Bus operators, those who drive the buses in Connecticut’s public transportation system, demonstrated in Hartford for the second time this year. They are fed up with what they consider to be a lack of consideration for their need to use the restroom.
In doing some research on the issue, I was surprised to see that the reporting on the issue seemed to not include little to no interviews with actual bus operators. I decided to sit down with a number of local bus operators to hear them talk about this issue in their own words.
The extended interview with Jasmine Hernandez can be found here:
The extended interview with McKinley Sanford can be found here:
The extended interview with Sendra Cronings-Child can be found here:
The extended interview with Mustafa Salahuddin can be found here:
Citations:
#1: Owens, David. “CTtransit Drivers Renew Their Plea For A Place To Pee.” Hartford Courant, Tribune Media Company, 19 Oct. 2018, http://www.courant.com/breaking-news/hc-bus-drivers-bathrooms-20181019-story.html.
#2: Gosselin, Jesse. “Amalgamated Transit Union Surveys Bus Drivers over Lack of Bathroom Breaks.” WTNH, News8, 19 Oct. 2018, http://www.wtnh.com/news/connecticut/amalgamated-transit-union-surveys-bus-drivers-over-lack-of-bathroom-breaks/1536101264.
#3: “Forbes Street Downtown Schedule.” CTtransit, 11 Sept. 2016, http://www.cttransit.com/sites/default/files/schedules/h_91_wkdyschd.pdf .
#4: McNulty, Frederick, and Sendra Childs-Corning. 21 Nov. 2018. In-person interview.
#5: McNulty, Frederick, and McKinley Sanford. 20 Nov. 2018. In-person interview.
#6: McNulty, Frederick, and Mustafa Salahuddin. 20 Nov. 2018. In-person interview.
#7: McNulty, Frederick, and Jasmine Hernandez. 20 Nov. 2018. In-person interview.
#8: Pouliot, Cole. “RE: Media Inquiry.” Received by Frederick McNulty, RE: Media Inquiry, 28 Nov. 2018.
#9: Kogan, Danielle. “Bus Drivers in Connecticut Fight for Bathroom Breaks.” Newsweek, 11 Aug. 2018, http://www.newsweek.com/bus-driver-bathroom-atu-seat-cttransit-ct-1003011.
#10: Zimmer, David M. “Bus Driver’s Bathroom Break Could Lead to Termination.” North Jersey, 19 May 2017, http://www.northjersey.com/story/news/passaic/west-milford/2017/05/19/bus-drivers-bathroom-break-could-lead-termination/331083001/.
#11: Stangler, Cole. “US Bus Drivers Still Coping With Bathroom Access Issues.” International Business Times, IB Times, 6 Dec. 2015, http://www.ibtimes.com/us-bus-drivers-still-coping-bathroom-access-issues-1831252.
#12: Kogan, Danielle. “Bus Drivers in Connecticut Fight for Bathroom Breaks.” Newsweek, 11 Aug. 2018, http://www.newsweek.com/bus-driver-bathroom-atu-seat-cttransit-ct-1003011.
#13: Outro Song: “Fill Me In” by Atwaters featuring Yeon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UW0iKqFMoxo Used with artist’s consent. The contents and views of this video may not necessarily be shared with the artist.