MR 2 FACE

Why are we still hiring with a $12 million budget gap?

by Neil McFarlane — last modified Mar 22, 2012 03:50 PM

Because we still have to keep service on the street! This is a question I hear a lot – and it is best answered in two parts: 1) our day to day operations; and 2) our administrative staff.

1) Regarding the operations, we will need to hire over 100 people this year to keep our operator seats filled and our system maintained. We lose over 100 people a year due to retirements or other attrition, and adding to the demand this year, we will add operators as the Streetcar loop opens later this year. It really is as simple as having an operator behind the wheel of a bus in service – we must have the people. The hiring in these areas comes through two key positions – mini-run operators and service workers. From the input into those ranks – we backfill other vacant positions as a result of promotions, retirements, and other attrition.

  
2) On the administration side, there are also pluses and minuses. I noted with regret the layoff of some staff last week, and I would also add we have held a number of key vacancies over the past year. That said, the business needs (like processing benefits, keeping track of our funds, managing our people) continue – so we will realign some management positions to meet these business needs. The net of it all is that administrative positions will be reduced by about 7 in the year ahead – contributing to the $1.5 million in savings we have proposed as part of the budget balancing proposals. As the world around us is changing, the needs of our agency change, and so periodic realignment of our administrative staffing is part of that picture. It also may mean that an employee moves on and a critical position must be re-filled. Some of the jobs you’ve seen posted are new positions, funded through money saved elsewhere, generally through vacant positions or layoffs. Those new positions are dedicated to furthering the goals outlined in our 5 Year Plan. In times of scarce resources it becomes essential that we set priorities and focus our energy in areas that reap the most benefit. We must always look for ways to work smarter and make investments in people and activities that help us do that. I might also note that some positions we will be hiring for will be funded by the Portland Milwaukie project budget.

Others ask this another way – why not a hiring freeze? Well, if we froze all hiring – we couldn’t put out the service our customers require. So simple ‘sound bite’ solutions offer false choices, but that said, I still keep a tight watch, and continue to personally review all requests for new hires.

I had the pleasure of meeting with a group of 16 new bus operators on Tuesday of this week. It felt great to be reminded that, even in these hard times, there are opportunities for TriMet to welcome new people to our talented workforce.