today on the passing of Senator Frank Lautenberg, D-NJ:
“We were saddened to hear of the passing, this morning, of Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-NJ. Senator Lautenberg was a true friend of transit workers and working families across America.
“Up until the Republican takeover in 1994, the New Jersey Democrat chaired key Senate transportation committees shepherding legislation that increased mass transit funding.
“Lautenberg was thanked for his work on behalf of transit workers at ATU’s 100th Anniversary Convention in 1992, where he gave a passionate endorsement of the work of ATU and issued a stirring call to work for the election of the Clinton-Gore ticket the following November.
“It’s impossible to overestimate how much good Senator Lautenberg did for transit workers and all working families throughout his long congressional career. We are grateful for all that he’s done. He will be missed.”
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.