City Metro Contract Update
posted by on February 6 at 15:15 PM
Just got a document in the mail revealing more details about why Metro employees (members of the Amalgamated Transit Union 587) rejected their contract with management.
As I wrote earlier, much of the union’s objection to the contract had to do with a new clause allowing Metro to discipline drivers based on “an accumulation of customer customer complaints” that are “are substantially in excess of the number of complaints received by most Transit Operators.” Drivers worried that the policy would allow Metro to fire them based on anonymous complaints and complaints that couldn’t be substantiated complaints—like fare disputes.
Some of the other (apparent) reasons the contract was rejected:
• The contract removed provisions providing a grievance procedure for Metro employees to come back to work after being let go for medical reasons. The current process entitles employees to all back pay if they prevail in getting their job back and bumps them to the front of the list for jobs elsewhere in King County if they don’t. The proposed contract would give the county “all rights to determine whether a former employee is eligible for rehire.”
• The contract would create a new category of drivers who would be chosen first to fill in for absent full-time or part-time drivers for an extra two dollars an hour. Union members who opposed the contract think this would allow Metro to avoid paying premiums and overtime—which generally amounts to about $13 more an hour—to drivers who pick up extra work.
• The contract would allegedly make it harder for union members to take time off.
• Mechanics, who reportedly voted overwhelmingly against the contract, failed to win raises based on increases in their technological skill and training.
• Union members wanted a higher cost-of-living adjustment.
Metro’s contract is currently in arbitration.
Drivers worried that the policy would allow Metro to fire them based on anonymous complaints and complaints that couldn’t be substantiated complaints—like fare disputes.
Or passengers getting hysterical about being brought to West Seattle against their will?
And your progress in working with ST to get light rail on the ballot?
oh no you di'int!
so what do the bus drivers make?
context please.
Apparently starting part-time drivers make $17.74/hour: http://www.metrokc.gov/kcdot/jobs/ptto/pay.stm
that wage if you recall (see will @1), seemed once to make ECB come to the conclusion that she is equally working class as a single parent bus driver.
Remember that Core CPI does not include fast-increasing gas prices for the drivers to drive to work, as well as other portions.
They're right to be upset.
"...fast-increasing gas prices for the drivers to drive to work..."
Not to be flip, but they could take the bus. Do they get free bus passes?
Please. If they took the bus, how would they get to work on time, reliably????
Bus service doesn't run when you're starting the bus route at 5 am.
Get real.
What's the problem with firing the worst of the worst drivers? Get rid of 'em! I'm sure everyone gets an unsubstantiated complaint or two or three every once in a while. I have no problem with them clearing the ranks of the nastiest among them. If you get a ton of complaints, it's not an accident! You should be working somewhere else.
A lot of unions also have whats called step wages, where if you start at that 17.75 an hour, you get raises every 6 months plus the once a year cost of living increase until you max out at the highest wage at which point you are only eligible for the once a year cost of living increase. The wage increases for the new employees though when all included can be pretty substantial, on the order of 8-10 percent a year for at least 3 years depending on what the specific union and contract specifications. Get promoted to a lower step in a different classification and you can theoretically start it all over again. The wages go up fast at the beginning.
Full time drivers get something like $28.00/hour. They start at $17 or so and then work their way up to a full time job with a ton of money and benefits. I'm not saying it's an easy job at all, but for that kind of money, they'd better be willing to follow some rules and accept that they will be booted if they treat the public badly. There's a bunch of drivers that don't care how smoothly they drive, how courteously they answer the public's questions, if they call the stops. These guys who are rejecting their union contract are doing so because Metro wants to fire the worst of the worst. I've got no sympathy for them at this kind of wages. If my taxes are paying someone $28.00 an hour to drive a bus, I've got a right to expect the gold standard for customer service.
Erica. Who are you getting this info from? Is it from the union itself or just some random driver who is contacting you? Is it verified that any of this is really the case?
See! I told you it would be a trend.... First Seattle PD wants to "bargain" their discipline issues and now Metro is following suit! Don't these people know this is a "labor friendly" area and all workplace conditions are to be handed down from above?
I'm telling you, these unions are killing the pro-labor stance of the city and county!!!!!
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