Union Calls Plan to Remove Human Operators Dangerous, Expensive, and Reckless
Silver Spring, MD — Calling the Washington Metropolitan Area Transportation Authority’s (WMATA) plans to fully automate trains without a human operator in the cab dangerous, expensive, and irresponsible, the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) eviscerated the agency for turning its back on both the real heroes who keep Metro moving every day and their riders.
This $5.65 billion proposal to remove human operators from Metro trains comes at a time when WMATA continues to overlook valid safety concerns and the core needs of the system. Eliminating train operators—the first responders during emergencies and the frontline defenders of passenger safety—ignores the critical human element that cannot be replaced by machines.
“Let me be clear: we are not against technological advancements. We just want to ensure they are implemented safely and responsibly,” said ATU International President John Costa. “WMATA’s intention to completely remove human operators from Metro trains is dangerous, expensive, and reckless. Our ATU Local 689 members are the eyes and ears of the transit system keeping, Metro safe and reliable.”
ATU’s WMATA members are more than just operators—they are trained safety professionals, who are often the first to respond to smoke, derailments, medical emergencies, and other dangerous situations. In times of crisis, these skilled professionals act quickly, reassure passengers, and help guide them to safety.
Inexplicably, Metro management has now taken the insulting and irresponsible step of publicly releasing its plan for fully automated trains without human operators and attempting to strongarm this flawed proposal through the DMV Moves initiative. The ATU has zero confidence in WMATA’s ability to install or maintain such a system, given its history of mismanagement.
“At a time when WMATA is set to be short millions of dollars both on its operations and capital budgets, it should be focused on securing dedicated funding to upgrade the system, not selling the media and public on laying off hundreds of frontline workers,” Costa continued. “Instead, the agency should work with our Local 689 and regional partners to improve the current Metro system—to keep our trained, dedicated members operating, and to ensure a safe Metro train system our riders can rely on and trust.”
“Train operators are heroes—plain and simple,” Costa concluded. “They’re not expendable. They’re essential.”