Minneapolis, MN – A growing number of organizations representing poor people and bus riders are demanding a restoration of bus services and an end to the 29-day-old transit strike. The demands fly in the face of Governor Tim Pawlenty's arguments that the strike is having no effect and that mass transit is not necessary.

The United Methodist Church in South Minneapolis today launched the 'Share the Pain Campaign.' The United Methodist's campaign calls on “all supporters of transit in the metro area to drive to work at the legal minimum speed of 40 mph. We will share the pain with the working poor and the disabled until the buses are back.” The campaign is prompted by Governor Tim Pawlenty's complete indifference to the bus strike's effect on poor and working people.

In a related development, a broad-based grouping of religious leaders representing millions of members signed a joint declaration calling for a negotiated end to the strike. According to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, this is the largest coalition of religious organizations on a political issue in years, surpassing even the broad religious opposition to the first George Bush's Gulf War in 1991.

More and more users of mass transit are speaking out in favor of an end to the strike and a fair contract for transit workers. Students at the University of Minnesota are planning a major event at noon on Tuesday, April 6 in front of Coffman Union on the University of Minnesota Campus. The students will be calling for a fair contract for transit workers and demanding a return of bus services. Thousands of University students rely on the bus every day.

This growing support for a negotiated end to the strike benefits the union, as Governor Pawlenty is counting on time to wear the strikers down. Instead the union picket lines remain strong and there is growing pressure on Pawlenty. Union forces are planning systematic outreach to affected communities over the next week, including a Mass Transit Worker's Support Committee meeting at 11:00 on Saturday at the Minneapolis Central Labor Union building, 312 Central Avenue in Minneapolis.

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