Transit union ad campaign puts soundtrack to top issues

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This article was published 27/02/2023 (954 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1505 is making noise on local radio airwaves in an effort to keep safety and reliability in the spotlight.

The sounds of shouting, breaking glass and screeching of tires punctuate one such advertisement in a new campaign for the labour organization that represents Winnipeg Transit workers.

“These aren’t the sounds of an action movie — these are the sounds of our public transit service,” the narrator says. “Taking a bus should not be so action-packed. Violence and crime do not belong on a Transit bus. Save it for the movies.”

With tires screeching and horns honking in the background, another commercial says: “Transit buses should not have to compete with NASCAR. Today’s bus schedules are too tight and impossible to keep up with. Bus operators are stressed to the max, forced to drive faster and still show up late to your stop — which is not fair to you. Save the fast and the furious for the movies.”

ATU 1505 president Chris Scott said the ads, which will run on a trio of city radio stations Feb. 27-March 26, seek calm after several recent incidents of passengers and drivers being subjected to assaults.

One passenger suffered “life-altering” injures when attacked by a man armed with a machete.

Scott said the ads, sparked by members of the ATU executive, are designed to keep the topics of safety for both riders and drivers and improving transit in the public eye.

“We have it running until the end of the (City of Winnipeg) budget process to make sure it is on the forefront of everybody’s minds,” Scott said Monday. “We are definitely calling them to say Transit is a priority.

“Safety will help bring people back to transit, but we also want to make sure reliability is there, too.”

Mayor Scott Gillingham said safety continues to be a priority.

“I campaigned (last year) on establishing a Transit security team and the draft budget includes $5 million for it,” Gillingham said. “I’m committed to make transit buses and transit stops safer for Winnipeg Transit users and drivers.”

Gillingham said while planning for the security team has already begun, the process of hiring and training staff can’t begin until the budget is approved next month.

While the mayor hopes the province amends its legislation governing peace officers to allow security teams for Transit, he said even if it doesn’t, there will still be security on buses.

“We have the ability to establish special constables.”

Tiger Pangilinan said he usually feels safe on the bus, but since the birth of his 18-month-year-old daughter, he has found himself more aware of the risks of taking certain routes.

Pangilinan said Monday he has used Winnipeg Transit since he was in high school, but stopped for awhile amid COVID-19 pandemic concerns.

Since his family started taking the bus again, he has noticed an increasingly rowdy experience.

“It becomes a big hindrance when I have to worry if the bus I’m going on is over-packed or if it’s a little too packed and people are really aggressive, because I have (seen) that, especially when going from one end of the city to the other when it’s getting late,” Pangilinan said while waiting for a bus at Polo Park mall.

He’ll still avoid certain buses when riding with his daughter, out of worry for her safety.

“Especially if it’s not a bus I’m familiar with, because there are buses I just straight avoid — just because my own personal opinion is there’s just more rowdiness on certain bus routes.”

Pangilinan said he would like to see an additional member of security on Transit buses: “I feel like there’s not enough protection for people who don’t want to get involved (in incidents).”

Also waiting for a bus Monday, Trevor Clement said he has seen more than one verbal confrontation on Transit and his spouse was on a bus last year when a knife was pulled by a passenger.

How safe Clement feels taking the bus depends on how long he’s on it, he said. He usually sticks to the St. James area, and said he feels safer.

“There are certain bus routes that are fairly well-known for being more rowdy compared to other ones,” Clement said.

— with files from Malak Abas

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca