HOW TRIMET MANAGEMENT INSTILLS FEAR INTO ITS WORK FORCE

This was written by a current operator, the author is correct. I was totally convinced when I left Trimet that there is psychological torture used against operators and the 'fear' of losing your job is real.





1.       Roll back all schedules to about 1 hour (and some change), with
           exceptions of the 4, 12, 72, 57.
2.       Roll back all major breaks, to recovery time.
3.       Front load, the major breaks and add only recovery time in the latter
            part of the work day.
4.       Make the schedules, so that the operator is driving longer with only
            recovery time in-between.
5.       Make the scheduled splits lengthy, so that the operator has no time for
            union activities.
6.       Put pressure on the new operators to keep the schedules, with fear of
            losing their jobs.
7.       Make Dispatch the front line extension of management, with the charge
            of keeping the buses moving, no matter what, short of bus breakdowns.
8.       Annually monitor operator’s work, by compiling a years’ worth of
            statistics.  Meet with the operators, and pressure them to keep and maintain the
            schedules.  Using intimidation and fear.
9.       Deny any changes to the schedules, via yellow card.
10.   The treat of time loss, if an operator is sick, injured or assaulted
        (physically or mentally).
11.   Keep information of changes to the SOPs from the union, and implement them
        as needed.