MARTA cuts could hurt service industry workers

By Jeanne Bonner

Atlanta, Ga. – MARTA may have to cut a quarter of its service later this year because of budget shortfalls. Among the people who would be most affected by the cuts are service industry workers.

Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, the Georgia Dome, the Westin -- these are some of places in metro Atlanta where service industry employees work.

And according to Harris Raynor, whose union represents 5,000 workers here, most service industry workers take MARTA to their jobs.

That means many of them will be scrambling if MARTA cuts 61 bus routes, or if it delays service until 7 a.m. on weekends.

"It's a disaster for working people," Raynor said, "and it's disaster for people who work where parking is difficult or expensive. And it hurts all of the lower-wage people."

Some of Atlanta's top destinations would be affected, including the Georgia World Congress complex.

Spokeswoman Christy Petterson said about 85 percent of the complex's 1,000 part-time employees take MARTA to work.

"Some of our events run late and we don't want our employees to work a full shift and then worry about being stuck here," Petterson said.

MARTA is holding public meetings about the proposed cuts this week. Tonight's meeting will take place at 6 p.m. at the agency's North Fulton Service Center in Sandy Springs.

For WABE News, I'm Jeanne Bonner.