HUMAN
RESOURCES COMMITTEE ROUNDTABLE
Meeting Minutes
March 18, 2005
Kitsap TransitAttendees:
Mona McElroy, Ben Franklin Transit; Sandie Barnhart, Clallam Transit; Janet Mills,
Community Transit; Dianne Koshelnik, Community Transit; Susan Collins-Scott, Intercity
Transit; Christine DiRito, Intercity Transit; Colleen McKimmie, Island Transit; Farrah
Kirk, Jefferson Transit; Marianne DeMers, Kitsap Transit; Per Johnsen, Kitsap Transit; Rob
Riner, Kitsap Transit; Daria Ross, Kitsap Transit; Keri Sieckowski, Kitsap Transit; Nancy
Venard, Kitsap Transit; Joyce Matsumoto, Kitsap Transit; Sybil Laners, Kitsap Transit;
Vera Sencil, Kitsap Transit; Lynn Bourton, Link Transit; Amy Youngerman, Mason Transit;
Jenny Huff, Mason Transit; Connie Behrens, Mason Transit; Audrey Olson, Pacific Transit;
Barbara Cieslak, Pierce Transit; Dolores Cooper, Pierce Transit; Jean White, Pierce
Transit; Barb Savary, WSDOT ;
Introductions and welcome – Per Johnsen made introductory comments and had the
participants introduce themselves.
Update on Melody – Christine DiRito and Susan Collins-Scott from Intercity Transit
provided an update on Melody and brought a banner for everyone to sign to give Melody.
Please continue to send Melody cards and your well wishes.
Legislative Update – Barb Savary provided an update on SHB 1266 regarding reporting
requirements for employers of commercial drivers who test positive for unlawful
substances. This bill has already passed the House of Representatives and is now under
consideration by the Senate. Barb recommended we support substitute SB 5263 which requires
employers to have an agreement with the MRO regarding the reporting process. The MRO still
reports pre-employment positives to the DOL, but Transit Agencies would be responsible for
reporting positive results at the time of employment termination, which revokes the
employee’s CDL. Barb encouraged the group to provide comments on-line at
www.washingtonvotes.org.
Barb also announced that there will be Drug & Alcohol Program training in Spokane May
3 & 4. Workshop material was distributed.
Christine reported on the status of SSB 5069 regarding Family Leave Insurance. This bill
has passed in the Senate but it’s future is uncertain in the House. If this bill
passes, effective 1/1/2006, employers with more than 50 employees would pay a premium to
L&I for each employee for family leave insurance. The Department of Labor &
Industries would manage the program.
Christine provided hardcopy summaries of each of these bills.
Pierce Transit’s Redeployment & Disability Accommodation Policies – Dolores
Cooper from Pierce Transit shared information regarding some new policies put in place
following a complaint filed against PT with the Human Rights Commission. A field
supervisor was terminated in October 2002 following almost a year of absence from an OTJ
injury. The employee filed a disability discrimination suit with the HRC resulting in an
adverse decision against PT. Some key points Dolores shared:
• Employees with temporary disabilities must be treated the same as
employees with permanent disabilities.
• The redeployment process must be interactive and involve the
employee in the decision.
• On the job and non-work related injuries must be treated the same
for light duty assignments.
PT managers received mandatory training yesterday from the HRC. Copies of the Disability
Accommodation Policy and Redeployment Program were distributed.
Current HR Issues – Farrah Kirk from Jefferson Transit brought questions to the group
regarding administration of FMLA and Comp Time for salaried employees.
Marianne DeMers from Kitsap Transit asked how other agencies handle CDL renewal and
disclosure of medical conditions by the employee. It was recommended that the agency get a
copy of the Physician’s Report if possible. The 2 main issues to take into
consideration when determining whether or not to allow an employee to return to driving
following a medical leave would be 1) Can the employee perform the essential functions of
the job? (return to work release), and 2) Can the employee safely perform the essential
functions? (CDL certification).
Employee Health and Impact on Health Insurance Premiums – Per Johnsen shared
information about a Wellness Incentive Program Kitsap Transit will be rolling out that
pays employees to walk and asked what other agencies are doing to encourage employees to
improve their health. Ben Franklin also has a wellness program (contact Mona for more
information).
Following lunch, the group posed for a picture in front of the banner Christine brought to
give to Melody Johnson. Then we took a roundtrip ferry ride to Port Orchard aboard the
Carlisle II.
Labor Update – Roundtable Discussion (Open Forum)
Ben Franklin is not in negotiations at this time. They are doing a compensation study (Fax
Lawson consultant) for the possible reclassification of 8 positions. They just brought
their uniforms in-house. Mona asked the question: What applicant tracking software are you
using? Community Transit is using NeoGov software for applicant tracking. This is an
on-line tool so there is no software to purchase. This program interfaces with PeopleSoft.
Mason Transit is using ABRA for applicant tracking. Jenny says she doesn’t really
like the reporting capability, but their Customer Service is very good.
Farrah from Jefferson reported that Melanie Bozak resigned from her position at JT and
today is the cut-off for applications. No testing or interview materials exist for this
recruitment, so any help you can provide would be appreciated.
At Pierce, there has been a union leadership change. Negotiations are coming up at the end
of April. There have been a couple of grievances this year. Their “retired”
Executive Director is still hanging in there.
The ATU contract at Intercity expires this year but it is unknown who will represent
management during negotiations in Melody’s absence. Their IAM contract doesn’t
expire until next year.
The Machinist/Teamsters contract at Kitsap was negotiated in one meeting and agreed upon
following just a couple of phone calls. The ATU-Routed contract expired in February of
this year and is still being negotiated; the process is going very slowly. Discussions
have just recently begun regarding economic issues with a possible increase to the Short
Term Disability benefit. There was one grievance this year related to disability that was
resolved at step 1.
Pacific Transit has agreed upon a 2.5% increase for the next 3 years. They contribute $580
toward the cost of medical benefits for each employee, with the balance placed in a pool
for use by other employees.
Community Transit is looking for information regarding an internship program for their
Planner position. They have all new ATU officers as of January 1, 2005. Their
negotiations, which began 10/7/2003, are at an impasse. Interest arbitration is scheduled
to begin in October.
Nancy Venard reported on behalf of C-Tran in Julie DeBoever’s absence. Please send
any job announcements to Julie in anticipation of possible lay-offs (100+ employees). If
their 2nd bond attempt does not pass, lay-offs would be effective 9/25/2005. The agency is
looking to re-establish boundaries to make their service area smaller.
Mason Transit just hired 55+ employees and is implementing policies. The will start
working on their wellness and training programs following their transition to bringing all
service in-house. They are still evaluating their organization’s structure.
Next meeting date and host – Christine DiRito said the next Roundtable could be at
Intercity Transit in early June.
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