Today marks thirteen days that ATU Local 689 members working for Loudoun County Transit private contractor Keolis will have been on strike. The 130 workers who operate, maintain, and dispatch buses went on strike at 3 a.m. on January 11. “From the very beginning, our members have been strong and united against Keolis, a French multinational corporation and one of the largest public transit operators in the U.S.,” said ATU. Low wages are at the center of the strike, forcing many of ATU 689’s members to move out of the county with Loudoun County being one of the country’s most expensive places to live. Keolis underbid the contract to operate bus service, severely impacting the Local 689 members who keep the system moving. “On the second day of the strike, the company put their ‘last, best, and final’ offer on the table, resulting in our members walking out of negotiations after an insulting proposal that fails to address our issues,” said ATU. “Our members are standing strong and biding their time on the picket line until they get what they’re due.” Click here to hear ATU 689 President Raymond Jackson’s update on the Loudoun County transit strike on last week’s Your Rights At Work WPFW radio show.