As infections and deaths from the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic mount, ATU Local 1560 is demanding that New Orleans Regional Transit Authority provide safe service now for frontline transit workers.

Transit workers are being unnecessarily exposed to coronavirus because transportation authorities are hoarding funds instead of investing in transit safety. Workers are coming together to demand that RTA provide Transdev workers the resources, support, and safe working conditions they need to ensure their health and survival, and cease endangering public safety and neglecting what is owed to transit workers for putting their lives on the line. Workers are coming together to demand that the employers commit to:

1. Compensating workers classified as essential during a public health crisis with at least 1.5 times their normal wage.

2. Increasing health and safety measures for transit workers, including providing gloves, N-95 masks, hand sanitizer.

3. Requiring passengers to wear masks on board a transit vehicle.

4. Increased cleaning measures for vehicles and work areas.

5. Add more buses to high frequency bus routes

As of May 6, the Louisiana- Department of Health has reported 29,996 positive cases of COVID-19 with 2,042 deaths. In Orleans Parish alone there have been 6,575 positive cases of COVID-19 with 453 deaths. RTA and Transdev continue to put the workers and community in danger by not making sure that we have safe working conditions. We demand RTA and Transdev do right by the workers fighting to transport riders safely during this crisis.

Please take immediate action and sign the petition below to make these demands by entering your name, address, and postal code. All you have to do is hit SEND.