We Can Win This

We Can Win This

Sister and Brother BART and AC Transit workers:

When AC Transit workers turned down a concessionary contract by more than 2-1, it was a big step forward for all workers. It set the stage for us to roll back the corporate offensive and start to move forward (instead of just trying to defend what little we have). But BART union bargainers just offered $10 million in concessions (on wages, health and pensions. They say we must make concessions to win over the public. That's a losing strategy – management will just demand more givebacks. No concessions! Instead, we must campaign aggressively to win labor and community to our side. Here's how:

First: Their attack on your wages and conditions is part of an attack on public transit as a whole and can't be fought without defending public transit and all public services. We should fight for a mass transit system that that meets the needs of the whole working class community -- employed, unemployed, and underemployed-- and especially those most dependent on mass transit (seniors; those with disabilities; young people; low-income people without cars; etc.)

 Restore the cuts to AC Transit lines. Slash fares for AC Transit and BART to make it affordable for all.

They are also stirring up jealousy against all public sector workers, because their wages and benefits are better than most workers'. The fact is, many workers earn a lot less than we do and have no health coverage or pensions. If we want them to stand up for us, we have to stand up for them. And not some time in the distant future, but right now.

We should not only try to hold onto and improve what public sector workers (including BART and AC Transit workers) have; we should link this with a fight for all workers to win the same. We should fight for all workers to gain:

 A living wage, starting with an immediate increase to $15 / hr or a raise of $5 / hr, whichever is greater. But that's not enough to live decently. We have to keep fighting for what all working people really need.
 A real pension plan, fully paid for by the employer.
 Real health insurance for all workers and their dependents, fully paid for by the employer.

We in the Transport Workers Solidarity Committee (TWSC) have been working to support these struggles. We would like to help start a campaign like this. This includes both having the TWSC start such a campaign and, at the same time, organizing within the BART and AC Transit unions to get the official leadership to build this.

Transport Workers Solidarity Committee – www.transportworkers.org
email: twsc@transportworkers.org