There has been a lot of debate about the on-going transit worker strike in NYC, but there hasn't been much said about what you can do to help.
Here are a few ways that you can show your support!
I'm not going to add any more to the debate here. You already know which side you're on.
The first and easiest way to help is to sign the on-line petition
Even more effective, you can call or email the MTA, Pataki, and Bloomberg:
MTA -- 212-878-7274
Governor Pataki -- 518-474-7516
Mayor Bloomberg email: http://www.nyc.gov/...
Governor Pataki email: http://161.11.3.75/...
MTA email: http://mta-nyc.custhelp.com/...
If you can make it, there will be simultaneous rallies in support of the transit workers and their right to strike on Thursday, December 22 on both sides of the Brooklyn Bridge, 4:00 to 6:00 pm. Bring signs, placards and noisemakers and stand with the TWU. More information at (212) 633-6646.
There will also be a rally againt the pontential jailing of the union's leaders:
The New York Times reports that New York State Supreme Court Judge Theodore Jones has ordered TWU President Roger Toussaint and the top leaders of Local 100 to appear in room 227 of Kings County Supreme Court tomorrow (Thursday) at 11:00 am. The Times reports that Judge Jones said he wants the union leadership in court tomorrow because he is considering sentencing them to jail for calling the strike.
See http://tinyurl.com/... or
http://www.nytimes.com/...
WHAT CAN WE DO?
1. COME TO COURT: Room 227 is the biggest court room in Brooklyn. It seats several hundred people. The hearing is open to the public. Kings County Supreme Court is at 360 Adams Street, near Borough Hall. The main entrance is on Court Street at Montague Street. There is another
entrance on Adams Street. The Court is only a few blocks from the Brooklyn Bridge. People coming from Queens, East New York or Bed/Stuy can take the Long Island Railroad to the nearby [Flatbush Ave. stop] Brooklyn Terminal at Atlantic and Flatbush Avenues [one mile walk/bike].
2. COME TO COURT EARLY TO MEET THE PRESS: The media has been crucifying the union and trying to portray the image that the public is against the strike. Tomorrow will be an excellent opportunity to meet the press before the court hearing and make statements of support and solidarity with the strikers and their union and to show the transit workers that they are not in this fight alone.
3. CONTACT ELIOT SPITZER: Attorney General Spitzer is representing the state in the lawsuit before Judge Jones. According to the Times Spitzer has not yet said he supports imprisoning the union leadership. Convince Spitzer that jailing the union leaders will create chaos and make negotiations impossible. More importantly, tell Spitzer that you will not vote for him for governor if he does not oppose jailing the union officials. Spitzer's phone number is (212) 416-8000 and his website URL is http://www.oag.state.ny.us/...
If they are arrested there will be a rally at Centeral Booking (aka The Tombs). I'll have more info on that latter.
Even if you can't make any of these events, please stop by the nearest picket even if it's just to let the workers know you support them. You can't imagine how much it means when you're standing in the cold all day to get a few kind words.
THE BRONX
180th Street Yard: 1151 East 180 Street
239th St. Barn: 4570 Furman Avenue
240th St. Barn: 5911 Broadway
241st St. White Plains Road. (RTO)
242nd St. Yard
Concourse Yard: 3119 Jerome Avenue
Dyer Avenue
Eastchester Depot: Interstate 95 at Exit 13
Gunhill Depot: 1910 Bartow Avenue
Jerome Yard: Jerome Ave. & Van Courtlandt Ave.
Parkchester (RTO)
Pelham Barn/Westchester Sq. Yard: Eastchester Rd. & Water Street
Tiffany Iron: 1170 Oakpoint Avenue
West Farms Depot: 1100 East 177th Street
Woodlawn 1 & 9 Lines (RTO)
Yonkers Depot: 59 Babcock St.
Zerega CMF: 750 Zerega Avenue
BROOKLYN
370 Jay St./130 Livingston
Atlantic Ave/Bergen Street Shop: 1415 Bergen Street
Bedford
Bergen St. Shop
Coney Island Yard: Avenue X & McDonald
Conway
Cozine: 50 Cozine Avenue
Crosstown-Box St.
East New York Depot/Shop: 1700 Bushwick Avenue
Flatbush Ave / Nostrand (RTO)
Flatbush Depot: Flatbush & Utica Ave.
Jackie Gleason Depot: 871 Fifth Avenue
Linden Shop: 1500 Linden Blvd.
Livonia Shop: 824 Linwood Shop
Pitkin Yard: 1434 Sutter Avenue
Rockaway Parkway Carnarsie L-line
Stillwell Ave.
Ulmer Park Depot: Cropsey Ave. & Bay
QUEENS
71st & Continental G,R & V lines (RTO)
179th St. F-line (RTO)
College Point Depot: 128-15 28th Avenue
Corona Barn: 126-53 Willets Point Blvd.
Ditmars Blvd. N & W lines (RTO)
Fresh Pond Depot: 56-99 Fresh Pond Road
Jamaica Barn: 7815 Grand Central Parkway
Jamaica Depot: 114-15 Guy R. Brewer Blvd.
Main St. 7-line (RTO)
Maspeth CMF:
Parsons / Archer E & J lines (RTO)
Triboro Coach Depot: 8501 24th Avenue
Woodside Electronic Shop: 33-33 54th Street
MANHATTAN
34th St. - Penn Station *
100th Street Depot: 1552 Lexington Avenue at 100th Street
126th Street Depot: 2460 Second Avenue
148th St. Lenox Ave.
168th St. C Line
207th St. Yard: 3961 10 Avenue
Chambers St. Flagging Quarters (RTO)
Grand Central Station (RTO)
Kingsbridge Depot: 4065 10th Avenue
Manhattanville Depot: 666 West 133rd St.
Michael J. Quill Depot: 525 11th Avenue
West 53rd St Power/RCC: 53rd St. btw 8/9