Metro says less than two dozen workers called out of work Friday morning amid concerns of a possible "sick out."
Metro management and its largest union, ATU Local 689, are in a tense and ugly contract dispute. A union spokesman told News4 that members are "outraged" at the negotiations over the contract.
Workers are also upset about changes in policies like Metro's sick leave policy - the root of a rumored mass absence or "sick out" by workers on Friday.
On Wednesday, Metro said it received nearly 500 sick day requests for Friday. All requests were denied, Metro said.
The union repeatedly denied that a "sick out" was planned.
"Given the climate the [general manager] has set at WMATA, the union is looking at every possible legal tactic to get his attention," union spokesman David Stephen told News4.
However, union leaders said they did not support a sick out and didn't believe that one would occur.
