ATU Seeks Federal Probe Of Attacks On Transit Drivers
Monday, February 17, 2014(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)
The Amalgamated
Transit Union (ATU) wants the federal government to probe passenger attacks on
transit drivers after a spate of recent assaults. The most recent attack, on
Feb. 10, saw a female passenger assault a D.C. Metrobus driver – a member of
ATU Local 689 – with a can of Mace. A Pittsburgh bus driver was attacked on
Feb. 4 and attacks against New York City transit drivers rose 30% in 2012. The
feds can investigate the issue because local bus and subway systems receive
federal money. The union proposes protecting drivers through enclosures,
driver’s side escape doors and more transit police and patrols on buses and
subways. - Press
Associates, Inc.