"Migrant bus drivers scared to report assaults"

Migrant bus drivers say they are “fearful” they could lose their working visas for defending themselves against assaults and are scared to report violence from passengers…

It comes after a Tauranga bus driver, who was driving a Bayhopper bus, had his arm fractured by a passenger during an assault and is now scared he could lose his job…

He said bus drivers knew they were unable to defend themselves when they were assaulted by passengers: “All the drivers know that.”

… there were “mixed messages” coming from bus companies about how to respond to aggression.

“Effectively they are told, in some depots and in some companies, if you leave your seat you’ll find yourself in disciplinary,” …

It could mean a lot of assaults were going unreported because drivers were “scared” and unsure if they were in the wrong, she said…

“A lot of them are frightened to actually join the union,” he said.

Courtney said she had also heard of people being told their work visas would be under threat if they joined a union.

McKeefry said Kinetic NZ fully supported the rights of all employees to join a union…

When approached for comment, Auckland Transport said it supported Kinetic NZ’s statement…