The Boston Carmen’s Union ATU Local 589 shares the desire to keep bus transportation as safe as possible for riders and employees alike.

However, our Union is deeply disturbed by MBTA management’s decision to turn bargained policy on its head, determining that all bus and transportation workers are guilty until proven innocent and declaring management judge, jury and executioner without due process.

There are times when alternative communications, like cellphones, are actually needed on the bus – on an urgent basis for everyone’s protection. To the extent that the MBTA proposes to ban them all together, this policy offers no solution to safety emergencies.

On Tuesday, June 17th, Local 589 President/Business Agent James O’Brien met with MBTA General Manager Beverly Scott and requested the MBTA postpone implementing the new policy until the conditions had been discussed between the union and the T. MBTA management refused that request.

The questions of when MBTA employees may have or use personal cellphones is a subject of negotiations under the law. The Boston Carmen’s union will insist that negotiations take place prior to the new rule being enforced. The Union will ask for an arbitration or court order preventing the new rule until such time as bargaining is completed on this subject.

The rights of MBTA workers should not and will not be pushed aside in a rush to address an isolated situation. Safety and the legal process should both be respected in this case.