Friday, June 19, 2009
Thursday, June 18, 2009
UNION ACTIONS
ARY | The region's largest public bus system was thrown into chaos Monday as
Gary Public Transportation Corp. bus drivers called in sick to protest stalled
contract talks.
"I'm not going to make it to work in time," GPTC rider Latasha Amos said as she
waited for the Tri-City Connection at the Metro Center on Monday morning. "All
we know is there is only one bus running this route, and we don't know when it
will be here."
Hundreds of other GPTC riders were in the same position as Amos, as some began
hiking miles to work or other bus stops when buses didn't show.
On Monday night, GPTC General Manager Daryl Lampkins said all buses should be
running on a normal schedule today. He indicated he had talked to the union
about its work stoppage.
"Full service is expected," Lampkins said. "Maybe we kissed and made up."
GPTC routes serve six communities, stretching from Hammond to Hobart.
To make matters even worse for riders on Monday, planned service reductions
started on six GPTC routes. Those service reductions have been in the works for
months due to the city's budget crisis.
Stephan Mitchell, president of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local No. 517, said
about 40 of the city's 52 bus drivers stayed home Monday, with many calling in
claiming they were ill.
He said GPTC "refuses to bargain in good faith" on a new contract for drivers.
He said the previous contract expired earlier this month.
"Even to get a meeting set up is a problem," he said.
Lampkins said the bus company has "made every effort" to negotiate in good faith
with the union. He said he wanted to start negotiations as early as December,
but union officials took months to review GPTC's initial offerings.
"We are willing to work with the union," Lampkins said. "But every time there is
a problem, this is their reaction."
Mitchell accused Lampkins of "running a dictatorship" and instituting changes
without consulting with the union.
Lampkins said he has conferred with the union at every turn and has abided by
the contract.
"But I have changed many things," Lampkins said. "We are trying to survive.
Things just can't stay the same."
Lampkins said about 95 percent of drivers called in sick on Monday and that
supervisors and others were filling in and keeping as many buses running as
possible. Lampkins was working as a dispatcher Monday and answering calls from
frustrated riders when a Times reporter called.
Early in the morning, some routes were barely covered, with one bus making stops
along several of them.
Lampkins said some recent back-and-forth negotiations on an overtime provision
in the contract might have led to Monday's work stoppage by drivers.
GPTC will suffer an estimated $511,707 cut in revenue due to state-mandated
property tax caps.
Gary Public Transportation Corp. bus drivers called in sick to protest stalled
contract talks.
"I'm not going to make it to work in time," GPTC rider Latasha Amos said as she
waited for the Tri-City Connection at the Metro Center on Monday morning. "All
we know is there is only one bus running this route, and we don't know when it
will be here."
Hundreds of other GPTC riders were in the same position as Amos, as some began
hiking miles to work or other bus stops when buses didn't show.
On Monday night, GPTC General Manager Daryl Lampkins said all buses should be
running on a normal schedule today. He indicated he had talked to the union
about its work stoppage.
"Full service is expected," Lampkins said. "Maybe we kissed and made up."
GPTC routes serve six communities, stretching from Hammond to Hobart.
To make matters even worse for riders on Monday, planned service reductions
started on six GPTC routes. Those service reductions have been in the works for
months due to the city's budget crisis.
Stephan Mitchell, president of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local No. 517, said
about 40 of the city's 52 bus drivers stayed home Monday, with many calling in
claiming they were ill.
He said GPTC "refuses to bargain in good faith" on a new contract for drivers.
He said the previous contract expired earlier this month.
"Even to get a meeting set up is a problem," he said.
Lampkins said the bus company has "made every effort" to negotiate in good faith
with the union. He said he wanted to start negotiations as early as December,
but union officials took months to review GPTC's initial offerings.
"We are willing to work with the union," Lampkins said. "But every time there is
a problem, this is their reaction."
Mitchell accused Lampkins of "running a dictatorship" and instituting changes
without consulting with the union.
Lampkins said he has conferred with the union at every turn and has abided by
the contract.
"But I have changed many things," Lampkins said. "We are trying to survive.
Things just can't stay the same."
Lampkins said about 95 percent of drivers called in sick on Monday and that
supervisors and others were filling in and keeping as many buses running as
possible. Lampkins was working as a dispatcher Monday and answering calls from
frustrated riders when a Times reporter called.
Early in the morning, some routes were barely covered, with one bus making stops
along several of them.
Lampkins said some recent back-and-forth negotiations on an overtime provision
in the contract might have led to Monday's work stoppage by drivers.
GPTC will suffer an estimated $511,707 cut in revenue due to state-mandated
property tax caps.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
FRED ASKED TO OVERSEE THE SUSTAINABILITY OPERATIONS OF THE AMERICAN TRANSPORT ASSOCIATION?
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New Thinker for SA
Posted
The South Australian Government has appointed US transport expert Fred Hansen as its next Thinker in Residence.
The Government says Mr Hansen, who served in the Environmental Protection Agency under former President Bill Clinton, has recently been asked to oversee sustainability operations of the American Public Transport Association.
Mr Hansen will work with the Government to develop plans for its light rail extension to Semaphore.
He will take up his role in October.
Mr Hansen will take over from Professor Laura Lee, who has been providing ideas in environment and sustainability.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
FRED TALKS ABOUT THE "TOTAL TRANSIT EXPERIENCE"
It turns out our pal Jim Stenger is the Director of Administration & Transit Operations for total transit!
http://www.totaltransit.com/totaltransit/exteam.aspx
http://www.totaltransit.com/
Monday, June 15, 2009
LETTERS
Another round of cuts
TriMet is now announcing its second set of service cut-backs in as many weeks ("TriMet weighs schedule changes," June 11).
TriMet is now announcing its second set of service cut-backs in as many weeks ("TriMet weighs schedule changes," June 11).
This from an outfit that blew $5.5 million on that railcar fiasco in Colorado and is now planning to spend $1.4 billion for a light-rail line to Milwaukie.
For that amount, it could almost double bus service in the tri-county area with clean buses. Maybe TriMet should get its priorities straight.
ED ZUMWALT
Milwaukie
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Saturday, June 13, 2009
"Christianity’s Resurrection From Conservative Decline"
"Christianity’s Resurrection From Conservative Decline"
-- For nearly a quarter-century, Christianity in the United States has been defined by a very conservative strain of evangelical Christianity that, over time, became highly politicized and closely allied with a single political party. Over the same period, the number of American Christians has diminished.
-- For nearly a quarter-century, Christianity in the United States has been defined by a very conservative strain of evangelical Christianity that, over time, became highly politicized and closely allied with a single political party. Over the same period, the number of American Christians has diminished.
GRAFT
"The Best Investment Money Can Buy"
-- In the last decade, the financial industry’s $5 billion investment in campaign contributions and lobbyists resulted in deregulation and boatloads of free money. By Bloomberg News’ account, $12.8 trillion worth of taxpayer loans, grants and guarantees—all to Wall Street.
-- In the last decade, the financial industry’s $5 billion investment in campaign contributions and lobbyists resulted in deregulation and boatloads of free money. By Bloomberg News’ account, $12.8 trillion worth of taxpayer loans, grants and guarantees—all to Wall Street.
Friday, June 12, 2009
Thursday, June 11, 2009
STEVE BANTA MAKES WANTS EMPLOYEE SUGGESTIONS FOR NEXT ROUND OF CUTS!
I intend to take him up on this!
I have some suggestions and will compile a video presentation that I will send directly to him and post here.
I have some suggestions and will compile a video presentation that I will send directly to him and post here.
Last month the TriMet board approved the proposed service cuts for September. This approval followed an exhaustive process of getting feedback from riders and employees to refine the proposal that was ultimately put forward.
Some employees provided their feedback in writing, while others spoke in person with managers or service planning staff in report areas. I am certain that we would not have been able to make the strategic decisions that we did without the input of the employees who contributed ideas.
In the end, almost three quarters of the suggestions made by employees made it into the final proposal, a fact that underscores the importance of asking those who provide the service what their thoughts are about the service.
I previously mentioned that we had expected to have a better sense of our ongoing financial situation when payroll tax receipts begin to arrive last month. As you may have read in the Oregonian this morning, additional cuts for the November 29 service change will be necessary. This next round of service cuts will be less severe than those we just implemented for September, as there will not be any additional eliminations of bus lines. Rather, we are looking at making relatively minor adjustments to headways on high-frequency lines during off-peak times.
As with the last round of cuts, we will be looking for employee feedback on the proposal when it is ready. Your input is always valued, and is a critical part of making the right decisions.
GIL WHITFIELD GETS SETTLEMENT FROM POLICE...NOT TRIMET
THIS IS THE CORRECTED OREGONIAN PICTURE FOR THIS STORY
JOSEPH ROSE ACCEPTS THE CHALLENGE
Oregonian reporter Joseph Rose decides to come on down to BTC to ride and have a frank, open discussion about the job of a transit bus driver.
Posted by CommuterJoe on 06/11/09 at 7:24AM
margu43542,
You bet. Let's do it Wednesday. Shoot me an e-mail so that we can work things out for the ride.
Thanks for the invite.
Cheers,
JR
Post a comment-----------------------------------------------
Come on down to Beaverton Transit Center next Wednesday which will be June 17.
Get there by 5pm and we can chat while we do the 67 loop.
Looking forward to it.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
TRANSIT SLEUTH
http://adronbhall.com/blogs/my_transportation_obsession/post/2009/06/06/Adventures-in-Transit-Errands.aspx
http://adronbhall.com/blogs/my_transportation_obsession/post/2009/06/05/Your-Total-TriMet-Cost.aspx
http://adronbhall.com/blogs/my_transportation_obsession/post/2009/06/04/WES-Fail-Take-2.aspx
http://adronbhall.com/blogs/my_transportation_obsession/post/2009/05/31/Luggage-Luggage-and-Stuff.aspx
http://adronbhall.com/blogs/my_transportation_obsession/post/2009/06/05/Your-Total-TriMet-Cost.aspx
http://adronbhall.com/blogs/my_transportation_obsession/post/2009/06/04/WES-Fail-Take-2.aspx
http://adronbhall.com/blogs/my_transportation_obsession/post/2009/05/31/Luggage-Luggage-and-Stuff.aspx
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
MALL BULLETIN
Rail training under way
After a one-week break, rail operators have resumed training on the Mall. Most of their trips take place after noon. All Mall users, including bus operators, should be prepared to see a train at any time. Bus and rail supervisors are present to assist and answer your questions. As always, safety is our priority.
† Be prepared to stop when following a train. Follow trains no closer that 40 feet or one bus length.
† Signals are set to allow enough time for one bus to follow a train through an intersection. When a train is present, the pedestrian countdown signal may go to zero, but the signal system is designed to give one bus enough time to get through the intersection.
† If a train is stopped at NW Couch station, pass it by merging into the auto lane before Davis. Merge back into the transitway between Couch and Burnside.
Mechanical tie-up?
} If possible, secure bus in the rear of the nearest service lane.
} Place a safety triangle at the right rear corner of the bus.
} Open the tailgate if it is safe to do so.
Bicycles on your left
Users of the auto lane, including bicyclists, may be surprised to see buses crossing the double white line rumble strip. When moving into the auto lane, be especially aware of bicyclists who are still learning to expect these moves from buses on the new Mall.
Make road reliefs from position 4
Protect bus tires and steering
A tire distance of six inches from the curb is ideal. Buses on the Mall have plenty of room to avoid the dynamic envelope without rubbing the curb.
Boarding: Bus must serve 1st position. Deboarding: OK in any position.
OK to board at 2nd position.
Monday, June 8, 2009
Sunday, June 7, 2009
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