According to Winnipeg’s Amalgamated Transit Union, there is a severe shortage of bus drivers as a result of safety precautions.
According to Union Head Romeo Ignacio, “We’ve Had a Lot of People Withdraw Early Because They Can’t Take On The Risk Anymore.”
Ignacio claims that 150 drivers have left Winnipeg in total, and recent transit assaults are a contributing factor.
“We Lost a Lot of People from Resignations, Specially The Newer Ones.
You see, they see and hear all of this when they start driving after their training. And many of them claim that “This is not what we signed up for.”
The number of assaults on transit divers has increased over time, with this year marking the highest number. There were 90 in 2020, 92 in 2021, and 107 thus far this year.
However, Those Numbers do not include Assaults Made in Bus Shelters, Only Uones That Took Place On The Bus.
Ignacio claims he will meet with the mayor, councilwoman Janice Lukes, and premier Heather Stefanson to discuss the shortage of drivers and safety concerns.
“We require volunteers to patrol our transitways. Monitoring The Areas That Are Frequently The Scene of Crime and Violent Assaults is something we discussed with Transit about all those areas. And while we wait, nothing has been accomplished.
This is not the first time the union has brought up the issue of transit safety.
The Union Reaffirmed Calls for New Security Shields on City Buses in the wake of an attack on a driver in July that forced him to flee through a bus window.
A Union Spokesperson Said They Have Been Requesting New, Extended Shields From The City Since 2020 Best The Current Design “You have come to be ineffective anti -instalring Preventing Subsone from Reaching Into The Driver’s Compartment.
” A City Spokesperson Said Three Models of Shields Were Tested Between 2009 and 2012 Before An ATu Survey Found Most drivers Disliked The Barriers For Reasons That Included Reduced Air Flow, Increased Glare and Restricted Ability to Interact With Customers.
The current barrier was picked out of a 2017 pilot project that tested two additional shields with 700 drivers, according to the spokeswoman. – With files from Global News’ Shane Gibson.
Bus Driver Shortage Caused by Assaults and Safety Concerns, Says Winnipeg Transit Union
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