After assault on driver, union calls for more security amid labor talks

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The union representing Milwaukee's bus drivers had already highlighted security as one of the main issues in their ongoing bargaining talks with the Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS). Then, one of their oldest drivers was assaulted by a passenger Friday.

Milwaukee police said a 72-year-old driver was assaulted around 10:20 a.m. on his bus near the intersection of N. Teutonia Ave. and W. Florist Ave. The suspect forced his way onto the bus, and police said they're still looking for the assailant. 

Mike Brown, vice president of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 998, said he reviewed surveillance video from inside the bus. Brown said it showed the suspect riding the bus, exiting, then forcing his way onto the bus while the route 19 driver was stopped for a layover.

"Once he gets on the bus, he runs on the back of the bus like he's looking for something, like he left something on the bus," Brown said. "Just back and forth, and all of a sudden, he just started attacking the bus operator."

Brown said the victim was one of the union's most beloved drivers, affectionately referred to by some as "Santa Claus." He said the victim's face is badly bruised, and he also needed stitches following the attack.

"When you see him and you look at the video and you see his face, his picture, it's just gonna bring you to tears," Brown said. "Because he's a good guy. He doesn't mess with anybody."

A spokesperson for MCTS said the bus company was cooperating with the investigation and has turned over surveillance video to investigators.

"We at MCTS are alarmed about a recent assault against one of our bus operators," the spokesperson said in a statement Monday. "The safety of our operators and passengers is our highest priority. Despite our many safety measures, bus operators may face some of the same challenges affecting our broader community."

An issue in negotiations

Both Brown and the union's president, Bruce Freeman, said safety remained a concern for members, which include MCTS drivers and mechanics. 

"The conversation concerning the security, expediting the hiring of extra security officers," Freeman said. "I would hope that would be in the fast lane for the company."

MCTS Spokesperson Anna Schryver said the company introduced in-house transit security officers in 2024. The agency also contracts with Allied Universal for security services; Brown said those security workers primarily cover nights and weekends.

"This new team is already making an impact," Schryver said in an email Monday. "What began with two supervisors in early 2024 has grown into a team of 21 trained, uniformed officers working across the county to enhance rider experience and community confidence. The PSOs provide a safety presence both on and off the buses. Our goal is to expand the program in 2026."

Brown said the union was pleased with in-house security. However, he added members wanted to see those security officers spending more of their time actually riding on buses.

At a stop near the site of Friday's attack, another driver on a layover said he felt security officers need to focus more of their time on the parts of bus routes that go through the roughest parts of the city.

"Some of them are retired police officers. I mean, they look the part. They do their job," Brown said. "I think we just want a little bit more out of them. We want them riding the buses."

Union leaders specifically want security to take a more active role with fare enforcement. MCTS estimates fare evasion cost the system $4 million in 2024.

Brown said he believes that is a gross underestimate because many drivers have given up on pressing a button they're supposed to when someone boards without paying. The driver a CBS 58 reporter spoke to Tuesday afternoon estimated only about 15% of his passengers pay fares, and he added he's stopped pressing the fare evasion button because he thinks it's pointless.

Schryver said MCTS in 2023 banned drivers from challenging riders over unpaid fares. She said since the new policy took effect, the number of driver assaults fell from where they were in 2022.

MCTS does not allow its transit security to fine or arrest passengers.

Aside from security, Freeman said another significant holdup in talks is the question of whether drivers will get raises retroactive to March, when their last contract ended.

Freeman said drivers are currently working on a contract extension that first ran until the end of June, then was extended again to the end of July.

He said the next set of negotiations is set for Wednesday after the union rejected MCTS' last offer on Friday - 91% of members voted no on that proposal, according to union leaders, and 98% of union members previously voted to authorize a strike.

"I don't want to strike. My members don't want to strike," Freeman said. "The company doesn't want us to strike, so we gotta really knuckle down, and we gotta get down to some real negotiations and get some things done."