2020 was a tough year for everyone, especially for our front line workers.
Some of those were Brisbane City Council bus drivers who worked throughout the peak of the pandemic.
But COVID-19 wasn’t the only threat to their health.
In 2020, drivers endured 654 verbal and physical assaults whilst behind the wheel.
The worst month was December with 81 assaults recorded – that’s almost three per day.
In 2019, bus drivers were attacked a total of 657 times.
The statistics have remained stable year on year, despite patronage on Council buses dropping by up to 85% in 2020.
The Leader of the Labor Opposition team in Brisbane City Council, Councillor Jared Cassidy, believes there’s a serious health and safety issue being ignored.
“These bus drivers are council employees, and as the leader of this Council, the LNP Lord Mayor is responsible for their safety at work, yet he refuses to take action,” Cr Cassidy said.
“Adrian Schrinner spends $6.5 million on advertising himself and $2.6 million on a new bonsai tree house without batting an eyelid, yet refuses to invest in the safety of Brisbane workers.”
Both Cr Cassidy and the Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) have called for full physical protection barriers and more security on buses and at interchanges.
The RTBU’s petition to ‘stop the attacks’ on bus drivers has received more than 1,400 signatures.
To have your say CLICK HERE.
