VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) - The
Canadian Auto Workers Union has stepped up with a $2,000 reward after one of its bus drivers was sexually assaulted on New Year's Day. This is the fourth assault of its kind on a driver since 2009.
Local 111 Union President Don MacLeod says the woman, who was driving on route #22, is traumatized and remains on leave. The assault happened around 7 a.m. while the bus was in East Vancouver.
"[She] was sexually groped by a male that boarded the coach and then immediately ran off of the coach. My understanding is that there were not that many people on the coach but we are hoping that a $2,000 reward will lead to an arrest and conviction."
They continue to call for stiffer penalties for people who assault drivers and he adds they are demanding more police presence as a deterrent.
"They do have some footage from the camera on board the coach and they do have that in their possession, so the investigation is ongoing."
The
Coast Mountain Bus Company employees 3,600 drivers; 12 per cent are women.
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