People's Climate March Beats Expectations; TWU Credited with Organizing Support

An estimated 310,000 marchers dominated midtown Manhattan on Sunday to call on world governments to take action to reduce global warming. TWU Local 100 had played an important role in organizing the march by giving 350.org, the main sponsor, space at the Union Hall to train Peacekeepers who were present throughout the event wearing distinctive vests and armbands. Local 100 officials and rank and file also marched. Transit workers have a particular stake in climate change: Not only do rising sea levels threaten transit infrastructure, but the solutions to climate change should include more funding for mass transit to give people an alternative to gas-guzzling cars. TA Surface Vice President JP Patafio closed out the labor rally that preceded the march with a powerful speech in which he called upon corporate interests to take the environment into account or face shut-down by angry unions and citizens.