PLEASE MARCH WITH US!

A large number of people create a tall order for change.

Deke's Note: This blog has become an old friend, a favorite haunt, somewhere I enjoy rolling back upon. It has evolved from its newness and fresh-eyed newbie expression of wonder, upon the harsh tomes of the heart-rending realities of transit, and ultimately to gradual acceptance of this evolving way of life. As I drive, there are wonderful thought-bubbles which emerge from my blogger conscience, only to be washed away by the flowing sands of a writer's serenity. Tonight however, the sands become stone in a serious quest to bring my Portlanders together for a just and determined cause.

This Thursday, August 8 at 11:15 a.m., my friend and brother Henry Beasley asks us to march with him and other concerned citizens from the East End of the Hawthorne Bridge in Portland to City Hall. Why? Because we're tired of the attacks on the ranks of transit workers who serve this city all hours of every day each year. We're asking our legislature to pass House Bill 2677, which "expands class of persons against whom crime may be committed, from public transportation vehicle operators in control of or operating vehicle, to any employee of certain transportation districts while employee is acting within scope of employment." In other words, we're only currently protected by law if we're driving a transit vehicle, and only operators are covered. If this law passes, it will mean any transit worker "acting within scope of employment" is protected by law if attacked. We need this law to pass if there is any hope these attacks upon us will finally decline.

Last year, a lady operator was assaulted after being relieved downtown. She was not well-protected by current law. As it stands now, if we're attacked, it's up to us personally to file charges. If we appear in court, we're not represented by an attorney representing the very agency we work for. Once she left the bus, she was just an ordinary citizen even though she was in the uniform she has proudly worn for decades of service.

We march in honor of Portland's Laverne Martin and Leonard James, and in loving memory of Irving Levine of Winnipeg, Thomas Dunn of Tampa, Florida. They didn't need to sacrifice their bodies to a simple job, yet they became victims of a pampered and depraved society. We also march to honor the 2017 deaths of Army veteran Ricky Best and Reed College graduate Taliesin Namkai-Meche who stepped up on a Portland MAX train to stop the harassment of two young ladies who happened to be wearing Islamic hijabs. They paid for their heroic defense with their lives, their blood spilled while others simply watched.

An operator begins a run not knowing if, or when,
trouble will occur. We just roll...

Violence on transit must stop, no matter how much the cost of prevention. Human lives are more valuable than any capital project. Granted, the reasons for violence reach far past arguments on a transit vehicle; it's a direct result of the lack of assistance for mentally ill people who wreak the most havoc. Most of those who attack us are in need of help they cannot afford. Still, it's something we shouldn't have to constantly worry about. An accountant or customer service representative is more protected than we are; transit workers are an arm's length away from death at all times. Our only training consists of "try to de-escalate any situation" and holding a hand protecting our face from any assault. This is a pathetic situation in need of drastic attention.

So far in 2019, there have been at least 62 attacks upon our ranks. This includes spitting, punching, sexual assaults, threatening and intimidating, and other incidents of violence against people who are simply doing our jobs keeping Portland's wheels rolling. At present, there is little that can be done to stop it. There's simply not a deterrent tough enough to keep the miscreants from wreaking havoc on our lives.

Our transit agency has done little in the past to safeguard its employees. Instead of working for us, it has for some reason taken a harsh stand against its most valuable employees. It constantly spouts its support to the public while punching us in back rooms. It seems to kick us while we're down, rather than helping us back up again. A compassionate and thoughtful management would understand that its sole mission should be to treat its front line workers as the valuable commodity we are. It seems to think we are an unruly bunch of ruffians who need constant badgering and bullying. Rather than offering support, it provides lip service to the simplest needs of our very existence.

Transit management seems intent on allowing one (or more) of us being murdered before it gets truly serious in our defense. This agency's General Manager is quoted to have said "I'm from Canada, you know," when queried on whether he knew the story of Thomas Dunn. This Florida operator had his throat slit while driving his bus earlier this year. As he bled out, he bravely fought to bring his bus to a stop, and secured it, before dying in the seat. His dying act likely saved the lives of his passengers... even his murderer. Yet our "leader" had never heard of him. This ignorance is an insult to those he presides over. Yet, he pulls in the big bucks and is supported by the group who hired the man who was fired from his job with TransLink in Vancouver, British Columbia. Someone who holds this title should have his finger on the pulse of what happens in worldwide transit, but GM dude seems largely ignorant of what scares us the most. Eh?

We're marching in support of Oregon protecting its vulnerable public servants. Not just transit workers, but anyone employed in the service of their community. Whether it be a transit worker, paramedic, doctor or nurse, firemen, cops, sanitation collectors, construction flaggers... we're all vulnerable to assault. We, as ONE, are sick of being beaten and paying the ultimate price which should instead be served upon the violators. Perhaps, if violent offenders were given stiff penalties for pummeling us, then they would think twice or thrice before throwing that crybaby punch.

One attack can wreak horrific havoc upon the victim, as we are prone to serious Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. It affects our performance and can have profoundly-negative impacts on our personal lives. An unhappy and/or stressed transit operator is a distracted one, and this puts our passengers in danger. Transit management should be concerned not only for our safety, but also for that of its paying passengers. As it stands, we're convinced it doesn't give a damn either way. It seems evident that as long as future capital projects are funded, our safety is just a bug in its ear.

Some of our fellow brothers and sisters, including Fred Casey and Mike McCurry who spearheaded the initial push for the original bill, testified before legislative committee last year. They made personal appeals, shared stories of horrific incidents in which their aggressors faced little or no consequences for their attacks, and asked that this bill be made a top priority. Over a year later, still no vote. It could sit there forever, but I'm counting on your help to help push it to the forefront of legislative priorities.

There have been some feeble attempts by management to appear they're somewhat concerned for our safety. However, even our safety seems a mere bargaining chip. Our union just recently agreed to having expanded camera coverage on operators, in exchange for our regaining the right to "hold back" an extra week of vacation. It's hardly a win-win, because we lost the hold back due to some snafu I still don't understand well enough to discuss. We have long resisted being constantly recorded due to management's penchant for abuse. The local District Attorney complains however, that it doesn't have enough evidence to convict those accused of assaulting operators without clear photographs. Also, we're the only remaining transit district on the West Coast to not have full camera coverage of what happens in the front of our buses. The time has come for drastic measures, and I have to admit this is a necessary "evil."

In my humble opinion, I do not fear being recorded because it simply calls for us all to do the right thing while on the job. If we do so, we should have nothing to worry about. In Portland, we have sincere concerns because our management is not sensible or understanding when it comes to our roles as transit operators. Most of these overpaid paperweights have never driven in service. It has proven itself untrustworthy in matters of everyday common sense. Its unwillingness to bend toward the operators' insistence on proper passenger conduct is a dangerous precedent that requires serious intervention. At this point in time, we can only hope our legislature exercises more common sense in its deliberations than our non-accountable and governor-appointed puppet board of directors and its reality-challenged, bloated management. (#Deke4GM)

At this moment, Oregon House Bill 2677 languishes in committee while our legislature debates our Kicker Thief Governor's pet bills meant to soak even more of our shrinking paychecks. Your local legislator needs to hear from you. Especially if you ride transit, you're in danger whenever your operator or his/her supporting brothers and sisters are attacked. This law would protect not only operators, but also supervisors, mechanics, and others charged with field operations. We all work together to get you where you need to be, so PLEASE write your legislators to urge them to vote for this bill.

If you're a union member, I urge you to put aside any political prejudice and march with us. Henry Beasley has tirelessly advocated for our safety. He keeps a tally of those who endure the endless abuse a fraction of passengers who use any excuse to cause us physical and/or emotional pain. I don't care who you voted for in the last union election, or even if you cast your valuable ballot. Henry's first thoughts are for your personal safety.

"The purpose of this march is to reach out to the public and those who we serve," Henry said. "The bigger picture is that if they're not going to protect us, they're certainly not interested in protecting our passengers."

This is not a political action, it is a call for solidarity. Marching on Thursday need not be anything but a show of support for those who have been attacked while doing what you do every day. It could happen to any of us, and we will still be there for you. Can you expect the same from management? They won't be marching with us, but I will along with members of this community who care about your safety. This isn't about union politics, but it is about sending a message to our legislature. No matter your political persuasion, we're all brothers and sisters above all that. Join us. Protest our lack of security on one of Portland's most vital occupations.

Meanwhile, I'll be marching on Thursday to support all those with whom I work, and for your safety as well. Please join us. Bring your book JUST DRIVE - Life in the Bus Lane, and I'll be happy to sign it. I'm growing beyond the secrecy of the Deke pseudonym. It has come down to blood, and I risk losing mine each time I sit in a bus operator's seat. Surely, my life-sustaining liquid is worth a half-mile march in solidarity with those who do the real work of transit. Isn't yours?

See you there? I hope so. If not, I'll march for you.

With respect and love, I am
Deke N. Blue

PS: Please email your support of HB 2677 to your own legislator, or to the sponsors of the bill:
Sponsors of HB 2677:
Rep. Chris Gorsek - Gresham, Hood Village, Troutdale, Fairview
Rep. Susan McLain - Hillsboro

Is this operator safe? Are you?