[bru-info] Day Two: BRU Fare Strike Spreads!

[bru-info at lists.resist.ca]

Day two: Fare Strike Spreads!

Bus Riders across the region join the struggle for social justice on the bus


The Bus Riders Union fare strike, launched Monday November 14, is spreading throughout the region. Says Zailda Chan, BRU organizer, "There are a lot of bus riders out there fare striking. At least 500 people went on fare strike yesterday, and even more today. We can see that the momentum of this action is really growing". The Bus Riders Union is organizing on the buses 12 hours a day to build the success of this week long action. Over 35 organizers are working to make the strike a success. Continues Chan, "Bus riders are so motivated to support the strike that they have been photocopying 'fare strike passes' themselves and giving them out to friends and family".


The Bus Riders Union is encouraging bus riders to tell bus drivers they are with the BRU fare strike and are not paying to protest high fares, long waits, overcrowded buses and increased racial profiling and police brutality on SkyTrain. The bus drivers' union, CAW Local 111, sent notice to their drivers that they should not interfere with the BRU, and that their job is to inform passengers of the fare, not to enforce the fare. 


The fare strike has received wide media coverage, from Channel M, Fairchild TV, Global, CTV, the Vancouver Province, CKNW, 24 Hours, The Metro and Vancouver Coop Radio. Many media sources gave airtime to TransLink's position that the fare strike has no impact, and participating in the strike is "no different than walking into a store and grabbing a loaf of bread". 


Jennifer Efting of the BRU responds, "This fare strike is clearly having a big impact on TransLink. In pure economic terms, it is costing TransLink thousand of dollars in revenue every day. The strike also makes an impact in terms of building resistance to TransLink and building the anti-racist progressive movement in Vancouver. In our context where poor people are facing attacks from multiple fronts - from bus fare hikes, to the privatization of health care, to cuts to welfare rates - this fare strike is an important way to fight back and assert our rights." Continues Efting, "As for the idea that we are 'stealing' - well, we have a right to mobility. Buses are a vital service for transit dependent people and they belong to the public. You can't steal something that belongs to you and your community already". 


Fare strike week is wrapping up on Friday November 18 with a rally at Broadway and Commercial (North-East corner) at 630pm. Come out and show your support for grassroots organizing on eve of the municipal elections!

For more information, call the Bus Riders Union at 604-215-2775 or email bru at resist.ca
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