More Buses Now
January Frontline
CAW Connected
Pride
CAW National Website
|
| NEWS RELEASE | Tuesday December 29, 2009 |
Union demands tougher federal legislation after another transit operator attacked while driving bus in Vancouver
|
VANCOUVER - The bus drivers' union is calling on the federal government to introduce tougher federal legislation to protect drivers from ongoing violent assaults after a transit operator was viciously attacked on Boxing Day.
"In 2009 we have had nearly 150 assaults on bus drivers in Metro Vancouver - that is totally unacceptable to drivers and we need action from the federal government to make these attacks subject to tougher sentencing, including jail time," says Canadian Auto Workers Local 111 President Don MacLeod.
"The incident on Saturday December 26 was outrageous and we want to see a tough sentence imposed on the individual who was responsible," MacLeod said.
"For a car driver to block the bus in a clearly marked bus stop and then get out of his car, board the bus and punch the driver in the face is out of control road rage," MacLeod said. "People who behave like these have to be severely punished to ensure the safety of both bus drivers and their passengers, who could also have been injured."
The incident occurred at about 8:30 p.m. on Saturday when the #22 Knight Street bus was southbound on Clarke Drive near East 4th Avenue.
MacLeod said the union continues to offer a $2,000 reward for information leading to a conviction in serious bus driver assaults but in this case police were able to arrest the attacker shortly after the incident, thanks to assistance from bus passengers and the driver.
"Public transit should be a safe way of travelling throughout Metro Vancouver and yet our drivers are being assaulted at a rate of one almost one every other day," MacLeod said. "Punishing the offenders more severely is not the only answer but it certainly will send a message that these attacks will send you to jail, so think twice before you hit a bus driver."
MacLeod said the union continues to push for adoption of a private members bill introduced by Burnaby-New Westminster Member of Parliament Peter Julian to give bus drivers and transit operators the same protections under the Criminal Code afforded to police and ambulance personnel if they are assaulted while performing their duties.
|
|
|
