Metro Employee Reinstated after being Fired for Falsifying Track Inspection Reports

Washington, D.C. - October 12, 2018 - (The Ponder News) -- Congresswoman Barbara Comstock (R-VA) released the following statement after an ATU Local 689 worker was reinstated as an employee after being fired for falsified track inspection reports:

“Reinstating a track inspection supervisor who approved falsified inspection reports is an unconscionable decision that puts the lives of Metro riders at risk. Employees who falsify safety reports have no place in a major transit system such as WMATA, especially in the wake of recent passenger deaths and train derailments that have plagued the system. Anyone complicit in falsifying safety reports, from track workers to management, must go.

“The fact that the leadership of the Metro union challenges decisions to fire negligent employees is just another example of poor judgment at the expense of Metro riders. Current policies that allow for this must be changed to protect the riding public.

“I have fought for Metro funding and safety reforms so our region can have a safe transportation system on which residents can rely as they go to work every day. With this federal investment comes a responsibility to support policies that ensure a safer system, and that begins with rooting out the bad apples that exploit union protections and ignore basic safety foundations in a transit system that can and should be a nationwide example for excellence.”