BART Unions Slam Board Over Deaths Of Workers During Strike
OAKLAND (KCBS) – The Bay Area Rapid Transit Board of Directors passed resolutions honoring the two workers killed on the tracks on October 19, despite protests from union leadership.
The resolutions in honor of Christopher Sheppard and Laurence Daniels express respect, appreciation and grief for the workers who died while inspecting BART tracks.
BART Passes Resolutions To Honors Workers Killed On Tracks
Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1555 President Antonette Bryant said the move was an arrogant one.
"I am offended by a resolution that would come from the Board of Directors regarding these two men that were killed because of your arrogance and your negligence," she said.
BART Board Member Gail Murray came up with the resolution, which was approved unanimously by the rest of the board.
"I asked the general manager to put it on the agenda. I felt that we needed some formal way of honoring these people who lost their lives," Murray said.
Patricia Schuchardt, president of AFSCME (American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees) Local 3993, said she has yet to receive a call from any BART board member, despite one of the workers killed was a member of her union.
"Thank God that the family wasn't here because they'd be like, what is all of this, after nothing and no one talking to them at all," Schuchardt said.
Thursday was declared Christopher Sheppard Day at BART and Friday will be declared Laurence Daniels Day.
The National Transportation Safety Board continues its active investigation into the incident. BART officials said they are cooperating fully with that investigation.
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