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| METRA COVID-19 PRACTICES PUTS PASSENGERS AND WORKERS AT RISK |
| June 23, 2020 Chicago, Illinois The BMWED, representing Metra's track, building and bridges construction and maintenance workers, charged today that Metra's lack of testing and tracing for the Covid-19 virus is negligent. Metra has denied repeated requests by the Union to begin general testing and tracing of employees to contain the Covid-19 virus. This refusal puts the railroad employees and passengers who ride Metra at greater risk. All medical and public health authorities have stated that testing and tracing must be included in an effective COVID-19 containment strategy. Metra relies upon a system of self-reporting, which is ineffective and does not include the substantial number of those infected who have the virus with no symptoms but still infectious to 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 Metra 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 $500 million to sustain itself and institute pandemic containment protocols because it provides this essential service. Read more below: |
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