MARTA Union Rally

Monday, October 6, 2014

Around 150 MARTA employees and retirees with the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 732 came together on Monday to rally outside of the law offices of MARTA Board Chairman Robbie Ashe for around an hour. MARTA’s union negotiations have been at an impasse for more than a year, but now they appear to be heating up. Members of the union say that MARTA wants to cut their wages, increase their healthcare costs and eliminate paratransit jobs by outsourcing transit services for the disabled and infirm.

Wilbert Bryant (right) and Angela Stevens, both rail operators, grab signs and t-shirts before rallying in front of the law offices of MARTA Board Chair Robbie Ashe off of W. Peachtree St. in Atlanta on Monday, October 6, 2014.

Wilbert Bryant (right) and Angela Stevens, both rail operators, grab signs and t-shirts before rallying in front of the law offices of MARTA Board Chair Robbie Ashe off of W. Peachtree St. in Atlanta on Monday, October 6, 2014.

Salina Arnold (left) and Bob Braxton carry signs and chant with around 150 other MARTA employees and retirees as they rally in front of the law offices of MARTA Board Chair Robbie Ashe off of W. Peachtree St. in Atlanta on Monday, October 6, 2014.

Salina Arnold (left) and Bob Braxton carry signs and chant with around 150 other MARTA employees and retirees as they rally in front of the law offices of MARTA Board Chair Robbie Ashe off of W. Peachtree St. in Atlanta on Monday, October 6, 2014.

Greg Fann (center) uses a bullhorn to lead chants with around 150 MARTA employees and retirees as they rally in front of the law offices of MARTA Board Chair Robbie Ashe off of W. Peachtree St. in Atlanta on Monday, October 6, 2014.

Greg Fann (center) uses a bullhorn to lead chants with around 150 MARTA employees and retirees as they rally in front of the law offices of MARTA Board Chair Robbie Ashe off of W. Peachtree St. in Atlanta on Monday, October 6, 2014.

Senator Vincent Fort (left) shakes hands with James St. Ykes as he and around 150 other MARTA employees and retirees rally in front of the law offices of MARTA Board Chair Robbie Ashe off of W. Peachtree St. in Atlanta on Monday, October 6, 2014.

Senator Vincent Fort (left) shakes hands with James St. Ykes as he and around 150 other MARTA employees and retirees rally in front of the law offices of MARTA Board Chair Robbie Ashe off of W. Peachtree St. in Atlanta on Monday, October 6, 2014.

Curtis Howard (center), president of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 732, uses a bullhorn to speak to around 150 MARTA employees and retirees as they rally in front of the law offices of MARTA Board Chair Robbie Ashe off of W. Peachtree St. in Atlanta on Monday, October 6, 2014.

Curtis Howard (center), president of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 732, uses a bullhorn to speak to around 150 MARTA employees and retirees as they rally in front of the law offices of MARTA Board Chair Robbie Ashe off of W. Peachtree St. in Atlanta on Monday, October 6, 2014.

Senator Vincent Fort uses a bullhorn to speak to around 150 other MARTA employees and retirees as they rally in front of the law offices of MARTA Board Chair Robbie Ashe off of W. Peachtree St. in Atlanta on Monday, October 6, 2014.

Senator Vincent Fort uses a bullhorn to speak to around 150 other MARTA employees and retirees as they rally in front of the law offices of MARTA Board Chair Robbie Ashe off of W. Peachtree St. in Atlanta on Monday, October 6, 2014.

Michaela Stuckey (right) and Jim Callaghan carry signs and chant with around 150 other MARTA employees and retirees as they rally in front of the law offices of MARTA Board Chair Robbie Ashe off of W. Peachtree St. in Atlanta on Monday, October 6, 2014.

Michaela Stuckey (right) and Jim Callaghan carry signs and chant with around 150 other MARTA employees and retirees as they rally in front of the law offices of MARTA Board Chair Robbie Ashe off of W. Peachtree St. in Atlanta on Monday, October 6, 2014.

James St. Ykes (right) holds up a sign as he chants with around 150 other MARTA employees and retirees as they rally in front of the law offices of MARTA Board Chair Robbie Ashe off of W. Peachtree St. in Atlanta on Monday, October 6, 2014.

James St. Ykes (right) holds up a sign as he chants with around 150 other MARTA employees and retirees as they rally in front of the law offices of MARTA Board Chair Robbie Ashe off of W. Peachtree St. in Atlanta on Monday, October 6, 2014.

Curtis Howard (left), president of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 732, uses a bullhorn to speak to around 150 MARTA employees and retirees as they rally in front of the law offices of MARTA Board Chair Robbie Ashe off of W. Peachtree St. in Atlanta on Monday, October 6, 2014.

Curtis Howard (left), president of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 732, uses a bullhorn to speak to around 150 MARTA employees and retirees as they rally in front of the law offices of MARTA Board Chair Robbie Ashe off of W. Peachtree St. in Atlanta on Monday, October 6, 2014.

Charlotte Wilson (right), Derrick Murray, Joseph Lowe and Salina Arnold carry signs and chant with around 150 other MARTA employees and retirees as they rally in front of the law offices of MARTA Board Chair Robbie Ashe off of W. Peachtree St. in Atlanta on Monday, October 6, 2014.

Charlotte Wilson (right), Derrick Murray, Joseph Lowe and Salina Arnold carry signs and chant with around 150 other MARTA employees and retirees as they rally in front of the law offices of MARTA Board Chair Robbie Ashe off of W. Peachtree St. in Atlanta on Monday, October 6, 2014.

Curtis Jeffrey (left) and Monti Wilson walk the sidewalk carrying signs and chanting with around 150 other MARTA employees and retirees as they rally in front of the law offices of MARTA Board Chair Robbie Ashe off of W. Peachtree St. in Atlanta on Monday, October 6, 2014.

Curtis Jeffrey (left) and Monti Wilson walk the sidewalk carrying signs and chanting with around 150 other MARTA employees and retirees as they rally in front of the law offices of MARTA Board Chair Robbie Ashe off of W. Peachtree St. in Atlanta on Monday, October 6, 2014.

Gail Smith (left) walks the sidewalk carrying a sign and chanting with around 150 other MARTA employees and retirees as they rally in front of the law offices of MARTA Board Chair Robbie Ashe off of W. Peachtree St. in Atlanta on Monday, October 6, 2014.

Gail Smith (left) walks the sidewalk carrying a sign and chanting with around 150 other MARTA employees and retirees as they rally in front of the law offices of MARTA Board Chair Robbie Ashe off of W. Peachtree St. in Atlanta on Monday, October 6, 2014.

Yvette Brown walks the sidewalk carrying a sign and chanting with around 150 other MARTA employees and retirees as they rally in front of the law offices of MARTA Board Chair Robbie Ashe off of W. Peachtree St. in Atlanta on Monday, October 6, 2014.

Yvette Brown walks the sidewalk carrying a sign and chanting with around 150 other MARTA employees and retirees as they rally in front of the law offices of MARTA Board Chair Robbie Ashe off of W. Peachtree St. in Atlanta on Monday, October 6, 2014.