Here's the central question for me. How do you support working people in this strike? Even though many fellow progressives I have talked with would like there to be an easy answer, there isn't one.
One thought in the progressive movement is that we should support bus drivers in their efforts, because it represents larger symbolic struggles we are all dealing with: a Governor bent on not raising state revenue, or else; a health-care crisis; reckless cuts to transit funding and key state government efforts. For these reasons and others, many people are predisposed to support union members in any strike. (Personally I absolutely support their RIGHT to strike, but am unsure whether a strike was the best choice). Another thought among less vocal progressives is that the bus strike hurts low-income riders. It causes them to lose access to jobs, and in a week or two many will probably be forced to lose their jobs. It cuts off seniors access to friends, activity and health care. In fact, riders of all incomes feel the pinch of the strike through more difficult or expensive commuting. I hate to be the one to point this out. But what is unfortunate about this strike is that if it lasts a long time, you are splitting the self-interests of two progressive constituencies that should be working together: transit riders and drivers. To date, the transit drivers have tacitly asked a favor of transit riders: would transit riders sacrifice their self-interest for the self-interest of transit workers? Many people can cope in one way or another. But we need to hear the stories of the truly transit-dependent. If this lasts weeks or months, that's not a pretty picture for them. If this lasts much longer, I might try a slightly different strategy than the union has tried to date. The reality is that the union would have more power if, over the long term, it did a better job of linking up with transit advocacy groups and vice-versa. There are organizations out there -- Transit for Livable Communities, the Minnesota Transportation Alliance, the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy, the Minnesota Public Transit Association, the new Itasca Group of business leaders to name a few -- who think Pawlenty gave transit a pretty rotten deal last year. Each organization has political power and each has thousands of members and connections. Each is actively involved in political lobbying, and have combined access to basically every legislator across the state. From what I know, the transit union has really not been much of a player in these organizations. Maybe I haven't been around the right people. And maybe the organizations could reach out better to unions. But that's just my point. It's time that we think of ourselves as a united front against the true enemy -- the extreme Republican ideologues in the legislature and the Governor's office who want to use transit for political gain. A new political landscape call for us all to develop a new response. What would a different strategy look like? Well, its worth considering that the union's best choice may not be a strike. Maybe it's too late this time around, maybe not, but indulge one of many possibilities. A negotiated work slowdown. If he was held accountable publicly, it seems Chair Bell should prefer this option to a strike any day. Drive just your Holiday schedule every day. Busses would be less frequent and packed, but better than nothing. Then take the excess workers, and send them to the Capitol. Rotate the workers in and out of driving and lobbying. Hold a massive rally at the Capitol with these peer groups I've mentioned. Bring the message to the ideologues who put us all in this place to start with. We will all lose if we remain in the state we are in much longer. Pawlenty will cite ridership declines, Hiawatha will stumble in its early days, there will be lost jobs, no guarantees for the union. Clearly, a strike is a powerful emotional symbol for progressives. But we need to disentangle the many issues here in a way that doesn't choke one group of workers or another, and doesn't ultimately choke our transit system. Then we will be getting somewhere. Bob Spaulding Downtown Saint Paul A few web links and resources. Please note that I did not contact any of these groups for information or opinion or anything else in writing this message: Transit for Livable Communities: http://www.tlcminnesota.org Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy: http://www.mncenter.org/p.asp?WebPage_ID=47 Minnesota Transportation Alliance - http://www.transportationalliance.com Alliance for Metropolitan Stability - http://www.mepartnership.org/sites/ALLIANCEFORMETROSTABILITY/ REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. 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