Unsuck DC Metro: The First Annual Richard Sarles Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Field of Excellence

Friday, January 18, 2013

The First Annual Richard Sarles Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Field of Excellence

Update: A reader pointed out a HUGE omission in this post. Less than two weeks before the Red Line crash, former Metro GM John Catoe was named best transit manager in the U.S.

Yesterday, Metro announced that GM Richard Sarles had been among those honored by the National Safety Council as one of 2013's CEOs Who 'Get It,' and are "recognized for dedication to safety excellence."

Considering 2013 is not even a month old and Metro has already had at least a wrong-side door opening, a derailment, a mega-meltdown on the Red Line that left platforms dangerously overcrowded, an absent station manager during a medical crisis, and numerous reports of smoke filling the stations, the timing of the award is, well, hilarious.

Obviously, none of the judges at the NSC ride Metro regularly (their HQ is in Illinois) because if they did, they'd realize safety is Metro's Lennay Kekua--a great sounding story that's purely imaginary. Every single Metro source I've talked to over the years tells me Metro practices safety when it's convenient. When it's not convenient, all bets are off.

The NSC's award may have had some significance long ago, but by awarding Sarles, it's hard not to believe that the award has devolved into nothing but PR ludicrousness, a vanity award hollowed of any meaning.

Take 2010's winner, Boeing CEO James McNerney. People are now calling for his head after the company's global fleet of 787 Dreamliners, has been grounded for serious safety concerns. Hopefully, that's not a precursor for Metro and the 7000-series ~~clunkers~~ cars. The NSC curse anyone?

So to recap, Metro union boss Jackie Jeter bagged her hollow "champion of change" award from the White House, and Sarles is considered a safety leader from among all the thousands of CEOs in the country by an important sounding safety organization.

What's next on the Metro award front?

My bet is that foot-in-mouth maestro Dan Stessel will walk away with the 2013 Sexual Harassment Sensitivity Award. Any takers?

It all feels rigged. The B.S. infrastructure is strong, sturdy and loaded up with money while the real infrastructure is crumbling before our eyes. Metro's just one example.

Other items:
Hope these are better than the new escalators at Dupont S. (WMATA)
Metro has greatly improved the bus maps (WMATA)

Comments (38)

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+6 Vote up Vote down

liberal · 645 weeks ago

Don't forget the Oscars, Grammys, Golden Globes...all BS

Oh, and didn't a certain leader of a country involved in needless wasteful wars win a Nobel Peace Prize?

You have to laugh.

1 reply · active 645 weeks ago

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HAHaha · 645 weeks ago

B. S. Bull Sh__!

+6 Vote up Vote down

karah 81p · 645 weeks ago

Maybe forward this post to the NSC?

3 replies · active 645 weeks ago

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Just Helping · 645 weeks ago

I think that is a great idea! We all should.
Here is the e-mail of their CEO, Janet Froetscher: Janet.Froetscher<at>nsc<org>org

And e-mails for all their execs: http://www.nsc.org/about_us/Pages/ExecutiveManage...

Here is the e-mail address for the PR lady at NSC on the release: kathy.lane<at>nsc>dot>org

Here is the DC # for the NSC: (202) 293-2270

+3 Vote up Vote down

Just Helping · 645 weeks ago

Thats of course
Janet.Froetscher<at>nsc<DOT>org

Sorry, Mr. Unsuck, please fix.

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Former-employee · 645 weeks ago

There have been so many employees who reported safety situations and problems to the Union and Jeter and company managers and have been ignored or abused. Where is that story? Apparently this is not taken into consideration. What a fluke!

+8 Vote up Vote down

Ever Offended · 645 weeks ago

This is a worse joke than Lance Armstrong. So much for any respect for NSC.

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Heather · 645 weeks ago

Seriously? A safety award? After all the problems with escalators, doors opening in the middle of tunnels, doors opening on the wrong side, and at least one derailment in the last year?

I'm pretty sure Sarles used to work for Medstar Health, because I tell ya what, they appreciate mediocrity and a job NOT well done, there too!

1 reply · active 645 weeks ago

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Anon · 645 weeks ago

There have been many more safety breeches and anomalies reported Heather. This must be an award for no one else being killed this year.

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guest · 645 weeks ago

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA good one, unsuck!

oh wait--you mean this is for real?

well, much like the "fortune 100 best places to work" list is a total sham (companies self select and submit their names to fortune. total pool of applicants for this year's list: 259), i guess the NSC is an absolute joke, too. kind of alarming when you think about it, especially given that the NSC has a charter from Congress....

+11 Vote up Vote down

Dan Stessel · 645 weeks ago

Just more proof that Metro will eventually get you where you're going without killing you in the process.

You're welcome.

1 reply · active 645 weeks ago

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Daily Rider · 645 weeks ago

"without killing you in the process. "

For the most part.

+18 Vote up Vote down

hrh king friday 13 · 645 weeks ago

"Well, he got an award so he must be doing something right," said the pile of mangled bodies at the bottomg of a Metro escalator.

+4 Vote up Vote down

Aaron Z. · 645 weeks ago

Send the National Safety Council e-mails telling them about your experiences with how unsafe Metro is! I just finished writing up an e-mail to multiple people in their staff, if we get enough people (it could take hundreds) they will eventually have to listen. Imagine the PR nightmare for Metro that would occur if the NSC took back the award?

3 replies · active 644 weeks ago

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Just Helping · 645 weeks ago

Just posted in response to Kara Harkins all their e-mails, everyone should join in!

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Bill · 645 weeks ago

That will never happen. Organizations like the NSC are too proud and self-centered to ever admit making a mistake. Kinda like METRO.

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hrh king friday 13 · 644 weeks ago

I think the National Safety Council needs a Wikkipedia update about this particular award.

+17 Vote up Vote down

NoNo · 645 weeks ago

Apparently, nobody noticed that Sarles is like the Honey Boo Boo of the incompetent CEOs pageants.

2 replies · active 645 weeks ago

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BrianKal · 645 weeks ago

She could probably do a better job then him

+4 Vote up Vote down

NoNo · 645 weeks ago

And he would probably wear pink dresses better than her...
"You better red-line-cognize"

+5 Vote up Vote down

F'n JD · 645 weeks ago

The Boeing shot is flawed. Aviation is the safest industry in the world. While the 787 is having issues, there have been 0 deaths and injuries. And the FAA is the agency that certifies the aircraft and operation is safe (through licensing pilots and mechanics). WMATA operators and mechanics are not certified by the DOT as far as I'm aware. They're certified and trained by WMATA. Broken system.

4 replies · active 645 weeks ago

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unsuckdcmetro 92p · 645 weeks ago

I think it's fair to point out a past winner is also leading a company that is facing some major problems with a new, super hyped product that has a lot of people scared to fly.

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Matt G · 645 weeks ago

To be fair, Mr. Unsuck, just about every new type of aircraft has its roll-out problems with new technology. See: A380, A350, B777...wright brothers...

+6 Vote up Vote down

unsuckdcmetro 92p · 645 weeks ago

No need for Mr.

True, but people seems quite troubled by this. I hope the 7000s have a better "teething" period.

+4 Vote up Vote down

Matt G · 645 weeks ago

I'll toast to that.

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Guest · 645 weeks ago

In a world where Obama can get a Nobel Peace Prize, this doesn't surprise me.

-9 Vote up Vote down

frankie b · 645 weeks ago

Why any surprise? After all, Kissinger won the nobel peace prize.

1 reply · active 645 weeks ago

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Guest · 645 weeks ago

And Arafat, and Obama!

+2 Vote up Vote down

guester · 645 weeks ago

Sclerotic institutions join forced for a Reese's sh*t cup.

+4 Vote up Vote down

Guest · 645 weeks ago

I got a response back from the safety council - "Thank you for your email. To be recognized as a CEO Who “Gets It”, a leader must demonstrate an understanding of the link between workplace safety and business success. Richard Sarles has been recognized by the National Safety Council because of the investment he has made to Metro safety and the improvement that is underway.

Under his leadership, safety staff has increased by 60% and 5,000 Metro employees have completed the Roadway Worker Protection Training Program. Because of an increased investment to safety resulting from a Safety Survey in 2010, employee and passenger injury rates declined for three consecutive years. Change does not happen overnight. However, we believe that Mr. Sarles’ investment and commitment to safety has set the Washington Metro Area Transit Authority on the right course to continued improvement."

I told them nicely that it was bs - its gotten worse under his leadership and its not on the right track, its on the wrong track.

3 replies · active 645 weeks ago

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Guest · 645 weeks ago

Remember Catoe got an award too! Ha! When another issue happens Sarles will be out the door too.

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unsuckdcmetro 92p · 645 weeks ago

Oh man! How could I forget Catoe was named best transit manager right before the Red Line crash: http://unsuckdcmetro.blogspot.com/2009/05/congrat...

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n2deep · 645 weeks ago

lets see here...Roadway Worker Safety training Program.....yeah i took that class. biggest waste of my time in over 30 years here. it did absolutely nothing to improve safety. we were rushed through to make numbers. and when you had a serious complaint about conditions you were told," that is a matter to take up within your department."
'Well aren't you here to teach us how to be safer? and isn't the ones who can most efficiently identify hazardous issues are the ones you are supposedly training?"
"Well i was only hired to instruct you using this teaching guide that was written up by someone in the industry, not to specifically address any issues you encounter here." " anything else?"

and secondly adding 60% more safety staff employees???? something about too many chiefs and not enough indians comes to mind. i have seen some of the new hires they dredged out of management to fill these positions. they are some of the most dangerous people to work around on the railroad.

yeah I fell safer....Much safer....

+7 Vote up Vote down

dezlboy 76p · 645 weeks ago

Unsuck, how in the heck are you going to top this safety award post on April's Fools Day?

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bet · 645 weeks ago

Then why do employees get the cold shoulder when they report issues concerning passenger safety? I do not know of any employee getting a safety award and these are the ones who make it safe.

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Anony · 645 weeks ago

I know this may sound cruel, but I'm almost hoping for a disaster Inauguration Day for WMATA. Every other day for the entity is a disaster, and Inauguration Day is a highly publicized event, so a lot of people will judge WMATA by this day alone.

They pulled it off in 2009, and got a lot of good praise for that, even though they suck every other day.

1 reply · active 644 weeks ago

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Guest · 644 weeks ago

Makes sense. The Inauguration (and the last two presidential elections) is a disaster for our country.