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April 7, 2008 For Immediate Release Contacts: Bill Groesz, ATU BAT Steward, 541-350-3114; Fernando Gapasin, Central Oregon Labor Council President. 503-701-6701 Rally at Bend City Hall at 4 p.m., Wednesday, April 16, to Stop Cuts in Bend Area Transit and Dial-A-Ride, Stop the Fare Hike, and Support BAT Workers Bend Area Transit (BAT) workers, public transit riders and supporters, and union activists will hold a rally to save Bend's public transit system, stop cuts in BAT and Dial-A-Ride services, stop the proposed fare hike, and support workers' rights at 4 p.m., Wednesday, April 16, at Bend City Hall on the corner of Wall and Louisiana streets. All BAT and Dial-A-Ride riders and supporters, and residents who support workers' rights, are invited to attend the rally organized by BAT workers, Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 757, the Central Oregon Labor Council and Central Oregon Jobs with Justice. Stewart Acuff, organizing director for the national AFL-CIO, will speak at the rally along with Tom Chamberlain, president of the Oregon AFL-CIO, and Jon Hunt, president of ATU Local 757, the union BAT workers joined last year. Bend Area Transit workers have been trying to bargain a fair contract for eight months," says BAT driver and union steward Bill Groesz. "So far we have been offered nothing. Now the city's transit manager wants to cut hours, cut BAT service, eliminate Sunday Dial-A-Ride service and increase fares. There are better ways to trim the transit budget without putting the burden on the backs of BAT workers and cutting costs at the expense of people who are dependent on public transit." BAT workers have offered to show the Bend City Council how it can save money without hurting workers and riders, including elimination of Paratransit Services, the out-of-state contractor that runs BAT for the city. Public hearings on BAT and Dial-A-Ride cuts are expected this month. BAT workers have been bargaining a first contract with Paratransit Services since winning union representation. BAT workers are the only city workers who do not have a union contract. They have not a had a wage increase in five years and their wages are around $11 an hour--way below what other city workers are paid.