TriMet, union agree on bus drivers' shift limits
PORTLAND, Ore. – TriMet bus drivers will soon be required to take 10 hours off between shifts.
They will also be limited to 14-hour workdays, as part of a new tentative agreement between TriMet management and the Amalgamated Transit Union.
An investigation by The Oregonian found bus drivers were having trouble staying awake while driving because some were working up to 22 hours in a 24-hour period.
“After two days of negotiations, we’re pleased that we have reached a change in policy,” TriMet General Manager Neil McFarlane said in a statement. “It eliminates all the ‘double-back’ shifts, where a bus operator could work some 20 hours in a 24 hour period with limited time off. This will improve the safety of our operation for our employees and for our riders.”
The agreement will go into effect once it’s signed, TriMet spokeswoman Mary Fetsch said in a news release. It will stay in effect until a new contract between TriMet and the union is in place.
“This is a major improvement, and one TriMet has been seeking for the last 2 1/2 years because it means a bus operator must have 9 or 10 hours off after they have concluded their assignment, rather than being able to take just a few hours off,” said Fetsch.
Tri-Met is a joke. I have nothing good to say about them. It's a failed system and getting worse.
@special effects So how long have you worked there??
So typical of government run "business". Simply because they suck the vast majority of their income from the taxpayers, and that they have absolutely nobody to answer to, they run their company at a loss. Then they suck up to every Union involved, pay wages much higher than the work being done returns.Â
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Any one ever heard of "Ralph Cramden" the Bus driver played by Jackie Gleason? He was a Bus driver. They had no TV, Phone or car. Why, because he got paid what a bus driver DESERVED for the labor given for that time period. Now it's not unusual for them to pull over $100K.  This is the reason or government is broke, and we are over taxed.Â
 @last boyscout Um......"Ralph Cramden" is a CHARACTER on television.  Since you seem to think operators are overpaid, TriMet is hiring RIGHT NOW.  Show us how it's done, boy. Â
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Otherwise......shut up.
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@last boyscout so what your saying is you feel the public safety while riding a bus should be in the hands of someone willing to work for the cheapest amount possible? Sounds like a recipe for disaster since most people who are willing to do that stressful of a job for that low of a wage don't care about their lives or the lives of anyone else.
@Ramsesthegreat And you're saying that public safety should be in the hands of greedy bus drivers who care more about overtime than safety?
 @muncie  @Ramsesthegreat So you're attempting to make an argument that all Trimet drivers are unsafe? I happen to personally know that's not the case. And how is being paid a livable wage being greedy? Jealous that you're not payed well for your efforts on the job?
I'm glad they were "pleased" in getting the policy changed. Why did it take an unfortunate accident to effect this change? Where were all the (I'm sure) highly paid managers who are charged with keeping passengers and drivers safe? No oversight equals no change equals unsafe operation! Disgusting!
@jpk actually the management at Trimet make equal or less than those in the private sector at the same level position. Except for Neil McFarlane, who, with his position, would make in excess of 5 million per year in the private sector, yet makes 250k at his job.
 @jpk They were probably in bed getting their 8 hours of sleep.
Glad I dont ride Crimet!
@Laughing at Liberals - We are glad too;-)
 @CramRalphden  @Laughing put a shirt on lol
I'm really surprised they were doing this. And with so few accidents (Except a few notable ones) I'm even more surprised we haven't heard of more.
How about this? Eliminate the 14 hour work day and make it the normal 8 hour day. Then hire more people giving some of our citizens jobs. Thus you eliminate people being overworked and stimulate job growth. What a concept!
@Kymberlie2873 The union wouldn't like that idea.
@Kymberlie2873 - Thus you would complain about TriMet wasting money by hiring more people...funny how that works;-)
@Kymberlie2873 why should they, many drivers enjoy the overtime. And Trimet currently is in a large hiring mode. They've added in excess of 150 new drivers over the last 6 months.
 @Ramsesthegreat  @Kymberlie2873 I keep seeing articles in the Oregonian that this is happening because of a hiring freeze.  They're hiring drivers and still giving out overtime like this?
@knottriel @Kymberlie2873 they're giving out overtime because many of their routes run between 8.5 and 13 hours of driving. The only way to cut hours back for individual routes would be to cut service.
 @Ramsesthegreat  @Kymberlie2873 I would think that the safety of commuters (and pedestrians, bicyclists and other drivers) was a higher priority than whether or not someone enjoys overtime. I'm happy to see everyone has their priorities straight.Â
@rosier the same could be said for any job that allows workers to work overtime. Are you saying that overtime should be done away with completely?