OCTA Board, Teamsters bus operator union approve new contract
This press release landed in my inbox last night; a new contract between the Teamsters and OCTA's Board means that there's one less wildcard in terms of bus operations. According to a news post at Voice of OC: “ The poor economy has forced 156 coach operator layoffs and 44 administration layoffs at OCTA in less than two years. The pact, retroactive to May 1, holds salaries for 903 drivers at current levels for at least two years, but leaves the door open to renew contract talks in the third year if the economy improves. Currently, beginning drivers earn $15.22 an hour, and the top pay is $23.92, plus medical and retirement benefits.”
Here's the press release:
OCTA Board, Teamsters Union Approve New Contract
Coach operators agree to a three-year deal ensuring sustainable bus service
ORANGE – The Orange County Transportation Authority Board of Directors and Teamsters Local 952 announced today they have reached a deal on a new three-year collective bargaining agreement.
After two years of bus service cuts and layoffs to coach operators and administrative staff, the contract will allow Orange County’s public transit system to begin emerging from the worst financial crisis in its history.
The contract calls for no change in wages the first two years. In the third year, there is a possibility to reopen the contract and discuss a wage increase if positive financial progress is made.
“I want to thank the union and our coach operators for their willingness to work with us through these economic hardships and I look forward to continued collaboration,” said OCTA Chairman Jerry Amante, also the mayor of Tustin. “Our priorities have always been maximizing service, minimizing layoffs and reaching long-term sustainability and this contract helps us achieve all three.”
Members of Teamsters Local 952 voted over the weekend to approve the contract and the OCTA board voted to approve the contract at its meeting today.
“It’s important to develop collaboration with the Authority and the elected officials so that we can improve service, keep our members working and get those who are laid off back to work,” said Patrick D. Kelly, Secretary-Treasurer of Teamsters Local 952.
Comments
SELL OUT AT OCTA
Patrick D. Kelly of Teamsters Local 952 sold out the drivers of OCTA.
OCTA has contracted out 30% of the bus drivers jobs to a contractor that Teamsters Local 952 represents.
Next contract look for a 50% or more loss in jobs thanks to Teamsters Local 952.
OCTA's been pushing for more private control of buses
I've heard rumblings of OCTA wanting to push to contract more of OCTA's bus operations out — similar to what Foothill Transit and San Diego's MTS (I think) does. OCTA's Board has been pushing for more privatization and private business control. Take a look at the 24 June 2010 Orange County Register editorial "Private jobs on public roads":
Sell Out At OCTA
The Orange County Register - Wednesday, July 24, 2002
OCTA drivers hoping to oust Teamsters // The worker behind a petition movement says they want a transit union to represent them.
A grass-roots group of Orange County Transportation Authority drivers has begun a petition drive to oust the Teamsters union as its labor representative.
"They are a trucking union, "said Gamble, who has been a shop steward for the union twice.
We want to bring in a transit union that would be better able to represent drivers.
Gamble and other Teamsters opponents say the union has failed the drivers on several fronts.
Any effort to oust the Teamsters faces major hurdles. State law requires decertification supports to gather signatures from 30 percent of OCTA.s 1,100 drivers to force an election
Gamble said he previously gathered 400 signatures for decertification but didn't get them within the six-moth period required.
Curtis Gamble - Former OCTA Bus Driver Saturday, July 17, 2010
sELL oUT AT octa
Not only did Patrick D. Kelly sell out the drivers at OCTA his Teamsters were the only ones to benefit from the contract by getting more money to go into the Teamsters Retirement Fund. The drivers got ZIP.
We lost on ever thing else in the contract.
To all OCTA drivers, we need to throw out Kelly from Teamsters 952.
SELL OUT AT OCTA
To all OCTA drivers check out this web site to see a group( Reform 952 ) who is trying to oust Patrick Kelly from the Teamsters 952.
http://reform952.com/index.php?option=com_wrapper&view=wrapper&Itemid=78
Sell Out @ OCTA
" It’s important to develop collaboration with the Authority and the elected officials so that we can improve service, keep our members working and get those who are laid off back to work,” said Patrick D. Kelly, Secretary-Treasurer of Teamsters Local 952."
Patrick D. Kelly is a lier !
He is trying to help OCTA contract all the jobs of the drivers at OCTA to an outside contractor.
He helped OCTA contract 30% of the drivers this year fro 6% a year ago to a/an outside contractor and who knows what else he has in store.
He doesn't care about any members at Teamsters Local 952.
HE HAS TO GO !
SELL OUT AT OCTA
Not only did Patrick D. Kelly sell out the drivers at OCTA his Teamsters were the only ones to benefit from the contract by getting more money to go into the Teamsters Retirement Fund. The drivers got ZIP.
We lost on ever thing else in the contract.
To all OCTA drivers, we need to throw out Kelly from Teamsters 952.
Do drivers really deserve to
Do drivers really deserve to get $23.92 per hour? This isn't brain surgery.
Do drivers really deserve to
" Do drivers really deserve to get $23.92 per hour? This isn't brain surgery. "
No it isn't brain surgery.
I didn't see what you do for a living ?
If you think it is so easy try it then come back and post your opinion.
Till then shut your A$$ HOLE !
Think about this real
Think about this real hard.
Do you think it's okay to pay someone nearly three times minimum wage for a job that can be learned in one freaking weekend?
Especially when OCTA is being forced to cut back on service?
Anybody with half a brain can drive a bus. It's not a high skilled job.
Want a better paying job? Go back to school and learn a real skill. Leave the driving jobs to the college kids.
I suppose you're going to follow up with a bunch of four letter words. Just proves my point.
Learing the Job in one weekend?
You sir, I guess have never been on a bus in California or anywhere else, Mr. Coursert. This is not a job that you can learn in a weekend. It takes years to develop the skills to be a professional operator. Do you really think that you could put a kid in that drivers seat and you would have a safe and on time bus system? we are professional drivers period! we are public servants, we sign a pledge to serve as first responders in an emergency? did you know that Mr. coursert? We are responsible for the safety of your kids, your elderly parents, grandparents on a daily basis. You think you could turn that responsibility over to a collage student that learned to drive a transit bus in a weekend? instead of sitting at the stop light in your Lexus or whatever you drive. Park that car, spend some time on the bus and see what kind of stress and pressure that a bus operator is under for hours at a time with making sure everyone is safe, dealing with traffic. then you can come here and tell every on how much on a pittance $23.00 an hour is for a professional Operator. don't come uninformed my friend. I would like to see you behind the wheel with your half of brain and try and do this job day in and day out. Half a brain? OMG! and for your information since you have so little of it, the problems with OCTA and any other transit organization come from the top, not the drivers seat.read the news paper don't blast the operators.
Good response. Transit
Good response. Transit drivers are actually de facto Public Safety Officers as well as first responders. Public safety is their prime responsibility above and beyond transportation.They go unarmed into dangerous neighborhoods and situations on a daily basis with nothing but their training and courage to protect themselves and their passengers. All cities now have increasingly crime ridden areas. Police are overwhelmed and it affects their response time so the drivers are the real front line of defense for their passengers.
Also, drivers do not receive Social Security or more than Medicare Part B. at most agencies. Few now have employers that offer a company or government employer sponsored medical retirement plan. When they get, as most do, job related, high blood pressure, cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, damaged kidneys and bones spurs in most joints of their bodies after 20 yrs of service twenty four dollars an hour is a poor trade off.
Get a degree? Who does not have one nowadays? Half the drivers at most government agencies have at least an AA these days. Even with a Bacheleors so what? There are not and never were enough jobs let alone positions available for everyone with formal education.
Most highly degreed administrators do little to justify their huge salaries as they delegate everything, including problem solving, to others.
Don't denigrate the drivers, they are real professionals, making real contributions to the community under very strenuous conditions most of the time. Most people could not last even five years under the conditions they endure for decades to serve their families and neighbors.