Trimet destroys another driver

 (written by another Trimetized  driver)
The ever increasing stress from less running time and less support, and more  pressure to make up time to rescue impossible schedules, i have been off work for several weeks.

This type of stress directly aggravates my anxiety disorder that has been controlled for several years, until this trend of hobbling schedule times, and incrementally removing recuperative time at the end of the lines.

Carefully worded instructions from dispatchers to 'take what you need' for breaks but a clear understanding that leaving late is not acceptable, as well as general interrogation as to why one is late at all...and constant irritation and frustration from customers who we are hopelessly unable to satisfy, as well as daily complaints and overall poor opinion of all front line trimet employees who are seen as representatives of this company, it has become so overwhelming for me, that my once well controlled anxiety disorder has not only become exacerbated, it has dramatically increased in severity, resulting in frequent panic attacks which are debilitating, causing me to have to get off of the road as I am unable to ensure safety during the peak time of its cycle..


Its horrible.  First i reduced my hours down to mini-run to try to reduce some stress, accepted the loss of seniority and had to move to center garage.  Was ok for about a month and then it began again.  i was managing ok, when i had a meltdown, i followed my dr's established safety protocol and had no incidents.

 At the garage the assistant manager saw me and asked me to sit and tell him what was going on.  feeling humiliated for having to go back to the garage i became upset and explained to him that i had experienced heightened anxiety, it is not new, i followed protocol as laid out by my supervising dr. and needed to go home to recover in private.   He over reacted and insisted i not leave in my car yet, continued chatting with me, taking notes, i found out later...also pulled the tape from new bus showing me alone on way to garage and i was 'coping' by loudly verbalizing and doing what i do to keep focus and control.. They had planned to submit this to a seperate psych examiner to review and assess me over 4 hours with testing and wanted me to sign off permission of all my dr files and private notes giving up my hippa rights. Anyway, next day was told i am not allowed to return to work until doctor harris deems me safe.  which he didn't.  Been forced off since october 9, must have my shrink sign off and then dr harris, then they will ask their legal people if they will require me to undergo this 4 hour psych exam with a doc i do not know, who doesn't know me, and who is to report to dr harris.

 I had this action derailed once  by union president intervention, and deferred the action, but it will reemerge.  Have had to take terribly large amounts of time off unpaid, i am the only income, part time now, supporting me and my disabled partner with her reduced ssd, under $500monthly, no vacation or sick time left, and fmla will run out by mid dec.

Already time loss is at goals level, and daily losing more time.. every time i get close to potentially getting back to work, I break out in this unexplainable rash or non injury shoulder pain- both of which have been seen by my medical dr and the ER staff as one shoulder incident had radiated into my chest and arm causing me concern for heart stuff,  all testing comes back as unknown cause.  Look at me like i am making shit up.  then the symptoms go away fast as they present.  sorry about the long letter.