Union Calls for TriMet GM Replacement

Union Calls for TriMet GM Replacement

The union representing TriMet unionized employees, Amalgamated Transit Union Local 757 is calling on the Governor and TriMet Board of Directors to replace current TriMet General Manager Neil McFarlane because of lack of leadership and poor managerial decisions.

“It is time for a new direction at TriMet,” says Jonathan Hunt, President of the Union.  Hunt claims that McFarlane lacks the skills and abilities to effectively deal with the unionized workforce at TriMet, and has been responsible for repeated poor leadership and management decisions that have unnecessarily cost the agency and the taxpayers millions of dollars.

Hunt will present the resolution at the Occupy TriMet rally beginning at 4pm at Pioneer Square on Wednesday, April 4, 2012, kicking off a signature drive for petitions to present to the Governor’s office and Chairman of the TriMet Board.

                                          Resolution

                              Pertaining to TriMet’s General Manager

     WHEREAS, TriMet is projecting a 12-17 million dollar budget shortfall for 2013; and

     WHEREAS, TriMet’s executive management team’s action in the current union contract dispute has been found unlawful; and

     WHEREAS, TriMet’s General Manager’s unlawful action has resulted in a more than 10 million dollar back pay liability to taxpayers: and

     WHEREAS, another pending lawsuit against TriMet for unlawful conduct may result in an additional 10 million dollars liability to taxpayers; and

     WHEREAS, TriMet’s General Manager eliminated daily cleaning of TriMet busses and trains putting the health and safety of riders and employees at risk; and

     WHEREAS, TriMet’s General Manager has directed TriMet employees to target low income, disadvantaged transit riders for fare evasion enforcement; and

     WHEREAS, TriMet’s General Manager has recommended fare increases for our disabled and elderly transit riders; and

     WHEREAS, these fare increases could have been avoided if TriMet brought the disabled and elderly transit service in-house resulting in an immediate 7 million dollar savings to taxpayers;

     THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that in order for the taxpayers of TriMet’s tri-county transit system to regain confidence in TriMet’s ability to effectively and efficiently provide the much needed transportation services to their community; and

     FURTHER, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Governor of the State of Oregon direct the TriMet Board of Directors to appoint a new General Manager to lead TriMet through this difficult time in order to restore confidence in the agency’s ability to deliver transportation services to the community.