SOUND FAMILIAR?

All too many ATU members can identify with a bus driver who is attacked. And some even know what it feels like when a battered driver tries to contact a dispatcher through an on-board call box and… nothing happens.  
That’s what happened on July 19, when a rider assaulted HART bus operator Colin Brown after entering the bus and paying the fare, hitting him 20 times with her fist.  Brown had to use his cell phone to reach the agency’s dispatch center. Emergency responders finally took him to the hospital where he was treated for a concussion and other injuries. Read more here. 
With a deep concern for the safety of its members, Local 1593- Tampa along with the ATU International are demanding that the HART board “immediately intervene and restore our confidence in being able to perform our duties in a safe work environment.” 
ATU and the Transport Workers Union (TWU) continue to address the issue of attacks on transit worker through a joint committee that’s working hard to find ways to protect transit workers.  

“Last month a Los Angeles bus driver was shot to death while on duty. A New Jersey bus operator was stabbed seven times. Lower profile offenses such as spitting and verbal abuse are becoming part of the job,” ATU President Larry Hanley said. “The public is also at-risk. Transit agencies must put the safety and security of their operators and passengers first.” Read full statement.