McGruff-slugging Metrobus driver reinstated

[Scrabbleship]

Examiner article says the Northern-based driver who slugged an off-duty cop in a McGruff costume while at a stop last year has been reinstated with back pay minus a 30-day suspension.

Naturally, the blogosphere is not happy about this, or the fact that Metro made plans for a memorial for the Fort Totten crash without involving the families of the victims.

And people wonder why Metro hatred is at an all-time high and, if a poll was taken, the mistrust of and cynicism towards Metro (and, by association, ATU 689 and labour unions in general) is at an all time high.

[Antozilla]

This guy should be in JAIL not on 30 days suspension.  Oh and remember he is a convicted felon who in my mind should NEVER have been hired in the first place.

[Tritransit Area]

In regards to the Metro Memorial....

I'm so incredibly upset that the only coverage of the planning of the Memorial Service is negative, just negative.  First, it's a great gesture that WMATA is planning such a memorial.  Second, the memorial service is 2 weeks away and plans aren't finalized.  Third, although I sympathize with the family, how dare the media put the negative twist on the memorial ALREADY when instead we should be remembering, with heavy hearts, the most fatal Metrorail accident in the history of the organization!  We should be remembering those poor souls were were involved...especially the ones who lost their lives in this accident.  Astounding, some of these comments and editorials in these articles just make me shake my head and fills my heart with sorrow that the major point is being overlooked, just to promote more scandal and anti-WMATA sentiment. 

I know you guys are frustrated (I am too, honestly), but WMATA is what you have.  While it's not perfect and it's perfectly find to criticize them, realize that there are systems that can't hold a candle to the type of system you guys have, especially with such a modern HEAVY RAIL rapid transit system that's still expanding.

Hopefully they come out with more details about the Memorial service in later days.  I do hope it is open to the public, because I definitely hope to attend if possible. 

In regards to the rehired Metrobus drivers....what the heck?  It's amazing what a union would do, especially with the McGruff slugger.  You'd think that they'd want upstanding drivers representing the union.  Oh well, I guess that's what they pay for.

[Tritransit Area]

Another thing.  I'm hoping that John Catoe will be in attendance.  It would say a lot about him if he isn't there, regardless of whether he is retired or not.

[Van2006ko]

Just comes to show where WMATA priorities are at!

[Tritransit Area]

It's the union, not necessarily WMATA though...

[Scrabbleship]

It's the union, not necessarily WMATA though...

Which is why the next GM should be someone so anti-Union, he wouldn't care what happened if he tried to bust ATU 689.

Unions are outmoded and are financial drains. This is why just about every unionized industry is in crisis.

[WMATAGMOAGH]

Another thing.  I'm hoping that John Catoe will be in attendance.  It would say a lot about him if he isn't there, regardless of whether he is retired or not.

I don't think there is any way that John Catoe can show up at this event from a "political" standpoint, even if he wants to come.  It just isn't done that way for some reason.  I'm curious why you want him there? 

I agree with Brandon that while the victims' families may be emotionally involved with this event, especially as the first anniversary of the crash approaches, it seems this story was written as part of the media's ongoing anti-WMATA phase.  I don't think WMATA is wanting to slight the families in any way whatsoever.  WMATA is a transit agency first and foremost, planning this sort of thing isn't really what they are meant to be "good" at, and I'm sure they will invite the families and let them know what the plans are ASAP.  Perhaps the families should be more involved in the process, but still, it was a somewhat unnecessary slam on WMATA in my opinion.

WRT the bus drivers being reinstated, this is an issue with having unions.  An anti-union GM isn't going to solve that issue, the union is around whether we like it or not.  The union isn't really meant to protect workers in these circumstances, but the unfortunate reality is they do, and will do so in the future.  Let's hope these employees don't make those sorts of mistakes again and move on.

[WayneNYC]

All I can say is Wow!  I can't comment much  on these cases, but I see why labor unions have the reputation that they have nowadays.  Don't get me wrong... I understand the historic need/purpose for labor unions, but it's clear that they've gotten far away from that original idea.  Not that management are angels, but I know when I hear of the stuff that goes on with the union employees at my job, it's like WTH.  I heard of a case where an employee got caught (on video cam) stealing and the union had the nerve to demand that he not be fired.  In another case an employee who was suspected of sleeping on the job was warned and then soon caught in the act (photo) and again, the union wanted him to keep his job.

These WMATA bus operators are lucky that they weren't with NYCTA as they'd be out the door for good.

[Scrabbleship]

You really think that unions are unbustable, Oren? I would assemble a team of non-union scabs within a week of taking over if I was GM and ATU 689 couldn't stop me. What would ATU 689 did if someone tried to bust them?

I may be bitter because I once worked in a union job that paid less than many non-union positions and didn't do crap for anyone outside of probation and I lost my job solely because my boss never liked me, but I think that if you eliminate unions from transit you'll see doomsday evaporate.

[WMATAGMOAGH]

Would busting the union really be the battle you want to fight?  Do you have any idea how many scabs you'd need to assemble to bust the union?  It might be possible to bust unions, but not the size of the one WMATA needs to serve its daily function.

Unions have a purpose.   Their purpose isn't to protect employees such as the one who punched McGruff or the workers Wayne described.  However, you have to take the bad with the good sometimes, and also look at things in a realistic manner.

[Tritransit Area]

Another thing.  I'm hoping that John Catoe will be in attendance.  It would say a lot about him if he isn't there, regardless of whether he is retired or not.

I don't think there is any way that John Catoe can show up at this event from a "political" standpoint, even if he wants to come.  It just isn't done that way for some reason.  I'm curious why you want him there? 

I'd honestly respect John Catoe a lot more as a person if he was there.  This accident happened under his watch, after all, making the passengers on that train HIS passengers.  Ditto with the operator.  While we all know the accident wasn't a direct response to the way he was running the system (bad timing, really), I'd think he should feel a sort of responsibility or even an emotional connection to the event.  Goodness knows I'm over a hundred miles up I-95 and I still feel incredibly upset over the situation as my roots stem from the area of the crash.

Anyone can spew out an emotionless pre-written speech about how dismayed he is about a tragedy, acting as if they care.  It says a lot more if they follow through with it even if they aren't obligated to be there.  Considering how supportive I was (at first) with the way he was running the system, especially the Metrobus, I'd be quite disappointed if it was all for show.

[WMATAGMOAGH]

Another thing.  I'm hoping that John Catoe will be in attendance.  It would say a lot about him if he isn't there, regardless of whether he is retired or not.

I don't think there is any way that John Catoe can show up at this event from a "political" standpoint, even if he wants to come.  It just isn't done that way for some reason.  I'm curious why you want him there? 

I'd honestly respect John Catoe a lot more as a person if he was there.  This accident happened under his watch, after all, making the passengers on that train HIS passengers.  Ditto with the operator.  While we all know the accident wasn't a direct response to the way he was running the system (bad timing, really), I'd think he should feel a sort of responsibility or even an emotional connection to the event.  Goodness knows I'm over a hundred miles up I-95 and I still feel incredibly upset over the situation as my roots stem from the area of the crash.

Anyone can spew out an emotionless pre-written speech about how dismayed he is about a tragedy, acting as if they care.  It says a lot more if they follow through with it even if they aren't obligated to be there.  Considering how supportive I was (at first) with the way he was running the system, especially the Metrobus, I'd be quite disappointed if it was all for show.

Fair enough.  That said, I don't understand how he could show up under today's cultural norms and expectations.

I think blaming Catoe is unfair and not right.  The guy worked with what he had to a large extent.  I'm not saying his administration was flawless, and there seem to have been major safety lapses during his tenure.  But it is hard to succeed under the circumstances as they currently exist.

[Scrabbleship]

Catoe could have at least given some support to Metrorail during his tenure. The fact that he propped up Metrobus while Metrorail's problems caught up with it cannot be ignored.

[Scrabbleship]

I hate to bump a thread that's two weeks old, but I think this is of some relevance based on the topic at hand of ATU 689 and their (inconsistent) termination policies.

The other day, I sat in front of a fired Metrobus driver on the J4 in Silver Spring who told his seatmate about his story of woe and how he is having a hard time making ends meet. He is disgusted that ATU 689 fought to get back, with pay, jobs for employees who committed felonies (last I checked assault of a law enforcement officer and vehicular manslaughter are felonies) while he got fired for a relatively minor traffic infraction and ATU 689 did nothing.  Because of this, he hinted that other agencies in the area may have blacklisted him from working with him and passed his name along to make sure he never worked in transit in the DC area again regardless of the union.

I will admit that I didn't know how long he drove for Metrobus and he could have been an employee still under probation (probation periods of a year or more, with very little room for error, are common in unions), but such a story is sickening. This proves that ATU 689 has been given way too much slack and is hurting things far more than helping them.