UTU Bus News Digest - February, 1999

UTU Bus Department News Digest
Information of interest to transportation employees February, 1999

Union Membership Up in 1998, but Percentage of Workforce Declined

For the first time in five years, the number of U. S. workers belonging to unions in 1998 grew from the previous year, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics scheduled for release today. Union membership, as a percentage of the workforce, however, continued to decline from 14.1 percent in 1997 to 13.9 percent in 1998.

Union members' ranks increased by 101,000 in 1998, to 16.2 million. The number of workers represented by unions was virtually unchanged in 1998 with 17.9 million, or 15.4 percent of the workforce. In 1997, 15.6 percent of the workforce was represented by unions. Most of the growth occurred in the public sector, with an additional 158,000 union members added in federal and local government units. Union membership in the private sector decreased by nearly 50,000 members and stood at 9.3 million. (1/25/99 Daily Labor Report)

DOL's FMLA Rule on Notice to Employees Under Attack

The Labor Department is in the midst of fending off challenges to its Family and Medical Leave Act regulation requiring employers to notify employees prospectively when their absence from work is being designated as leave under the statute. The agency was put in the position of defending the regulation after the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Alabama a year ago declared it invalid, saying it adds requirements that go beyond those set out in the law itself. The regulation entitles employees to more than the 12 weeks of leave per year required under the law "if the employer fails to give prospective notice that an absence from work is being counted against FMLA entitlements," according to the court.

In a brief filed with the Eleventh Circuit, which heard arguments in the case in early December, the Labor Department says the designation regulation constitutes "a reasonable answer to the questions left by Congress regarding the way in which an employee will be informed that she is using FMLA leave." Prospective designation of leave as counting against the 12 weeks called for by the FMLA "ensures that employees are aware that they are using their FMLA leave entitlement for a particular absence, and thus permits employees to know how much FMLA leave they retain for use during the remainder of the leave year," the Labor Department argues. (1/21/99 Daily Labor Report)

Los Angeles Might Extend Training to Supervisors on Unruly Riders

Los Angeles transit officials are pleased enough with their training of bus and rail operators on how to handle unruly passengers that they plan to extend the training to supervisors soon.

Most bus and rail operators at the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) already have completed the special eight-hour session. Last week, the MTA's operations committee voted to recommend the training for 186 supervisors.

The committee approved giving a $150,000 contract to Strategies Training Systems, the Seattle based company that trained the drivers. The MTA board is scheduled to vote on the recommendation this week.

Part of the money would pay for training videos, which were filmed with Los Angeles MTA drivers and equipment. They include instruction on handling unruly passengers as well as training in customer service and helping disabled customers. In the last year-and-a-half, about 3,700 of the MTA's 4,000 drivers have taken the course.

Each month, MTA's management gets reports on "customer input." One category of the reports refers to "operator courtesy." In December 1997, there were 174 customer complaints about operators. Last month, the number of complaints dropped to 125. "That's quite a significant decrease," said MTA spokesman Ed Scannell.

Partly as a result of the customer input reports, MTA management decided supervisors also need customer service training. "They will then have the benefit of it so thy can help the drivers," said James P. Reichert, executive officer of operations for the Los Angeles MTA. Contact: Los Angeles MTA's Ed Scannell at (213) 922-2703. (1/27/99 Urban Transit News)

New York MTA Considers Naps As Solution to Fatigue Problems

New York's Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) is considering a napping policy that would let workers sleep on the job.

Their goal is to reduce fatigue among train and bus operators. If MTA's management agrees to the new policy, naps would be allowed only during breaks.

The MTA oversees the city's subway and bus systems, Metro-North Commuter Railroad, Long Island Rail Road and many bridges and tunnels.

Although fatigue cannot be traced to a large number of accidents at the MTA, officials say the napping policy would be part of an overall effort to improve safety.

MTA's management is searching for sleep consultants to review its work practices. The key part of the plan is to begin a public awareness campaign among employees that fatigue problems can be reduced only by getting enough sleep and consistent work schedules.

Similar napping policies already are being instituted in other segments of the transportation industry. Last month, Union Pacific Railroad started allowing employees who operate trains nap for up to 45 minutes while their trains are stopped. Contact: New York MTA at (212) 878-7178