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Via Workers World News Service
Reprinted from the Oct. 12, 2000
issue of Workers World newspaper
-------------------------Transit workers rally in Los Angeles
Thousands of striking bus drivers, train operators and other workers from the United Transit Workers union held a mass rally outside Los Angeles City Hall on Sept. 29. In addition to the union workers, a broad outpouring of community organizations and elected officials attended the rally, which was a militant answer to a well-orchestrated attempt by the Metropolitan Transit Authority to break the strike.
Management is using vicious lies and anti-union propaganda on radio, TV and the print media in an attempt to turn public opinion against the workers. Recent polls, however, show that over 80 percent of the people in Los Angeles support the workers' demands. The MTA is taking a hard-line position and has refused to negotiate in good faith.
The rally also demonstrated solidarity with all those unions whose contracts run out this fall. Service Employees Local 660, which represents 47,000 Los Angeles County workers, has said it will strike starting Oct. 3 unless the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors grants a 15-percent across-the-board pay increase over three years. In addition, the United Teachers of Los Angeles is demanding a 20-percent increase over three years, smaller classes and better working conditions.
On Sept. 29, 30,000 Teachers union members authorized their leadership to call a strike if the Board of Education refuses to meet their demands. The solidarity among these and other unions, whose members are mainly Black, Latino, Asian and immigrant workers, was reaffirmed again and again at the rally.
--Preston Wood
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