« This job becomes more trying every day due to verbal and physical attacks. » Ten days after his altercation with a young fraudster, M., a bus driver in Toulouse, confides the difficulties he encounters, like many of his colleagues, at work. This December 19, for having mistreated a minor who refused to pay his transport ticket, this Toulouse bus driver was summoned by his management for a preliminary interview with a view to possible disciplinary advice. The potential dismissal of the bus driver moves many Internet users. Jean-Luc Moudenc, mayor of Toulouse (SE), gave his support to the driver who, according to the city councilor, “ allowed a return to order “. And his security deputy added: “ Fear must be on the side of those who commit fraud. » Support which exasperates the city’s environmentalist opposition, which accuses the mayor of ” blow on the embers ».
Insults and violence
« By Allah, I’m going to fuck your mother whore! » The scene, filmed by a passenger on the bus, has been viewed more than 7 million times, on friends get on a bus and seem to refuse to pay their fare. The bus driver notices them and asks them to get out. The young fraudsters refuse and stare at the driver. He, exasperated, ends up losing patience and grabs one of them to get him out of the bus. The minor resists, falls to the ground and insults the bus driver multiple times. “ Fuck you mother whore! », « Son of a bitch » « Fuck your mother whore », he says, pretending to kick him. The scene continues for a little over three minutes. The young boy multiplies the insults against the driver who returned to his driving position.
The young fraudster in question is not his first attempt. With our colleagues from France 3the Passenger service of the Toulouse transport company explains: “ These young people are repeat offenders. They are used to not paying their transport fare and have already insulted drivers. An internal investigation is underway. » This weekend, again, the same young people would have started the same thing again. “ A colleague had dealings with them. They don’t seem to have changed », reported, thus, M. to The Dispatch. Conversely, the bus driver has a “ impeccable course » At the beginning of the month, he received the silver medal for work and the congratulations of his management after 25 years of good and loyal service. But following this altercation, this bus driver who “ regret » for losing his temper received a summons from his management. It is “ the procedure “, we assure from the management side. “ I don’t think I’ll be kicked out. I am well supported by my union », Hopes the bus driver.
Daily incivilities
Unions are warning of an increase in incivility and even violence against bus drivers. “ It was very far [le 6 décembre dernier, NDLR]but this shows the wear and tear of our drivers. Since Covid-19, incivility from users against them is almost daily », Reports the head of SUD at Tisséo, a public transport company in the Toulouse region. “ Every day there are altercations. Insults, spitting. Yesterday, a driver was spat on by a minor on Linéo 6. » A feeling shared by their CGT colleagues who are indignant: “ Our drivers can’t take it anymore, this daily violence has changed since Covid. We’re sometimes surprised there isn’t more drama. »
This affair which ends without drama is reminiscent of the fatal attack suffered by Philippe Monguillot, bus driver in Bayonne, in July 2020. At the time, the fifty-year-old was severely beaten for wanting to control shares of transport and wanted to enforce the wearing of a mask. He died from his injuries, leaving behind a wife and three daughters.
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