Dear Lakeland Passenger,

The owners of Lakeland Bus Lines have announced that they are raising your fares on June 16th by 8.26%.

We believe the riders of Lakeland Bus Lines deserve the same fare structures and services offered to other New Jersey taxpayers thoughout the state. Unfortunately, because of the cozy relationship between Lakeland’s owners and New Jersey Transit’s management, Lakeland is being allowed to siphon off tax dollars though its wasteful practices and high salaries for the families of the owners.

The fare for riding New Jersey Transit bus from Wayne, NJ to the Port Authority is $6.00 for an adult one way ticket. The same ticket on Lakeland Bus Lines will increase to $8.50. That is a huge difference of $2.50 for a ride on the same bus owned by the state. The only difference being a management team of family members instead of New Jersey Transit.

The owners have tried to portray the fare increases as a response to our recent contract settlement. The fact is that there have been two prior fare increases while no raises were given to Lakeland workers for three years! The fact is that our wage increase provided a modest wage increase with no retroactive pay increases at all. Four years from now, we will still be making 20% less than New Jersey Transit Bus Operators while Lakeland fares, at the rate they have been increasing, will be soaring over New Jersey Transits.

Another fact is that Lakeland receives a massive fuel subsidy from taxpayers through New Jersey Transit. They also receive free buses. They receive free parking and training and free administrative services. Worth millions in taxpayers dollars each year. Millions!

New Jersey Transit is also providing the owners of Lakeland Bus Lines with salary and benefit packages worth more than $175,000 for each of the four owners. They also receive full cost of living increases every year. So, we believe that the owners are just getting more greedy and we wish to offer some sensible proposals to protect Lakeland’s passengers from being continuously gouged by its owners.

1) New Jersey Transit should audit Lakeland Bus Lines, as called for in the contract between them, and examine the potential misuse of tax dollars on personal cars and fuel.

2) New Jersey Transit should reopen the contract with Lakeland and cut the wage inflation clause to match the annualized wage increases granted to its workers. This must be based on the entire period from 2004 forward. Lakeland’s owners claim that the Union contract was “generous”. They claim it was “so generous” that they have to raise their fares. But they fail to tell you that their own salaries, paid entirely by New Jersey’s taxpayers, are increasing much faster. They should be forced to accept the same “generous” terms that they gave their workers…no more!

3) New Jersey Transit must make Lakeland open their books. You as a taxpayer have the right to know that you are not being ripped off! This is a fully tax subsidized bus company. Their finances belong in the public domain.

4) New Jersey Transit should conduct full public hearings to take testimony from Lakeland’s passengers and compel Lakeland to explain why they are demanding a third fare increase in less than three years.

5) No fare increase unless approved by New Jersey Transit.

The members of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1614 appreciate our passengers and we thank you for supporting us in our recent struggles with Lakeland. We intend to continue to hold Lakeland accountable and to work with you our passengers to get better and more economical bus service. It is a fact that the Union accepted a contract with lower wages and benefits than what New Jersey Transit provides. Does it make any sense to you that Lakeland should charge you MORE than New Jersey Transit charges?

We believe that New Jersey Transit must step in and control the owners of Lakeland. This will only happen if Governor Corzine steps in. We urge you to call and e-mail the Governor and let him know what the Mazzerisi and Leo families are now up to. The Governor can force accountability. Lets ask the Governor to set the fare on an equal basis with New Jersey Transit. Please call the Governor’s office and e-mail him today.