Bus union defends driver who deserted riders

[alp227]

Source: CBC

The union for OC Transpo bus drivers says the driver who abandoned his bus did the right thing after a rider confronted him.

OC Transpo is investigating a reported incident where the No. 5 bus was 40 minutes late, according to passenger Henry McCambridge.

The elderly man complained to the driver about the tardiness but the driver said he would not be talking to McCambridge.

McCambridge then started talking to the other passengers and told them to complain to their local councillor.

Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/story/2011/11/16/ottawa-bus-driver-union-deserted.html

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I support organized labor but have to question decisions like this.

[saras]

1. The next best option was for the driver to call 911 on the harassing passenger. Better option?

[happyslug]

2. My reading of the Article, the driver did what he had been told to do in such situations

And if that is the case, what he did was CORRECT, for it is what his EMPLOYER told him to do in such situations. In such cases the Union should not only support him, but point out if someone disagree with the walk out, tell the EMPLOYER to change their protocol.

As to the protocol, it sounds about right, rather then get into an argument with a passenger, do NOT talk to the Passenger and if that can not be done while safely operating the bus, to park the bus, put on the four ways and walk away. In such situations, the worse thing you can do is escalate the problem by ordering the passenger leave or shut up. Calling the Police is a good option, but not realistic in most situations given that the bus is in motion.

Reminds me of the time my Father was confronted by an angry bus user while he was in a store in downtown Pittsburgh, all she did was berate him and yelling at him that it was all his fault that the bus rates were going up and Senior Citizens like her had to pay more to use the Bus for people like him were demanding to much money. He kept on saying, yes mam, yes mam, and just left her vent. After she left, he turned to his fellow LETTER CARRIER and they both had a good laugh, for she just went by the blue uniform NOT the large patch with an Eagle on the shoulder and all the other indications that they worked for the POSTAL SERVICE not the local bus company.

What my father did was correct, people in such situations do NOT want to know the truth they want to complain. His response of "yes mam" to her statements was one way of handling it. He knew better then to point out the patch on his shirt that clearly showed he worked for the POSTAL SERVICE not the local bus operator, for it would have been a waste of time. Such people want to vent, and it is best to leave them vent. If it threatens to escalate the best option is to walk away, just as this driver did. We may not like what he did, but it was the best option out of several bad options.