Not Participating in Hallucinations, UTU Response To Director Bustichi

Dene Bustichi claims in an opinion piece posted on the District web site indirectly eluding UTU drivers for being involved in the protest in front of his private residence Sunday, October 23rd.

UTU was not involved in this action by UCSC students to protest Director Bustichi's actions on the Board of the Directors. UCSC students are members of this community just as everyone who lives in the County who is effected by this strike. UCSC students also have prepaid transportation fees in advance and have no service or any answers from the University or the Board Members.

However UTU does have concerns when a citizen thinks it is okay to use a shotgun and place it on the chest of another human being, or when an adult male thinks its okay to physically hit or push a young woman or a young man, that are trying to walk past him. Our other concern is when Law enforcement shows up and does nothing to the individual with the GUN.

Director Bustichi claims he has been lied to and misquoted by the Drivers but never does he admit that he was also equally lied to and misquoted by the District. It is clear where his loyalty lays.

If his commitment was to the ridership why have we been on strike now for 30 days? Why was the No Strike agreement rejected, likely with his vote? Our proposal does not include any raises that would in any way bring us to be the highest paid drivers.

It is not UTU's fault that Director Bustichi is bearing the brunt of ire from the Community for his part of the Transit Boards' bad decision. We have done nothing to earn Dene Bustichi disrespect and yet that is what we've been afforded.