Ho! Ho! Ho! Hold on, he’s not going out in that outfit – a Burnaby bus driver has been told to put away his Santa outfit after 16 years of wearing it to spread Christmas cheer.
Kirk Rockwell, 52, has been driving a bus for the Coast Mountain Bus Company for the last 19 years. And for the 16th year in a row he tried donning his old St. Nick outfit until he received a letter from his supervisor telling him to take it off.
“I’ve sort of said enough’s enough,” he told the Burnaby NOW. “I’ll take my stand. I’m probably going to be facing disciplinary action tomorrow (Dec. 12) and I’ll take it. I’ve got the support of my union.”
When Rockwell returned for his December shift he obtained his variance card from his supervisor, which he needs to drive the bus, and on it he wrote that he would be wearing Christmas attire – as he’s done for so many years before.
From 1999 to 2012, Rockwell says he’s received seven commendations from customers, who enjoyed his jolly Christmas spirit.
However, on Dec. 2, he received a letter from his supervisor telling him to put away the uniform and the wording insinuated he had not worn his Santa Claus outfit before.
“Yet I have a long history of wearing it. My first commendation was from 1999,” he said. “I’m extremely angry about the insinuation that I was lying so I went to my union reps.”
Rockwell says he’s enjoyed the reaction he would get from the public, and having his pictures taken with others who enjoy this time of year as much as he does.
“I’ve never had a problem with passengers,” he said. “It makes people feel good. I’ve had burly construction guys at 6 o’clock in the morning all of a sudden want a picture taken with me because they think it’s the coolest thing on earth.”
Rockwell said TransLink should take the opportunity for good press and allow him to continue to wear his Santa gear.
“They’re in a position where they are in the public’s eye right now and they need all the help they can get,” he said. “I don’t do it for the public relations. I don’t understand why of all of the issues, this is not one to dig your heels in.”
Every year, Rockwell also decorates his bus before his shift starts and takes them down after his shift too.
“This is what I do,” he said. “I enjoy it. It makes me feel good. My ideal is that if I do something good, and I make somebody feel happy or better that person could go do something happy for someone else. It has a ripple effect.”
Nathan Woods, CAW Local 111 union president, said TransLink suddenly rescinded Rockwell’s ability to wear a Santa outfit out of nowhere.
“He found out about it last week and he’s sort of been a rebel without a Claus, that’s his term,” he said. “But he has worn his Santa suit up until today. I don’t know what he’s going to do tomorrow (Dec. 12).”
Woods said the union can’t do anything to reverse the company’s decision through the collective agreement.
“Considering all the service changes with cuts, having a driver raise a smile in the transit service should be a good thing,” he said. “They (TransLink) seem to think otherwise.”
But TransLink spokesperson Derek Zabel says the transit authority isn’t the Grinch it’s being made out to be.
Zabel said TransLink changed its uniform policy about a year ago. He said it’s important to ensure that all bus drivers are easily identifiable.
“All operators need to be identified to the public,” he said. “Over the years, we’ve had a number of requests from operators to wear uniforms and various things. The policy change makes it fair and consistent.”
Bus drivers are able to wear a Santa hat or Christmas necktie, just not something that covers their uniform, according to Zabel.
“We’ve also heard comments of people sayng this is very Grinch-like, or we are Scrooges, but we do a number of festive things,” he said.
TransLink has a reindeer bus that visits a number of different routes, and operates a community shuttle, as well, Zabel said.
“Last year we donated 2,800 toys to the Burnaby Christmas Bureau,” he said. “And since 1985, we’ve donated 65,000 toys and just under $50,000, as well.”
But wearing just the Santa hat doesn’t cut it for Rockwell. He said he’ll be wearing his Santa Claus outfit until TransLink physically stops him from doing it.
“I’ll continue until I’m absolutely told not to,” Rockwell noted. “Until they show up and take me off the bus, I’ll continue.”
