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Challenge to the Social Strike Organizers
frustrated commuter calls on Social Strike organizers to broaden their campaign
This morning, I caught the 24 inbound at about 7:30. Usually that bus is fairly full- I have a hard time finding a seat. This morning, after a longer than usual wait, I had a hard time even getting on, the bus was so full. By the time we reached Castro and Market, the bus was packed, people were standing on the front and the back steps, and the bus had passed up over 20 people waiting at stops.
At Castro and Market, I got on a train headed downtown and it was the same story, the train was so packed the doors could barely close, and we left about 75 people standing on the platform.
Meanwhile, I saw that the buses and trains going in the opposite direction -reverse commute- were also full.
So this is the cut backs that last week Muni officials were saying riders would barely notice.
As far as I can tell, the Fare Strike/Scocial strike had minimal impact in terms of affecting the fare hike and service cuts, but I respect the organizing thatwent into it. i think it's very cool that the coalition included hard core ideologue anarchists, riders, *and* Muni drivers. But, like I say, it seems that the effort has had little to no concrete impact.
Now however, seems like an excellent time to agitate and to activate people. The people left shouting on the curb, late for work because there was simply no room on the bus for them, are in an excellent position to be organized. The mamas who are falling down while holding their babies because there's no room to sit and the bus is too crowded to even find a pole to hold onto, they're ready to be organized. Now is a damn good time to get out there and take all thefrustration and rage and turn it into action.
I challenge the social strike, though...to consider broader ways of demanding change. the fare strike was a damn good idea, but it did not work. Meanwhile, in the process of organizing the fare strike, y'all have gotten very familiar with the policies, the decision makers, you know all the stuff to kow on this issue. Also, you got some good press for such a direct action oriented effort, and people are thinking and talking about the situation on MUNI right now.
I challenge the social strike organizers to step it up, and to broaden the tactics you are using to demand that MUNI meet the needs of it's riders. Help us, the pissed off and pissed on commuters who depend on MUNI and have no other options, to come together and flex out people power. Offer alternatives that won't lead to fines we can't afford or risking law enforcement interactions that some of us can't risk. Come up with actions the mamas among us can take, and the grandmas, and the undocumented workers.
The fare strike didn't work, but you've built amazing momentum, created a neat coalition, and gathered the information you need, so step it up!
At Castro and Market, I got on a train headed downtown and it was the same story, the train was so packed the doors could barely close, and we left about 75 people standing on the platform.
Meanwhile, I saw that the buses and trains going in the opposite direction -reverse commute- were also full.
So this is the cut backs that last week Muni officials were saying riders would barely notice.
As far as I can tell, the Fare Strike/Scocial strike had minimal impact in terms of affecting the fare hike and service cuts, but I respect the organizing thatwent into it. i think it's very cool that the coalition included hard core ideologue anarchists, riders, *and* Muni drivers. But, like I say, it seems that the effort has had little to no concrete impact.
Now however, seems like an excellent time to agitate and to activate people. The people left shouting on the curb, late for work because there was simply no room on the bus for them, are in an excellent position to be organized. The mamas who are falling down while holding their babies because there's no room to sit and the bus is too crowded to even find a pole to hold onto, they're ready to be organized. Now is a damn good time to get out there and take all thefrustration and rage and turn it into action.
I challenge the social strike, though...to consider broader ways of demanding change. the fare strike was a damn good idea, but it did not work. Meanwhile, in the process of organizing the fare strike, y'all have gotten very familiar with the policies, the decision makers, you know all the stuff to kow on this issue. Also, you got some good press for such a direct action oriented effort, and people are thinking and talking about the situation on MUNI right now.
I challenge the social strike organizers to step it up, and to broaden the tactics you are using to demand that MUNI meet the needs of it's riders. Help us, the pissed off and pissed on commuters who depend on MUNI and have no other options, to come together and flex out people power. Offer alternatives that won't lead to fines we can't afford or risking law enforcement interactions that some of us can't risk. Come up with actions the mamas among us can take, and the grandmas, and the undocumented workers.
The fare strike didn't work, but you've built amazing momentum, created a neat coalition, and gathered the information you need, so step it up!
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Thanks for the report, please post pictures here and we can run a story.
If a strike doesn't work, alternatives must be tried while not letting go of the fact that a strike WILL work in the future, but likely only when things get much more difficult for all.
One alternative is a permanent ride share of some sort. Would it be worth it for people with vans to drive 5 or 6 people downtown at once for $1 each? Or does that defeat the purpose of public transport? When the civil rights movement happened, black people picked up other black people in their cars to not take the buses. It was understood that everyone needed to work together. At demos sometimes there are people with cars that come and pick up the protestors at BART and they drive round and round because there is a reason it's important to do that that is larger than the gas and the actual dollars.
There's this thing - can this be used in some way to help coordinate a permanent effort of ride shares?
http://www.spaceshare.com/
One alternative is a permanent ride share of some sort. Would it be worth it for people with vans to drive 5 or 6 people downtown at once for $1 each? Or does that defeat the purpose of public transport? When the civil rights movement happened, black people picked up other black people in their cars to not take the buses. It was understood that everyone needed to work together. At demos sometimes there are people with cars that come and pick up the protestors at BART and they drive round and round because there is a reason it's important to do that that is larger than the gas and the actual dollars.
There's this thing - can this be used in some way to help coordinate a permanent effort of ride shares?
http://www.spaceshare.com/
Nice article.
You have outlined several things that you feel need to happen around this issue.
The beautiful thing about it is that you can take your own advice, challenge yourself and be the superstar organizer that you are asking someone else to be.
As for alternative methods I would like to suggest that someone with a couple of bio-diesel buses start some kind of coop bus line perhaps along the 14 mission route.
The best case scenario to me is that we eliminate the need for parasitic organizations like muni by doing it ourselves through mutual aid.
It could all start with one bus. Think about it.
If we can do that then maybe we can move on to eliminate parasitic organizations such as all governments everywhere.
Wouldn't that be a treat?
You have outlined several things that you feel need to happen around this issue.
The beautiful thing about it is that you can take your own advice, challenge yourself and be the superstar organizer that you are asking someone else to be.
As for alternative methods I would like to suggest that someone with a couple of bio-diesel buses start some kind of coop bus line perhaps along the 14 mission route.
The best case scenario to me is that we eliminate the need for parasitic organizations like muni by doing it ourselves through mutual aid.
It could all start with one bus. Think about it.
If we can do that then maybe we can move on to eliminate parasitic organizations such as all governments everywhere.
Wouldn't that be a treat?
Great write up. The strike did work to a point, Muni lost alot of money in the last couple of weeks, however you're right, the city still has not re-instated the service cuts, hired back those laid off, etc.
The strike then needs to continue and grow, and you can help. the stronger the strike, the more the city will have to budge.
The strike then needs to continue and grow, and you can help. the stronger the strike, the more the city will have to budge.
The social strike has not ended, nor is it a failure.
People need to understand that this was not a one day action, nor should they expect changes to occur as a result of one day of social striking, or even as a result of a month of action. it is true, that social strike does not have the public visibility that we would like, and we are working to build that back up.
Also, these service cuts were planned all along. MUNI has full intention to press ahead with its plan, which will basically gut our "public" transit service. They are committed. The question we need to ask is if we are as committed to fighting back.
If we want to beat them back, a fare strike remains our best bet, and we have to show some endurance here. Heres why:
a) The social strike is a direct action, meaning that simply by not paying fare, we are benefitting ourselves (free transit. and it should be free anyway!) and our cause (refusing to pay for MUNI to destroy itself).
b) the odds are in our favor - people are getting more and more pissed: MUNI raised the fares, SEP 1. almost a month later, they got around to cutting service. now people are PISSED OFF. and in another few weeks, what do you think will happen when the fast passes get raised?
c) Actually, the strike is working: MUNI is not closing its budget gap. their take at the fare box has not increased the way they projected.
d) We need to channel this increasing energy into the social strike. Our strike has to grow in energy and intensity to succeed in changing policy. It has to grow till MUNI bureaucrats cant ignore it.
Anyway, if you want to talk strategy or give advice, you should come to a meeting: we'd love to hear from you, and maybe we can even convince you to help us organize -- or write us directly, at socialstrike [at] riseup.net. Meeting are every Sunday at 3 PM (at least till the end of october, at Station 40 - 3030b right across from 16th street & mission BART)
Hope you will get in touch, and carry on striking. All the time, and especially when you cant sit down! When you get on a crowded bus, you shouldnt ever have to pay if you dont have a seat!
People need to understand that this was not a one day action, nor should they expect changes to occur as a result of one day of social striking, or even as a result of a month of action. it is true, that social strike does not have the public visibility that we would like, and we are working to build that back up.
Also, these service cuts were planned all along. MUNI has full intention to press ahead with its plan, which will basically gut our "public" transit service. They are committed. The question we need to ask is if we are as committed to fighting back.
If we want to beat them back, a fare strike remains our best bet, and we have to show some endurance here. Heres why:
a) The social strike is a direct action, meaning that simply by not paying fare, we are benefitting ourselves (free transit. and it should be free anyway!) and our cause (refusing to pay for MUNI to destroy itself).
b) the odds are in our favor - people are getting more and more pissed: MUNI raised the fares, SEP 1. almost a month later, they got around to cutting service. now people are PISSED OFF. and in another few weeks, what do you think will happen when the fast passes get raised?
c) Actually, the strike is working: MUNI is not closing its budget gap. their take at the fare box has not increased the way they projected.
d) We need to channel this increasing energy into the social strike. Our strike has to grow in energy and intensity to succeed in changing policy. It has to grow till MUNI bureaucrats cant ignore it.
Anyway, if you want to talk strategy or give advice, you should come to a meeting: we'd love to hear from you, and maybe we can even convince you to help us organize -- or write us directly, at socialstrike [at] riseup.net. Meeting are every Sunday at 3 PM (at least till the end of october, at Station 40 - 3030b right across from 16th street & mission BART)
Hope you will get in touch, and carry on striking. All the time, and especially when you cant sit down! When you get on a crowded bus, you shouldnt ever have to pay if you dont have a seat!
For more information:
http://socialstrike.net
well, yeah, do it myself is a good idea LOL, I did think of that. The reason I'm challenging the social strike people is that they have been focused on this, they know the numbers and figures and policies...they know what's up with MUNI and what the excuses are for the fare hike and service cuts, and they have relationships with drivers and folks in the union. they started a campaign, and I suppose the question is, what was their goal? Was the goal to stop or overturn the fare hike, and to prevent service cuts? Or was the goal to have a succesful fare strike?
If the goal wasa succesful fare strike, well, they failed, but it was a good effort. If the goal was to keep service up and fares down, well, I hope they will continue with the campaign, and expand their efforts and use a wider variety of tactics.
I don't have the capacity to get anorganizing effort like that off the ground, myself. But if other people do and if there are small tings I can do, I'll do 'em. I'd love to bust out with a rant while sweating and squeezed on a bus, and I'd like to offer something to people, what I mean is, instead of just bitching, I'd love to get people all riled up and then offer them an action, one that is organized and strategic.
If the goal wasa succesful fare strike, well, they failed, but it was a good effort. If the goal was to keep service up and fares down, well, I hope they will continue with the campaign, and expand their efforts and use a wider variety of tactics.
I don't have the capacity to get anorganizing effort like that off the ground, myself. But if other people do and if there are small tings I can do, I'll do 'em. I'd love to bust out with a rant while sweating and squeezed on a bus, and I'd like to offer something to people, what I mean is, instead of just bitching, I'd love to get people all riled up and then offer them an action, one that is organized and strategic.
I posted the above before reading the post from socialstrike.
How do we ever expect to win anything when we are always the first to declare our own defeat? OPEN THE HISTORY BOOK! Where do you see a social change that was wrought out of one-day... one-week... two-weeks of action?
the social strike is your action then! it is organized and strategic. we have a set of points of unity (see the website) and a clear strategy:
demand: find the money somewhere else
action: stop paying/collecting the money
a fare strike is a direct action in the classic sense, meaning it is successful the moment you do it. everytime you do it. the moment one person rides for free, that person has saved themselves $1.50 and put a $1.50 sized dent in MUNI's budget that, one way or another, MUNI will have to find those funds somewhere else. see, thats our demand (get the funds somewhere else). now, multiply this times the number of people who have participated (easily above ten thousand, thus far). this is a success, anyway you spin it.
our demands have not been met, and thus, we are asking folks to continue to strike. the only question here is how long it will take for those demands to be met. MUNI cant stop running, downtown and city hall wont allow that. They simply have to find the funds somewhere. And the more they press us for the money, instead of looking to tax downtown and to hit up private txport for $$, the less of us will pay, and the bigger financial hole they will be in.
also this is going to be a long fight, it will certainly take months, maybe years. its going on all OVER the public sector, in the public schools (check out oakland, for ex.) this is a fight that is going to be brought to you, whether you like it or not, the only question is when you are going to be fed up enough to take action.
demand: find the money somewhere else
action: stop paying/collecting the money
a fare strike is a direct action in the classic sense, meaning it is successful the moment you do it. everytime you do it. the moment one person rides for free, that person has saved themselves $1.50 and put a $1.50 sized dent in MUNI's budget that, one way or another, MUNI will have to find those funds somewhere else. see, thats our demand (get the funds somewhere else). now, multiply this times the number of people who have participated (easily above ten thousand, thus far). this is a success, anyway you spin it.
our demands have not been met, and thus, we are asking folks to continue to strike. the only question here is how long it will take for those demands to be met. MUNI cant stop running, downtown and city hall wont allow that. They simply have to find the funds somewhere. And the more they press us for the money, instead of looking to tax downtown and to hit up private txport for $$, the less of us will pay, and the bigger financial hole they will be in.
also this is going to be a long fight, it will certainly take months, maybe years. its going on all OVER the public sector, in the public schools (check out oakland, for ex.) this is a fight that is going to be brought to you, whether you like it or not, the only question is when you are going to be fed up enough to take action.
For more information:
http://socialstrike.net
please write us an email!
we would love your help agitating when you ride MUNI (in fact, thats EXACLTY what we need people to be doing to spread the effort).
Well get you our txfer flyers, buttons, stickers, posters, anything you need if you are willing to agitate when you ride MUNI. If youre willing to be vocal, talk to folks, and encourage fare strikers we need you!
we would love your help agitating when you ride MUNI (in fact, thats EXACLTY what we need people to be doing to spread the effort).
Well get you our txfer flyers, buttons, stickers, posters, anything you need if you are willing to agitate when you ride MUNI. If youre willing to be vocal, talk to folks, and encourage fare strikers we need you!
First of all, hats off to the various forces that have taken on MUNI. You might all hate each other by now, but you have accomplished a hell of a lot. First of all, you have completely deligimitized groups such as Rescue MUNI that are covers for anti-working class efforts. Secondly, you have been able to push the issue farther than ever before, and I for one think that it ain't over yet. It is also very good to see folks from the anti-authoritarian world doing its best to be relevant to the rest of the world.
About 1997 or so, I went to LA and spent a day with the Bus Riders Union. They came up with a good tactic that could be used here. Their organizers would stand at a crowded bus stop and pass out cards which read "No Seat, No Fare!" and encouraged people to strike when a crowded bus which they couldn't sit down in. Then they would board the bus and talk directly to the riders about the strike. It seemed to work really well.
Anyhow, if I wasn't up to my neck in organizing a building against evictions right now, I would be working with you all. Keep it up, stay flexible and militant.
j tracy
About 1997 or so, I went to LA and spent a day with the Bus Riders Union. They came up with a good tactic that could be used here. Their organizers would stand at a crowded bus stop and pass out cards which read "No Seat, No Fare!" and encouraged people to strike when a crowded bus which they couldn't sit down in. Then they would board the bus and talk directly to the riders about the strike. It seemed to work really well.
Anyhow, if I wasn't up to my neck in organizing a building against evictions right now, I would be working with you all. Keep it up, stay flexible and militant.
j tracy
is a great slogan. While it my not be what orthodox fare strikers want (i.e. if there is a seat, then you might have to pay), with all that i've seen, and read heere most ppbusses these days are more crowded than ever. I think this slogan works.
By the way i'm a disabled, and can't ride without sitting, and have had to skip buses that other friends of mine got on because they were too crowded and not just in rush hours.
By the way i'm a disabled, and can't ride without sitting, and have had to skip buses that other friends of mine got on because they were too crowded and not just in rush hours.
Perhaps we should consider other forms of economic warfare against the men who run Muni.
The Muni bus commute was awful this morning. Buses headed downtown filled up further out in the city and had to stop picking up riders in the Inner Richmond, rather than the Western Addition where they usually do, on my bus, the 5-Fulton.Since they were so full and everyone was more stressed than their normal level of commute-stress, it was hard to communicate with more people about fare striking. But not impossible. People could and should be engaged as they wait--longer and longer--for the bus to come.
These people waiting are pissed and I think JT's suggestion of "NO SEAT, NO FARE!" is another great organizing angle to keep this thing going.
The strike's not dead, it just needs more riders to take the initiative in fare striking to show others how easy it is to do. It doesn't take logging on or contacting anyone else but your fellow riders and drivers as you wait then, hopefully, ride.
There are lots of sympathetic drivers, especially in places like the Mission where the Day Laborers agitating for the fare strike have developed a great rapport with them. Some buses get full when NO ONE PAYS! It needs to spread out to other areas of the city.
VICTORY TO THE FARE STRIKE!
Gifford
These people waiting are pissed and I think JT's suggestion of "NO SEAT, NO FARE!" is another great organizing angle to keep this thing going.
The strike's not dead, it just needs more riders to take the initiative in fare striking to show others how easy it is to do. It doesn't take logging on or contacting anyone else but your fellow riders and drivers as you wait then, hopefully, ride.
There are lots of sympathetic drivers, especially in places like the Mission where the Day Laborers agitating for the fare strike have developed a great rapport with them. Some buses get full when NO ONE PAYS! It needs to spread out to other areas of the city.
VICTORY TO THE FARE STRIKE!
Gifford
>>Some buses get full when NO ONE PAYS!
I'm not in SF anymore so I haven't seen this. Is that for real? People are getting on and not paying and are allowed to stay on?
I'm not in SF anymore so I haven't seen this. Is that for real? People are getting on and not paying and are allowed to stay on?
yes.
many muni drivers are fine with allowing people on for free.
it never hurts to politely make it known that you're on strike against fare hikes, service cuts, and LAYOFFS--indeed, this tact often works with operators who're initially inclined to demand money for a ride.
many muni drivers are fine with allowing people on for free.
it never hurts to politely make it known that you're on strike against fare hikes, service cuts, and LAYOFFS--indeed, this tact often works with operators who're initially inclined to demand money for a ride.
I think being strident helps more. Just get on, say you're participating in the fare strike and don't wait around for a "no" answer.
This has happened several times, where the driver said "you gotta pay," but I just kept walking and others paid behind me and we were all shuffling down the aisle and the driver simply gave up--while I flyered the other riders and told everyone within earshot that I was on fare strike.
I works not by telling others you're gonna fare strike, but simply by fare striking in action--just getting on without paying.
And look out for the sympathetic drivers. You'll know when you see it. And it means everyone on that bus hasn't paid.
Gifford
This has happened several times, where the driver said "you gotta pay," but I just kept walking and others paid behind me and we were all shuffling down the aisle and the driver simply gave up--while I flyered the other riders and told everyone within earshot that I was on fare strike.
I works not by telling others you're gonna fare strike, but simply by fare striking in action--just getting on without paying.
And look out for the sympathetic drivers. You'll know when you see it. And it means everyone on that bus hasn't paid.
Gifford
For more information:
http://MuniFareStrike.net
I went to the MTA meeting last Tuesday and the General Sign Ups for drivers are complete and will be fully implimented by October 8th.
Muni was able to get 55 drivers to take an early retirement package, so according the bureaucrats at the meetings, Muni will be able to squeeze through the cutbacks WITHOUT layoffs.
But it's apparent that part-timers are NOT being called in for work---essentially they're ALL being fired.
In my experience before the fare strike began on September 1st, with 200 layoffs threatened, drivers really did seem anxious about the layoffs and responded favorably to my statements of the fare strike being in solidarity against them. Now that all the regular drivers survived this round without any layoffs, none of the drivers who've been hesitant about letting me on for free have responded to me mentioning them--obviously because they knew already that their jobs were safe. It's sad that this had made some of them content, but it's a reality we have to deal with.
Gifford
Muni was able to get 55 drivers to take an early retirement package, so according the bureaucrats at the meetings, Muni will be able to squeeze through the cutbacks WITHOUT layoffs.
But it's apparent that part-timers are NOT being called in for work---essentially they're ALL being fired.
In my experience before the fare strike began on September 1st, with 200 layoffs threatened, drivers really did seem anxious about the layoffs and responded favorably to my statements of the fare strike being in solidarity against them. Now that all the regular drivers survived this round without any layoffs, none of the drivers who've been hesitant about letting me on for free have responded to me mentioning them--obviously because they knew already that their jobs were safe. It's sad that this had made some of them content, but it's a reality we have to deal with.
Gifford
For more information:
http://MuniFareStrike.net
I appreciate the offer to get out and join in the social strike organizing efforts. I'll consider it, but I also have to weigh it against the demands of being a full time working mom.
it is good to hear that the strike is still on...but I wouldn't have known if i didn't frequent this site...and I ride MUNI two plus times a day..so I dunno exactly how y'all can get the word out more broadly (uh, yeah, i mean, besides me getting up to to do it...heh) but it would be good.
I'm interested in the idea that the strike itself is a strategy not a tactic. I'd think that the "make them find the money elsewhere" would be the strategy and the strike would be a tactic, thus leaving room for additional tactics.
thanks for the efforts to recruit me; I'll keep it in mind.
it is good to hear that the strike is still on...but I wouldn't have known if i didn't frequent this site...and I ride MUNI two plus times a day..so I dunno exactly how y'all can get the word out more broadly (uh, yeah, i mean, besides me getting up to to do it...heh) but it would be good.
I'm interested in the idea that the strike itself is a strategy not a tactic. I'd think that the "make them find the money elsewhere" would be the strategy and the strike would be a tactic, thus leaving room for additional tactics.
thanks for the efforts to recruit me; I'll keep it in mind.
with all due respect, mama cat, nobody is trying (or maybe I should say nobody *should* be trying) to recruit you to the fare strike.
the fare strike won't work if people like you do nothing to make it happen.
of course, what you do is dictated by your circumstances. i have total respect for the fact that you, as a single mom busting it to get things together, are going to be cautious in your activity and guarded about committing a lot of time to the effort. (as someone with a kid as well, i put in a fair amount of time into the fare strike organizing up to late-August, but then started a job in Contra Costa County which meant that my participation has been limited since then.)
that said, if you want to contribute to the fare strike, which I sense you do, my suggestion would be that you try to raise the subject, through action and/or word, in whatever way you feel comfortable whenever you feel comfortable. you'll find that, at worst, people are indifferent; most muni riders and operators, however, are open to a "dissident view"--this isn't exotic stuff: the fare hikes, service cuts, and speed-up for muni workers affect lots of people directly. many may seem resigned to shit getting worse and worse, but that's only because so (relatively) few are standing up. there's dry kindling out there to light...
the fare strike won't work if people like you do nothing to make it happen.
of course, what you do is dictated by your circumstances. i have total respect for the fact that you, as a single mom busting it to get things together, are going to be cautious in your activity and guarded about committing a lot of time to the effort. (as someone with a kid as well, i put in a fair amount of time into the fare strike organizing up to late-August, but then started a job in Contra Costa County which meant that my participation has been limited since then.)
that said, if you want to contribute to the fare strike, which I sense you do, my suggestion would be that you try to raise the subject, through action and/or word, in whatever way you feel comfortable whenever you feel comfortable. you'll find that, at worst, people are indifferent; most muni riders and operators, however, are open to a "dissident view"--this isn't exotic stuff: the fare hikes, service cuts, and speed-up for muni workers affect lots of people directly. many may seem resigned to shit getting worse and worse, but that's only because so (relatively) few are standing up. there's dry kindling out there to light...
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