Direct Action

Political Engagement

strategic fight back

Local 208 Fightback Campaign

 

TWU Local 208 has been engaged in a fightback campaign for the last two years. Elements of the campaign include:

​

• Member education about the threat of autonomous vehicles (one-on-one workplace outreach, distribution of fliers, membership meetings, etc.);

• Meetings with the Mayor of Columbus, City Council Members and the COTA CEO to give them the message that transit service is under Local 208 jurisdiction;

• from Local 208 president before the OH House of Representatives’ Transportation and Public Safety Committee (December 2017), followed by a press conference;

• Public outreach via leafletting actions, op-eds and media stories;

• Integration of the driverless bus issue into our for the OH gubernatorial race;

• Passage of a (June 2018) that noted the importance of maintaining existing and future bus operator and maintenance jobs and committed to working with Local 208 to “

• At the OH state AFL-CIO meeting (9/17-19), TWU will host a on driverless buses to about the threat of AVs;

• Launch a that will include labor, community, disability rights, environmental and student organizations.

• Because of TWU’s campaign, COTA and the OH DOT have agreed that Local 208 members will be on-board and will maintain the driverless vehicles used in the upcoming pilot project in downtown Columbus.