Washington Metro system workers are planning to take sick days Friday, Saturday and Sunday to grab the attention of General Manager Paul Wiedefeld as negotiations between union members and management continue with no end in sight.
Contracts for ATU Local 689 prohibit Washington Metropolitan Area Transportation Authority rail employees from striking, prompting them to “sick out” for three days.
Rail workers have informed their supervisors they plan to be sick later this week. WMATA responded to the news by telling the supervisors they should expect to work 12-hour shifts these three days to make up for the lack of personnel.
“Due to the threat of a sick out for [ATU Local] 689 employees[,] all supervisors are required to work 12 hour shifts starting Friday April 28, 2017-April 30, 2017,” WMATA wrote in a Tuesday email to supervisors.
Union leaders said they do not support the employees’ plans and don’t believe it will come to pass.
