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Two IAM members were honored for their efforts to save costs and speed up overhaul maintenance of key air compressors used on electric train sets in the Chicago Area METRA system.
“Adam Singer and Ryan Sperti have gone out of their way in their efforts towards bringing the repair and overhaul of Highliner air compressors in house to KYD, which will save Metra hundreds of thousands in maintenance costs per year, as well as increasing overall fleet reliability and protecting equipment availability on the Metra Electric District,” the award stated.
“We do everything we can to do it correctly and to a higher standard of the craft to show your own worth”, said Singer. He has been with Metra for the past 15 years, and spent almost 4 years in freight mechanics earlier in his career.
See Machinists working at METRA’s KYD shop
“I am always proud of our members of Local 498, but these members are saving jobs, and showing the real value of union labor,” said Josh Hartford, IAM Special Assistant to the International President for the IAM Rail Division.
Hartford attended the awards ceremony along with IAM Railroad Coordinator Brian Shanahan and District 19 General Chairman Shaun O’Connor to congratulate the IAM members.
TCU/IAM member Lataunja Henderson was also recognized during the ceremony. Crystal Fulton Jones, a TCU/IAM ARASA supervisor, presented Henderson with the honor.
The awards, presented by METRA leaders, are based on nominations by their working peers.
“The two machinists’ efforts have improved workforce morale by contributing towards Metra’s goal of creating long-term, skilled jobs for generations to come and setting an example for bringing new ideas from the drawing board to the shop floor,” the nomination read.
