WINNIPEG TRANSIT IS IN A PUBLIC SAFETY CRISIS – TRANSIT UNION PLEADS FOR IMMEDIATE ACTION FROM CITY AND PROVINCE

WINNIPEG, November 8th, 2022 – The Winnipeg Transit system is left reeling after a series of assaults on patrons and a Transit worker over the last six days – Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 1505 pleads with the city and all levels of government to take immediate action against what they deem a Public Safety Crisis.

On two separate occasions on November 2nd and 4th, an assailant attacked and robbed Transit users waiting at a Keewatin/Burrows bus stop at knifepoint – the suspect is currently at large. On November 5th, a woman was sexually assaulted in a bus shelter near Chancellor Drive and Pembina Highway. On November 6th, a Transit driver had to climb out of the bus window to escape a threatening passenger.  

“As we’ve stated numerous times before, we are extremely concerned about the state of our Transit system,” said ATU 1505 President, Romeo Ignacio. “There is a Public Safety Crisis happening in Winnipeg and we need all levels of government to take immediate action to address this crisis now.”

“We have sent a letter to the Mayor and City Council yesterday and are in the process of sending a letter to the Premier of Manitoba, “continued Ignacio. “We have continuously called for a Transit Security Force that would monitor and patrol buses and bus stops, among other practical recommendations. To date, nothing has been done. We can all see that crime is escalating – something needs to be done now to make Transit safe for everybody. This cannot be allowed to continue.”

These recent instances follow closely to those that occurred on September 20th when a male boarded several Transit buses and grabbed the buttock’s and tried to kiss several female passengers, and on July 24th, when a Transit operator had to again escape through the bus window after being threatened with a knife by a passenger.

–30–