Transit Union Assails Firing of Driver, Calls for FTA investigation
Washington, DC – The recent vicious attack on a Kenosha bus driver highlights the increasing risk transit riders and drivers across North America face each day in their commute says the Amalgamated Transit Union.
ATU International President Larry Hanley assailed the firing of the Kenosha Area Transit driver for protecting himself and his passengers from the violent attack, and called on the Federal Transit Administration to open an investigation into the attack.
“These senseless violent acts continue to afflict transit operators all over the United States and Canada, putting passengers at serious risk,” said Hanley. “It is outrageous that a driver who acted to defend himself and quell the violence that threatened his passengers is fired for his actions.”
Just yesterday a woman pepper-sprayed a driver in Washington, DC. Another assault was reported in Pittsburgh on February 4. A bus driver now gets assaulted every three days in the United States. Getting kicked, punched, stabbed and shot and the lower-profile offenses – spitting and verbal harassment – have almost become “routine.”
Many transit agencies have reported recent increases in attacks on drivers. The Philadelphia Transport Workers Union local reports that assaults there more than doubled in 2011 compared to 2010. New York City has seen a 30 percent increase in 2012.
“KAT’s senseless punishment of the victim sends an unwitting message to those who would commit such crimes that it’s “open season” on transit operators,” warned Hanley. “ATU is calling for KAT to immediately reinstate the Kenosha driver and the Federal Transit Administration to investigate this attack.”
The ATU is calling for a number of solutions to deal with this disturbing problem including driver enclosures, driver’s side escape doors and increased transit police patrols. In addition, ATU is calling for more police presence on buses and subways.