Share
The ongoing campaign to better protect front-line transit operators and taxi drivers passed an important milestone in February.
Bill S-221, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (assaults against public transit operators), became law on February 25. The bill amends the Criminal Code to require judges to consider a transit driver’s occupation as an “aggravating circumstance” in sentencing.
Unifor and its partners have been working for years on a campaign to better protect drivers. Senator Bob Runciman introduced S-221 as a private members’ bill spring in spring 2014.
“Everyone should be safe at work,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “Bus and taxi drivers provide a very valuable public service, and they shouldn’t have to face violence in their workplace.”
Vancouver transit operator and Unifor Local 111 President Nathan Woods testified before a Senate committee that approximately 2,000 bus driver assaults are reported each year in Canada.
Canadian taxi drivers had the highest rate of occupational-related homicide in the country in 2011, event higher than police officers.
