Union official: Metro drivers forced to urinate on buses

[Omaha Steve]

Source: WTOP

By BEN NUCKOLS

WASHINGTON (AP) — A union leader says Metro bus drivers in the Washington area are frequently forced to urinate while on board the bus because there’s nowhere else to go.

Union official James Madaras made the surprising statement Wednesday during a National Transportation Safety Board hearing on a malfunction that killed a Metro subway passenger in January.

Madaras was responding to a hypothetical question about whether a driver would face discipline for urinating on a bus. He said, “Urinating on a bus is an issue that we deal with on a regular basis.”

Madras said the union is constantly battling with Metro about giving drivers time and facilities to relieve themselves. He said drivers shouldn’t be disciplined for urinating when they have no access to bathrooms, adding, “What are they supposed to do?”



Read more: http://wtop.com/dc/2015/06/union-official-metro-drivers-forced-to-urinate-on-buses/

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Also see this at the W Post: Union: Metro workers fear discipline for reporting problems: http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/union-metro-workers-fear-discipline-for-reporting-problems/2015/06/24/775ef146-1aa0-11e5-bed8-1093ee58dad0_story.html

[swilton]

1. As one who has lived in the DC area

for more than 30 + years and, in my efforts to be an environmental steward, has (tried) to use the public transportation system, the bus drivers/public transportation workers are very much under appreciated. I can see how this happens.

Time after time I have been on my local (formerly Montgomery County) buses when the traffic jams would last 30 minutes (+/-) - the passengers - let alone the bus drivers could have accidents. The navigation around these jams, the pot holes, etc., etc. and the drivers always had the nicest dispositions. I do not know how they managed. It was in one of those jams when I thought f--- the president (W at the time) of the US - this bus driver has the most difficult job in the world....

[jtuck004]

2. +1 n/t