Former head of bus drivers’ union at WRTA fired for giving news interview while driving
WORCESTER — A judge has ruled that the former head of the bus drivers’ union at the Worcester Regional Transit Authority was fired because he gave an interview to a news crew while driving, not because he spoke out against possible budget cuts.
“The uncontroverted evidence establishes that (plaintiff Christopher Bruce) was not terminated for speaking out to Telemundo on a public issue, i.e., proposed budget cuts, but for committing three serious Class II infractions: willful disregard of safety rules and/or common safety practice while driving a bus, failing to follow work orders and procedures, and giving an unauthorized interview to the press,” Massachusetts District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman wrote in a March 16 order. “Put another way, Bruce was terminated for permitting Telemundo to interview him while he was on duty driving a bus, not because he gave the interview, or for anything he said in the interview.”