TUE, JUNE 9, 2009
Editorial: Why we need to save the T from ruin

Marc Draisen, Executive Director of the Metropolitan Area Planning Council, authors an op-ed in today's Boston Globe: 

One of the greatest improvements to life in Metro Boston over the past 20 years is the MBTA. Whatever its shortcomings, the T today is a far cry from the one many of us rode as children. It is, for the most part, reliable, clean, and safe. The rebuilt Orange Line runs quickly downtown, and north to Malden. The Red Line has doubled in length, linking Braintree with Cambridge. Commuter rail lines knit the region together, and ferries bring passengers into town from the South Shore.

Read the full editorial here.


MON, MAY 25, 2009
Boston Globe: "Trolley safety system put off"

Today's Boston Globe reports that the MBTA management has been slow to upgrade safety technology on the Green Line. You can read the story here.

NECN's Prat Thakkar also covers the story. You can watch below:


WED, MAY 20, 2009
Carmen's Union Urges NTSB to Address MBTA Management's Green Line Safety Failures

Today, Local 589 President/Business Manager Steve MacDougall sent an open letter to the National Transportation Safety Board urging them to address the MBTA Management's Green Line Safety Failures.

Read the letter from President MacDougall


THU, MAY 14, 2009
Carmen's Union Files Grievance with MBTA

Today,  Boston Carmen’s’ Union Local 589 filed a grievance with the MBTA over it's new policy prohibiting the possession of electronic devices by on-duty operators.

Read the letter from Recording Secretary John Clancy here.


WED, MAY 13, 2009
Public Statement on MBTA Safety

Today,  Boston Carmen’s’ Union Local 589 President/Business Agent Steve MacDougall released the following statement regarding MBTA Safety:

There is no question that MBTA operators have the primary responsibility for passenger safety on the Green Line.

Whether it’s to prohibit cell phone use, implement better hiring practices or better training, we are fully supportive of very high standards for operator safety and professionalism.

But there is a bigger issue here . . . Where is the MBTA’s commitment for a safer operation on the Green Line?

Each time there is a serious accident, T management conveniently checks the box and quickly attributes the accident to operator error . . .Then management issues a new directive and they close the file.

The truth is that the T’ commitment to safety is lacking, if there was a true commitment to safety, we would not be running the Green Line on an antiquated signal system.

Today technology solutions exist that would prevent these types of accidents from occurring. Fail Safe signal systems are the railroad standard throughout the world.

The Green Line should have a modern signal system designed to ensure passenger safety and prevent collisions. How many more serious accidents need to occur before the T makes the investment?

When it comes to passenger safety, MBTA operators should be held to very high standards . . . But T management should be held to the same high standards. With the technology available today there is no excuse for not equipping the Green Line with a Fail Safe signal system.

This is particularly important because the Green Line has more trains traveling through its tunnels in less time than anywhere else in the country. Yet, it is the only major subway system without a Fail Safe signaling system. 

   
 

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Call Assistant Secretary Peggy LaPaglia (617-542-8212 x 10) with your new contact information As Soon As Possible.

  
CONTACT LOCAL 589
By Telephone:

617-542-8212
or 1-866-DIAL-589 (1-866-342-5589)

By U.S. Mail:

Boston Carmen's Union
295 Devonshire Street
Boston, MA 02110

   

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