It is not the bus of the driver, that he should be able to drive it and choose not to collect money from passengers. It would make more sense to me for the driver to refuse to work, as much as I don't like it, then for the drivers to drive but not collect money from the passengers.
Be that as it may, this is what they are doing. Most drivers are driving but not collecting payment. Some drivers do not agree with the strike and are driving normally and collecting payment.
This actually puts the ethical issue, and the halachic issue, into the court of the passenger. If I were to get on a kavim bus that is not collecting payment, am I allowed to ride for free? Do I owe money to the company if I do ride for free? Does the driver have a right to tell me not to pay, meaning I rode for free and don't owe anybody money?
Kikar asked the beis din of Rav Mordechai Gross, of Bnei Braq, about the halachic issues of riding Kavim buses.
Rav Gross's beis din paskened that the passengers are obligated to pay for the rides. The drivers are not owners of the company have no right to make a decision exempting passengers for paying.
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This psak is not interesting at all. There is nothing novel about. Any Rabbi would give the same ruling, and this is obvious to most laymen as well. The only reason a psak is needed is to deter not individuals who might otherwise try to self-justify not paying, but have respect for a rabbinical psak.
ReplyDeleteThe drivers' strike is interesting not the psak.