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Bernie Sanders pens letter in support of GR transit union

berniesanders.com

Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders says enough is enough in a letter critical of negotiations between Rapid management and its local union.

The current U.S. Senator says the Interurban Transit Partnership board’s move to get rid of the current employee pension structure makes “inequality in Grand Rapids worse” and forces Rapid employees to gamble retirement security through the stock market.

He was also critical of recent bus fare hikes amid a raise given to Rapid CEO Peter Varga, calling it "taking from the working people of Grand Rapids to give more to the wealthy”.

Sanders addressed the letter to members of the Grand Rapids local chapter of the Amalgamated Transit Union.

Contract negotiations between the ITP and ATUGR leadership stalled earlier this summer following a two-month extension in June.

The contract expired at the end of August.

Hilary is a General Assignment and Enterprise reporter for WGVU Public Media. She joined WGVU in September 2014 after several years of experience as a local news reporter, anchor and photojournalist in Midland, Saginaw and Bay counties. She's also worked as a financial and business reporter and audio field producer.
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