Union Demands Transit Agency and Elected Officials Better Protect Workers and Riders
ATLANTA, GA – In the wake of the tragic fatal shooting today of a MARTA bus driver in Atlanta, GA, less than a month after a Seattle bus driver was stabbed to death, Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 732 and the ATU International are once again demanding better protection for transit workers and riders.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of our Brother Leroy Ramos and the passenger who was shot and injured. It is a very difficult day for our members,” said Local 732 President/Business Agent Britt Dunams. “A father of two daughters and a 7-year-old boy, Brother Ramos was only on the job for a few months after moving from New York. His murder is a tragedy. Our members should be able to go to work and come home safely each day. It is time for MARTA to ensure our members and riders are safe on our buses, our rail, at bus stops, and at transit centers.”
There has been a disturbing increase in violence and attacks on MARTA workers and riders over the past few years. The Union has been pushing MARTA to improve safety on buses and rail, including better bus driver shields, more transit police, and other safety measures.
“I want to express our deepest sympathy and heartfelt condolences to the family and loved ones of our fallen Brother Ramos as a result of a senseless act of violence while bravely doing his job serving the public,” said ATU International President John Costa. “Our thoughts and prayers are with our brothers and sisters of Local 732 in Atlanta as they deal with this terrible tragedy.”
Unfortunately, this brutal killing is not an isolated incident. On December 18, ATU Local 587-Seattle, WA, King County Metro bus driver Shawn Yim was stabbed to death by an angry rider. As was the case in Atlanta and Seattle, many of these attacks are a result of a fare dispute, but an alarming number happen just because someone wants to do violence to a bus driver or other transit worker.
“Not a week goes by that I don’t hear of one of our members or a rider being brutally attacked or worse. Transit workers cannot do their job, and passengers cannot travel on public transportation in fear of being assaulted,” Costa continued. “The murder of Brother Ramos is a brutal reminder that it is long overdue for our transit agencies and elected officials to make real changes to ensure our members and riders are safe on our public transit systems.”