Changes Made by Transit Management for Snow Operations Causes Resentment and Anger!

When the forecast called for a major snowstorm, transit workers did what they’ve always done — they showed up.

Before dawn, in freezing temperatures and dangerous road conditions, bus operators, maintainers, dispatchers, cleaners, supervisors, and support staff reported for duty. They packed extra gloves. Extra socks. Some packed food because they knew they might be stuck for 12 or 16 hours. They kissed their families goodbye not knowing when they’d be home.

Because that’s what transit workers do.
When the city sleeps, when the roads ice over, when most people are told to stay home — we go to work!

But this time, something was different.

Instead of a coordinated plan built on experience, communication, and respect for the people who actually run the system, transit management rolled out sudden changes to snow operations that left the entire workforce stunned.

Schedules were shifted with little notice. Long-standing procedures that workers rely on during emergencies were tossed aside. Decisions were made from offices far removed from where employees were actually trying to keep service moving. And when you stop paying emergency pay, sick days and paid shelter in place and expect the workforce to go home in the middle of a storm and return 8 hours later, you’re asking for trouble.

Local 106 and the other member Unions of the Alliance have called for an emergency meeting with management to directly address these changes and problems. In the meantime, Division Chairmen are submitting grievance on all contract violations.