Transit union pleads for full shields after near ‘hijacking situation’

Winnipeg Transit drivers' union is urging the installation of full safety shields after a recent incident involving a driver threatened with a hatchet. The union's president, James Van Gerwen, highlighted the critical need for these shields following the threat. The operator, who had been on the job for a year, was placed on leave due to the incident, adding to the 60 drivers currently on stress leave.

Sixty-four drivers are off work due to psychological injuries, totaling more than 30,000 days and 225,000 hours of lost driver time. The union claims that the costs associated with Workers Compensation Board claims would pay for the full shield installation within two years. Winnipeg Transit has been exploring the replacement of partial shields with floor-to-ceiling compartments, estimating the project at $15 million.

The City of Winnipeg has allocated $2.7 million for a pilot project, though it has not yet moved forward. The union demands full shields to be installed on buses immediately, citing a rise in assaults on drivers.