NEW YORK CITY, April 14—Whenever there is a crisis, it’s always the working class—especially Black, Latin, and women—that suffers. The story in the transit world is no different. To combat attacks against members of our class—worker, rider, and the most dispossessed—we need to unite under the slogan of, “same enemy same fight, workers of the world unite.”
The union began the monthly general meeting by berating its members for not “being involved enough.” There has been a lot of talk about the “need” for more cops on the platforms and in the stations in response to the rise of attacks on riders and workers. “Fifty-eight [workers were] physically attacked between the beginning of July through the end of 2020....Hundreds more were harassed or spat on” (New York Post, 1/16).
In response, this was a statement from a Progressive Labor Party member in transit work, in regards to the attacks against NYC Transit workers at the monthly union meeting:
The answer isn’t more cops. More cops will only intensify the turmoil that the riding public feel towards MTA, which MTA employees have been carrying the weight of those attacks.
Just last winter there was an uproar by the general public over the harassment and constant attacks by the cops to the majority black and Latin youth. There were signs spray painted “f*&% MTA.”
Transit workers always have to carry the burden of what this company does to the riding public, whether it be fare hikes or more cops.
We cannot continue this practice. When the next cop (that the MTA hires), assaults or kills the next unarmed black rider it will be our faces the public will see.
I witnessed a train conductor get assaulted. I say this so you know I’m not saying this lightly.
If we want to be serious about fixing the problem of the mentally ill and the unhoused poor then we must fight to get them the help they require. We must fight for reforms to get them homes and medical treatment. This city has made history as being the dumping ground for the mentally ill, the sick and unhoused. Cops are workers of violence. There are reports on cops killing those with mental illness every year. The only way we can protect the workers and riders is to help [our class] and stop supporting the cycle of racism and violence.
A coworker responded by saying “well said!" This was followed by the union misleaders abruptly ending the meeting.
There are many groups that claim to solve worker issues—homelessness, mental illness, and drug addiction—but as with many campaigns like the Home First Initiative, it is inadequate. Expecting workers who suffer from drug addiction to get clean on their own is a setup for failure.
Of course, reforms aren’t going to solve the problem, but first workers must be won to the idea that our fate is intertwined with the rest of our international working-class brothers and sisters.