Response to Mayor's Comment supporting Management over Transit Union

Dear Mayor Bowman:

Yesterday was Valentine's Day and love was definitely in the air.  Sadly, it was also the second anniversary of the death of a Winnipeg Transit driver who was slain at the last stop of his shift.  The incident affected all of Winnipeg and all of Canada.  I don't ride the bus very often, but when I do, I have enormous respect for my driver.  It doesn't seem to matter the time or the route, there are risks to the drivers and every driver has had a complex situation to deal with.  This has become routine to the drivers.  Since that time, the Union representing transit drivers has called upon safety improvements for the drivers, and, by extension the citizens of Winnipeg.  It is often reported in the media that the Union doesn't feel "heard" by City Hall.  It must have been like pouring salt in their wounds when a huge surplus in transit was reported last year.  I understand they will be getting shields soon.  That is a start. 

I am proud to call a few of transit drivers my friends.  It seems that every conversation that I have with mine talks about this murder.  The grief that they feel is very real and very personal.  Some people will say, well, it has been two years, aren't they over it yet?  Those people obviously haven't experienced grief.  There is no time table.  Grief is naturally longer when the death is unexpected.  Grief is naturally longer when there was violence involved.  Grief is naturally longer when the victim is just a random person doing their job and there was no personal motive for the violence.  Two years is a very short time.  I lost my dad in 1992.  I still have anniversary grief on certain days in the year that were meaningful for the two of us.  Even on the days when I am not grieving, my father is in my thoughts.  It will be five years this year since I lost my mother, and I am still experiencing grief symptoms.  I am guessing that most transit bus operators are thinking about their colleague every time they start a shift.  It is important that this grief is allowed and acknowledged.  Not only important for transit workers, but for all Winnipeggers.  To not allow a show of that grief only two years after the event was just wrong.  It was reported in the media that you commented that there was already a day honoring fallen workers was very insensitive and shows that you lack understanding of the importance of this event.  If you had to make that comment, you probably should have sat that one out. 

Winnipeg is a great city and what makes it great is that we acknowledge our history, both good and bad.  When I was growing up, the education curriculum didn't paint Louis Riel in the best light.  Now, we have acknowledged his contributions and we now celebrate him with a statutory holiday this Monday.  We shouldn't sweep the legitimate safety concerns of transit drivers under the bus. 

That comment has caused me to look at you differently and wondering if you are just the "Showman" that your political foes claim.  I know that it is very difficult to contact you via email on the city web page.  I did it this morning and it was not user friendly.  I almost gave up.  I certainly don't appreciate that you limit the amount of characters that I can transmit.  I don't think you should be limiting our passion. 

Also, I am a local blogger.  I interviewed many candidates that were running in the last civic election and profiled them in my social justice themed blog.  I wasn't able to interview all Mayoral candidates for logistical reasons, however, you were the only candidate that I did not receive any response to my requests.  Is this indicative of your commitment to your constituents? 

Finally, thank you for your commitment to the Bruce Oake Recovery Centre.  The project is very important to our city and very much needed.