Bus driver and garage manager had big argument

This story doesn't involve myself but I found it very interesting, and would like to hear your thoughts on it, how you'd deal with the matter yourself if in this situation.

So this is the story as told by the driver which I heard 7 months after the incident itself (which in itself was about a year ago). Being a driver I only heard the driver's side of the story. He told the story in the canteen to another driver, in front of me too (the only other person present). The driver was bringing in his bus - to be re-fuelled I think - and as he was doing so the (very new to the company) garage manager (GM) came out of the garage with his phone in his hand, and walked off the designated walking path. In doing so he walked in front of the bus. I imagine it as him taking a short cut where two paths meet (perpendicular) at the corner of the yard. The driver beeped the horn at him when he did this. I'm not sure exactly how close he was to the bus, but I'm assuming it wasn't unsafe, and that it was just rude. Anyway, when the horn was beeped, GM wasn't going to let that go, so he walked back to confront the driver as he would've been bringing the bus to a stop. When he confronted the driver, I'm under the impression that he was either arrogant and aggressive about it. After the driver pointed out why he beeped at him, he replied "I'm a manager". The driver said something like "there's people getting suspended for not wearing their hi-vis and you're doing this". At some point the driver said "you stay away from me, do u hear me?", and at another point GM said "you think u're a hard man, do u?", and the driver stressed "yes, I am a hard man" as a sort of way to warn him without technically making a threat.

As he was telling this story he was getting very animated. He said "one of us is going to get fired because of this, and if it's me, I'm going to go up to that office of his and punch him... there'll be a fucking ambulance called". Although that sentence might have started as "if one of us gets fired...", I'm not sure. He then started going on about how he was onto the driver's manager about GM, and started talking about how the cameras in the areas go back 6 months or more showing GM breaking the yard rules. He said that the union rep heard him out at time of incident, and advised it would be best to let it go! He said that he then got onto the transport union official about it at some point too. So as I was hearing this was 7 mths later perhaps he took their advice and regretted it later on.

I empathised with what he dealt with, and I don't think there's anything wrong with having thoughts like that. But at the same time, the fact that he was telling us this out in the open, and the way he was telling the story, just made me think he might be trouble. I might have thoughts like that, but if I say that and then many months go by and everyone sees that GM walking around happy out, then the guy I told the story will just conclude that I'm actually quite harmless behind it all and just had an emotional moment. As it happens, months later found out he was big trouble!

I over-heard him talking about the same issue a few days later to the same driver. He was showing him the email he was sending to HR. He was taking it over the heads of his own company, to the parent company. About 2 months after this again (after he would've had the meeting) he said something about how they tried to fob him off, and it seemed to piss him off again. He said he had involved the labour board somehow, and that there was a big confidential investigation into it all. He said "they might think they can brush this away but I'll get you in the long grass". He also said "I won't be on my death bed wondering if I should've said something" which did make me think about my own life. Another experienced driver was trying to politely say that he shouldn't leave that stuff get to him. Anyway, I know enough about how the labour board works in my country and how decisions regarding grievances are non binding, so I'd say that's all bullshit.

The second time the driver told this story he told it to me... you know, probably didn't remember that I was in the room the other time! This was August of last year so however it played out, it would've been over by then. This time when he told the story, he told me that when GM said "I'm a manager" that he then said something to the effect of "I've never seen u before, u wouldn't come over and introduce urself". He also told me that "he was mocking my walk and everything". So it seems that day that when the driver got all fired up, and after they'd both had their say, that GM ended it by mocking his walk. So that might be what pissed him off so much... that he had the last laugh. I think he mentioned this as part of his complaint, because he was talking about how he asked for the footage of it to be saved, and that they fudged this request. Being honest though, I'd have loved to have seen him mock his walk! The guy has a tough man walk and it seems his identity is built on it. That must have led on from the "u think you're a hard man comment". It was obviously the GM's way of saying "u're going to do nothing".

I knew it was inevitable that I'd meet GM some day, and I was a bit weary of it given what I've heard about him. But when he approached me one day about a bus, he was very polite. Anyway I'm thinking the driver's cooled down about it now, but if he remembers that he said those things, it must annoy him given that it's practically inevitable at this point that he's not going to go and get revenge. If he did it would be kind sad, as he'd only be showing the manager how important it is to him. In that sense, his window of opportunity is gone.

Did GM put the company in a difficult position? Might they have covered for him? Maybe GM got away with this because he's not easily replaced. He's a bus mechanic meaning he has real knowledge. He's not just like the other managers who essentially do miscellaneous tasks that anyone is capable of doing. I wouldn't imagine they cross paths too much, but I'd wonder how they deal with each other when it happens! Was it ultimately pointless for the driver to make the complaint?

 

Thinking that the Union Rep. has the proper approach. Tis best to concentrate on life outside of work. Dwelling on conflict produces adverse effects on one's health.