CHICAGO, Dec. 9 (UPI) -- Disgruntled riders are calling for a fare strike against the Chicago Transit Authority to oppose mass service cuts and layoffs.
The group, Midwest Unrest, said CTA riders are furious about the cutbacks proposed in the public transit agency's so-called "Gridlock Budget" and urged people to ride without paying Dec. 15. The cash-strapped agency may layoff 1,250 employees, eliminate 30 bus routes and scrap overnight commuter rail service Jan. 2 because of a $77 million budget deficit.
The CTA board will consider the service cuts and the second fare hike in a year at meeting Dec. 16. Busfare rose to $1.75 in January.
Rich Magon, spokesman for Midwest Unrest, said fare strikes had been successful in San Francisco, Dublin, Rome and Stockholm.
"A fare strike puts economic pressure on the CTA forcing them to stop these service cuts and not increase the fare of transit," Magon said. He predicted CTA employees would support the fare strike because their jobs are at stake.
