Public Statement.
June 2010
The undersigned publicly declare our rejection of the poor living conditions imposed by the transport system Transantiago. Product of a series of policies that, by giving the state a role merely subsidiary, have failed in the objective of establishing a public transportation system that emphasizes citizen welfare above any commercial or political interest.
We oppose the rate increases to public transport, as we believe,
1. The transport system is designed so as to produce a permanent deficit due to the costs of operation of private enterprises that comprise it, those who were privileged to provide the service instead of state for political reasons. These costs are borne by citizens and ensure the profits of employers.
2. The standards and indicators which sets the rate does not take into account the payment capacity of families and the working class in general, resulting in increases that are not consistent with adjustments in income received by users by way of salary minimum benefits for employees or students.
3. The initial design has not settled a debt with the users, by the existence of a series of broken promises regarding travel time, coverage, connectivity, waiting times, frequency, etc. Aspects that were within the objectives that led to justify the need to introduce this new transport system and have not yet been fully secured.
4. The government has avoided the political responsibility of design, implementation and operation, delegating decisions of profound social impact in a "committee of experts" can not assume liabilities that the government must respond to citizens.
5. The higher revenues to the system due to the rise has not been used in increasing benefits to users, but on the contrary, there has been a systematic reduction of these, like the elimination of provisional pass students.
6. The working conditions of drivers have worsened rather than improved. The new transport system has not been able to rest assure adequate premises, availability of toilets at the end of the tours and a reduction in hours of continuous work. There is poor control of other working conditions for drivers.
7. In contrast to the safety and security that are given to transport operators, citizens have no protection against increases, arbitrariness and abuse that involves the transfer of costs that are not caused by using a bad design but which have not been a party or are responsible , with the welfare of citizens and not the business-the ultimate goal of a system of this nature.
The need for us to defend our rights we are called to mobilize in this situation, where our interests as citizens are not taken into consideration and for this we appeal to those who feel the same need to defend with us this minimum welfare conditions and to participate in the Transportation Coordinator for the Social and law, to address the policies that constitute an unjustified harm to our families.
Each of us individually and as spokesmen for the organizations we represent, we report our strong opposition to any rate hike is not justified in a welfare gain, efficiency and coverage that this system offers and we will carry out actions necessary to enforce our voice.
summoned to appear From now on the afternoon of Thursday, July 8 at the Plaza de Armas , to feel our opinion and stop the already announced fare hikes Transantiago.
by the Transportation Coordinator and Social Law
Transantiago Users Committee
Metropolitan
