WASHINGTON – Greg Regan, president of the Transportation Trades Department of the AFL-CIO, representing 37 unions across the transportation sector, issued this statement following the attack inside the Sunset Park subway station in Brooklyn this morning:
“We are horrified by the attack that took place inside a Brooklyn subway station this morning and hope those who were injured make quick and full recoveries. We salute the swift response of public safety officials and transportation workers, including officers of the Transport Workers Union (TWU) Local 100, along with train crew and station personnel.
“We are in the midst of a public transit and workplace safety crisis. It is unacceptable for commuters to fear for their safety when using public transit and for transit workers to fear for their safety while on the job.
“TTD and our affiliated transit unions have repeatedly called for increased safety measures at the federal, state, and local level. Some of these calls for reform include:
- immediately implementing the transit safety provisions in the bipartisan infrastructure bill
- ensuring the continuation of fully-staffed trains with a minimum of two-person crews, including both a Conductor and a Train Operator on board, to assist with evacuations and emergency communications
- the increased presence of Station Agents
“We are in a race against the clock and this morning’s attack demonstrates the devastating consequences of continuing to act without urgency.
It is imperative that we improve public confidence in the safety of our nation’s transit systems and workplace safety for the frontline transportation workers who are tasked with the immense responsibility of safely moving millions of passengers every single day.”