MTA Workers Demand on the-Job Safety, but Off Track with Anti-Rider Politics

BROOKLYN, May 18—Chanting, “Hey! Hey! Ho! Ho! Assaults have got to go!” over 50 MTA workers rallied and marched from the union hall across the Brooklyn Bridge to 2 Broadway (MTA headquarters) against the rising number of MTA workers being assaulted on the job.
The organizers who led the march are from one of the many MTA factions trying to fight for an active union to defend its membership. This non-union-led march brought together MTA workers from different titles (conductors, train operators, cleaners, bus drivers) to call on the union and MTA bosses to protect their workforce. Many workers and tourists along the march route chanted and cheered. Random yelling of  “MTA sucks!” and “No fare hikes!” and car honking in solidarity greeted the marchers.
No Safety Under Capitalism
Speaker after speaker condemned the MTA bosses for not protecting their workforce, instead using lawyers to deny worker’s compensation to those out of work from assaults. When a worker is assaulted, if they are not wearing all their protective equipment their claims can be denied, forcing many workers back to work or into debt. If you were assaulted and you weren’t wearing your gloves, we can’t pay you. That is the MTA’s mantra.
The rally and march ended when a hearse arrived and laid a casket in front of the MTA headquarters. A speaker made the point that it’s only when MTA workers die that the bosses act!
According to an internal memo from the MTA on assaults in the subways from the past five months, 76 workers were assaulted. The attacks are mostly workers being spat on. They also
include objects thrown at workers and female workers being sexually assaulted. Verbal abuse is not counted as part of the assaults although it’s a daily occurrence for workers. Since these statistics came out at least another 20 subway workers have reported assaults. The report leaves out the many surface workers (bus operators) who face a far higher rate of assault within the MTA.
Workers Discuss Solutions Centered On Bosses’ System
The solution for most at the rally all centered around the bosses’ courts and cops. People talked about fighting for an increase in police presence on buses and subways. Others added, the need to reach out to supportive politicians to change the laws to create stiffer penalties for people who attack workers. One speaker discussed building an alliance between customers and MTA workers.
But the bosses’ solutions to workers’ safety are their own tools of oppression: more cops, more convictions, and more divisions between members of the working class.
Since the rally, there have been many conversations about next steps. Though there is not much agreement on the next step. The only clear agreement is that we have to do something.
Build Class Consciousness Through Struggle
Progressive Labor Party has seen time and time again: that bosses only protect profits. The bosses only care about giving workers the bare minimum. The answer to the attacks is not fascist attacks (in the form of arrest) on riders. The system does enough killing via the racist police in our neighborhoods. Let’s not demand as workers the terrorization of members of our class. We need more class-consciousness, gained through struggle. We need rider-worker unity against the bosses. Only then will we defeat the attacks.
Members of the Transit Workers’ Union (TWU) must develop the idea that an attack on one worker is an attack on every worker. If the cops kill someone, the TWU workers must answer the call to fight back. If there is a push to lower the fare, the TWU workers must answer the call to fight back. When the bosses try to shut a hospital or make healthcare cuts, TWU workers must answer the call. When TWU workers join the fightback within the city, then and only then will the assault percentages drop. TWU workers have to stand with other workers. And the fight for communism must lead the reform struggle! Workers are stronger together and workers should fight for each other!