John Habanec, president of ATU Local 1241 in Lancaster, provided this chronology of events that he said demonstrates BARTA/SCTA's late response to the COVID-19 threat On 3/6 The union asked for a Safety meeting to discuss RRTA’s Coronavirus preparedness plan On 3/8 The Union asked a second time to see any preparedness plan and began asking for supplies PPE, Hand sanitizer, N95 masks, gloves, Disenfect wipes. 3/10 The Union put Santizing wipes out in break rooms and hand sanitizers for drivers the Union found and purchased. I inquire about when we would be getting PPE from management. 3/11 Managment responds. They are waiting for 2 oz hand sanitizer. Can't find sanitizing wipes. Some Gloves supplied in 1 size. The Union requests for N95 masks management responds that they....”Do absolutely nothing to prevent or protect” The union requests Plastic bags to collect fares if fare boxes become Inop. No bags supplied to operators. Union asks about installing Hepa filters on buses we're told.....”Hepa filters do not serve as preventable measure regarding the spread of virus” The Union asks about using flexible leave for Covid-19 for any of us who become sick and are out of work or may not have sick leave.....”We will deal with this on a case by case basis” Regarding our question on members being Quarantined, and our being able to use our own earned paid time off, again I'm told.....” We will deal with this on a case by case basis” March 17 I met with management and asked bout the status of a member be if Quaratined or positive.....” Well deal with it on a case by case basis”. Dave Kilmer sends a memo reminding us we are essential employees......I emailed him back saying essential employees need essential PPE.....still no PPE MARCH 17 We presented a MOU to negotiate Pandemic paid leave should members become sick. New hires have no paid leave for two years. March 19 We are still waiting on an answer to negotiate Pandemic Leave. March 20 I email Kilmer to come and join me in a meeting to answer members concerns about PPE and their safety.....Mr. Kilmer said he would be violating the governors social distancing orders.....I offered to have him meet us in small groups. He still refuses March 21 Still no answer to negotiate Pandemic Leave. March 23 I send Kilmer a letter and ask him where we are with getting basic PPE I insist these PPE be on every bus. I also tell him we are seeing way too many homeless just hanging out in our waiting areas in front of our break room, no social distancing, we again ask them to take care of that problem. I ask him him again to approve some kind of Pandemic leave for us. He tells me he's waiting on what the Feds might do March 23 I write an editorial in LNP about the lack of PPE for us here. And my concern about our members becoming infected with Covid-19 In a follow up article done by LNP Kilmer is questioned about not being able to supply his employees with PPE, and says about his efforts for not providing us PPE..... I'm sorry if that's not good enough for them March 25 Voluntary Layoffs are announced for 4/1-5/1 March 27 We have gone to rear boarding and no fare collection after the union first requested it and other transits system took the lead. March 30 A member sent me a picture of an overcrowded bus with 18 passengers on it. I forwarded it to management. They responded that.....the use of electronic devices could lead to discipline..... Members continue to text and email me about overcrowded buses. April 1 An operator receives a donation of hand sewn masks for all of us from the Amish and mennoite community. No masks yet from RRTA. I send an email to Greg that we must reduce passenger numbers now. We also ask management to address riders who sneeze and cough without covering their faces.  In the age of Covid-19 sneeze or cough may make you sick or kill you.  Members are frustrated and asking about Hazardous duty pay.  When I asked about supplies like gloves and disinfectant wipes....I'm told by management drivers are stealing them. April 4 A notice is posted warning drivers not to be posting any pictures. The union continues to push for reduced passenger loads April 7 I send a letter to Kilmer to adopt a No Mask No Ride Policy for passengers...... They will only recommend that to riders. I continue to tell members to report overcrowding to dispatch. April 8 4 members report to me overcrowded trips today. I thank a members wife for making us masks. April 10 While still hearing about overcrowding I ask members to keep a safety log to document the overcrowding lack of PPE etc Cat and Rabbit go to No Mask no Ride policy on Monday. April 12 I send an email to Greg about mangers and dispatchers not wearing masks..... He says something about their civil liberties April 13 We are donated 100 Kn95 mask by operation emerald. Still no masks from RRTA April 15 Cat and Rabit get appreciation pay of $3.00/hr April 17 The governor makes masks mandatory on Monday 4/20 We are given masks the Friday before. I ask to meet with Kilmer to discuss Hazzardous duty pay April 20 We continue to hear about more than 10 riders per trip. Today we go to mandatory mask wearing.....The Union hands out donated masks to passengers and operators at Queen Street Station to avoid any conflict with passengers April 20 The Cares act gives RRTA millions in funding for operations. Which can be used for Pandemic Leave or Hazardous duty pay PPE and cleaning and disinfecting buses.....I get a call about no soap or paper towels in our drivers washroom 4/30 We continue to ask for Hazarous duty pay now I'm told.....Hazardous duty pay is in violation of PA Labor law.....the union is asking to negotiate an MOU on additional pay....This is not against the law and we just did one for voluntary lay offs 5/3 I ask members to join me in a campaign for safe service and hazardous duty pay 5/5 I send a letter to Kilmer to sit and negotiate something for our members..... Kilmer to busy to meet with us. We talk to Greg that Friday. Kilmer now says he needs a Quid pro Quo to do anything in additional wages.....Barriers are discussed.....and I ask about temp checks....Not doing these yet 5/12 Our members support a Safe Service Hazardous duty pay campaign, and intend to go to the RRTA board meeting with our safety concerns and hazardous duty pay demand. 5/18 We were told management would start temperature checks today.....Nothing to date on that.