SEPTA Workers Attacked Daily, Police Chief Should Resign: Union

Philadelphia PA

18 March, 2021

9:48 AM

Description

PHILADELPHIA — Union leaders representing SEPTA workers released a video of a random attack on a worker, saying similar attacks happen daily and that SEPTA police chief should resign. Transport Workers Union Local 234, the largest union representing transit workers at the SEPTA, Thursday released a video of a SEPTA worker being attacked by a group of people at 15th Street Station this week. The union is calling for SEPTA's chief of police Thomas J. Nestel III to resign based on accusations that SEPTA police are not protecting riders and transit workers. However, SEPTA's Chief Press Officer Andrew Busch told Patch Nestel has no plans to step down and is not facing such calls from SEPTA bosses Additionally, the union claims SEPTA police have been using a "catch and release" strategy, which means charges are not brought against individuals who assault workers and riders, at Nestel's direction. Busch said, however, that's not the case, especially in an incident such as the attack in the video above. "Any kind of Assault is outrageous and unacceptable," Busch said. Authorities are investigating the attack shown above and the suspects will be held accountable when they are caught. According to Busch, the victim is a SEPTA track worker who was leaving his shift when the group attacked him. He suffered a concussion, Busch said. The union has told SEPTA's management that they should bring charges against people who assault transit employees and says those who have committed crimes on SEPTA property or against transit workers should be banned from riding SEPTA. "SEPTA's slogan should be 'hush, hush,'" TWU Local 234 President Willie Brown said in a statement. "SEPTA managers don't want the public to know how dangerous the transit system has become. They think raising an alarm will chase away riders. What they don't seem to understand is that riders will stay off the trains, trolleys and buses until they are made safe. It's time to address this wave of violence." The union claims the SEPTA police department is understaffed, saying just 120 officers are employed when the budget includes enough money for 200 officers. The union is wants SEPTA to hire more police and using security guards, a measure to which management has recently agreed. Busch, however, said SEPTA has 237 officers employed, the most over Nestel's nine years with SEPTA. Additionally, the union also has advocated for better use of security cameras, already installed on buses and trains and mounted in stations and says cameras could be monitored live. TWU Local 234 also has asked that photos and security camera images of those who commit crimes against SEPTA workers be posted on public transit, distributed to the media, and combined with rewards for information leading to arrests. The union represents more than 5,300 workers in the Philadelphia area, including workers at SEPTA and Upper Darby Municipal workers.