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Bus Drivers Behaving Badly: Video Shows Transit Workers Running Red Lights, Texting
May 20, 2009 (Albuquerque Journal - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) --
The City Council was treated to a bizarre sight this week. Transit Director Greg Payne played surveillance video of bus drivers running red lights, blaring loud music and texting while driving with the other hand. In one video, the driver left the bus running and came back a few minutes later with a bag of chips.
The video presentation was the latest round in a public fight between Payne and the union that represents bus divers.
Community activists and union representatives teamed up Monday night to ask for the council's help. They said there's a "climate of punishment and reprisal" at Transit, with drivers facing discipline for taking bathroom breaks, among other poor working conditions.
One speaker pointed out that 25 of the 33 appeals before the city personnel board involve transit workers, even though transit employees account for only about 10 percent of the City Hall work force.
"It's just bad management decisions," said Steven Griego, an electrician who heads the AFSCME union group that includes bus drivers. "We just need to maybe get these supervisors trained."
Payne responded at Monday night's meeting with the video presentation, though councilors didn't let him finish it. He said disciplinary actions aren't for frivolous reasons.
"My obligation is to our passengers and to the public and making sure we're getting the job done," Payne said in an interview. "A lot of people are having trouble adjusting to being held accountable."
He said passenger boardings are up, but passenger complaints are down.
His staff said the number of personnel appeals is misleading. One person, for example, was responsible for eight hearings. Bus drivers also are subject to drug tests, and positive test results have triggered some appeals, officials said.
Payne and his top staff also said they build adequate break time into the bus routes. Drivers with an empty bus can also call dispatch if they need to take a break, he said.
Payne's video presentation didn't go over well with councilors. Ken Sanchez stopped him early and asked whether the videos were personnel records that should be private.
Council President Isaac Benton said driving a bus is a "doggone tough job."
Payne said the union rally was launched because he wouldn't reinstate two drivers fired for abusing sick leave. He agreed that almost all the drivers are good ones.
What happens next isn't clear. The union asked for an audit of the department, and Payne said he would welcome one. Online
Go to
ABQjournal. com to watch the surveillance video.
To see more of the Albuquerque Journal, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to
http://www.abqjournal.com. Copyright (c) 2009, Albuquerque Journal, N.M.
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