Wednesday, February 23, 2000
Contract may lure drivers to Metro
Bus system hiring part-time workers
BY TANYA ALBERT
The Cincinnati Enquirer
With ink on a new contract barely dry, employees in Metro's personnel department say they are already fielding calls from potential bus drivers.
Wages of $10 an hour and the chance for health insurance and prorated vacation days are attracting interest in the part-time jobs.
Over the past couple of years, Metro, which is the region's largest bus company, has spent a couple of hundred thousand dollars on billboards, newspaper ads, job fairs and a full-time employee to recruit drivers.
Still, Metro was short at any given time about 20 drivers. That's forced other drivers to work overtime they may not have wanted, said Metro spokeswoman Sallie Hilvers.
But with low unemployment, Metro officials hope better money and benefits will attract and retain drivers.
The contract, approved Tuesdayby Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority board members, guarantees part-time bus drivers 28 hours weekly, instead of 24. It also raises their pay to $10 an hour, up from $8.55. For the first time, part-time drivers are eligible for health insurance, prorated vacation and sick days.
Part-time driver Herschel Colbert said he thinks the new contract will attract drivers. He said the contract could have provided even better pay and benefits, but he is happy with it and with working for Metro.
“Mainly because the pay raise and benefits are attractive,” said Mr. Colbert, who has been driving for Metro about a year and a half.
Mrs. Hilvers said that's the intent.
“We had ad campaigns, but we needed a systematic change,” she said. “This should help us fully staff drivers.”
She said Metro will pay added salary and benefit costs with the savings on advertising campaigns.
Metro has to train drivers for about six weeks before they can pick up passengers. In the past couple of years, a higher number of drivers were trained and then left Metro for other companies, Mrs. Hilvers said.
“There were a lot of jobs offering better benefites,” she said. “We're trying to remain competitive.”
The new three-year contract, retroactive to Feb. 1, covers Metro's 760 bus drivers, mechanics, maintenance and support employees. Members of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 627 approved the contract Friday.
Additionally, the contract will:
• Increase wages 3 percent the first two years and 2 percent the third year.
• Increase life insurance by $1,000 annually for the next three years. This year, life insurance increases to $20,000.
• Pay for 5 percent more of what it costs for uniforms, increasing the allowance to 68 percent.
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