By Mia Holowaychuk CKOM Saskatoon
The Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) is sounding the alarm after alleged assaults on bus drivers have become increasingly violent in recent days.
Darcy Pederson, the president of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 615, said there have been six incidents reported in the past two weeks with an uptick in altercations involving bear spray, punching, kicking and spitting.
He noted areas such as downtown and Confederation are hot spots for these incidents.
A statement from the city’s transit administration acknowledged the negative interactions, stating that all incidents are taken very seriously.
According to city statistics, so far this year, there have been 31 reported incidents involving bus drivers including acts of aggression, verbal altercations, intoxication, assault and bodily fluids.
Recorded negative incidents on Saskatoon Transit. (City of Saskatoon)
The City of Saskatoon’s two-year budget, announced in November, included $482,000 for a targeted support program to address transit concerns.
Set to start on July 1, community support officers will be present on routes where incidents occur most frequently.
Pederson said the program is a good start, and the purpose of officers will be to form relationships and help find support for those who need mental health, housing or addictions help.
But the union head noted the presence of the officers isn’t the solution. He suggested having enforcement officers as well to assert the Criminal Code and the Saskatoon Transit policy on physical and verbal abuse.
“We need to have the ability just like the libraries do to ban those that are causing these issues on the buses,” Pederson said.
Last year, 110 metal barriers with sliding Plexiglas were installed on city buses, which Pederson said has helped protect drivers, but assaults outside of those walls still happen.
“We’re also seeing assaults of people randomly reaching around the barrier with bear spray and spraying the bus operator,” Pederson said.
“(These are) very complex issues. Nobody really knows what the answer is. We need to do something before somebody gets killed.”
The ATU has also called for a national task force to address the complex issues that transit operators are facing.
Last week, city commissioners adjusted and increased patrols of the Downtown Transit Terminal, with patrols also being extended to locations like the Market Mall and Confederation Mall terminals.
“Saskatoon Transit employees are always encouraged to call their supervisor if they are concerned for their safety and to contact the Saskatoon Police Service (SPS) immediately to investigate when an incident happens,” the city said in a statement.
According to the city, transit management and the union have regularly scheduled weekly meetings to address concerns, which include safety.