TRU Members Area
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  • Membership Application

    To challenge corporate dominance and win justice for poor and working people, it is not enough to watch the struggle from the sidelines.  We can build the power necessary to change the world only by going outside the transactional relationships of the marketplace.  Join the Transit Riders Union today, and add your voice to the chorus of fellow riders that reverberates from the streets all the way to the halls of power.  Members are offered many of ways of participating, great and small, depending on how much time and energy they have to give.  Fill out this form to apply to become a member of the Transit Riders Union.

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  • TRU Members Area

    Set your e-mail and password for access to the TRU Members Area. (https://members.transitriders.org)

  • Are there specific areas of interest or skills that you bring to the Transit Riders Union? Do you have any special requirements or needs? Do you belong to any other organizations or groups that could be potential allies to TRU? Is there anything else you want us to know?

  • Membership Dues

    We are a self-powered organization.  All members must meet the basic commitment of paying membership dues according to their means, to support the work of the organization and keep us independent. We have a sliding dues scale that starts at $5/month.  This gives you the right to a voice and a vote at our Membership Meetings. Your card will be charged immediately, and on the same day of every month hereafter. You can cancel any time.

    Dues FAQ

    How much should I pay?
    Where do my dues go?
    Why do TRU members pay dues?
    What do I get out of it?

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This income scale is meant as a guideline. Please honor the contributions of all TRU members by selecting the dues level most appropriate to your income and situation.

IncomeRecommended Dues Level
 Under $1500/month$5/month*
$1500 to $2500/month$10/month
$2500 to $3500/month$20/month  
$3500 to $5000/month$30/month  
$5000 to 8,000/month$40/month
Over $8000/month$50/month
.

*If your income is severely low, such that paying $5 per month would result in hardship for you, we offer a nominal dues level of $1/per month. To choose this option, come to a Membership Meeting or other TRU event and fill out a paper application and pay with cash.

By paying your dues, you get:

• the privilege of participating in the historic struggle to win justice for poor and working people;
• the right to attend, bring motions to, and vote at TRU membership meetings;
• to be part of a community of like-minded activists, including access to the Members Area of the TRU website;
• the power of having a say in the direction of an organization that affects the world;
• the satisfaction of knowing you contributed your part to build that power.

Our dues are what sustain our organization, keep us independent from corporate/wealthy donors and the non-profit industrial complex, and keep our leaders accountable to us. All members fulfill the same obligation to support TRU according to their means, including officers and staff. All members have the same democratic rights regardless of their dues level. No one receives special treatment.

Being an independent organization of working and poor people, the Transit Riders Union has had to learn how to wage and win large campaigns — some of which put millions of dollars back into the pockets of low-income people every year — with volunteer labor and with a fraction of the budget normally required to win such big victories. As such, we retain no lavishly-compensated administrators or consultants, but accomplish everything by the active participation of large body of volunteers coordinated by a very small, modestly-compensated staff. This reliance on member participation has been a key ingredient to our success. Our overhead is extremely low, and virtually all our revenue is plowed into organizing and winning campaigns.