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LOCAL 589 ATU
Remembering April Raines
From Daphne:
Awesome Pretty smile Respectful Interesting Lovely Remarkable Always smiling Intelligent Nice Entertaining Sweet
Last October, we lost our union sister
Together, Daphne, Evelyn, and April made a powerful trio, texting,
Cabot Bus Barn Captain April Raines. In
and FaceTiming daily in between their busy schedules. They said
her eight years of service at the MBTA
April was a committed mother, always shepherding her three
and throughout her life, April made a
children to school and practices, even taking them to work with her
difference. Members knew her as a tireless
so they wouldn't have to ride the bus alone. She was also known
representative and advocate, defending
for her culinary talent—always put on grill duty when the friends
their careers and livelihoods when they
got together.
had nowhere else to turn. In 2019, April ran for Cabot Bus Barn Captain and won, becoming one of the first Black female members to serve in that role. Cabot Garage is a better and more inclusive place to work today because of April's devotion to her colleagues.
"She got me more involved in the union," coworker and friend Daphne Terry said. "I started going to union meetings because of her — I called her 'April Obama.'" The life of a bus driver can be difficult, but April Raines was known for making friends wherever she went, always smiling and joking even when the job got tough. "Before I was friends with April, I never used to socialize at work," bus driver Evelyn Green said. "But after my mother caught COVID-19 and I started missing shifts, it was April, my union rep at the time, who defended me and fought for me. After that, we became instant friends."
April's passing has been a gaping loss for our union and our community. The past two years have been some of the most trying times in our local’s history, and it is because of strong, dedicated, and compassionate leaders like April that we have made it through this pandemic together. Local 589 is stronger today because of her insightful, bold, and big-hearted leadership. May she rest in peace and power.
