On Sun, 22 Feb 2004 20:25:19 -0800, "Dave Bugg" <dbuggatcharterdotnet>
wrote:

>Eddie wrote:
>> On Sun, 22 Feb 2004 15:05:43 -0800, "Dave Bugg" <dbuggatcharterdotnet>
>> wrote:
>> Dave, a little OT. I also drive transit bus. However, it's
>> full-time. We have no part-timers.
>
>Link Transit, beginning with those hired with me, has started hiring ONLY
>part-time. They plan on only hiring part-time even for replacements of
>full-time retires or resigns. We are strictly limited to no more than 20
>hours per week. It eliminates any requirement to pay benefits including sick
>leave or vacation leave. Cuts costs ya know. :-(
>
>> I work for VTA, covering Santa Clara County. Local 265 ATU.
>> You ATU?
>
>Yup, it's a closed shop and they ain't pro-rating the initiation fees ($300)
>or monthly dues ($60.00) even though we're part-time.
>
>> We just got a new 5 yr. contract. For the first time we have to
>> contribute to medical. $25 a month. We also had to defer pay raise
>> this month. Was 5%. We got 1.5% instead. Then 1.5% every three
>> months. Our top pay is now $25.15.
>
>Our top pay is $13.55, and I am covered by my wife's insurance to the tune
>of $365.00 per month. But I don't cry too much, since Jill's salary as an RN
>is in excess of $40.00 per hour and we do fine on her salary alone -- thank
>the Lord!!
>
>> I retire Nov. 1.
>> We have 00, 01 and 02 Gillig Phantoms, low-floor, 35 and 40 footers.
>> One yard (we have three) has Flyers artics. I don't drive artics. We
>> also have light rail, but I'm strictly bus.
>> When and where will you be driving?
>
>Link Transit is located in Chelan and Douglas counties in central Washington
>state. Two of our routes are two hour round trips. Another is a 90 minute
>trip. Ah, the joys of rural transit. We drive 35 foot Orions and 30 foot
>Opus. I also drive paratransit services which use cutaways and minivans.
>Dave
>
Every night when I goto bed I thank the Good Lord that I am not an
American. The stupidity and perverseness of your companies'
management leaves me slack-jawed.

Here Bugg is going to work his first month for free so his union can
get their ashes hauled. Wow! that is what I call representation.
How do you promote Goodwill, Productivity, Pride in one's Work, when
you **** your lower echelon troops this way?
Dept't of Labour would have that company's CEO etc's balls for book-
ends the first time they ever got wind of such practice even in
RedNeck Alberta.

$365/mo for medical coverage! Wow! I can clean that out just
flirting with the pharmacist lady. Lipitor in America is now about
$3.25/pill I believe - and there goes almost 30% of that coverage.

Sorry guys. - every time I hear stories like this, my blood runs cold.

Rant Over - normal programming now resumes.

Harry