International Transport Workers’ Federation’s report argues that:
- The working week should not be more than 40 hours, and the normal working day not more than eight hours.
- No driver should be allowed to drive continuously for more than four hours without a break. Ideally a twenty minute break should be provided after two hours of continuous work. Drivers should be able to use their breaks to refresh and replenish themselves.
- There should be enough time in the working day to reduce the conflict between the demand to stick to the timetable and the need to drive safely. This conflict is the underlying cause of a great deal of stress for drivers, resulting in them either driving too fast or being continually behind schedule.
- The daily rest of drivers should be at least 11 consecutive hours, and split shifts should be avoided.
- Assignments (routes, times, etc) should be regular and predictable, not day-to-day.
- Days off should be guaranteed and should be at least two days at a time.
When it comes to Safety, your driver is on it!
In the past, drivers have been arguing about a lot of issues. During this negotiation, the CCTA has asked for an extension to spread-time hours from 12 1/2 to 13 1/2 up to a FORCED spread-time of 15 hours. In recent weeks, CCTA has said "Drivers can be forced up to a spread-time of 15 hours so they have to make themselves available." That means if a driver has a split shift, working in the morning and then coming back in the afternoon, they cant do anything between those shifts. The drivers are paid for the morning and afternoon work but not between. The CCTA has now requested that we PROVE if we have appointments during that between time. They're not being paid but have to PROVE to the company what they're doing. If a driver doesn't have appointments, they're likely sleeping upstairs in the drivers room or as some do, sleeping in their cars during that time.
Other examples of safety in the past:
Fatigue.
Fatigue is the biggest reason for accidents on the road. CCTA says they have "rest time" on a split. Its not rest time. Actually, its worse than having a straight shift. SWD (Shift Work Disorder) is one of many issues that drivers face with split-shift work is now recognized by the medical community. Having to sleep here and there is NOT refreshing and in this fast paced world of driving, the last thing you want is a driver falling asleep at the wheel.
Aisle Obstruction.
The drivers brought up the issue of aisle obstruction. With total and complete understanding of the mother and child, some of these strollers take up a lot of space in the aisle. If a driver has to break hard, its possible that the stroller could cause injury to another passenger. When the drivers brought up the issue, the CCTA gave the drivers a copy that stated "A minimum of 10 inches was required" for passengers to get by an obstruction in the aisle. When that regulation was researched by the drivers bargaining team, the drivers actually found out that it was a regulation on the construction of a bus in NEW YORK! When the drivers brought what they found to management, management hasn't discussed the issue since.
TSA/Homeland Security
The drivers had training on Homeland Security from the TSA. That training included learning suspicious behavior, handling packages left on the bus and handing situations on the bus, etc.
The training was a 40 hour training session that the CCTA had cut down to two hour blocks. After one of the training blocks, a driver was outside with the gentleman from the TSA who was giving the training and was told by him how he couldn't believe he had to cut a 40 hour training session into two hours. "How do you cut one thing and not another from the training when its ALL important?" A "budget" should not be limited when it comes to training.
These issues and more are what the drivers have to go through. As told by Brad Greenwood (Safety and Security Supervisor) the drivers are liable for everything on that bus. The drivers are liable but the CCTA chooses to take a 40 hour course from the TSA and cut it down to two hours? Seems like they want the public to know they have "Extensive" training WITHOUT the proper training and no responsibility on CCTA's part.
In the past, drivers have been arguing about a lot of issues. During this negotiation, the CCTA has asked for an extension to spread-time hours from 12 1/2 to 13 1/2 up to a FORCED spread-time of 15 hours. In recent weeks, CCTA has said "Drivers can be forced up to a spread-time of 15 hours so they have to make themselves available." That means if a driver has a split shift, working in the morning and then coming back in the afternoon, they cant do anything between those shifts. The drivers are paid for the morning and afternoon work but not between. The CCTA has now requested that we PROVE if we have appointments during that between time. They're not being paid but have to PROVE to the company what they're doing. If a driver doesn't have appointments, they're likely sleeping upstairs in the drivers room or as some do, sleeping in their cars during that time.
Other examples of safety in the past:
Fatigue.
Fatigue is the biggest reason for accidents on the road. CCTA says they have "rest time" on a split. Its not rest time. Actually, its worse than having a straight shift. SWD (Shift Work Disorder) is one of many issues that drivers face with split-shift work is now recognized by the medical community. Having to sleep here and there is NOT refreshing and in this fast paced world of driving, the last thing you want is a driver falling asleep at the wheel.
Aisle Obstruction.
The drivers brought up the issue of aisle obstruction. With total and complete understanding of the mother and child, some of these strollers take up a lot of space in the aisle. If a driver has to break hard, its possible that the stroller could cause injury to another passenger. When the drivers brought up the issue, the CCTA gave the drivers a copy that stated "A minimum of 10 inches was required" for passengers to get by an obstruction in the aisle. When that regulation was researched by the drivers bargaining team, the drivers actually found out that it was a regulation on the construction of a bus in NEW YORK! When the drivers brought what they found to management, management hasn't discussed the issue since.
TSA/Homeland Security
The drivers had training on Homeland Security from the TSA. That training included learning suspicious behavior, handling packages left on the bus and handing situations on the bus, etc.
The training was a 40 hour training session that the CCTA had cut down to two hour blocks. After one of the training blocks, a driver was outside with the gentleman from the TSA who was giving the training and was told by him how he couldn't believe he had to cut a 40 hour training session into two hours. "How do you cut one thing and not another from the training when its ALL important?" A "budget" should not be limited when it comes to training.
These issues and more are what the drivers have to go through. As told by Brad Greenwood (Safety and Security Supervisor) the drivers are liable for everything on that bus. The drivers are liable but the CCTA chooses to take a 40 hour course from the TSA and cut it down to two hours? Seems like they want the public to know they have "Extensive" training WITHOUT the proper training and no responsibility on CCTA's part.