Transit Workers March For Improved Contract
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Transit workers rallied outside of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's Manhattan headquarters Thursday to demand better wages and benefits in their new contract.
Bus and subway operators and maintenance workers marched from there to Zuccotti Park to meet with Occupy Wall Street protesters.
Transport Workers Union Local 100 says the city is making unprecedented demands for worker flexibility, including a reduction in the number of workers on each train and a three-year wage freeze.
“We are very important to this city. Every company that increases their revenue hires more workers. This agency here, ridership is at an all-time high, and they want to lay off more workers and have us do more with less people on the job. It's just not fair," said Scott Harris, a conductor.
"We're hard-working, we keep the trains rolling, we keep the people safe. So give us our raise like we deserve," said one protester.
The MTA says it has no comment at this time because "it does not negotiate in public."