If
your employers are seeking to negotiate or impose new rules about the
hours of service, be assured that this is their wish to get ahead of the
federal government, NOT a directive of any kind from any government
source.
During
the past week, we have heard from some of our locals about
hours-of-service policies being revised at their transit systems,
imposing new limits on the hours our members work. Apparently, the
locals have been informed that the new rules, which require a certain
number of hours off between shifts, are being driven from the U.S.
Department of Transportation. That is not the case.
In
April, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), in response to a
rail crash in Chicago, recommended to the Federal Transit
Administration (FTA) that it establish (through the state safety
oversight program) scientifically based hours-of-service regulations
that set limits on hours of service, provide predictable work and rest
schedules, and consider circadian rhythms and human sleep and rest
requirements.
FTA,
which was provided with authority to issue safety regulations in 2012,
is now considering the NTSB’s recommendations. This is a long process
that will take months and perhaps years to fully implement. FTA has
funding challenges and Congressional mandates with respect to its safety
program which require it to prioritize rulemaking activities. Hours of
service rules will therefore have to wait until other items get done.
However,
the agency is indeed aware of NTSB’s recommendations, and at some
point, it could begin a rulemaking process on this issue. During the
next few months, we plan to work with our locals to develop a set of
principles on hours of service that meet the needs of our members and
the riding public so that we will be prepared to communicate our views
if and when FTA decides to move forward on this issue.
If
your employers are seeking to negotiate or impose new rules about the
hours of service, be assured that this is their wish to get ahead of the
federal government, NOT a directive of any kind from any government
source.
Larry Hanley
International President
Amalgamated Transit Union
5025 Wisconsin Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20016
Visit www.atu.org
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