Minneapolis, MN – More than 700 strikers and their supporters demonstrated here, March 12, to demand justice for workers on strike against Metropolitan Transit. The action was organized jointly by AFSCME Local 3800, a local of University of Minnesota clerical workers who were on strike themselves just months ago, and transit workers of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1005.

In addition to transit and clerical workers, the crowd included students from the University of Minnesota and members from several unions, including the postal workers union, Laborers, Teamsters and SEIU. Mary Brandl, member of AFSCME Local 3800 said, “The support we got from MTC drivers during our strike will never be forgotten.”

Hundreds cheered as speakers stated their demands for an end to Governor Pawlenty's union-busting agenda, a fair contract for Metro Transit workers and a solution to the health care crisis facing all Minnesotans.

Under Governor Pawlenty, health care costs for working people are going sky high. Instead of dealing with the problem, Pawlenty and other policy makers, like Peter Bell – chair of the Metropolitan Council (which runs Metro Transit) and a regent at the University of Minnesota – have attacked health care benefits of public employees. First at the U of M, and now with the Metro Transit employees, Pawlenty and Bell have provoked strikes over health care. Speakers at the rally, including Michelle Sommers, vice-president of ATU Local 1005 demanded that Pawlenty and Bell act now to deal with Minnesota's health care crisis.

Martin Goff, a union representative from HERE Local 17 told protesters, “Today is a great day for solidarity.”

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