Funding Public Trasit
Robert Guy says,"Good morning,
As you know SMART-TD joined all of the other transit labor unions to form the Labor Alliance for Public Transportation (LAPT). Over the course of the last year the LAPT worked to create legislation that would provide meaningful governance reform while also protecting our members from risky consolidations. LAPT worked with other stakeholders and legislators and came to an agreement on proper reforms, but Labor was adamant that there shouldn't be reform without proper and sustained funding.
I'm happy to report that the Illinois Senate passed LAPT's preferred legislation late in the evening on Saturday while many of us were in attendance in the Senate gallery. However, the Illinois House didn't have time to take up the measure, so the clock ran out on transit reform/funding for the Spring session.
We, along with LAPT, will continue to work on this issue over the summer and fall to ensure we get the needed reforms, but more importantly, the funding necessary to protect our jobs and deliver a safe, reliable and coordinated world-class transit system that the Chicago-land area deserves. I want to thank all of our LR's who participated in public events to highlight the need for crucial funding and to all of our members who sent letters of support to their legislator's.
Please find in the link below the official press release from LAPT and look for more information over the coming months and please be prepared to help in outreach when needed, thanks."
https://unitedwemoveil.org/news/f/press-release-lapt-reacts-to-general-assemblys-failure-avert
Robert W. Guy
State Director
Illinois Legislative Board
SMART-Transportation Division
