‘There are things we can do right now:’ Transit union can’t wait for city safety report

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This article was published 07/03/2017 (2753 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The president of the transit workers union said city hall needs to respond faster to safety issues affecting transit drivers and the public.

John Callahan, president of ATU Local 1505, spoke out Wednesday, repeating concerns that he doesn’t want to wait 90 days for the release of a report summarizing current safety measures before city hall launches any new initiatives.

“There are things we can do right now. We don’t have to wait 90 days,” Callahan said.

But Mayor Brian Bowman said no new safety measures will be put in place before the administrative report is released.

Bowman said the report ordered by the public works committee last week, in response to the Valentine’s Day killing of driver Irvine Jubal Fraser, will be the starting point for discussions on what new safety measures might be put in place.

Bowman said everyone wants to improve safety for transit drivers and riders but cautioned that a proper discussion on the next steps can’t be taken until everyone knows what’s in place today.

“The first step is a report that will provide, in a publicly accountable way, what mechanisms are in place to protect safety,” Bowman said following the weekly meeting of his executive policy committee. “From there we are going to be looking for improvements.”

Bowman said “the full facts” from Fraser’s killing have yet to be disclosed, adding that police chief Danny Smyth has stated that taking a transit bus is safe.

Bowman said he’s willing to consider spending more on transit safety initiatives but said council needs to know what options are available before making a commitment.

“We do need to have the information in front us before we make informed decisions on how we can move forward.”

But Callahan said transit drivers can’t wait, adding many are considering quitting or retiring early as a result of the city’s slow response to Fraser’s death.

Callahan told reporters that threatening incidents against transit drivers continue to occur despite the attention Fraser’s death has focused on driver safety.

Callahan said he’s recently learned that dispatchers in transit control centre are failing to consistently follow security protocols when drivers report a security incident, adding the city doesn’t need to wait for the safety report to address that issue.

“When a calls goes into the control centre, there has to be a process that is followed,” Callahan said. “There is discretion being used that shouldn’t be. There is no room for discretion. It should be very clear and concise what needs to happen when there is a breach to a security issue.”

Callahan said he’s brought these concerns to transit management and he’s waiting to see how they address the problem.

aldo.santin@freepress.mb.ca