Senseless violence towards public transit workers result in devastating, and unnecessary, tragedy. That’s what happened to ATU Local 1593 Brother Thomas Dunn, in Tampa, Florida, murdered on the job as he served the public.
ATU Local 113 stands in solidarity, and joins with Thomas Dunn’s friends, family and Sisters and Brothers as they mourn his loss. Funeral details can be found here.
Find more information below from the ATU on what they’re doing to stop tragedies like this from happening across North America. Local 113 joins them in urging the passage of the Transit Worker and Pedestrian Protection Act, adding to our efforts here in Toronto to make our public transit system a healthier and safer workplace.
Please contact your shop steward should you want to discuss any issues you’re currently experiencing, or get involved as we fight to secure concrete changes.
ATU condemns fatal stabbing of Tampa bus driver, demands better protection for transit workers
Calls on Congress to pass of Transit Worker and Pedestrian Protection Act
Silver Spring, MD – In the wake of the tragic fatal stabbing of a Tampa bus driver, the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) is demanding Congress pass legislation to provide better protection for bus drivers, riders and the pedestrians.
“I want to express our deepest sympathy and heartfelt condolences to the family and loved ones of our fallen brother as of a result of a senseless act of violence while doing his job serving the public,” said ATU International Executive Vice President Javier Perez. “And, our thoughts and prayers are with our brothers and sisters of Local 1593 as they deal with this terrible tragedy.”
The Union applauded the Tampa Police Service for apprehending the suspect.
Unfortunately this brutal murder is not an isolated incident. Countless numbers of transit workers are assaulted in many ways every year. Most are the result of a fare dispute, but an alarming number happen just because someone wants to do violence to a bus driver.
ATU has been engaged in an unprecedented campaign with transit workers from Toronto, ON, to Oakland, CA, and Jacksonville, FL, to Saskatoon, SK, to demand major safety changes in transit systems across North America.
ATU is calling for passage of the Transit Worker and Pedestrian Protection Act. This legislation would provide more protection by requiring transit agencies to create risk reduction plans, install physical barriers to protect drivers, and retrofit or replace buses with left-side blind spots. Also, it would require transit agencies to report on a wider range of incidents. The bill is gaining momentum on Capitol Hill, with more than 100 members of Congress co-sponsoring the bill. ATU encourages all Americans to call their Member of Congress to ask them to sponsor this bill.
“Transit workers cannot go to their job, and passengers cannot travel on public transportation in fear of being attacked and assaulted,” Perez continued. “ATU demands that transit agencies and government officials bring the same sense of regret that they will display in the public mourning of this tragic, unnecessary death of our brother and pass this critical legislation that will help to prevent these tragedies from happening.”