We Demand Hurricane Pay for RTA Bus Operators
RTA CEO Alex Wiggins
New Orleans Regional Transit Authority (RTA) bus operators are demanding agreed upon Hurricane Ida pay and the reinstatement of Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 1560 President Valerie Jefferson, who was unjustly terminated after calling on the RTA to provide the hurricane pay.
We cannot let this stand. You can help us by demanding hurricane pay for RTA operators, who helped transport people during Hurricane Ida, the reinstatement of Local President Valerie Jefferson and the resignation of RTA CEO Alex Wiggins for his history of abusive and retaliatory behavior. Please fill in the information asked to sign our online petition.
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To: RTA CEO Alex Wiggins
As Hurricane Ida made landfall, battering the Gulf Coast, leaving in its deadly path the destruction of neighborhoods and hundreds of thousands of people without power, RTA operators stepped up to help evacuate as many people as possible, even providing relief for senior residents who needed to get out of the heat of the blacked-out region by using buses as cooling stations.
At first, not enough operators were available to help. Valerie Jefferson and ATU Local 1560 took action, getting the word out and recruiting as many operators as possible to work the exhausting twelve-hour days with no days off. Despite having to sacrifice their own well-being, operators put on a heroic effort to try and save lives.
RTA operators deserve hurricane pay and Valerie Jefferson deserves justice. We are calling for the immediate disbursement of hurricane pay for RTA operators, the reinstatement of Valerie Jefferson, and lastly, your resignation for your documented history of retaliation.