Driver assaulted on Halifax Transit bus

“People’s patience are getting short and I think we’re starting to see that on the road now.” Ken Wilson President and business agent, Amalgamated Transit Union Local 508

The union representing Halifax Transit workers is renewing a call for manufacturer's installed safety shields for operators after a man allegedly tore down a shield and assaulted a bus driver on Monday morning.

According to a Halifax Regional Police spokesman, HRP received a report of the assault that occurred in the 3400 block of Desmond Avenue at about 11:50 a.m.

The driver was assaulted by a man who then exited the bus and left the area on foot. There were no physical injuries to the driver reported at that time, the police email said. The incident is still under investigation.

Ken Wilson, president and business agent of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 508, said it's another example of the shields “not being as invincible as we're being led to believe.”

“We continue to call for manufacturer-installed shields on all buses,” Wilson said. “Everyone has the right to go to work and not be assaulted, so it's unfortunate.”

He added that it's another concern at the same time that COVID-19 restrictions had to be renewed as the third wave surges with variants that are more easily spread.

“That's the biggest concern right now — that the majority of our members are concerned that (there's) no social distancing on buses,” he said. “People are crowded on some buses. We have people not wearing masks and we can't enforce it. The passengers are trying to enforce it in some cases.

“People are getting tired. People's patience are getting short and I think we're starting to see that on the road now.”

Wilson said Halifax Transit has put steps forward to order buses in the future that will have manufacturer's shields that will be more of a protection for the operator.

“But in regards to this social distancing measures, we're calling on the mayor right to the premier to Dr. Strang just to come on a bus and take a look at what the operators are seeing every day and hopefully they'll see from their perspective that we're essentially sharing the same space as the passenger. The passengers have to self-isolate and get a negative test but the operator doesn't. It seems to be confusing and concerning.

“We just want the passengers and the transit workers to be safe, that's all we want.”