Just hours after the TWU Local 100 leadership announced the strike, members of the Party for Socialism and Liberation mobilized to support the transit workers. They joined efforts by the anti-war coalition ANSWER (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism) to set up “TWU support teams” throughout New York City.
Beginning on the morning of Dec. 20, teams distributed thousands of flyers to lines of commuters with the headline: “The transit workers are our brothers and sisters! Support the strike!” During subsequent rush hours, teams handed out updates and fact sheets that challenged the media lies.
On Dec. 21, the ANSWER Coalition sent out a national e-mail calling for anti-war and anti-racist activists to send letters to Gov. Pataki, Mayor Bloomberg and New York attorney general Elliot Spitzer demanding, “No fines, no union busting.” Within 24 hours, over 7,500 people had sent letters of support based on the ANSWER email and leaflets.
PSL members also joined striking workers on picket lines around the city.
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