Managers refuse to help, say spat-upon bus drivers

 

Victoria's B.C. Transit drivers are sick of riders spitting at them, and say management is penalizing instead of protecting them.

Bob Jones, president of Victoria operators' union CAW Local 333, said of six spitting assaults upon drivers, two of the altercations resulted in the drivers receiving three-day suspensions.

Jones said getting hit with a loogie is traumatic to drivers.

"It hurts your self-esteem, it's an attack," Jones said. "If someone is close enough to spit, they're close enough to punch. We want to see B.C. Transit take a harder line on this behaviour. They should be pushing for charges and convictions."

He points out that drivers who are hit in the eyes, mouth, nose or any open sore have to be treated for potential contamination of communicable diseases such as HIV or hepatitis.

"We've got no protection from these assaults," Jones said, adding that B.C. Transit doesn't seek prosecution of assailants or prohibit them from riding public transit.

Joanne Morton, B.C. Transit spokeswoman, confirmed that one suspension has occurred and it's being grieved, although she declined to give details, citing privacy rules. She said it's up to drivers to pursue prosecution against attackers and that Transit encourages them to do so.

Jones said the suspensions are sending a message to the drivers. "We're just supposed to sit there and take it."

The union wants to see roving on-board security, bans on aggressive riders and more signs warning that assailants will be prosecuted. He also wants B.C. Transit to investigate protective shields for drivers.

Morton said bus-driver shields have been discussed, but response by drivers has been "dismal."

Jones said drivers are attacked 50 or 60 times a year, with about 10 per cent of those attacks escalating to physical beatings.

Protective shields are being tested on the Lower Mainland, said Jim Houlahan, vice-president of CAW Local 111.

He said drivers there often face discipline for defending themselves.

Shields are being tested in Vancouver, Edmonton, Toronto and San Francisco, Houlahan said.

Morton said B.C. Transit has formed a task force to examine the problem of assault, but is focusing its efforts for now on training drivers to defuse hostile situations.

"We take this just as seriously as CAW members," Morton said.

jhatherly@tc.canwest.com