Victoria bus drivers oppose policy that requires them to call out every stop

WATCH: A transit battle in Victoria over a new policy that requires bus drivers to call out bus stops. Kylie Stanton reports.

Some Victoria bus drivers are refusing to comply to a policy that requires them to call out every bus stop along their route.

At least a dozen drivers have been disciplined for not following a new policy designed to help blind passengers know which bus stop they are approaching.

The union representing bus drivers says they have major safety concerns about the new rules implemented to accommodate visually-impaired passengers after a discrimination complaint was filed to the BC Human Rights Tribunal.

But with an estimated 80 per cent of drivers opposing the new ‘call out’ policy, it’s been of little help.

READ MORE: More than 2.7 million bus fares went unpaid in B.C. in 2013

“We’re caught in the middle of what seems to be this battle between management and unions,” says Graeme McCreath of the Canadian Federation for the Blind. “It’s not on. It’s a simple solution and we shouldn’t be used as pawns.”

An automated system–commonly used across North America, including Vancouver–is a possible solution, but BC Transit argues it would cost up to $5 million to install.

The union says there is money available.

“The Victoria Transit Commission has a fund with excess of $10 million in it that the Victoria Transit Commission could ultimately say, ‘BC Transit, please install the automated system’ and this will all be put to rest,” says Unifor Local 333 President Ben Williams.

In a statement to Global News, BC Transit’s Director of Safety and Emergency Management John Palmer said, “the implementation of our calling out stops policy in Victoria has been going well…as for technology solutions…our next step is to prepare a request for proposals for later this spring. ”

Until then, drivers will be expected to continue calling out stops, or face possible disciplinary action.

-with files from Kylie Stanton