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| AMTRAK COVID-19 PRACTICES PUTS PASSENGERS AND WORKERS AT RISK |
| June 22, 2020 Northeast Corridor The BMWED, representing Amtrak's track, building and bridges and overhead catenary construction and maintenance workers, charged today that Amtrak's lack of testing and tracing for the Covid-19 virus is negligent. Amtrak has denied repeated requests by the Union to begin general testing and tracing of the employees to contain the Covid-19 virus. This refusal puts the employees who work on the railroad and the passengers who use the railroad at greater risk to contract the virus. All medical and public health authorities have stated that testing and tracing must be included in an effective strategy to contain the spread of the virus. Amtrak relies upon a system of self-reporting which is ineffective. It does not include the substantial number of those who have the virus without symptoms but could still infect other workers and passengers. Other major urban transit agencies like SEPTA and New Jersey Transit already have general testing procedures in place. Transportation workers like Amtrak employees are deemed essential workers and have been showing up for work despite the extreme health risks involved. The rate of infection and death from the Covid-19 virus is significantly higher for transportation workers as a result. Amtrak recently received an additional $1 billion to sustain itself and institute pandemic containment protocols because it provides this essential service. Read more below: |
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