NYC – The New York City Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) is grappling with a significant crisis in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. A recent study by the NYU Silver School of Social Work, in collaboration with the Transport Workers Union Local 100, has revealed that nearly 90% of the city’s public-facing subway and bus workers have experienced some form of assault or harassment from passengers during the pandemic. This alarming statistic underscores a troubling increase in violence against transit staff.
The study, which surveyed nearly 1,300 MTA workers about their experiences between 2020 and 2023, found that a staggering 89% of respondents reported being victimized. This broad category includes physical and sexual assault, harassment, intimidation, and theft. The rate of victimization among MTA workers is notably higher than in other professions, such as healthcare, where 58% of workers reported similar experiences.
Women MTA employees, in particular, have borne the brunt of this violence. The study revealed that 70% of female workers reported being physically assaulted on the job, highlighting a severe and disproportionate impact on women in the transit workforce. The frequency of these assaults was found to be significantly higher among women in the bus division compared to their male counterparts and female subway workers.
One case that illustrates the severity of this issue is that of Mohammad Quader, a train dispatcher who continues to suffer from panic attacks following a brutal attack in December 2022. Quader was assaulted by a man wielding a hammer-like tool, an incident that has left him with lasting psychological trauma. Despite his traumatic experience and ongoing therapy, Quader is currently on leave from work, struggling with flashbacks and anxiety.
The study’s findings align with other reports of increased violence against transit workers during the pandemic. High-profile incidents include an attack on a subway cleaner by a career criminal with 41 prior arrests, an assault by a drunken investment banker, and a fare-beater pulling a gun on a bus driver. These events have collectively contributed to a heightened sense of vulnerability among transit workers.
Robyn Gershon, a clinical professor of epidemiology at NYU and one of the study’s co-authors, attributes the surge in violence to a broader breakdown in social norms during the pandemic. She describes the period as one where societal restraints seemed to loosen, leading to a spike in aggressive behavior. “COVID was almost like letting the cat out of the bag, all bets were off,” Gershon commented. “People could act with impunity in all sorts of ways.”
However, the MTA has contested the study’s findings. According to MTA officials, the documented incidents of assault and harassment for the first seven months of each year since 2021 amount to roughly 5,400 employees, or 11% of the city’s transit workforce. The MTA’s interim president, Demetrius Crichlow, criticized the study, calling it a “poll” rather than a rigorous analysis and accusing it of using flawed methodology. He argued that the study’s conclusions were intended to create undue panic and misrepresent the frequency of assaults against transit workers.
Despite the MTA’s rebuttal, the study’s revelations have intensified calls for greater safety measures and support for transit employees. The agency has previously advocated for reclassifying attacks on transit workers as felonies to address the issue more robustly. Nonetheless, the debate continues over how best to protect these essential workers and ensure their safety amidst a backdrop of rising violence and public disorder.
In summary, the NYU study paints a stark picture of the dangers faced by New York City’s transit workers during the pandemic. With nearly 90% of MTA employees reporting victimization and a notable increase in violence, the need for effective interventions and support systems has never been more critical. The MTA’s response to these findings and the broader discussion about worker safety will likely remain a key issue in the ongoing efforts to address transit-related violence in the city.
