Amalgamated Transit Union

Thunder Bay, ON - Local 966 - Transit Workers

Media Release
TRANSIT OPERATOR ASSAULTED

September 18, 2017 On Thursday September 14, 2017 at approximately 22:50 a Thunder Bay Transit
Operator was assaulted while performing the duties of their job.

An elderly female passenger reported to the operator that she was being verbally harassed by a male
passenger. As a result, the operator pulled the bus over and asked the male to get off. After asking the
male several more times to leave the bus, the male approached the operator who was standing in the aisle
and punched the operator in the stomach. The male was informed this was assault and he fled the bus.

Transit Operators are entitled to a safe work environment and the public deserves safe public
transportation that can get them safely to and from work, school, and other daily activities. said Ken
Koza, President ATU 966

This type of behaviour is completely unacceptable and this person should be held responsible to fullest
extent of the law under Bill S-221. The Operator was doing their job and upholding the Code of Conduct
on their bus. Two weeks ago, another Operator was verbally harassed to the point they are now seeking
medical help. All because they told a customer she had to pay $2.75 to ride. said Ken Koza, President -
ATU 966. Its sad to say that Transit Operators have started to become acceptant of the fact they will
be yelled at, at some point during their day because of doing their job. Nobody deserves to be treated like
this and it needs to stop.

Our hope is that City Administration will develop better processes, procedures and quicker response
times to help deal with these situations added Koza.

Media Contact: Ken Koza, President, 628-9035, kenkoza.atu966@gmail.com

About the ATU

The Amalgamated Transit Union is the largest labor organization representing transit workers in the United States
and Canada. Founded in 1892, the ATU today is comprised of over 190,000 members in 253 local unions spread
across 47 states and nine provinces, including 3,000 workers at Greyhound Lines, Inc. Composed of bus drivers,
light rail operators, maintenance and clerical personnel and other transit and municipal employees, the ATU works
to promote transit issues and fights for the interests of its hard-working members.

208-200 Syndicate Ave. S. Thunder Bay, ON P7E 1C9