Halifax Transit bus makes a stop on Spring Garden Road. (Photo: Steve MacArthur)
The president of the union representing Halifax Transit bus drivers and ferry operators says staffing shortages have resulted in burnout amongst workers.
Shane O’Leary, president of the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 508, tells our newsroom staff have been stretched thin with many working between 50 to 70 hours per week.
He believes it’s having major impacts on worker recruitment and retention.
“They’re coming in and they’re starting at the lowest wage and they’re working the most hours, the worst hours. Even senior operators are being forced to work on their days off and after their shifts are done. There is no quality of life anymore,” O’Leary says.”People are literally just walking up to the window and saying that’s it ‘I quit. I’m done’.”
O’Leary says wages, which start at around $21 an hour, need to be improved along with work conditions.
He reminds Haligonians it’s not easy to be a bus driver.
Three drivers were recently assaulted in as many days.
“There is no quality of life anymore,” O’Leary says
“We had three female drivers,” O’Leary says. “People were punching their shields, yelling at them, and literally threatening to kill them.”
He adds getting people banned from the bus is a challenge, explaining the Justice Department’s Protection of Property Act is no longer useful on buses because they don’t have a fixed address.
O’Leary believes the public is frustrated and taking it out on drivers as routes get axed due to low staffing availability.
The city has cancelled trips twice this month to provide some relief with more than 30 impacted. The reduction in service is set to remain in effect “until further notice.”
Halifax Regional Municipality spokesperson Ryan Nearing emailed the following statement to our newsroom:
“Due to current staff availability, Halifax Transit has pre-emptively cancelled select Halifax Transit trips. This is done to provide more certainty to passengers and allow them to plan,” the statement reads. “We are closely monitoring the situation over the coming days and will make any adjustments as required, based on staffing availability. The intent is to minimize service disruptions and allow for as much service reliability as possible.”
Based on current staffing availability, starting July 22, a number of additional bus trips will be cancelled until further notice. For a full list, visit: https://t.co/Agu6nqzj8v
Any additional service disruptions will be shared via @hfxtransitalert. pic.twitter.com/wP326VjTWt— Halifax Transit (@hfxtransit) July 21, 2022
A bus driver recruitment campaign is also underway for Halifax Transit to help attract more workers.
O’Leary doesn’t believe that’s enough saying the public feels the service isn’t working for them.
“The service is getting cut. The service is getting worse,” O’Leary states. “With the lack of manpower due to the wages and poor working conditions, the public is getting even more upset. The public takes it out on the frontline workers … We move people, we move the city, we’re the first ones you see in the morning when you’re in a bad mood going to work. We’re the last ones you see on your way home in a bad mood.”
O’Leary says they’re losing staff from all experience levels. He says new drivers right out of class and some who have yet to finish the 6-week training program have been walking out when they realize how much overtime will be required. O’Leary adds senior drivers are also getting weary of working long hours and have been opting to retire early.
He estimates they’re losing two or three people each week, sometimes up to three a day.
O’Leary believes they can’t hire enough staff at this point to fix the system. He says a boost in compensation and better protection for workers is what’s required, including prevention of burnout and better safety protocols on buses.
“We get coffee thrown at us, we get assaulted, and abused, and yelled at for just doing our job,” O’Leary says. “Nobody should have to work like that. We need the support from the police, from the council, from our employer to protect us.”
He adds the issues of wages and safety will be brought to the next round of collective agreement negotiations with the goal of getting a contract in place as their current one expired almost a year ago.
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