This article appears in Dec 6-12, 2007.
Bus Strike
The drivers of metro transit are set to go on strike in the very near future. As a bus rider, I am pissed. After speaking to one of the drivers a week ago, I am behind them.The powers that be want to install microphones on buses so that supervisors can
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Given the number of bitches on this site about bus drivers, i personally dont object to this. If people feel bus drivers are belligerent (i probably spelled that wrong) and rude or snotty etc, then why SHOULD’NT their superiors feel the need to monitor them. plus it would be a great advantage in case of emergency. Given my experience on the buses in the past (to and from work every day) i would LOVE some of the shit that goes on to be caught on tape (didnt someone get the hell beaten out of them on the bus last year?
Is the reason that the higher ups want to install microphones really to monitor the behavior of their drivers, or is it for the safety of both drivers and passengers? After the two recent incidents with a drive and a passenger being hit with things being thrown at the buses, there was some talk of installing cameras for public safety. There are cameras installed all over downtown… how is this any more of an invasion of privacy?
Every time I call a bank or customer service centre, I’m informed that my conversation could be recorded. (When I worked at a call centre, the supervisors could listen to your line without you being aware of it.) I’m not saying that the microphones idea is a good one or a bad one, just pointing out that many of us can’t expect phone/email privacy at our jobs, for whatever it’s worth.