By Marni Pyke, Chicago Daily Herald; August 31, 2020
As Metra strives to recapture riders wary of commuting during a pandemic, the railroad faces COVID-19 fallout on other fronts — no money, picketing workers, Illinois Senate scrutiny and balking conductors on Union Pacific lines.
Members of the Brotherhood of Maintenance Workers Employee Division of the Teamsters brought their work safety grievances to Metra directors’ homes this summer. It resulted in one encounter where union officials say they were threatened with a firearm, although police dispute those claims.