Transit drivers worried about passenger reception
Posted Mar 14, 2012 05:37:28 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Transit workers will be back on the job by the end of the week, and they’re a little trepidatious about the welcome they’ll get.
Public opinion has swung back and forth over the last six weeks, and more than one driver leaving the forum on Tuesday said they were nervous about the reception awaiting them on Friday.
“We’re going to get chastised by the public because all along we were saying it wasn’t about the money, it was about rostering,” said Roy Daniels. “Now we’ve turned around and taken the money and the rostering. It makes us look bad.”
Driver Cat Bourque said she was looking forward to getting back to work, but admitted she had some concerns.
“The first couple of weeks are going to be a little testy with some passengers, perhaps,” she said. “Or maybe not. Maybe I’m wrong.”
Metro Transit director Eddie Robar urged passengers not to take their frustrations out on drivers.
“We’re going to have a pretty extensive marketing campaign going forward to deal with that,” he said. “Obviously, we have a zero-tolerance policy around any abuse of our operators.”
In addition to an uncertain reception, several drivers said they weren’t happy to be returning to work with the spectre of rostering hanging over them.
“I don’t like it,” said Elaine Crouse. “I went out six weeks ago against rostering, and six weeks later, I haven’t changed my mind.”
Bourque also voted against the offer, saying it was disappointing to have lost the rostering battle.
“We’ve been out for so long, fighting for not having rostering,” she said. “That’s not saying that we pick our shifts every day, it’s just fighting for what we believe in.”
Ferry service is set to resume Thursday, regular bus service on Friday and Access-A-Bus service on Monday.
Service will be free for the rest of the month, and February passes will be honoured in April.
