atu legislative conference
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ATU Legislative Conference. March 13-17 • Washington, DC. The U.S. Transit Crisis. and The Longest Undeclared War in U.S. History— On America ’s Middle Class and Workers. Corporate America drives down power of workers. Public. Private. The Corporate Attack on Public Workers. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
ATU Legislative Conference
March 13-17 • Washington, DC
The U.S. Transit Crisis and
The Longest Undeclared War in U.S. History—
On America’s Middle Class and Workers
Corporate America drives down power of workers
Public
Private
The Corporate Attack on Public Workers
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker:
“We can no longer live in a society where the public employees are the haves and taxpayers who foot the bills are the have-nots.”
FOX Gets it Wrong Again
Legislative Attacks
“Do public workers make more than private sector workers?
THE WRONG QUESTIONAll workers wages and benefits frozen for 40 years
Hourly compensation
Hourly wage
38%38%
64%64%
3%3% 12%12%23%23%
181%181%Wealthiest Wealthiest 0.1% avg. 0.1% avg.
$1.7$1.7 million million a yeara year
116%116%97%97% 98%98% 103%103%
85%85%
Top 0.1%*
1947-'73 1973-'04 *1979-2001
Top 0.01%*
Off the charts!Off the charts!497% income rise497% income rise
$6 million avg. income$6 million avg. income
Growing Together, Growing Together,
Source: Economic Policy Institute
Poorest20%
Second20%
Middle20%
Fourth20%
Richest20%
Household Income
Growing ApartGrowing Apart
0
50
100
150
200
Perc
ent I
ncre
ase
We Make It, They Take It
Source: EPI analysis of U.S. Census Bureau, Historical Income Tables, and U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics,Major Sector Productivity and Costs data.
Productivity
Real median family income
How much does Defense Spending cost your city?
National Priorities Project's "Trade Offs"
How have workers survived?
• Spouses work
• Part time jobs
• Borrow on credit cards
• Borrow from retirement savings
• Take out savings/equity in homes
THEY HAVEN’T!
The Economy is NOT Like the Weather…
The Economy is NOT Like the Weather…
The Economy Is Not Like the Weather
• The market solves all problems
• Anything that gets in the way of the market is bad
• Get government out of the way of the market– Cut taxes
– Dismantle government
– De-regulate
– Privatize
• Unions are in the way of the market– Weaken, eliminate unions
Neo-conservative Ideas Govern America
This is a story of POWER• Working families and our unions helped
build a powerful American middle class.
• Corporations are taking power away from workers–we are losing bargaining power at work and in our country.
• This power grab is key to their corporate agenda for America.
Boxing Workers Into The Corporate Agenda
WHOSE Tax Cut?
Stranded at the Station
One Year's Mass Transit Cuts, 2009
Fare Increases
Service and/orStaff Reductions
Privatize: Everything for Sale
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Pittsburgh, PALas Vegas, NV
New Orleans, LAJefferson Parish, LA
Phoenix, AZDallas, TX
Bridgeport, CTRockford, IL
Savannah, GASan Diego, CA
Austin, TXDenver, CONewark, NJUnion, NJ
Marietta, GANorcross, GA
Charleston, SCSacramento, CA
Toronto, ONColorado Springs, CO
Plymouth, MABrockton, MAPensacola, FLRaleigh, NC
Richmond, VAKnoxville, TN
Milwaukee, WISouth Bend, INLexington, KY
Boise, IDAsheville, NC
Worcester, MA
The Economy is NOT Like the Weather…
The Economy is NOT Like the Weather…
Dismantle the Corporate AgendaBuild a Working Families Agenda
Corporate America has a plan.
What Is Our Plan?