Demonstration in support of TWU

Dec. 22—Demonstrators lined the opposite ends of the Brooklyn Bridge tonight to express their solidarity with Transport Workers Union Local 100. The union carried out a heroic three-day strike against the Metropolitan Transit Authority, which had tried to pressure the workers into accepting givebacks during contract talks. The strike ended today as both sides agreed to reopen negotiations.

During the strike, representatives of many community, trade union and political groups formed New Yorkers in Solidarity with Transit Workers. A number of those groups participated in today’s action, which reached out to thousands of people walking across the bridge during the evening rush hour. Their banners, placards and leaflets got a positive response from many of the New Yorkers, who indicated they supported the strike and the demonstration. Even motorists stopped to take leaflets.

The groups included in tonight’s action were CAAAV: Organizing Asian Communities, Justice Committee, Desis Rising Up and Moving (DRUM), the Korean organization NODUTDOL, International Action Center, United Federation of Teachers, Audre Lorde Project, al-Awda Right to Return, Million Worker March Movement, December 12 Movement, Jobs with Justice, the youth group Fight Imperialism-Stand Together (FIST), Harlem Tenants Council, Troops Out Now Coalition and Workers World Party.

The demonstrators passed out thousands of leaflets and stickers that explained the important issues behind the strike, including the right to health care and pensions for all workers. Among the many chants heard throughout the solidarity action was: “Transit workers deserve a hug, Bloomberg is a racist thug!” Billionaire Bloomberg had publicly called the strike leaders “thuggish.” TWU President Roger Toussaint, along with Reverends Al Sharpton and Herbert Daughtry, denounced Bloomberg’s statement as racist. Local 100 is predominately made up of workers of color and immigrants.