He stopped to pick up a passenger who was smoking an e-cigarette. He informed the man the e-cigarettes are not allowed on Trimet buses or property. A conversation ensued after which the passenger took a seat in the back of the bus.
Another rider, who was seated in the middle section of the bus decided to become part of the conversation. It just so happens that this other rider has had some words in the past with this driver. The discussion between the second rider and the driver escalated and started turning nasty
The driver was threatened so he called "police emergency" on the radio. (dispatch here).
The argument continued and got to the point where the driver felt he could be assaulted so he got off the bus. The police where no where to be seen.
At this point a third person followed the driver off the bus. This man ended up physically assaulting the driver and stealing his back pack. The police had still not arrived at the incident.
Apparently there has been a pattern of serious delays in police response to incidents involving bus drivers. This is a serious issue and needs to be addressed! Riders and Drivers are in grave danger and need to be assured that calls for help will be answered promptly!
The driver has been on administrative leave since the incident.
The story doesn't even end here. Trimet in its infinite wisdom has decided to levy a 5 day suspension against the driver for 'abandoning the bus'. How's that for justice?
Driving a bus at Trimet is thankless work and if you expect your company to actually stand up for its employees you will be sadly disappointed .
STUPID Driver we're not the smoking police we're not FARE inspectors.....had she/he ignored the smoking NOTHING NOTHING NOThing would have happend. Remember this famous quote from Sharon Stone "what are you going todi charge me with smoking" a side walk is PuBLic property idiot....
ReplyDeleteI agree drivers should never mess with riders under any circumstance.
ReplyDeleteHowever even if what you say is true the district suspending the driver after the driver was physically attacked is absolutely absurd.
You don't see that sort of thing anywhere but Trimet.
I know their drivers out there who have no idea how to handle people. Try- met recruited them, trained them , passed them through probation , so who's fault is it really when things go bad?
So if I work in any occupation and I inform someone about a rule. that entitles someone to beat the crap out of you?
ReplyDeleteThere is no justification for suspension here whatsoever.
ReplyDeleteWhat ever the driver said or didn't say in irrelevant.
Yet no one is talking about "why" no responce to the "essential" employees saftey and security???? Just how long did it take for help to arrive???? That Op could have been killed in that ammount of time????
ReplyDeleteHB
Al,
ReplyDeleteWe should ask ATU members to boycott Courtesy Auto Care on BHH/Shattuck. Our op. went into their office to seek help/hide from the assholes who were trying to hurt him and they told him to "GET OUT!"