MTA Commits to U.S. Jobs with $3.2B Subway Car Purchase
The New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) released a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the upcoming purchase of 1025 subway cars, worth an estimated $3.2 billion, that prioritizes the creation and retention of good manufacturing jobs for U.S. workers.
The bid will include a U.S. Employment Plan, developed by Jobs to Move America (JMA), which provides a broad range of incentives to encourage railcar and bus manufacturers to include a robust U.S. jobs program and a career pipeline for low-income and communities of color as part of their projects.
According to research from the University of Massachusetts–Amherst, the MTA’s inclusion of the U.S. Employment Plan in its latest purchase could help support up to 33,165 U.S. jobs. It also means opportunities for communities that have long missed out on the benefits of transit investments, such as women and people of color.
“Adopting this plan, which includes a jobs disclosure and evaluation tool for the purchase of these trains will not only improve New York's transit system, it will also create good jobs and revive manufacturing in our communities that need it the most. JMA congratulates Governor Andrew Cuomo and the MTA on their commitment to economic development and job access for historically excluded communities,” said Linda Nguyen, deputy director at Jobs to Move America.
A strong supporter of creating well-paying middle-class jobs in the transit sector, Senator Charles Schumer of New York said, “Creating good family-supporting jobs and improving our transit system is key to boosting livelihoods in New York. I commend the MTA, the Jobs to Move America coalition and others on their important work making this happen.”
Jobs to Move America's New York coalition, which includes the Transport Workers Union Local 100, Community Service Society, and Community Voices Heard, came together to encourage the MTA to adopt the U.S. Employment Plan.
"The Metropolitan Transportation Authority in New York is a massive economic engine that should be creating as many jobs as possible for American families,” said John Samuelsen, executive vice president of Transport Workers Union of America and president of TWU Local 100. “The inclusion of the U.S. Employment Plan in this railcar RFP is an extremely positive step in the right direction."
John Samuelsen has long advocated for the need to create good jobs for New Yorkers through initiatives like the U.S. Employment Plan. In an opinion piecefor the Daily News, President Samuelsen and Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz encouraged the MTA to get on board with the JMA campaign. President Samuelsen’s involvement in campaign has been integral to JMA’s success in New York.
Mario Cilento, president of the New York State AFL-CIO said, "This is a much-needed decision, as New York alone has lost roughly 320,000 manufacturing jobs over the last 15 years. And, 16 percent of New Yorkers are currently living in poverty. We applaud the MTA for recognizing the importance of solid middle-class job creation and retention while ensuring those job opportunities will be available to those who need them most."
