Agreement has been reached between the TWU and the state government on a raft of new security initiatives to protect bus drivers from increasing violence.

Sadly, the agreement came too late for bus driver Gerard Sin, who lost his left eye after being assaulted at an Armadale bus stop on July 31.

Gerard became the brave face of a heavy media campaign, which forced the government to begin taking bus security seriously.

The TWU will do everything in its power to help Gerard get his life back on track.

The agreement with the government is multi-faceted:

The Public Transport Authority will spend $1.5 million fitting up to 75% of the fleet with security cages.

Within six months 790 of the 1090 buses on the metropolitan fleet will have the screened off cabs.

They will be on all buses that leave the depot after sunset.

The PTA has promised to investigate the availability of screens built with shatter resistant glazing.

This type of screen would prevent drivers from being spat on and splashed with liquid substances - now common occurrences.  

The PTA will also put $2 million each year into a 121% boost in mobile security patrols.

And duress alarms will be installed on all buses as a matter of priority

The agreement was reached as the Government revealed it was considering increasing the powers available to transport security guards by making them auxiliary police officers.

A blitz against antisocial behaviour involving uniformed and undercover police officers was launched on Friday, August 7.

Laws will also be changed to increase the severity of charges and penalties imposed on morons who throw projectiles at moving vehicles.

A mass meeting of approximately 850 bus drivers welcomed the changes at a union meeting in Perth.

The drivers vowed to ban routes on which future assaults were made against drivers or passengers.