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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – March 14, 2024 – The American Train Dispatchers Association (ATDA) will stage a protest outside the inaugural match at the Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. The protest will coincide with the professional women’s soccer game between the Kansas City Current and Portland Thorns.
Date: Saturday, March 16, 2024
Time: 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Location: 1460 E. Front St., Kansas City, Mo. 64120
Purpose: ATDA members and allies will protest CPKC’s refusal to provide paid sick leave to ATDA members.
The protest arises from CPKC’s reluctance to amend the stringent agreement language inherited from former Kansas City Southern (KCS). CPKC, established in 2023 after acquiring KCS for $31 billion, has refused to provide ATDA members paid sick leave despite publicly claiming that they have a commitment to the Kansas City community and an overall commitment to public safety.
“CPKC appears to overlook the essential role our members play not only in the success of this company but the community in which our members live,” said ATDA President Ed Dowell. “It’s unjust and unsafe to deny our hard-working members paid sick leave to help them recover from illness or care for a sick family member. ATDA urges CPKC to reconsider its stance, recognize its employees’ rights, and fully commit to employee and public safety.”
The protest seeks to underscore the disparity between CPKC’s professed values and its actions, emphasizing the importance of equitable treatment for all workers in the community.
ATDA has informed the National Women’s Soccer League Players Association (NWSLPA), representing the competing teams, about the planned protest outside the stadium.
The American Train Dispatchers Association is an AFL-CIO-affiliated craft union representing CPKC employees who safely and efficiently control trains and on-track equipment and protect signalmen, maintenance of way employees, and other on track workers. The Organization is headquartered in Cleveland, OH.
