HR Roundtable
Hosted by Community Transit
June 6, 2008

1.          

Labor Update

• Community Transit:  IAM Vehicle Maintenance ratified a new contract in October 2007.  IAM Supervisors have now voted down their Tentatively Agreed contract three times (last in June 2008).  Offered pay increases of 3.3%, 3%, and 3%.  Offered that the company would maintain 100% company paid benefits in trade for PTO & Major Sick Leave.  HR has been told the problem is not with the pay and benefits but with workplace trust issues.  In negotiations with ATU since November 2007.  In mediation since February 2008 and will continue through July 2008.  Close to impasse.  Will begin negotiations with IAM Service Quality Monitors at the end of the year.
• Ben Franklin Transit:  Will begin negotiation with IAM in December 2008.
• Pierce Transit:  Currently in negotiations and going well so far.
• Island Transit:  No current negotiations.
• Lane Transit District:  No current negotiations.  Settled their contract 3 months ago.  Wages were approximately 3.5% for 3 years.  The big issue was regarding retirement multiplier (retirement = Years of Service * Multiplier).  There has been recent legislation in Oregon regarding mandatory arbitration.  So far, no agency in Oregon has gone to arbitration yet.
• King County Metro:  ATU contract was recently ratified and they are currently working on implementation.
• Clallam Transit:  Currently in the 2^nd year of a 3 year contract.  They are happy to report that they have a great relationship with the ATU Local.
• Everett Transit:  The union is upset that they are in a contract with Community Transit for BRT Service and tax dollars.  They will be going to arbitration over this.
• Intercity Transit:  IAM contract expired in December 2006.  Received a favorable award or interest arbitration in January 2008.  Will begin negotiating with ATU later this year.  They have recently Tentatively Agreed to a new disciplinary procedure.  Negotiations should be primary economics.  They have recently installed a new high definition video system on board.  The new video has lead to increased discipline initially but they believe it will decrease over time.
• C-Tran:  IAM contract will expire the end of this year (Dec 31, 2008).  New ATU contract for Operators ratified in September 2007.  They are maintaining 100% company paid benefits.  Paratransit Dispatchers contract expired in June 2007.  Currently in interest arbitration.  Clerical employee contract expired in May 2007.  Currently in mediation.
• Skagit Transit:  In negotiations for the last 4 months with IAM Mechanics.  Proposed an 8-step salary grid but union wants a 5-step grid.  They have a good relationship with the drivers’ union.  Their contract expires in December 2009.
• Kitsap Transit:  Currently in mediation with ATU and going nowhere.  Contract expired in February 2008.  They are still trying to understand all of the union’s issues.

2.          

FMLA Presentation by Kristin Anger of Summit Law Group

Kristin provided information on the proposed changes to the FMLA regulations and some recent amendments for additional leave for family members of military personnel.

3.          

HR Database Subcommittee Update

Subcommittee is comprised of Michelle Parvinen, Chris Beck, Dave Collier, Kitty Wold, Ed Ruttledge, Mary Adams, Debra Hughes, Lynn Bourton, and Jerry Spears

Purpose of the database is to share information from each agency for Labor Negotiation research purposes.  The AWC has a similar database.  Theirs is a fee-based system which includes information such as job descriptions, contracts, org charts, salary charts, benefits, policies, etc.  The data is not necessarily apples to apples. 

The subcommittee met in April and agreed to meet again soon.

Michelle will work to move the data currently on the WSTIP site to the WSTA site.  She has recently sent an email requesting wage information for Operators. 

4.          

Swift Presentation by June DeVoll of Community Transit

June shared information on Community Transit’s new BRT project.

5.          

FTA Weight Limits

Julie DeBoever from C-Tran had heard that the FTA was looking into weight limits for CDL licensing.  The FTA reported that there are currently strict rules on the CDL medical certificate and blood pressure.  Weight plays a part in a person’s blood pressure, but the FTA is not looking into setting weight limits.

6.          

APTA Presentation by Lynn Starcher of Community Transit

“Restructuring Benefits to Change the Labor/Management Relationship”

Lynn discussed how the implementation of PTO and Major Sick Leave has decreased the usage of Sick Leave and improved employee reliability in the Vehicle Maintenance group at Community Transit.

7.          

Recruiting Ideas

We had an open discussion about ideas that have been helpful for difficult to fill recruitments such as Operator, Journey Mechanics, and Planners.

• Community Transit uses Employee Referral Bonus for Operators
• Community Transit has worked with their Marketing Department on Recruitment Advertising for Operators
• C-Tran and Metro have used online ads with Transit Talent.  No results in yet.
• Metro uses recruiting business cards.  Operators hand them out to people to encourage them to apply.
• C-Tran advertises on their buses and in their schedule books
• Kitsap had a job fair with other local businesses during the commuting times.  They got a great response for applicants.

There was discussion about recruitment for Planners.  Most agencies have had trouble recruiting them.  There is a Planners blog that recent graduates seem to be linked into for open positions.

 There was discussion about recruitment for Journey Mechanics.  We discussed the use of Apprentice programs.  Several agencies have created a lower level position which is easier to hire for.  Then they can promote for Journey level from within.

8.          

Halogen Demonstration by Dianne Koshelnik & Mary Lowery of Community Transit

Dianne and Mary demonstrated Halogen, which is the software that Community Transit has recently implemented for their Performance Reviews of non-represented employees.

9.          

FTA Triennial Review

Lane Transit recently completed their triennial review and the FTA had a finding.  The FTA said they were not monitoring their contractors and collection sites as well as they should.  The FTA suggested a quarterly monitoring of the sites.

At Intercity, the FTA asked to see their documentation from their quarterly monitoring.  The FTA website has a collection site checklist which is very helpful.

10.      

Wrap Up

Ben Franklin Transit has offered to host the 3^rd Quarter HR Roundtable meeting.  It will be at the same time as the WSDOT conference in September.  Debra Hughes will provide more information.