Take Action: Support Green Transit and Green Jobs in New York

On the front lines of climate change in the Bronx, labor unions and environmental advocates recently held a press conference supporting the “Green Transit, Green Jobs” legislation (S.6089/A.6414) currently in committee in the New York State Senate and Assembly. The press conference, which took place on March 7th at West Farms Bus Depot right off the Cross Bronx Expressway, was organized by the ElectrifyNY statewide coalition along with Assembly members Jeffrey Dinowitz and Karina Reyes and State Senator Luis Sepúlveda.

The “Green Transit, Green Jobs” bill would require transit authorities such as the MTA to purchase only zero-emission (i.e., non-fossil fuel combustion) buses by 2029, while at the same time using a “best value” contracting framework to ensure that these procurements create good-paying union jobs in the manufacturing and transportation sectors. Currently, less than 1% of New York’s 6,000 buses are electric, and the transition to a 100% electric bus fleet could create over 6,100 jobs directly and 21,500 jobs indirectly in the bus manufacturing industry, while improving air quality and public health particularly in marginalized communities.

The IBEW, CWA, SEIU, UAW, and SMART were among several labor unions representing thousands of workers across the state to sign a letter to Governor Kathy Hochul urging her to include the “Green Transit, Green Jobs” bill in the 2024-2025 Executive Budget, which the State Senate and Assembly must approve by April 1st. Show your support by sending a letter and tell Governor Hochul and the NYS Legislature to pass the “Green Transit, Green Jobs” bill.