I thought this was a regular occurence...but it seems like this is one of the first times someone bothered to take a video. I have taken buses before on Eglinton where the driver routinely pulled over beside a Tim Hortons / Country Style to buy a cup of coffee.

TTC driver’s coffee break caught on video

Published On Wed Feb 03 2010
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Tess Kalinowski Transportation reporter

Transit officials are investigating after a bus driver is caught on video spending seven minutes in a doughnut shop while his late-night riders wait.

The TTC is investigating and once again apologizing after an employee was caught on video taking a lengthy, unscheduled break.

Reuven Politi posted a dark, grainy video he shot Jan. 29 after being repeatedly delayed on the bus he takes up Bathurst St. on the way home from his job as a security guard in North York.

The 310 Blue Night bus usually stops at Finch and Bathurst at 2:46 a.m., where Politi gets on, and at Wilson Ave. the driver often leaves the bus, according to Politi.

The seven-minute video shows the driver exiting the bus and entering a doughnut shop, where he uses the restroom and then buys a drink. The bus is left idling, the door open. When a rider complains about the delay, the driver can be seen putting his finger to his lips in a gesture meant to silence her.

Politi said he only posted the video early Wednesday after politely asking the driver Tuesday night not to take his accustomed break when the bus was already 15 minutes late. According to Politi, the operator replied, “This is the 21st century, kid, not the ’60s; I can do whatever I want.”

Politi alleges that, after the driver again left riders shivering on the bus while he went into the doughnut shop, he confronted Politi on his return and dared him to complain. Politi said the operator gave his bus and badge numbers and told him that the union would protect his job. Politi alleges that the driver swore at him and noted that the video camera in the bus was recording the whole incident.

The TTC’s security images wouldn’t be used in an investigation of the driver because those cameras are only accessible by police and the operator’s conduct is an internal personnel matter, said TTC spokesman Brad Ross.

Like similar incidents, including recent photographs of subway collectors caught snoozing on the job, this one will be thoroughly investigated, he said, adding that he immediately brought the video to the attention of the TTC’s top executives.

“It is not acceptable for a TTC operator to leave passengers on a running bus to get a coffee,” he said. “Our operators and collectors are public servants. They deal directly with customers ... in the jobs they do. They need to think about the passenger who is waiting on the bus at 3 a.m. while they’re taking seven minutes to get a coffee.

“To those customers, we apologize. We have a lot of work to do here,” said Ross, adding that the TTC needs to bolster the supervision of frontline staff.

Politi, who moved to Toronto six months ago from Israel via Copenhagen, takes three buses to work each night, including one York Region Transit bus. Although he is irked by the driver’s regular unscheduled breaks on the 310, and can’t understand why TTC riders leave their buses so dirty, transit here is otherwise excellent, he said.

“It’s the best transportation. I can go on TTC to any place in Toronto.”

http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/article/760176--ttc-driver-s-coffee-break-caught-on-video?bn=1

But I think this exposure in the press is very very good. TTC employees will think twice before they decide to slack off anymore.

how lengthy was this break?

on the 85 Sheppard East, drivers would stop of briefly (1-2 mins) to Coffee Time at VP and Shepp. to grab a coffee. I think it's understandable, they are not robots, they deserve a quick break to get some food. It's better than falling asleep at the wheel.

One time, I was the only passenger on the bus, and the driver even bought a coffee for me :cheers:

Perhaps we should create one thread to vent our frustration at TTC workers instead of having daily updates?

Personally, it is not just the drivers that can be rude (though many are in fact quite nice) but the riders also. I've seen riders shout, abuse etc TTC workers many times. Society in general needs to learn how to be more civil and learn the value of RESPECT.

how lengthy was this break?


The one in the article was 7 minutes.

The break at Eglinton is usually around 5 minutes. The driver stops the bus and hops out while there are about 10-15 people in the bus and then buys a coffee. I don't think they should be taking coffee breaks during working hours (emergency washroom breaks are okay). Buying coffee should be done when they are actually on real break hours.

Coffee is not a necessity... and if they require a coffee to keep them awake on the job, maybe they shouldn't be driving at all. It is very dangerous and irresponsible.

The driver is now on paid vacation until the public forgets about this matter.

TTC driver caught on break suspended
Published On Thu Feb 04 2010

Tess Kalinowski
Transportation Reporter

A TTC bus driver has been suspended after being caught on video taking late night breaks in a donut shop.

The Amalgamated Transit Union confirmed Thursday that the driver on the 310 Blue Night bus, who was photographed by a frustrated passenger, has been relieved of his duties pending an internal investigation.

The union said it would provide no further comment on the matter.

http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/article/760507--ttc-driver-caught-on-break-suspended?bn=1

The driver is now on paid vacation until the public forgets about this matter.

Most people here have never fired someone. Firing a person for having a coffee once will get you a pretty sizable lawsuit in Ontario.

To terminate someone from a large private company you need to:
1) Show they repeatedly did something against policy.
2) Show that it is not normal for this policy to be broken (equal enforcement).
3) Show that you actively attempted to rehabilitate the person.

To get rid of this person in a normal private firm they would need to buy a resignation from them. With the union involved it becomes far trickier as they know the above 3 points and will pull out positive assessments from 5 years ago to show they are a dedicated employee.

It is even more difficult with government due to the politics of 'picking on the little guy' around election time.

That's if it was a coffee or talking on the cell phone, etc.

If it was a bathroom break then it becomes significantly more difficult than the above.


FYI, TTC has a policy of clean driving record. It's easier to get the cops to charge them for driving while talking on a phone than to fire them for it directly; though they would likely just go to work in a ticket booth.

Part of the problem is that existing policy is too soft. It needs teeth and it needs to shoved down Bob Kinnear's throat.

Instead of firing these people, they should be reassigned to janitorial duty. Consider it as part of their rehabilitation. I am fed up with ATU113's culture of running a transit system that's all about the driver instead of the rider. TTC does not exist for the sake of vehicle operators, it exists for the sake of riders, riders that pay 75% of ATU113 salaries, and operators should have a responsibility to earn those fares.

Instead of firing these people, they should be reassigned to janitorial duty.

This might be politically and contractually (as far as union contract goes) feasible. The catch, of course, is you end up with highly paid (higher than even now) janitors that have no interest in doing the work correctly; but provided it is in addition to the current staff it would probably work out okay.

Periodic mass layoffs are the usual mechanism for getting rid of bad employees. It's the reason why a 15% reduction in labour force can result in a 25% increase in throughput. Sometimes people are on the list for years before an actual excuse for layoffs comes around.

Part of the problem is that existing policy is too soft. It needs teeth and it needs to shoved down Bob Kinnear's throat.

Instead of firing these people, they should be reassigned to janitorial duty. Consider it as part of their rehabilitation. I am fed up with ATU113's culture of running a transit system that's all about the driver instead of the rider. TTC does not exist for the sake of vehicle operators, it exists for the sake of riders, riders that pay 75% of ATU113 salaries, and operators should have a responsibility to earn those fares.

And god knows some stations could use a good scrubbin'!