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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.

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