Worker’s message draws response from Chesco D.A.
WEST CHESTER >> The Mariner East pipelines in Chester County have drawn strong public opposition. The Chester County District Attorney’s Office has opened a criminal investigation. Now, an obscene message from a pipeline worker to a Chester County resident who opposes the pipeline has drawn a sharp response from District Attorney Tom Hogan.
In December of 2018, the Chester County resident was posting on the social media platform Instagram about the pipelines. In response, a pipeline worker using the Instagram handle “x_rated_fusion” posted, “You are a retard .... get a new hobby ya (expletive).”
When the Chester County resident responded by asking about safety practices on the pipeline, the worker posted, “But if my weld was bad I hope it’s in your backyard so I can watch your house burn down on the news. Thanks for the 100,000.00 summer.”
The pipeline worker apparently was referencing how much money he made working on the pipeline. In addition, a pipeline in Beaver County exploded and burned down a house in September of 2018.
“This sort of language and behavior is inappropriate and unprofessional. Calling a woman that particular word is incredibly offensive, even if you spell it incorrectly,” Hogan said. “Calling anybody the ‘R’ word is unacceptable. We will not allow our citizens to be bullied. I have raised this issue with Sunoco, as well as the pipeline worker’s union leaders in Texas and Oklahoma.”
Leadership of The Arc of Chester County, which provides advocacy, education, and support services for people with physical and intellectual disabilities, also responded.
“We appreciate the efforts of our Chester County leadership to forward the ongoing mission to eliminate the use of the ‘R’ word from everyone’s vocabulary,” said Jeanne Meikrantz, Executive Director of The Arc of Chester County. “As a community, we need to recognize that the use of that term in any context is inappropriate, unprofessional, and offensive.”
The Chester County resident, whose name is being withheld because she fears potential retaliation, lives with her children near the pipeline. She was extremely disturbed by the nature and tone of the posts, so she reported them to District Attorney Hogan.
The worker’s union is Local 798. The Business Manager for the union is Danny Hendrix in Oklahoma. The Union Organizer is Ronne Hill in Texas.
“I had very cordial but pointed conversations with Mr. Hendrix and Mr. Hill,” Hogan said. “They both agreed that the comments were totally inappropriate. I requested that they address the individual worker, and also advise all pipeline workers to avoid any such communications with our citizens. I made the same request to Sunoco.”
If any Chester County residents are bullied or threatened by pipeline workers, they should notify their local police department or the Chester County Detectives.