'Let's look after them too': Yeo Wan Ling 'deeply concerned' after 2 bus captains allegedly assaulted in 3 months

Bus captains must be able to do their jobs "with dignity and without fear", National Transport Workers' Union (NTWU) executive secretary Yeo Wan Ling said in a Facebook post on Friday (Aug 28).

Yeo, who is also National Trades Union Congress assistant secretary-general, shared that she is "deeply concerned" by an alleged assault of a bus captain on Aug 16.

"This is particularly troubling as it is the second such incident involving a Go-Ahead bus captain in the span of three months." 

"Abuse and violence against public transport workers must never be normalised or accepted as simply part of the job."

Bus captains ply the roads for long hours and service thousands of commuters a day, shouldering "a tremendous responsibility" for the safety of their passengers, Yeo, MP for Punggol GRC, wrote.

"Their safety matters, too," she added.

She said a police report was made on the Aug 16 incident.

An NTWU representative then accompanied the bus captain to Changi General Hospital where he received treatment.

The union also remains in contact with the captain and stands ready to provide him with support where needed, including legal assistance.

Yeo said: "This is what the union will continue to do whenever our workers face such situations — stand alongside them, make sure they receive the necessary medical and other assistance, and work with our public transport operators and the relevant authorities to ensure that they are properly supported."

However, the union's support only goes so far — she said that such incidents must be prevented, and that abuse, intimidation and violence against workers should not be tolerated.

"Disagreements and frustrations may arise during a journey," she admitted. 

"They can and should be resolved without resorting to abuse or violence."

She also reiterated that NTWU "stands firmly" with bus captains and public transport workers, and that the union will continue working with operators and authorities to strengthen protection of workers and ensuring their safety.

"I ask commuters to extend the same patience and respect to our public transport workers that we would expect for ourselves and our loved ones at work.

"Our Bus Captains look after us on our journeys every day. Let's look after them too."

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