Several hundred striking transit workers rallied in front of Metro Transit?s offices just west of downtown Minneapolis Thursday, the first day of a strike that shut down the Twin Cities bus system.
?We?re going to stand shoulder to shoulder as long as it takes,? said Ron Lloyd, president of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1005, addressing the spirited crowd. ?We?re going to stand up for what we?ve earned.?
?Everything working men and working women have is because you fought for it,? said State Rep. Keith Ellison, DFL-Minneapolis. If your father fought, and your grandfather fought, then you need to fight, too.?
?Thank you for doing this struggle for social justice on behalf of all working people,? said State Rep. Frank Hornstein, DFL-Minneapolis. ?I want to let you know that you have a lot of friends in the Legislature.?
As horns blared from passing diesel trucks and cars, workers with picket signs took time to voice their concerns.
 |
| Sarah Ulness (center), a Metro Transit bus operator for three years, was one of several hundred striking Metro Transit employees who rallied Thursday in Minneapolis. "It's hard for me to go on strike. I care about the people who need the buses," she said, adding "I have to stand up for what's right." Minneapolis Labor Review photo |
?I like to do my job, do it well,? said Sarah Ulness, a bus operator for three years. ?It?s hard for me to go on strike. I care about the people who need the buses,? she said, adding ?I have to stand up for what?s right.?
Local 1005 voted overwhelmingly to reject an offer for a two-year contract that would take more money out of workers? pockets for health benefits, freeze wages for the first year, and provide a one per cent increase in wages for the second year.
In the final negotiations before the strike, Metro Transit refused the union?s offer to continue working until July under the present contract.
?They said ?no? to basically everything,? said Mike Herrala, a new bus operator, just seven months on the job.
?We have negotiated in good faith for 30 years and have labored with integrity,? said Bill Treleven, a bus operator for 20 years. ?What?s wrong with the contract we have??
Several hundred striking transit workers rallied in front of Metro Transit?s offices just west of downtown Minneapolis Thursday, the first day of a strike that shut down the Twin Cities bus system.
?We?re going to stand shoulder to shoulder as long as it takes,? said Ron Lloyd, president of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1005, addressing the spirited crowd. ?We?re going to stand up for what we?ve earned.?
?Everything working men and working women have is because you fought for it,? said State Rep. Keith Ellison, DFL-Minneapolis. If your father fought, and your grandfather fought, then you need to fight, too.?
?Thank you for doing this struggle for social justice on behalf of all working people,? said State Rep. Frank Hornstein, DFL-Minneapolis. ?I want to let you know that you have a lot of friends in the Legislature.?
As horns blared from passing diesel trucks and cars, workers with picket signs took time to voice their concerns.
| Sarah Ulness (center), a Metro Transit bus operator for three years, was one of several hundred striking Metro Transit employees who rallied Thursday in Minneapolis. “It’s hard for me to go on strike. I care about the people who need the buses,” she said, adding “I have to stand up for what’s right.” Minneapolis Labor Review photo |
?I like to do my job, do it well,? said Sarah Ulness, a bus operator for three years. ?It?s hard for me to go on strike. I care about the people who need the buses,? she said, adding ?I have to stand up for what?s right.?
Local 1005 voted overwhelmingly to reject an offer for a two-year contract that would take more money out of workers? pockets for health benefits, freeze wages for the first year, and provide a one per cent increase in wages for the second year.
In the final negotiations before the strike, Metro Transit refused the union?s offer to continue working until July under the present contract.
?They said ?no? to basically everything,? said Mike Herrala, a new bus operator, just seven months on the job.
?We have negotiated in good faith for 30 years and have labored with integrity,? said Bill Treleven, a bus operator for 20 years. ?What?s wrong with the contract we have??