On September 1, 2016, I read a column on ARLnow.com written by Peter Rousselot where he joins a chorus of media columnist, anti-transit and anti-worker politicians and self-appointed "watchdogs" on twitter who believe the workers of Metro are the source of all of Metro’s problems. Rousselot, like all the others, is wrong.
Whenever I come across someone who tries to blame Local 689 for all of Metro’s problems, I have to remind them that for years we have been calling for an effective safety culture and dedicated funding for our region’s transit system. Securing dedicated funding will make sure that the system gets the much needed maintenance and upgrades it needs to be a world-class system. David Alpert wrote in a Greater Greater Washington (ggwash.com) column in August that the problems at Metro are not just a few people or a department; it is a culture. He is right! And we all know that to change that culture it must begin at the top.
Whenever I come across someone who tries to blame Local 689 for all of Metro’s problems, I have to remind them that for years we have been calling for an effective safety culture and dedicated funding for our region’s transit system. Securing dedicated funding will make sure that the system gets the much needed maintenance and upgrades it needs to be a world-class system. David Alpert wrote in a Greater Greater Washington (ggwash.com) column in August that the problems at Metro are not just a few people or a department; it is a culture. He is right! And we all know that to change that culture it must begin at the top.
On July 30, 2016, we hosted the “Rally for Respect and Dedicated Funding” which was attended by more than 700 of our members, along with allied organizations, elected officials, and the riding public. At the rally, we stood united and called on Metro to meet five major benchmarks that include 1) securing dedicated funding for the system, 2) putting the safety of workers and riders before revenue, 3) investment in training Metro’s workforce, 4) protection of worker pensions, and 5) a stop to attempted privatization of services. These were benchmarks that we came together to make after having close to 2,500 face-to-face meetings with members throughout the system and are real solutions to Metro’s problems.
In no uncertain terms, the members of Local 689 want Metro to be a safe, affordable and reliable transit system. So, blaming the front-line workers and calling for our elimination may feel good to some at a particular moment of frustration, but it fails to accomplish anything. Metro needs to work with its workforce, riders and the community to make our system work. We at Local 689 are committed to doing just that. People in the media like Mr. Rousselot don’t have any real solutions that solve problems. To the contrary, people like Rousselot, anti-transit politicians and these crazy accounts on twitter only want to see the problems of Metro get worse or they won't have much to complain about.
In no uncertain terms, the members of Local 689 want Metro to be a safe, affordable and reliable transit system. So, blaming the front-line workers and calling for our elimination may feel good to some at a particular moment of frustration, but it fails to accomplish anything. Metro needs to work with its workforce, riders and the community to make our system work. We at Local 689 are committed to doing just that. People in the media like Mr. Rousselot don’t have any real solutions that solve problems. To the contrary, people like Rousselot, anti-transit politicians and these crazy accounts on twitter only want to see the problems of Metro get worse or they won't have much to complain about.
Raymond Jackson is the Second Vice-President and
Assistant Business Agent for Maintenance and Construction.
Assistant Business Agent for Maintenance and Construction.
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