The union representing TTC drivers has unilaterally told its members to limit the number of passengers allowed on city buses, in what it says is a bid to prevent crowding that could spread COVID-19.

The directive, announced by Amalgamated Transit Union Local 113 Thursday afternoon, wasn’t sanctioned by TTC management.

In a message sent to media and posted online, Local 113 president Carlos Santos advised drivers to allow no more than 10 riders on regular buses, and no more than 15 on the longer articulated, or “bendy,” buses.

“ATU Local 113’s recommendation comes after ongoing overcrowding on some TTC bus routes, which goes against the guidelines coming from public health officials and political leaders,” Santos said in the statement.

“We apologize for any inconvenience to the public. However, limiting the number of passengers on TTC buses will help ensure riders are practicing physical distancing by staying two metres away from each other.”

Other transit agencies in the GTA, including those in Durham Region and Brampton, have put caps on the number of passengers allowed on buses to avoid crowding. TTC spokesperson Stuart Green said in an email Thursday the TTC had not put limits on passengers “in order to ensure our operators are able to focus on the safe operation of their vehicle and to avoid conflict with customers.”

“While we agree 10-15 customers is a reasonable number, we would rather operators continue to focus on moving our customers safely than on counting heads,” Green said.

Green didn’t explicitly say whether the TTC would permit its drivers to limit the number of passengers on its buses, or whether the agency considers the union’s directive a form of job action that would violate the TTC’s collective agreement with employees.

“Operators are asked to, as they always do, maintain the balance between safe operations and delivery of service,” he said.

“We have a good relationship with our operators and the union … and we look forward to that relationship continuing.

TTC ridership has declined by as much as 80 per cent since the COVID-19 pandemic shut down much of the city, but the drop on bus routes hasn’t been as sharp as on subway and streetcar lines. The latest figures provided by the TTC indicate that as of March 20 bus ridership had fallen by about 62 per cent.

Photos have continued to circulate on social media this week showing buses far too crowded for riders to observe public health recommendations to keep at least two metres away from other people.

The TTC announced this week it was adding buses to 15 busy routes to ease the crowding. The agency has also agreed to allow employees to wear masks on the job, and instituted rear door boarding on buses to keep passengers at a distance from drivers.

In an interview, Santos said the TTC had been slower than other agencies to institute policies to protect employees and passengers against COVID-19 and “a lot of our members are scared.”

“I’m getting bombarded with my members’ concerns about overcrowding and I can’t sit around for the TTC to make the decision,” he said.

He said the union’s unsanctioned directive doesn’t represent a breakdown in its relationship with TTC management.

“We’re still working with them every day,” he said.

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“This is not job action, this is health-and-safety action.”

TTC and city officials have said it’s important to keep transit operating in order to allow health care workers, grocery store employees, and others in essential sectors to get to their jobs during the pandemic. Santos said he didn’t expect limiting the number of riders on buses would prevent essential employees from getting to work.

“If they miss a bus, they’re just going to have to catch the next one. There isn’t a lack of buses out there,” he said.

Local 113 represents about 12,000 transit agency employees.

Ben Spurr is a Toronto-based reporter covering transportation. Reach him by email at bspurr@thestar.ca or follow him on Twitter: @BenSpurr