Press Releases

SEXUAL ASSAULTS ON TRANSIT BUSES – TRANSIT UNION DEEMS IT A DOWNRIGHT SHAMEFUL PUBLIC SAFETY CRISIS 

WINNIPEG, September 22, 2022 – Throughout the morning of September 20, 2022,

an adult male passenger boarded a number Transit buses and sexually assaulted female passengers by grabbing their buttocks, attempting to kiss them, and also spit on another passenger as he left a bus; Police were notified after the victims alerted bus operators of what happened – Amalgama

ATU CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC ABOUT PASSED MOTIONS AT COMMUNITY COMMITTEE MEETING

WINNIPEG, August 31, 2022 –At this morning’s Community Committee meeting, a motion brought forward by Councillor Shawn Nason, Transcona Ward, for a Transit Security Force and full safety shields on buses was passed.  Additionally, Councillor Nason and Councillor Jason Schreyer, Elmwood-East Kildonan Ward, moved to prioritize the replacement of the aging bus radio communication system.

TWO TRANSIT OPERATORS ASSAULTED NEAR TRANSIT GARAGE - ATU CALLS ON CITY TO TAKE ACTION 

WINNIPEG, August 15, 2022 – On August 13, 2022, at approximately 4:45 a.m., two male Transit operators, off duty and in uniform, were assaulted while in the parking lot near the Fort Rouge Transit Garage – and this raises significant safety concerns for Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 1505.

One operator was sitting in his personal vehicle when an assailant broke the dr

THE IRONY: ON-DUTY TRANSIT WORKERS ASSAULTED WHILE ATU RALLIES AT CITY HALL FOR A SAFER TRANSIT SYSTEM

WINNIPEG, August 4, 2022 – While ATU members rallied at City Hall for a safer Transit System after the attempted stabbing of an Operator just two weeks ago, Transit workers were literally being assaulted while on duty.

“We cannot even express the irony of this situation,” said Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1505 President, Romeo Ignacio.  “Assaults were happe

TRANSIT DRIVER ESCAPES THROUGH WINDOW: BETTER SHIELDS NEEDED

WINNIPEG, July 25, 2022 – Last evening, July 24, 2022, a passenger attempted to stab a Winnipeg Transit driver with a knife by reaching around the driver’s shield.  According to police, the passenger boarded the bus around 7:00 pm and caused a disturbance.  The driver stopped the bus and asked the passenger to leave, at which point the passenger attempted to assault the driver.  The driver ordered all passengers to safely exit the bus and then

MISUSE OF BUS SHELTERS - TRANSIT UNION ADVOCATES FOR CHANGE

WINNIPEG, June 24, 2022 - ATU Local 1505 has long been an advocate for the need to address the prevalent issue of homelessness and addiction in our city.  On June 11, 2021, a letter, written by ATU member Leigh Kilfoyle, was sent to Mayor Bowman and the City Council regarding our concerns surrounding homelessness, addiction, and the misuse of Transit bus shelters. 

The letter provided a detailed accoun

MASK MANDATE REMOVED FOR TRANSIT WORKERS - TRANSIT UNION CALLS OUT CONTRADICTORY POLICY

WINNIPEG, June 17, 2022 - On the evening of June 16th, 2022, the City of Winnipeg announced the removal of the mandated requirement for City employees, including Transit workers.

On March 15th, 2022, the Province of Manitoba lifted the “public health orders requiring mask-wearing in public places” (Gover