Making History
Our nations are on the threshold of great change. The upcoming 2024 U.S. elections are resonating deeply across every corner of America with good reason. In Canada, there are critical provincial elections and possible snap elections. What we do next will alter the course of our history. Beyond political positions and partisan agendas, the very fabric of our democracy is at stake.
We have a choice now between moving courageously into the future or living in the past. A choice between upholding the principles of justice, equality, and opportunity for all or division, misinformation, and cynicism.
In the U.S. by passing the torch to Vice President Kamala Harris, President Joe Biden has given us an opportunity to vote for a younger generation to move our country forward. President Biden, thank you for giving your heart and soul to the American people. Thank you for leading us to a better place and past Trump’s Presidency of chaos and cruelty.
The Union Difference
The contrast between Vice President Harris and Donald Trump is stark. It’s not just a matter of preference but a choice between two fundamentally different paths.
The fact that a wave of organized labor, including the ATU, is backing Harris speaks volumes. The Biden-Harris administration has been the most pro-union, pro-transit administration in history, compared to Trump’s dangerous Project 2025, which would dismantle unions and eliminate federal transit funding while slashing taxes for the ultra-rich.
With the Biden-Harris administration, we invested in workers to create jobs, train our members, and keep them safe. We’ve had pro-worker officials leading the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Trump, on the other hand, took a hostile approach toward unions, including opposing raising the federal minimum wage, restraining worker organizing, enhancing inequality between workers and those at the top, and putting anti-worker, pro-management officials in charge of our most vital government departments whose job it is to protect workers.
While Trump did everything he could to defund transit, even at the height of the pandemic when working families relied on transit services the most, the Biden-Harris administration passed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which invested more money into public transit than any other administration in history.
‘We Are Not Going Back’
Vice President Harris has proven to be a great friend of working people. From taking on Wall Street to supporting the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, which would allow workers to organize without fear of retaliation, she has been a powerful advocate for workers. Harris knows that strong unions mean a strong America.
In selecting Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate, Harris has chosen a former union member, football coach, teacher, and 24-year veteran with ‘good midwestern commonsense.’ At the Harris/Walz rallies on the campaign trail, the spirited crowds have chanted, “We are not going back.” Back to a time when unions had to fight for their lives. Back to a time when Trump promised to veto the PRO Act and packed the courts with anti-labor judges and the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) with anti-labor appointees who sided with management in contract disputes and supported companies that took away workers’ rights.
We also need to focus on key Senate and House races in Montana, Arizona, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Wisconsin, Michigan, and others. We will help ensure that we have a majority in Congress so that a Harris/Walz Administration will have the support needed to usher in meaningful reform for workers.
For our Sisters and Brothers in Canada, the U.S. election is just as important. As you all know, what happens in American politics eventually filters North to Canada. There are also provincial elections in Saskatchewan and British Columbia that will be critical to our Union. In addition, the recent instability in the relationship of all Canadian parties at the federal level could lead to a snap election and in Ontario, Doug Ford, no friend of our Union, may also call a snap election.
Having traveled across Canada and visited with our members, it’s clear that our Canadian members are concerned about American-style politics. Although we’re separated by borders, our issues are the same. Transit systems need funding—whether they are in Saskatoon or San Francisco—and the power of your vote is the difference between securing that funding or not.
A Better Tomorrow
At this pivotal moment, it’s crucial to understand the power of your vote. Our democracy thrives when we’re engaged, hold our elected leaders accountable, and demand a government that serves the common good. As citizens, it’s not just a right but a duty to participate in shaping the country we want to see.
This In Transit issue includes facts and comparisons to help you make the crucial decision about who to cast your ballot for. From the Presidential race to Senate, from City Council to School Board, who we elect matters.
I urge you to reflect deeply on the issues at stake in the 2024 elections. Vote for your job, vote for your safety, vote for your families, vote for a better tomorrow. Together, we can ensure our democracy stands. Our history and the future of our country are in your hands. Vote.