GRTC is facing pushback for firing a driver who subdued a passenger after he refused to don a mandatory mask and hit the driver on the arm when he called for assistance.

The pushback is coming from Amalgamated Transit Union, which represents GRTC’s bus operators.

Maurice Carter, president and business agent for ATU’s Local 1220, condemned the firing of the unnamed driver for defending himself against a threat.

“Local 1220 is demanding the driver be hired back” and the disciplinary action erased from his record, Mr. Carter said.

He also called for the transit system to change its culture in addressing assaults on employees.

GRTC officials have not responded to a Free Press request for comment. Mr. Carter said the company has not rescinded the termination action. He said the union would be filing a grievance in an effort to get the driver reinstated.

This is the second driver to face discipline since October as the result of mounting a defense to a passenger bent on assault. The first driver was initially suspended, but that action was rescinded. However, that driver was injured, and so far, Mr. Carter said, the driver has been unable to gain coverage through the worker’s compensation program.

The latest incident occurred March 30 while the bus was stopped at Southside Plaza. The events were captured by the onboard video, which the Free Press has viewed. The driver has not been identified and has not been available to speak with a reporter.

When a maskless rider boarded, the operator reminded him of the federal requirement to wear a mask to prevent the spread of COVID-19, Mr. Carter said.

The federal requirement is set to expire Monday, April 18, for passengers on planes, trains and buses.

The driver asked the passenger to put on his mask several times, but that request only garnered an angry refusal, Mr. Carter said.

The driver called a supervisor and city police for assistance, but before they could arrive, Mr. Carter said the passenger crossed a barrier into the driver’s section and slapped the driver’s arm. The driver struck the passenger and subdued him after they began to wrestle.

“Unfortunately, violent attacks on our members are nothing new, and GRTC refuses to do anything about it except fire and suspend their employees for defending themselves,” Mr. Carter said.

“The video footage clearly shows the driver tried to avoid the situation and was a victim of this assault,” he said. “Unfortunately, there’s an atmosphere at GRTC that bus operators are always wrong, even when they’re being attacked. This driver was not wrong,” he said.

While GRTC’s chief executive Julie Timm has not commented on this event, she did tell City Council’s Public Safety Committee that in 2021, up to five verbal and physical altercations had occurred among riders or bus drivers that required involvement from management or police.