Long Island Jobs with Justice Announces the Formation of an LI Bus Riders' Union

Over the past several years, we have seen bus riders get “rolled over” by Nassau County elected officials. Recent developments in our campaign work suggest that the one private bidder, Veolia Transportation, slated to take over Nassau County’s bus service is in a financial crisis in Europe and is pulling out of the transportation business. The future for Nassau County’s bus riders remains uncertain.

Bus riders should not be left to worry that they will be stranded without bus service on January 1^st. They should not have to worry about fare increases and service cuts. They should not have to choose between food and a bus pass. However, our country continues to prioritize corporations and the wealthy 1% over the needs of working people. We are creating a Bus Riders’ Union in Nassau County to both fight back against service cuts and fare increases; and to advocate for a better transportation system that provides a higher quality of service for working people.

The Long Island Bus Riders Union will be a project initiated and staffed by Long Island Jobs with Justice. We will mobilize hundreds of riders to fight against service cuts and fare hikes; and to advocate for transportation rights; ensuring that the voices of riders themselves are heard over those of private corporations and the politicians who indiscriminately support them.

Today, the Nassau County Legislature is slated to vote on the privatization of Long Island Bus.We have issued several reports critiquing Veolia and the move towards privatization; we have mobilized hundreds of community members, drivers, and riders to oppose the contract. But the unified voices of hundreds of Nassau County voters may not be enough to move a stubborn legislature to vote against a catastrophic decision for the County's taxpayers.

We are creating a Bus Riders' Union as a way to fight back against service cuts and fare increases, and to envision a new future for Nassau County that involves affordable, reliable public transportation for everyone. 

As we move forward with creating the LI Bus Riders' Union, we ask for your financial support to jump start the project. We are looking to raise $5,000 in the next two weeks to mobilize bus riders before January 1st. Please make a donation online here and help us fight for transportation equity in Nassau County. Donors of $500 or more will be publicly listed as "supporters" on our website.