Newbie: An operator with less than three years service. Maybe an Extra Board Operator or veteran with an attitude. This post is for you.
STOP being a slob, willya? Didn't yo mama (or whoever) teach you better than to leave a mess? Chances are, she don't work here. It's all on you, brothers and sisters. And I expect, along with a few thousand others, that you show respect by doing the right thing. Every fucking time.
So many times when I pre-trip a bus for my PM shift, I can tell it has been driven earlier that day. There's trash all around the operator's seat, scattered throughout the vehicle. Perhaps you think service workers pick up after you following your early morning run, but no. That happens at night after I drop the bus into the yard. When you return a bus to any garage mid-day, chances are it will be a PM Operator's office until well past midnight. We have to clean up after yo messy ass. Please clean up if only to show respect for those who follow you.
As yourself: do you ever empty the garbage pail? Scout the bus for Lost & Found items? Evidently not, many of you. Many times, I have to turn in lost items and pick up trash left behind. Fuck you very much for your extremely unprofessional behavior. Grow up. Yo mama ain't clean up after yo messy ass. It's me, or whoever else you disrespect. And we feel the shit you're throwing at us doing so.
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One of my favorite mentors taught me early (and often) how to represent. Her uniform was always flawless. A flower in her hair. A smile and helpful attitude. Freddi kept everything about herself tidy and respectable.
"Never leave a mess behind you," she said. "Every bus is your office, every restroom can always use a polish. Think of your followers, because they deserve your respect."
Freddi was not only an admirable representative of humanity, she was a decent individual. She taught me so much I couldn't help but offer a hug every time we met. She was a fountain of sweetness in the form of advice which helped me become the operator I learned to be. Cancer robbed many of us the example she set.
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Always wave to a passing operator. It's a long-lived tradition of respect for your co-workers.
Every uniform is a bus stop. If they're not at a stop, honk and inquire if they need a ride. Sometimes, operators are late, tired after a shift or hurrying to a road relief. If you can safely do so, they are worth even the slightest bit of mercy if only because they do the same job as you.
If you come upon a bus with 4-ways flashing, stop to check if that brother or sister is okay. The operator might be dealing with a stressful situation with help minutes away. Look out for one another. How would you feel if you were them?
Check your run's reroute sheet to make sure you understand what's going on. Never assume where you park is acceptable; you might block another's vision or create a safety hazard. Always be aware of your surroundings, and how your bus is positioned. Think of other operators first, even if you have to pee like a race horse. It all boils down to respect for your fellow operators, and the safety of others.
Talk to other operators if you're new to a route. Better yet, ride with an operator who knows what's what, before the new signup happens. Being prepared is akin to being SAFE.
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Be prepared. Be thoughtful. Be respectful. Be polite. Be safe.
These are some points I repeat to myself every day, before each shift and during. It's vital we look out for one another.
We're alone out there. All we have is a steering wheel, a brake pedal, and our wits. Help could be several minutes away. Even if you're having a hard day, keep in mind another operator might be facing a grave situation on their bus. Help might not be readily available. Supervisors are spread thin and could be tied up far away. We depend upon each other for support. That's where the "wave" originated.
Long before any of us even thought of this career, operators used "the wave" to ensure the safety of one another. Instant communication was not available as it is today. Operators depended upon each other to just say hello or signal they were in trouble and to PLEASE HELP. Long before passengers became "customers," operators could depend upon their brothers and sisters to come kick some ass if need be.
We're supposed to not fight back while some drug addict whales fists, spit, knives, piss or any other assault possible. Gotta protect the public from us menaces once admired as public servants. That's why we MUST be vigilantly looking out for each other.
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Management will not protect you, brothers and sisters. They'll suspend or fire you for the most outrageous bullshit. I know several excellent operators who lost their jobs for spurious reasons. Doesn't matter you drove hundreds of thousands or a million-plus miles.
Management's logic sometimes defies the most basic reasoning. Its lack of respect for Operations employees is magnified by the huge backlog of our union's grievances and appeals. If management truly "cared" about its' front line as it so often says, there would be ZERO backlog. Operators would truly trust management to have our backs, which should be clearly outlined in their job descriptions.
But no. That's why we have a union. And yes, contrary to a few who believe otherwise, they DO fight for US.
Respect for those who do the same job as you is vital. We're the only ones who truly admire you for what you're doing each moment of every day. That's why it's important to do the job the right way, not what you might think is okay. There are operators on your route who have many more miles in the seat. Their guidance is much more valuable than what you might think is acceptable. And they are your best ally rather than some bullpen bullshit.
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It is imperative we support and honor one another in every way imaginable. Having another operator thank me for any assistance or advice is infinitely more valuable than some silly certificate of merit management might offer.
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Wake up, brothers and sisters. We all depend on you to do what we were all trained to: do it the right way, and make it easier for others. If you do, you will earn the respect of your fellows.
Thank you. Be respectful and stay safe. Oh, and your chicken bones belong in the trash, not scattered around my seat. Fuckin' yuck, dude.
Very well put!
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