‘Workplace violence’: ATU demands further action to address unsafe Winnipeg Transit

A transit system that isn’t safe, can’t thrive.

That was the message delivered by Chris Scott, president of the Amalgamated Transit Union 1505, at Winnipeg City Hall on Tuesday.

Flanked by other union leaders, the disappointment with a lack of improvements was palpable as the union again demanded action.

‘Very frustrating’

“One of our key demands is the implementation of a fully enclosed safety shield on every transit bus to protect the operator,” Scott told the crowd.

Scott says not only are operators driving, but they are also dealing with a variety of circumstances – often dangerous – presented by the public.

“Fully enclosed safety shields are not a luxury, they’re a basic necessity,” said Scott, who adds they protect operators from physical injury, but also from verbal and racial assaults as well.

Scott says ATU members will soon be at a breaking point.

“It’s disheartening. It’s very frustrating,” he told reporters. “We get reports when there is a safety incident involving a weapon or an attack involving an operator and we reach out to every one of our members within 24 hours of an assault.

“Many of them are saying: ‘I don’t know how much longer I can take this.’ We have had many members say they would have liked to say a few more years, but they just can’t do it anymore.”

Claiming some companies are even offering to provide the shields for free for testing, Scott stressed literal lives are at risk due to the ongoing, and growing, safety issues on the city’s transit system. Many on the frontlines are fed up, he says, adding the city’s new Transit Community Safety Team is stretched too thin.

“If you look into the crowd today, there are not a lot of operators here,” said Derek Hanley, vice-president with the ATU.

“They are out serving the citizens of this city, but there are also a lot of them who will not show up to these rallies because they do not think that the city administration is going to do anything to take care of their needs.”

Labour movement has ATU’s back

The calls to make safety a priority for bus operators and passengers were also echoed by the Manitoba Federation of Labour (MFL), which says workplace violence is “out of control” in Manitoba, as instances have quadrupled in the last decade.

“The entire labour movement has your back,” said MFL president Kevin Rebeck.

“It’s time for Winnipeg Transit workplaces to be safe workplaces. It’s time to fully protect transit drivers and it’s time to take action on… workplace violence in our province.”

Other unions like the Canadian Union of Public Employees are also backing the ATU.

“Currently, we’re in a crisis,” said CUPE president Gordon Delbridge.

Delbridge says unionists are standing together and calling for employers to take workers’ right to safety seriously every single day, adding what’s been happening on Winnipeg city buses is a symptom of a lack of proper action.

“Let us not forget the real consequences when safety is neglected; the injuries, illness and death caused by unsafe working conditions have lifelong impacts. Not just on workers, but their families, their communities and the economy,” he said.
“Employers must understand that when they cut corners on safety, they are placing the entire workforce at risk and that is unacceptable.”

Union leaders say they want all levels of government — municipal, provincial and federal — to work together on the issue.

Mayor says Community Safety Team will expand

“Winnipeggers deserve a safe and reliable transit system, and I share the ATU’s concerns about the need to improve safety on our buses,” said Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham in a news release Tuesday. “The Community Safety Team has been a strong start, but it’s clear we need to expand this program to make a bigger impact.”

The city’s top elected official says while he too shares the ATU’s concerns, even at its current level, Community Safety Officers are making progress, saving six lives through CPR and the administration of naloxone, responding to 2,220 incidents and performing 1,500 well-being checks. Mayor Gillingham says the concerns from the union leaders are being heard.

“Feedback from drivers and passengers tells us the Community Safety Team is making a difference, but also that we need to do more,” said Gillingham. “More officers mean more presence on buses, faster response times, and a greater ability to deter crime and assist riders in need. I’m committed to finding the resources needed to strengthen this program.”