Transit workers on strike, opens road to revolutionary ideas

Landover, Maryland, August 1–Today over 170 Metro Access transit workers hit the bricks, striking against Transdev, a contractor for the Metro transit system in the Washington, D.C. region (see CHALLENGE, July 6, for an earlier rally). Transdev is a notorious multinational private transit company famous for screwing workers around the world. The mainly Black transit workers drive “on call” for people with disabilities or medical challenges. They are paid $17/hour, far less than their Metro counterparts. They are demanding a starting rate of $22.50/hour, rising to a top rate of $32, as well as a decent health and pension plan. Transdev has arrogantly dismissed their very modest demands. But Transdev is being hit with a fine of $1,000 per missed run, or over $100,000 a day, so they have an incentive to come up with a better contract offer. We’ll squeeze these bosses until they cry uncle!
     Several Progressive Labor Party members joined the bold militant picket line, distributing over 75 CHALLENGEs to the striking workers, and discussing how only a communist revolution that fights racism can get rid of the capitalist bosses and create a worker-run society. When communist ideas, combined with angry worker militancy, grip the working class, we will succeed in overthrowing the entire capitalist system of exploiters and imperialists!