by Brian Flagg
Tim Stellers’ column in Sunday’s Daily Star (http://tucson.com/news/local/columnists/steller/steller-council-could-have-helped-avert-bus-strike/article_cf85fb57-8986-5dae-839e-a913ebba70e4.html) was an attack on the Bus Riders Union and the majority of the City Council who have, for the most part, supported the transit system, bus riders and poor people. His column was a crude attempt to pit working people against poor people.
Steller claims that if the council would have previously raised fares and cut many more routes they would now have the money to pay more to bus drivers and mechanics and thus avoid the current strike.
The quotes attribute to Teamster President Andy Marshall in the story were despicable; both to the Bus Rider Union and the Council.
When I confronted Andy on Sunday morning before the Teamsters informational meeting at Reid Park, he denied having said the Council was stupid and cowardly for not raising fares and cutting routes. Then he told his entire membership about this and vowed to complain to the Star. He also said he would repeat that he was misquoted at the big BUS RIDER UNION-END THE STRIKE NOW HOT DOG FEAST on TUESDAY, AUGUST 11 AT 4:30 at the Ronstadt Center.
I can relate because just two weeks ago the Star totally misquoted me in a story about the Ronstadt Transit Center.
County Supervisor Richard Elias and Fred Yamashita, chair of the Pima Area Labor Federation, will also speak. City Council members have been invited.
Be there!
Support the bus Drivers and Mechanics!
End the Strike Now!
EL PRESIDENTE DE LA UNION TEAMSTERS NO FUE UN TRAIDOR
En el periódico, el columnista Tim Steller hizo un gran golpe contra la Unión de los pasajeros y los políticos que han apoyado a los pasajeros. El trató de incitar un pleito entre pasajeros y manejadores.
El dijo que los políticos eran tontos porque no subieron los precios de los pasajeros y por no cortar muchas mas rutas. Era la solución para obtener feria para terminar la huelga.
Stellar dijo que Andy Marshall, presidente de los Teamster acusó a los políticos de tontos por no castigar a los pasajeros con precios mas altos y menos rutas.
Yo enfrenté a Andy en el parque Reid antes de la junta de los Teamsters ayer. El me dijo que el no dijo estas cosas, que fue la culpa de el periodista. Entonces el explico este onda a todos sus miembros, se va a quejar con el periódico y va a invitar a los pasajeros a la HOT DOG FIESTA en el Ronstadt Center martes a las 4:30 de la tarde, 11 de agosto.
Ven para escuchar y participar en la terminación de la huelga en favor de los trabajadores, no los ricos!