Transit union says agency’s washroom policy continues to violate human rights, endanger public
Mississauga, ON - In another blatant violation of basic human rights and dignity, a Mississauga bus driver was cited by Mississauga Transit for taking time to use the washroom while on duty. This Mississauga Transit policy not only violates human rights, but could endanger the safety of the public and the health of drivers, according to the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1572, which represents Mississauga bus operators.
“This is the second time in 16 months that a bus driver was cited for using the washroom,” said ATU Local 1572 President Nicholas Bye. “Imagine not being able to use the bathroom at work when nature calls and then getting in trouble for doing so. It’s outrageous and a serious violation of the rights of our bus drivers.”
In this latest incident, an operator was cited for departing three minutes late from a station for using the bathroom. Washroom facilities are only available the beginning and end of his route, which takes approximately 64 minutes each way. His supervisor humiliated the driver by telling him “you are using the washroom too many times and are delaying service” and embarrassed him further saying, “maybe something is wrong with you, you should see a doctor.”
MT uses computer-generated bus routes, which are timed so tight, with no breaks, that many operators have a difficult time keeping the route on schedule even without using a bathroom.
“This is the problem with the system – the computer generating the schedules doesn’t recognize that maybe a bus driver might need a few extra minutes on his or her route to use the bathroom while on duty,” Bye continued. “All management cares about is about getting the buses from point A to point B as quickly as possible, ignoring drivers’ basic human right.”
According to a study in Neurourology and Urodynamics an extreme urge to use the bathroom has similar cognitive effects as 24 hours without sleep or a .05% blood alcohol content. In addition, extreme urine retention can lead to urinary tract infections, bladder damage, and kidney disease.
“This is also a matter of the safety and security of passengers, pedestrians and other drivers on the road,” Bye continued. “A bus driver forced to ‘hold it’ has the same effect as a driver having a couple drinks before work or missing a night’s sleep. Furthermore it put our drivers’ health at risk.”
This is the second incident in 16 months In April 2012 ATU filed a grievance on behalf of the disciplined driver, who was cited by the company for “deliberate delay of service for using washroom facilities.” At the hearing in response to the union grievance company officials argued, “we can’t give every operator carte blanche to go to the washroom and be late, that would be chaos.” The case is currently in arbitration.
The union has been fighting to change the transit system policy on washroom breaks since 1988.
“Unfortunately Mississauga Transit is the poster child for this dangerous and unknown problem of inadequate bathroom breaks plaguing bus drivers across the North America,” said Bye. “It’s time for the authority to address for health and dignity of drivers and safety of riders and the public.”
About the ATU
The Amalgamated Transit Union is the largest labor organization representing transit workers in the United States and Canada. Founded in 1892, the ATU today is comprised of over 190,000 members in 264 local unions spread across 44 states and nine provinces, including 3,000 workers at Greyhound Lines, Inc. Composed of bus drivers, light rail operators, maintenance and clerical personnel and other transit and municipal employees, the ATU works to promote transit issues and fights for the interests of its hard-working members.