A major transit workers’ union is calling for bulletproof compartments on buses to encapsulate MTA bus operators in NYC and other cities and keep them safe from shootings.
The Transport Workers Union (TWU) of America, joined by TWU International and TWU Local 100 members from NYC, attended a ballistics demonstration in Bedminster, PA, on Tuesday to show how—-and why — bus drivers in major cities need more protection from gun violence and other forms of assault.
During the demo, which took place at a local police association range, SWAT officers fired guns at a mock-up of a bulletproof glass bus operator compartment, which they said could be the first of its kind in the country.
Union leaders organized the demo in response to a spree of horrific murders of bus operators that occurred in major American cities, including Philadelphia, Seattle and Atlanta, which began in 2023.
Closer to home, there have been several attacks on NYC bus drivers involving gunfire. For example, less than a year ago on July 2, a stray bullet pierced an MTA BX21 bus in the Bronx.
Two men were shot and injured during the attack, but no one was killed.
TWU Local 100 members at a bulletproof glass demo in Philadelphia on Feb. 25, 2025.Photo by Pete Donohue/TWU of America
Because of the reported shootings and other assaults on bus drivers, John Samuelsen, president of TWU International, said heavy protection for transit workers is needed now more than ever.
“This safety measure is necessary because of the outrageous and grotesque level of violence against front-line transit workers,” he said. “We need to completely encapsulate bus operators to protect them from all sorts of attacks and threats, including gunfire. It’s unacceptable that bus operators leaving home for work worry they might wind up in the emergency room, or worse.”
The bulletproof compartments as a contract term with an employer is a major win for the local Philadelphia union. Designed by Custom Glass Solutions in Pennsylvania, the capsules have a “cockpit-style” look and floor-to-ceiling barriers that are framed with bullet-proof steel.
Philly buses will start getting the capsules next month.
Meanwhile, Samuelsen said NYC buses could be next to get the protection. While slamming MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber, he said outfitting NYC buses with bulletproof protection would actually save the state-run agency money.
“I think Local 100 will fight and win exactly what we got in Philly. The Janno Liebers of the world don’t really give a rat’s a** about workers,” Samuelson said. “It costs about $15,000 to retrofit a bus with these compartments. The amount of money that the MTA kicks out in New York for overtime and lost time for operators who are out of work with workers’ compensation because they got assaulted is astronomical.”
MTA officials told amNew York Metro they are working with Local 100 on technology to keep bus drivers safe, and protective shields have already been installed on many buses.
“We collaborated with the union on a protective cockpit installed in buses to enhance operator safety and will continue to work together as technology and innovation inform best practices,” said Frank Annicaro, NYC Transit’s senior vice president of buses.
John Chiarello, president of Local 100, said NYC should follow in Philadelphia’s footsteps.
“The TWU is paving the way forward in Philadelphia and we want the MTA to launch its own pilot program here in NYC,” he said. “Nothing is more important than the safety of our members.
Compounding the issue, bus operator assault is a problem that keeps growing, according to governmental data.
The Federal Register, which provides information about federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of Transportation and other U.S. transportation groups, reported in 2023 that there was a whopping 121% uptick in transit worker assaults from 2008 to 2021, with a majority of victims being bus operators.
Read More: https://www.amny.com/nyc-transit/
